BEIRUT: Russia is reinforcing a military airport in central Syria as a new base for its warplanes as government forces edge closer to Palmyra, a military source and monitoring group said Thursday.

“The preparation phase for the Shaayrat base is nearing its end. It is being prepared to become a Russian military base,” the military source told AFP, refusing to be named.

“A number of Russian advisers arrived in Shaayrat weeks ago,” the source said. The base “will begin being used by Russian forces before the end of this month.”

Since Moscow began airstrikes in Syria on Sept. 30, its Su-34, Su-24, Su-30 and Su-25 planes have operated out of Hmeimim base in the coastal province of Latakia.

Shaayrat lies in Syria’s central Homs province, north of several towns where government forces and allied militia backed by Russian airstrikes have been fighting Daesh.

Abdel Rahman said Russian helicopters were already using the nearby T-4 military airport to strike Daesh targets in Palmyra.

“Syrian regime forces are about three km from Palmyra and are advancing from the south and west with air cover by Russian helicopters,” he said.

The troops have also reached the edges of Al-Qaryatain, a mixed Christian-Muslim village in Homs province that IS seized in August.

The military source said Russian and Syrian aircraft had conducted at least 40 strikes in and around Al-Qaryatain in the past 24 hours.

He said there would be “an important advance” within 72 hours.