Russian Defense Ministry: Syrian Special Forces Train in Parachuting from Russian Aircraft

The Russian Defense Ministry stated on Thursday that the Syrian special forces conducted over 1,500 parachute jumps over the Mediterranean Sea and the provinces of Aleppo and Latakia as part of exercises carried out using Russian military aircraft. Video footage published by the ministry shows groups of Syrian troops jumping from Russian planes and helicopters, including what the ministry claimed to be the first nighttime mass landing of the Syrian Arab Army from an IL-76 aircraft. It added: "Soldiers from the Russian task force in Syria secured the comprehensive training of the Syrian special forces units." Russia is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Russian and Iranian intervention has helped to turn the tide in favor of Assad in the ongoing conflict that has lasted for more than a decade in the country.