The Latest: Russian planes back Syria’s battle for Palmyra

Syrian chief negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari, 2nd left, Ambassador of the Permanent Representative Mission of the Syria to UN New York, and UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Staffan de Mistura, 2nd right, attend a round of negotiations between the Syrian government and U.N., at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, March 18, 2016. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/pool photo via AP) Syrian chief negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari, 2nd left, Ambassador of the Permanent Representative Mission of the Syria to UN New York, and UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Staffan de Mistura, 2nd right, attend a round of negotiations between the Syrian government and U.N., at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, March 18, 2016. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/pool photo via AP)

By Associated Press March 18, 2016 2 min read

BEIRUT (AP) – The Latest on the conflict in Syria as U.N.-brokered peace talks in Geneva carry on into their fifth day (all times local):

4 p.m.

Russia’s Defense Ministry says its warplanes in Syria are flying in support of the Syrian army’s offensive to try recapture ancient city of Palmyra from the Islamic State group.

Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi says Russian aircraft based in Syria are conducting 20-25 sorties a day in support of the Syrian military’s offensive.

That’s despite a Russian drawdown in Syria that President Vladimir Putin ordered this week in support of the Geneva talks.