Russia says prevented Islamic State attack on Syria's Palmyra

Russian military aircraft struck a group of Islamic State fighters preparing an attack on Syria's Palmyra, a senior Russian army official told Russian news agencies on Wednesday.

The official, Viktor Poznikhir, said Russian armed forces had killed 250 fighters and destroyed around 15 pickups with mounted machine guns and anti-aircraft guns, Interfax reported.

"The struggle with Islamic State continues," Poznikhir said.