Russia warns of offensive by terrorists in Syria

Russian Defense Ministry on Monday warned that Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group is planning a large-scale offensive in Syria.

"It is known that Jabhat al-Nusra is to launch a large-scale offensive in order to cut off the road linking Aleppo to (the Syrian capital of) Damascus," said Sergei Rudskoi, head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Main Operational Directorate.

Rudskoi said 8,000 militants of the terrorist group have gathered in the southwest of Aleppo, and up to 1,500 militants in the north of the city.

Armed terrorist groups also appeared in several towns in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib and other regions, with tank and vehicles equipped with large-caliber machine guns, he said.

"Russian defense department addressed to U.S. counterparts by different channels for quelling such actions because it could destabilize the situation," Rudskoi said in a statement.

Noting that Jabhat al-Nusra is performing active warfare using these forces, Rudskoi urged necessary measures to stop terrorists' actions and prevent the siege of northern Syrian regions.

After withdrawal of its main air forces deployed in Syria since September 2015 to help the war-torn country fight terrorists, Russia is still striking terrorist targets and keeping coordination with the U.S.-led coalition forces.

Source: XINHUA