Syrian army starts using new Russian weapons: report

The Syrian army has started using newly-received Russian weapons, the pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV said Thursday.

"The new weaponry sent by Russia are of high and precise efficiency and the Syrian army has started getting trained to use them," the TV said, citing Syrian military sources.

The TV didn't elaborate on where exactly the new weapons were deployed.

Russian officials have recently stressed that Moscow will continue providing military aid to Damascus, and that the military support will be accompanied by Russian specialists.

"There were military supplies. They are ongoing and they will continue," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Sunday. "They are inevitably accompanied by Russian specialists, who help to adjust the equipment, to train Syrian personnel how to use these weaponry."

Russia says the military aid is aimed at combating terrorism in accordance with international law.

Syria is reeling under four years of conflict and intense battles between government troops and an array of ultra-radical groups such as the Nursra Front and the Islamic State (IS). Endit