Moscow: At least 26 Syrian forces and nine Russian troops were killed in an Islamic State group's attack in Syria's eastern desert earlier this week.
This was reported by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights today. It said the jihadists had targeted a group of Syrian and allied Russian troops in Deir Ezzor province on Wednesday.
Russia's defence ministry said today that four Russian servicemen had been killed in an incident in Deir Ezzor but did not give a date.
However, Russia has admitted killing of its four soldiers.
Quoting Defence Ministry in Moscow, Interfax news agency reported that the fighting erupted after several groups of rebels attacked an artillery battery of the Syrian army.
Russian ministry said that 43 rebels had been killed in the same fighting.
AP