Russian TV reporter in Syria killed in Islamic State attack
dpa
DAMASCUS (dpa) - A Russian television reporter was killed on Sunday in an Islamic State attack in central Syria, media and military sources reported.
Syrian state news agency SANA reported that Khaled al-Khateeb, a reporter for the Arabic service of Russia Today television, was killed by Islamic State "terrorists" while he was covering the Syrian army's operation on the eastern edge of Homs province.
Russia Today said on its website that al-Khateeb, 25, was killed by shells fired by Islamic State militants on a Syrian army position in the area.
Al-Khateeb came from Hama in central Syria, media reported.
A Syrian army officer was also killed in Sunday's attack that injured a Russia Today cameraman and another Syrian officer, a military source in the area told dpa.
In recent weeks, Syrian forces, backed by Russian air power, have intensified an offensive aimed at retaking the town of al-Sukhna, which is Islamic State's last stronghold in Homs.
Al-Sukhna has been under Islamic State control since 2015.
In March, Syrian forces backed by Russian airstrikes recaptured the ancient town of Palmyra from Islamic State.
The extremist group has suffered military setbacks in recent months and lost ground in Syria and neighbouring Iraq.
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Al-Khateeb came from Hama in central Syria, media reported.
A Syrian army officer was also killed in Sunday's attack that injured a Russia Today cameraman and another Syrian officer, a military source in the area told dpa.
In recent weeks, Syrian forces, backed by Russian air power, have intensified an offensive aimed at retaking the town of al-Sukhna, which is Islamic State's last stronghold in Homs.
Al-Sukhna has been under Islamic State control since 2015.
In March, Syrian forces backed by Russian airstrikes recaptured the ancient town of Palmyra from Islamic State.
The extremist group has suffered military setbacks in recent months and lost ground in Syria and neighbouring Iraq.
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