A delegation of Russian lawmakers will head to Syria on Thursday

MOSCOW (Sputnik) � A delegation of�Russian lawmakers will head to�Syria on�Thursday, where they will meet President Bashar Assad and other officials, a member of�Russia�s upper house said Wednesday.

"We are planning to�meet Syrian President Bashar Assad, the leadership of�the Syrian Arab Republic�s parliament, have talks with�colleagues," Dmitry Sablin, who will head the delegation, told RIA Novosti.

The lawmakers could also travel with�humanitarian aid, such as�medicines and baby food, for�refugees displaced by�the four-year civil war, the lawmaker said.

The delegation may meet with�Russian servicemen taking part in�the Aerospace Forces counterterrorism operation in�Syria.

Syria has been mired in�civil war since�2011, with�the government troops fighting against�numerous opposition factions and militant groups.

Russia has been launching airstrikes against�the terrorist positions since�September 30.

In May, Sablin headed a Russian delegation to�Syria. The delegation met Syrian officials and representatives of�religious communities. The Russian parliamentarians first visited Syria in�January 2014 and met Assad.

By Sputnik News