Valeriy Sharifulin/TASS
Russian military instructors have trained 1,200 Syrian recruits and reservists at the Dreij training center located near Damascus, the Russian state-run news agency TASS reported on Thursday citing Syrian Army General Mansoor Nabih.
“Thanks [to the Russian instructors], we have trained military servicemen who will participate in the upcoming offensives towards the positions of the Islamic State terror group,” TASS quoted the general as saying. “A total of 1,200 people have been trained.“
Gen Nabih added that Russian-trained troops participated in the liberation of Palmyra and the offensives in Raqqah, Deir Ezzor and Aleppo provinces.
According to a Russian military instructor named Alexei, a training course lasts 15 to 20 days. Initially, all soldiers receive a general training. Then separate groups of soldiers receive weapons training, tactical course, engineering or medical training.
“While working with Syrian troops, we have achieved outstanding results in weapons training, engineering and tactical training,” the instructor said according to TASS. “The troops have acquired good weapons skills that could be used during offensive and defensive operations. They are ready to defend their country, their morale is high.”
