Russia vows to block Daesh from escaping Raqqa

Russia has promised to prevent the escape of any Daesh militants from the group’s de-facto capital, Raqqa.

An email sent by the Defence Ministry in Moscow today said that Russia will “continue to take all necessary measures to stop Islamic State [Daesh] units from breaking out of Raqqa” and that “the Russian Air Force in Syria has the means to destroy terrorists at any time.”

These words come days after Russian planes destroyed a convoy of Daesh militants and weaponry on its way towards the ancient city of Palmyra, destroying 32 pick-up trucks and killing 100 fighters in the attack.

Read more: Russia in cruise missile strike on Daesh in Syria

Russian airstrikes again destroyed another convoy of over 36 vehicles and killed 80 militants as they attempted to make the same trip under the cover of darkness on the night of 29 May.

Yesterday, Russia also fired four cruise missiles from a warship at Daesh targets near Palmyra.

The increased Russian offensive on Daesh coincides with the preparation of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to launch their offensive to capture the city of Raqqa this summer.