GETTY Russian warplanes defeated ISIS militants who were held up in Latakia province

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The Syrian army have also reportedly taken control of a district in the northern province of Aleppo.

Our only task is to help the Syrian people and the country's legitimate government fight terrorism Vladimir Putin

Territory near Kweiris Airbase has been liberated from ISIS in a fresh push by President Bashar al-Assad's forces to help alleviate the pressure on the besieged city. Syrian troops are also believed to be preparing for a major assault on the terrorist group al-Nusra Front, in the hope of ending the siege of al-Zahra and Nubl in northwestern Aleppo province.

Both towns have been surrounded by the radical Islamist militia for several years. ISIS - also known in the Arabic world by the derogatory moniker Daesh - is now thought to be concentrating its efforts on taking the eastern Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor. Russia's defence ministry estimates up to 2,000 jihadis have been deployed in a fresh attack on Deir ez-Zor.

Russian warplanes defeated ISIS militants who were held up in Latakia province, which is home to Russia's airbase on the Mediterranean coast. More than 35 square miles of jihadi land have been regained by the Moscow-backed anti-extremist coalition.

Strategically vital Rabia was one of 28 towns which fell to the Syrian army, the Russian Defence Ministry said. The Kremlin claims almost 500 terrorist targets in Syria were hit by Russian airstrikes over the weekend, with 169 sorties flown between January 22-24.

Airstrikes against ISIS Sat, February 27, 2016 British, French, Russian and US forces launch air strikes around the world. Play slideshow 1 of 63 Russian army carried out an airstrike in Damascus

Commenting on the airstrikes, President Vladimir Putin said: "We are in no way going to interfere in [Syria's] state structure, or in solving problems that Syria and other countries in the region are facing. "Our only task is to help the Syrian people and the country's legitimate government fight terrorism."

AP A Russian plane releasing bombs on Syria

AP The Kremlin claims 500 terrorist targets in Syria were hit by Russian airstrikes over the weekend

AP Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses a regional meeting of pro-Kremlin United Peoples' Front

The Syrian army have also reportedly taken control of a district in the northern province of Aleppo.

Our only task is to help the Syrian people and the country's legitimate government fight terrorism Vladimir Putin

Territory near Kweiris Airbase has been liberated from ISIS in a fresh push by President Bashar al-Assad's forces to help alleviate the pressure on the besieged city. Syrian troops are also believed to be preparing for a major assault on the terrorist group al-Nusra Front, in the hope of ending the siege of al-Zahra and Nubl in northwestern Aleppo province.