Russian general killed in Syria 'held senior post' in Assad's army

Lieutenant-General Valery Asapov became the highest ranking Russian military officer to be killed in Syria, after he died of wounds sustained from a mortar shelling by Islamic State [IS] group near Deir az-Zour. 

The 51-year-old was the chief of staff of Russian troops in Syria and later became the commander of Syria’s Fifth Corps of volunteers, Russian chief of general staff Valery Gerasimov said in a speech at Asapov's funeral.

"He worked as the chief of staff of the group of our forces and then was in command of the Fifth Corps of volunteers ... A treacherous shell cut short his life," Gerasimov said.

Asapov was listed as a chief military adviser on paper but it was clear he was the de facto commander of Syria's Fifth Corps, a security specialist who worked in Syria alongside Russian and Syrian military said, according to Reuters.

The Syrian Fifth Attack Corps of volunteers, which was created late in 2016, was armed and advised by the Russians, who have been backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in the country's brutal civil war.

Hundreds - mostly military personnel - attended Asapov's funeral on Wednesday, which was held at the Federal Military Memorial Cemetery.

Garlands with Russian and Arabic inscriptions were sent by Assad, Syrian military commanders and ministers.

Asapov's position in the Syrian army shows the extent to which Moscow has gained a key leadership role in the Assad regime.

Russia's military intervention in Syria began with the bombing of rebel positions in September 2015. 

Since then it has bolstered regime forces on the ground with hundreds of airstrikes, which have killed thousands of civilians, destroyed hospitals and homes.