Russia, Syria fly first joint anti-terror mission

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian and Syrian jets have flown their first mission together over Syria, Sky News reports citing Russia's Defense Ministry.

A pair of Syrian MiG-29 warplanes escorted two Su-25 jets during Thursday, January 14’s mission.

The defense ministry released a video showing the Russian ground attack aircraft taking off from Hemeimeem air base and being joined by the MiGs.

Russia has been flying combat missions in Syria since 30 September.

Meanwhile, people on the verge of starvation in the besieged Syrian city of Madaya have received 44 more truckloads of food and aid, as the UN chief said using starvation as a weapon was a "war crime".

Many people in the town of 40,000 have been struggling to survive amid a siege by government forces, with some reportedly forced to eat leaves and pets.

A separate convoy of 17 trucks also arrived in the besieged towns of Fuaa and Kafraya, according to the International Red Cross. Those towns are being surrounded by rebel troops.