Russian Defense Ministry Advisor Killed By Mortar Fire In Syria

A Russian Defense Ministry Advisor is among several others who were killed by mortar fire in Syria.

The Turkish media reported four Russian generals and four Syrian generals to have been killed by opposition forces. The Russian Interfax however reported a statement by the Russian defense ministry confirming the killing of the advisor but does not include the other fatalities. Russia puts the blame on Daesh (Islamic State) militants for the attack.

The advisor was fatally wounded as a result of mortar attack by terrorists LIH military garrison stationed where one of the compounds of the Syrian army, Interfax news agency quoted Russian Defense Ministry confirming the incident Thursday.

"They (the Russian military advisers) do not participate in ground operations, they advise. The Ministry of Defence explanations were given, we are talking about the consultants and it is connected with the training of Syrian colleagues (contact) with the equipment, which is supplied to Syria under existing contracts,” Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday.

Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu cited unidentified Syrian opposition sources as saying Wednesday that four Russian generals had been killed by rebel forces in north-western Syria areas bordering Turkey.

One of the slain Russian generals, identified only as "Yuri", was reportedly coordinating regime attacks in Turkmen Mountain, Anadolu report said.

The Russian defense ministry did not mention the name or rank of the advisor killed in the attack.