The announcement was made by Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, in a speech at a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday during which he said Moscow had proof of the assistance that the Takfiri terrorist group was receiving.

"We have amassed evidence that weapons are being smuggled from outside, including through semi-legal organizations or even under protection of security agencies from other countries," Nebenzia said. 

The terrorists were also receiving funds "from outside sponsors, acting under the guise of charity funds, religious organizations, and other non-governmental structures,” he added. The group, the envoy said, was seeking to diversify its crippled sources of income.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the ambassador said Syria had now retrieved control of more than 96 percent of its territory. However, he emphasized that Daesh was still eyeing government-controlled areas, most notably the northwestern Idlib Province, and was recruiting children into its activities.

Daesh terrorists "are going all-in, often dragging minors into conducting terrorist acts, including kids younger than 12. Quite possibly the frequency of terrorist attacks, especially in the Idlib area, may increase,” Nebenzia warned.

He further cautioned that al-Qaeda could start filling the void left by Daesh.

"Our assessment is that al-Qaeda and its allies may take the initiative, becoming an obstacle to a peaceful settlement in Syria, as Daesh continues to crumble," he said.