4 Russian servicemen killed in Syria

At least four Russian servicemen were killed in Syria after they were shelled by militants, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed on Sunday.

"Two Russian military advisers, who controlled fire of the Syrian battery, died at the scene. Five other Russian military were wounded and immediately taken to a Russian military hospital. The military doctors had been fighting for the life of two wounded servicemen, but they did not manage to save them," Russian news agency TASS, quoted the ministry, as saying.

The fighting occurred in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor.

"During the fighting, which lasted for nearly an hour, the military destroyed 43 terrorists and six all-terrain vehicles with large-caliber armaments installed on them," the ministry added.

Russia has been participating in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) and insurgent groups in Syria since September 2015 at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Syrian rebel groups and militant organizations still control parts of northwestern and southwestern Syria, while a Kurdish-led alliance backed by the United States holds most of the northeast.