MOSCOW. Nov 17 (Interfax) - Syrian government forces are pursuing an offensive on Palmyra, Russia's General Staff Chief Gen. Valery Gerasimov said on Tuesday.
"Despite the stubborn resistance on the part of illegal gangs, the Syrian units continue their advance: as the result of the offensive, the government forces and militia units managed to take under control the settlement of Haddad in the central part of the country and block militants in the town of Mhin," Gerasimov said at the meeting attended by Russian President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.
"The attack is being continued by the Syrian army towards Palmyra. Since the start of the intense warfare, the assault teams advanced up to 4 kilometers into the depth and blocked the terrorists in the settlement of Maksam; currently, they are conducting battles for the control over the high points at the approaches to the city," he explained.