A Russian major general was killed and two servicemen wounded when an improvised explosive device went off near a Russian convoy in eastern Syria on Tuesday, i24News reported Tuesday.

Moscow said the device went off while the convoy was returning from a humanitarian operation near the city of Deir ez-Zur.

The statement, released on Russian news agencies Interfax, RIA Novosti and TASS, said the three servicemen were wounded in the blast and that a "senior military advisor with the rank of major general" died while being evacuated and provided with medical assistance.

i24News