MOSCOW. Feb 16 (Interfax) - A high-ranking Russian military official has expressed concern over instances of ceasefire violation in several parts of Syria.
"Among the biggest concerns currently is the situation in eastern Ghouta in the suburbs of Damascus, near the city of Dara'a in the south of Syria, and in the Homs area, where clashes between warring parties using heavy weapons are being recorded to this day," deputy head of the Main Operative Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff Stanislav Gadzhimagomedov said via a video link from Astana where talks on Syria are taking place.
"We have been recording breaches on both sides," the general said.
"We note instances of infiltration by militants from Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIL (terrorist groups, both banned in Russia) of areas controlled by the moderate opposition and shelling from there of the positions of government troops to provoke them into retaliation," Gadzhimagomedov said.
"A case in point is the recent shell attack on Syrian army positions in the Hama province, systemic mortar fire against residential areas of Damascus and against the Russian embassy," the general said.