Syria completely liberated from ISIL terrorists

DAMASCUS, (Patria) - The mission of the Russian army in Syria "has been completed" and Syrian territory is "completely liberated" from IS, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday.

- The mission of the Russian army to destroy the armed terrorist group has been completed - the ministry announced at a meeting with journalists, adding that today "there is not a single locality or region in Syria under the control of the Islamic State".

- Syrian territory is totally liberated from the members of this terrorist organization - added General Sergey Rudskoy from the Russian General Staff at that meeting with journalists.

According to General Rudskoy, "unprecedented" air strikes were carried out in recent days in the area of Bukamal, the last important locality in the hands of the Islamic State, with Russian planes making 100 sorties and 250 strikes daily.

Russian special forces were also active, conducting air strikes and "destroying the most daring leaders of the fighter groups behind enemy lines", he said.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, IS still controls eight percent of the Deir Ezor province, compared to almost the entire territory a few months ago.