Russian commandos carrying out operations in Syria, top general says
The commander of the Russian forces in Syria, Col. Gen. Alexander Dvornikov, said in an interview published Wednesday that Russian commandos are carrying out special operations on Syrian soil, together with the Syrian army, and have engaged in intelligence-gathering operations to pinpoint targets for airstrikes by the Russian air force. He also said that the Syrian army is advancing toward the town of Palmyra held by ISIS, and that the capture of the town would open the way to Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and the Iraqi border.