Armed opposition in Syria receives weapons from abroad: Russian DM

Armed opposition in Syria receives weapons from abroad: Russian DMSyria's armed opposition and groups of mercenaries have been supplied with arms and ammunition from abroad throughout the duration of the war in Syria, Russian Defense Minister, Army Gen. Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday.

"The war in Syria continues for almost six years. All this time, armed opposition groups and groups of mercenaries have been incessantly supplied from abroad with ammunition, armaments and and other material means required to conduct active combat operations," Shoigu said at a youth forum.

He added that illegal armed groups received some 2,450 man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), about 650 multiple rocket launchers, over 24,000 mines of various types during the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya. 

Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a civil war, with government forces fighting against numerous opposition and terrorist groups, including al-Nusra Front and ISIS.