The Russian military has confirmed that three of its soldiers were killed in an ambush in Syria late last month.
A total of 112 Russian soldiers were killed in the three years since Moscow intervened in the Syrian civil war in support of government forces, a Russian lawmaker estimated in September 2018. Media reports place the total number of Russian soldiers killed in Syria at 175.
The three Russian servicemen were caught in an ambush while driving in the eastern Syrian region of Deir Al-Zor in late February and were reported missing after the ensuing battle, the Defense Ministry said in a statement Monday.
A group of more than 30 militants involved in the ambush was eliminated in a joint campaign by the Aerospace Forces and special-forces troops, the Defense Ministry said.
The bodies of the three servicemen, who were not identified by the Defense Ministry, have been delivered back to Russia.
The BBC Russian Service reported two weeks ago that Russian soldiers had been ambushed in Deir Al-Zor on Feb. 22.
