At least 60 Russian marines have reportedly joined the Syrian forces battling the Islamic State (Isis) terrorists in Palmyra, a UNESCO heritage site in Homs province.
According to a report in a Syrian news source, the Russian marines are now coordinating an attack in an Isis region in Tadmur.
The Russian forces are believed to leading an attack against Isis along with the Syrian Arab Army's 67th Brigade of the 18th Tank Division and the National Defence Forces (NDF) of Homs City, reported Al Masdar News.
According to the report, the Russian marines helped the Syrian forces to launch a counter-offensive to recapture Al-Bayarat from Isis. [Also read: Russia deploys elite Spetsnaz forces to hunt down Isis in Syria]
Last month, reports had emerged that Russia has deployed several of its attack helicopters and its artillery on the Tadmur front to counter Isis.
Russia, along with Syria, now seems to be concentrating its fire-power, especially on this region as the ancient city of Palmyra has some of major gas fields, which supply electricity to Damascus.
It is reported that besides Mi-24 attack helicopters and one Mi-8 utility helicopter, a unit of 120th Artillery Brigade (believed to be Russian) is deployed at a Syrian Arab Army (SAA) base in the south with six 152 mm 2A65 Msta-B towed howitzers near Palmyra.
