Militants from the Syrian province of Idlib are preparing new provocations with the use of poisonous substances, the head of the Russian center for reconciliation of conflicting sides in Syria, Lt. Gen. Vladimir Savchenko, told reporters on Thursday.

"Judging by information received by the Russian Reconciliation Center, militants of the Ahrar al-Sham and Jaysh al-Izza are preparing for new provocations with the use of poisonous substances," Savchenko said.

According to the Russian official, terrorists delivered two containers with chlorine to the town of Qalaat al-Madiq, some 20 km west of the city of Hama.

"The militants plan to use the poisonous substance to stage the use of chemical weapons against civilians by the Syrian government troops," he said.

Savchenko also said that illegal armed groups operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone continue to violate the ceasefire. In the past 24 hours, they shelled the towns of Rweiset Iskandar in Latakia and Tell Marak in the province of Hama.

"As a result of shelling in Tell Marak, three servicemen of the Syrian army were killed and four injured," he added.