Russia's defence ministry said Monday that the country was poised to transform its naval facility in the Syrian port city of Tartus into a permanent base. Meanwhile, Syrian government forces are keeping up their assault on rebel-held eastern Aleppo.

A UK-based monitor says government forces have taken control of the Jandul crossroads in the northeast of Aleppo. Russia on Saturday vetoed a French-drafted U-N resolution demanding an end to the bombing. Moscow's rival plan on a truce was also rejected.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday said Russia had the means to protect its assets in Syria in case of bombing raids by the US.