Russia strongly backs Syrian leadership, says rebels are getting support from outside

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday that it strongly backs the actions of the Syrian leadership to counter an offensive by what it said were terrorist groups receiving support, including drones and training, from outside the country.

"We strongly condemn this attack ... There is no doubt that they would not have dared to commit such an audacious act without the instigation and comprehensive support of external forces that seek to provoke a new round of armed confrontation in Syria, unfurl a the spiral of violence," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters.

Russia is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has provided him with military support since 2015 in the country's civil war.

"We express solidarity with the leadership of Syria," Zakharova said. "We strongly support the efforts of the Syrian authorities to counter terrorist groups and restore constitutional order."

Zakharova said, without providing evidence, that the rebels -- including some from former Soviet countries -- had received drones from Ukraine and training in how to operate them.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Lucy Papachristou and Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Alison Williams)