MOSCOW, February 22. /TASS/. The Russian military will push ahead with assistance to Syria’s government troops in the struggle against terrorists, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news briefing on Wednesday.

"The Russian armed forces will go ahead with providing support for the Syrian government army in its resistance to the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra," Zakharova said.

She appreciated the efforts by Russian engineering troops to clear eastern Aleppo of mines. She offered condolences to the families of the four Russian military specialists, who were killed when a remote-controlled landmine destroyed their vehicle in Homs province on February 16.

The military and political situation in Syria remains strained as government forces continue combat operations in Homs and Aleppo provinces and around Daraa.

"As far as combat operations are concerned, the situation in Syria has undergone no considerable change. The military and political situation in Aleppo and Homs provinces remains complicated."

The situation around Daraa, in southern Syria, is very serious.

"The groups operating under the former Nusra-led Assembly for the Liberation of the Levant go ahead with continued attempts to force Syrian government troops out of the city’s quarters," Zakharova said. "Jabhat Fateh al-Sham [new name of Jabhat al-Nusra] has mounted a mortar attack on residential areas in Daraa. The building of a local hospital was strongly damaged."