Russia Affirms Support For Syrian Government, Says Rebels Get External Support

Maria Zakharova. (Twitter/@RussianEmbassy)

Russia announced on Wednesday that Moscow strongly supports the Syrian government's action to counter attacks by so-called terrorist groups that receive support, including unmanned aircraft and training, from abroad.

"We strongly condemn this attack. No doubt, they will not dare to take such brave action without the push and overall support of external forces seeking to provoke a new chapter of armed confrontation in Syria, sparking a spiral of violence," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters., reported Reuters December 4.

Russia is the main ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has given him military support since 2015 in the country's civil war.

"We express solidarity with the Syrian leadership," Zakharova said.

"We strongly support the efforts of the Syrian authorities to fight terrorist groups and restore constitutional order."

Zakharova said, without providing evidence, the rebels, including some of the former Soviet countries, had received drones from Ukraine and training on how to operate them.

As previously reported, rebel groups in Syria reportedly managed to control several areas in Aleppo, Syria's second largest city. last week.

This is the largest attack on the Syrian government in recent years and the first time the rebels have fought President Bashar al-Assad's troops have reached Aleppo since being forced out by a joint army of the government, Russia and Iran in 2016.