Russian and Syrian forces have been holding joint training exercises in Syria's Latakia province for the past fortnight to prepare for fighting in neighboring rebel-held Idlib, a security source said Wednesday.
"The joint Russian-Syrian training began two weeks ago in the north of Latakia province," a regime stronghold on the country's coast, the source told AFP.
The exercises were being conducted in an area of Latakia with similar terrain to Idlib province, which is held by a coalition of rebels known as the Army of Conquest.