HMEIMIM AIRFIELD (Syria). Sept 12 (Interfax) - Syrian troops are crushing ISIL (banned in Russia) in a number of Deir-ez-Zor districts, chief of staff of the Russian military contingent in Syria Lt. Gen. Alexander Lapin told reporters on Tuesday.
"The liberation of the city is proceeding. Syrian troops are finalizing the defeat of the ISIL group blocking the northern and southern districts of Deir-ez-Zor," Lapin said.
Syrian troops led by Gen. Suheil al-Hassan liberated Deir-ez-Zor city, which had been besieged by ISIL for over three years, on September 5, he said.