- Russian compat helicopter in Syria may have crashed due to technical malfunction
- Fighter jet that crashed near Aleppo belongs to Syrian Air Force — source
- Putin admits many drawbacks revealed in Russian combat equipment operation in Syria
- Defense ministry disproved reports about Russian plane downed in Syria’s Raqqa
- Russia radioelectronic warfare complexes proved effective in Syria — manufacturer
- Russian lawmaker comments on media reports of possible US arms supply to Syrian opposition
- Russian combat helicopter crashes in Syria — defense ministry
DAMASCUS, April 15. /TASS/. Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi has not ruled out that the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization (banned in Russia) may have received man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) from Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
"It is not ruled out that Turkey and Saudi Arabia may have supplied them, and they [militants] will start using them," al-Zoubi told reporters on Friday.
Ceasefire violations
The minister also told Russian journalists that Syria’s armed forces never violated the ceasefire regime.
"Syria’s army has not violated ceasefire agreements," he said, adding that all details of ceasefire observance are reported to the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria at Russia’s air base in Hmeimim.
"The Syrian and Russian military are closely coordinating all steps and are keeping a cloes eye on all the violations committed by certain armed groups," he said.
A ceasefire regime brokered by Russia and the United States on February 22 officially came into effect in Syria at midnight Damascus time on February 27. This does not cover terrorist groups such as Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, both outlawed in Russia, and other groups recognized as terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.
An hour before the ceasefire came into force, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution in support cessation of hostilities in Syria. The document was initiated by Russia and the United States and won support from all the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council.