Story By:  Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency:  Newsflash

This is the moment Russian troops carry out a baffling training day with elite special ops forces in Syria.

Russian squads joined forces with members of the Arab state’s 25th Special Mission Forces Division, nicknamed the Tigers.

The exercise – staged in the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR) – showed off an array of curious techniques that might have seemed more at home in a Mad Max movie.

At one point in the official footage, a Syrian soldier slides head first down a zip wire with two national flags streaming behind him.

Another clip shows two-man motorcycle assault teams speeding out of a helicopter with the pillion passengers kneeling on the seat taking aim with an assault rifle.

Other edits show troops jumping through hoops of fire like a circus act.

The Russian MoD said on 14th June: “The ‘Tigers’ Special Forces Division held joint exercises with the Russian unit of troops in the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR).

“Helicopters, fighter jets and combat crews on motorcycles were involved in the exercises.

“The ‘Tigers’ Special Forces Division is considered one of the most combat-ready in the Syrian army.”