Russian MoD: Syrian army, FSA repel al-Nusra attack in south de-escalation zone

The Russian Defense Ministry has stated that the Syrian government forces, jointly with the Free Syrian Army (FSA), has repelled over a thousand al-Nusra Front attacks in the southern de-escalation zone, Sputnik reports.

As a result of the attack, five Syrian soldiers were killed and 19 others injured, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

"At present, Syrian soldiers are engaged in defensive battles, the loss of government troops amounted to 5 people killed and 19 wounded. In addition, residents of these settlements were hit by terrorists," a Defense Ministry statement reads.

The ministry noted that FSA field commanders, who had earlier sided with the country's legitimate government, asked Damascus for help via the Russian Center of Syrian Reconciliation.