Russia <x0)

Moscow is concerned by Washington's plans for strengthening the US military base in al-Tanf, where a heavily armed team has arrived, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, “Sputnik International” Transmission Periscope.

“We are still concerned about reports that the United States and its allies have consolidated their illegal military presence on the territory of sovereign Syria. Particularly, a heavily armed military team has arrived in the US-built area around Father Tanf's settlements in the country's southeast,” said Zakharova.

The US military base has been located at the al-Tanf city border, where Syrian troops and opposition forces are being trained by Americans. The Al-Rukban refugee camp is designated as a secure “zone”.

At the end of November last year, the head of the Russian centre for hiring Russian parties in Syria, Lieutenant General Sergei Kuralenko, has reported that the US has surrounded a 55km area in the city of al-Tanfi by isolating more than 50,000 people.

“Operation of counterterrorism in eastern Gutan is in conclusion, only the city of Doumas is still under the control of militants,” said Zakharova.

A significant part of the civilian population have left the city where assistance has been secured by the Russian Army, she added.

“Negotiations are under way on the possibility of a peaceful transfer of control over the city to Syrian government forces,” Zakharova stressed./Periscopi/