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Militants shelling Russian embassy in Damascus — General Staff

The Russian General Staff reports the situation in Damascus' quarters controlled by Jabhat al-Nusra group remains tense
The Russian embassy in Damascus Valery Sharifulin/TASS
The Russian embassy in Damascus
© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/. Militants of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organization (outlawed in Russia) are shelling the Russian embassy in Damascus from the Jobar and Qaboun districts, Head of Russia’s General Staff Main Operations Department Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoi said on Tuesday.

"The situation in the area of the city’s quarters of Jobar and Qaboun controlled by Jabhat al-Nusra groups remains tense. Precisely from these areas mortar fire continues to be delivered on the Syrian capital’s residential quarters, including the Russian embassy," Rudskoi said.

The Syrian government troops are carrying out a special operation in that area to split and destroy the terrorists’ grouping and eliminate this threat, the Russian general said.

"The situation is developing far better in another Damascus suburb, in East Qalamoun, where opposition formations who have signed a truce agreement are successfully interacting with the Syrian army," the general added.

An active reconciliation process is under way in the Damascus suburb of East Ghouta, Rudskoi said.

"Representatives of the bodies of power and leaders of self-defense groups of most populated areas in that district have signed agreements on joining the ceasefire. Under the agreement, government troops are not committed to these towns and settlements," the general said.

Nine humanitarian corridors have been organized and are operating to ensure the freedom of movement of residents and transport communication with other Syrian districts, the Russian general said.