Syria condemns targeting of Russian journalists in Latakia

Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi condemned the targeting of Russian journalists by the rebels in the coastal province of Latakia in northwestern Syria on Tuesday, according to state news agency SANA.

"The targeting of the Russian journalists is a desperate attempt by the terror groups to hid the truth from the public opinion, which has become aware of the role and nature of such terrorist groups," al-Zoubi was cited by SANA as saying.

Earlier in the day, Russian Defense Ministry said three Russian journalists were slightly injured when a missile landed near their car while traveling on the road to a village in the government-controlled province of Latakia.

"Today's crime should be added to the record of the armed terrorist groups and the countries that support and arm them, on top of which are Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar," al-Zoubi said.

Russian journalists have started pouring into the country by Russian aircrafts under the authority of the Russian Defense Ministry to cover the Russian airstrikes that have started pounding the militant groups' positions in Syria since late September.

Still, al-Zoubi didn't comment on the Turkish downing of the Russian warplane near the Syrian-Turkish borders earlier on Tuesday.

The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that a Su-24 warplane crashed in Syria, after it was hit by the Turkish air force, which claimed that the Russian plane violated the Turkish airspace, an allegation totally dismissed by Moscow, which said the plane was flying inside the Syrian airspace. Endit