A Russian security services officer was killed on assignment in the Islamic State-controlled city of Palmyra, Syria, a Russian military spokesman was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying on Thursday.
The officer was directing air strikes against IS targets, the spokesman said, Interfax reported.
?€?The serviceman died heroically, drawing fire on himself after he was found by terrorists and surrounded,?€? the spokesman was quoted by Interfax as saying.
The officer was the sixth Russian serviceman killed in Syria, according to the official tally cited by Interfax.
Islamic State is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
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