ILLUSTRATIVE IMAGE
The US is preparing militant sabotage groups that would be tasked with attacks on Syrian oil infrastructure, the Russian Defense Ministry warned on July 29. According to reports, such groups have been spotted in the areas of al-Suwayda, al-Bukamal and Palmyra.
Head of the Russian General Staff’s Main Operational Department Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoi said that the US is training around 2,700 miltiants of Jaysh Maghawir al-Thawra and other militant groups. US-trained sabotage groups are being deployed in the government-held areas to destabilize the situation there.
The Russian side added that the situation is also tense in the Idlib de-escalation zone. According to Col. Gen. Rudskoi, at least 500 members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham were deployed from the northern part of the zone to southern Idlib.
He added that the Syrian Army has also repelled two militant attacks on its positions in northern Hama and southern Idlib. Around 300 fighters, 10 battle tanks and 20 vehicles armed with guns were employed by militant groups.
Click to see full-size map.
