Russia to send combat engineers and dog handlers to mine clearing in Palmyra, Syria TASS 3290316

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The Conflict in Syria
 
Russia to send combat engineers and dog handlers to mine clearing in Palmyra, Syria
Russia will send about 100 combat engineers and dog handlers to conduct mine-clearing operations in Palmyra in Syria, a military and diplomatic source told TASS on Tuesday.
     
Russia to send combat engineers and dog handlers to mine clearing in Palmyra Syria 640 001Mine explosion in Syria. (Picture © Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS)
     

"The number of combat engineers and dog handlers will total about 100," the source said. The mine-clearing operation in Palmyra will last several months at least. The first groups of Russian combat engineers have already been dispatched to Syria.

According to the source, the Russian servicemen will conduct terrain reconnaissance together with Syria’s governmental forces before starting the mine-clearing operation in Palmyra.

"When our and Syrian servicemen complete terrain reconnaissance, the mine-clearing operation in Palmyra will start. The mine-clearing operation is expected to last several months at least," the source said.

According to the source, the combat engineers will demine the historical part of the city, its residential areas and approaches.

"It will be a difficult operation," the source said. According to the source, Russian engineer units have successful experience in accomplishing similar tasks in the former Yugoslavia and the North Caucasus.

On Monday, Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov said that sappers with robots and sniffer dogs for mine detection would be dispatched from Russia to Syria. He also invited other countries to join the Palmyra mine clearing operation.
     
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