In the last hour, the Russian Embassy in Syria has launched an appeal to citizens urging them to leave the country.

In a brief statement on Telegram, the embassy cites the “difficult military-political situation” as it advises Russian citizens to “leave the country on commercial flights through existing airports”.

Moscow is a key supporter of the Syrian government and has helped prop up President Assad’s regime.

Only last week, Russian strikes targeted the rebel- held northwestern city of Idlib in an attempt to slow down rebel forces threatening the Basha al-Assad regime.

And earlier this week, Ukraine intelligence suggested Vladimir Putin was planning to “send mercenaries from ‘private military companies’ to the Middle Eastern country to help them”.

Rebels ‘just 1km’ from major city of Homs, says war monitor

Rebel fighters have taken control of al-Dar Al-Kaberah near Homs, according to UK-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

The town is just 1km from the military academy in Homs, which is the largest military academy in Syria.

At the same time, says SOHR, many officers and members of the 26th Division, an air-defence battalion, have withdrawn from Ter Maalah, north of Homs.