MOSCOW, June 7. /TASS/. The Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) is violently quelling protests of civilians in Syria, while arrests of journalists have resumed, the deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria, Rear Adm. Oleg Zhuravlev, said on Tuesday.
"The Jabhat al-Nusra group violently cracks down protests of the civilian population, while arrests of media workers, Islamic clergy and secular opposition members have resumed. Illegal armed groups have stepped up their provocative shelling attacks on positions held by forces of the Syrian government," Zhuravlev said.
Besides, terrorists have stepped up their activities in the Idlib de-escalation zone, the deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria said.
"The tendency for further deterioration remains in place in the Idlib de-escalation zone. Radical groups are stepping up their terrorist activities, the number of clashes between various armed groups is growing," he said.
One Syrian serviceman was injured in the Aleppo governorate during a mortar shelling targeting Syrian government troops in the Kafer Khalab district, carried out by terrorists based in the Maaret district. Another serviceman was injured in a similar attack in the Rwaiha district of the Idlib governorate. Besides, one serviceman was killed by a sniper in the Mortlu district of Latakia.