The Russian air force has hit militants' base northeast of Palmyra in Syria, killing up to 200 militants, as the Russian Defence Ministry said.

Iran PressMiddle East: At least 200 terrorists were killed and 24 vehicles carrying terrorist ammunition, as well as nearly 500 kilograms of hand grenade ammunition, were destroyed in the attack, said Alexander Karbov, deputy director of the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria.

"After confirming data through multiple channels on the location of terrorist facilities, Russian Aerospace Forces aircraft carried out airstrikes," the ministry said in a statement.

According to Karbov, the Russian Air Force has targeted a terrorist training base.

Russia has had a military presence in Syria since mid-2015 at the official request of the Syrian government, using its air force to bomb terrorist positions and support ground operations by the Syrian military.

The crisis in Syria began in 2011 with a widespread offensive by terrorist groups backed by Saudi Arabia, the United States and their allies to shift the regional equation in favor of Israel. Syria subsequently called on Russia and Iran to help Damascus fight terrorists. 219