MOSCOW, April 11. /TASS/. The Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) in Syria is planning a major offensive with the aim to cut the road between Aleppo and Damascus, the chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff, Sergey Rudskoy, has said.
"We have reliable information that a large-scale offensive operation is being planned with the aim to cut the road connecting Aleppo and Damascus," Rudskoy told a news briefing on Monday.
He said Jabhat al-Nusra (outlawed in Russia) was conducting active combat operations in the south and north of Aleppo Province. Its gangs have seized El-Es and Zerba. Also, Rudskoy said, in the north of Aleppo militants were pushing ahead with attacks near Sheikh Maksoud and al-Zagra. The offensive against Khandrat is continuing.
"Syria’s northern areas may be besieged again, if these operations by terrorists are not upset. The Syrian army and Russian aircraft have not focused on disrupting these plans of Jabhat al-Nusra gangs. There are no plans for storming Aleppo," Rudskoy said.