The Russian Defense Ministry says one of its generals, who was serving as an adviser to Syrian government troops, has been killed near the eastern Syrian city of Deir al-Zour, according to state news agency TASS.
The ministry was quoted as saying on September 24 that Lieutenant General Valery Asapov "was at a command post of Syrian troops, assisting the Syrian commanders in the operation for the liberation of the city of Deir al-Zour," when he was “mortally wounded" by mortar shelling by the extremist group Islamic State (IS).
The ministry added that Asapov would be posthumously decorated for his service.
Russia and the United States back separate military offensives in the Syrian war, both of which are advancing against IS militants in the east of the country near Iraq.
Russia has been assisting government forces in an assault on Deir al-Zour from the west.