Al-Nusra fighters seize Herbet al-Arus in northeast Latakia province - Russian defense ministry
MOSCOW. April 19 (Interfax) - The Russian military have observed more fighting on the part of militants from Jabhat al-Nusra (a terror group banned in Russia).
"We have registered a rise in the intensity of fighting on the part of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group in the northeast of the Latakia province. Twice during the day the terrorists went on the offensive against the positions of government troops," according to a statement published on the Russian Defense Ministry's website on Tuesday.
"As a result of one such attack committed after a massive artillery preparation, supported by tanks and armored vehicles, the militants were able to take hold of the village of Herbet al-Arus," according to the Russian reconciliation center in Syria.
The militants' attempt to seize Salma was repelled, it said.
"Having sustained losses during the fight, terrorists retreated to their initial positions," the ministry said.
In Damascus, Jabhat al-Nusra militants fired mortars and small arms twice against a neighborhood.