At least 3000 Russian servicemen arrived at the northern Syrian city of Aleppo to help the Syrian Army fight jihadi groups in and around the embattled city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) claimed.

The UK-based monitoring group added that the Russian fighters have arrived over the past four weeks and transported to the government-held As-Safira city in the northeast of Aleppo.

Al Masdar News hasn’t been able to verify the authenticity of this claim.

Battles are expected to re-erupt after the 7-day nationwide ceasefire was declared officially over by the Syrian Army’s command due to repeated violations by rebel groups.