Syrian rebel groups call for alliance against Russian military intervention

Several Syrian rebel groups called on regional countries to form an alliance against the Russian-led coalition pummelling them, according to a statement released Monday.

In the statement, over 41 rebel groups, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham Movement, deemed the Russian military intervention in Syria as an "occupation," and urged regional countries to form a coalition in order to face the Russian-led coalition which also includes Iran, Iraq and Syria.

The statement reflected the rebel groups' resentment, who are on the receiving end of a strong pounding by Russian airstrikes.

Russian warplanes started Wednesday their airstrikes against rebel posts in several Syrian areas, marking the first Russian military involvement in the war on terrorist groups in Syria.

Damascus confirmed it asked Russia for military aid, saying that Russia's air force aid has come upon the request of President Bashar al-Assad, according to the state news agency SANA.

Russian leadership has recently amplified its military aid to Syria's military forces. Russian officials have recently stressed that Moscow will continue to provide military aid, including specialists, to Damascus.

Russian airstrikes targeted several jihadi groups' posts across Syria Monday, reported the pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV.

"Massive explosions" were heard during the Russian airstrikes against the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front posts in Kafr Halab and Base 46 in the northern province of Aleppo, said the report, adding that Russian warplanes also struck targets belonging to Jaish al-Fateh rebels in the nearby Koerse airbase, besieged by the rebels for a long time.

Russian airstrikes targeted Islamic State (IS) posts in the Qaryatain and Jabal Batra areas in the central province of Homs, in addition to areas in the eastern side of the mountainous region of Qalamoun, north of the capital Damascus, near Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the state news agency SANA cited the Russian Defense Ministry as saying that 25 Russian airstrikes targeted nine IS posts across Syria over the past 24 hours.

It added that Syria's air force also struck IS posts in the eastern countryside of Aleppo as well as the city of Bab near Turkey.

SANA said the Syrian military operations in Aleppo killed hundreds of rebels Sunday.

Russian officials said increasing military supplies aims to combat terrorism in accordance with international law. Endit