Putin: Russian operation in Syria is time-limited, has achieved impressive results

Astana, SANA – The Russian military forces have achieved “impressive results” in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted on Friday.

“Attacking the targets previously agreed with the Syrians from the air and sea, our troops have achieved impressive results. They destroyed hundreds of operation centers and ammunition depots, hundreds of terrorists and large numbers of military equipment,” Putin said at the meeting of the Council of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Heads of State in Kazakhstan.

He recalled that the operation of the Russian Aerospace Forces involving Caspian Flotilla ships “fully conforms to international law and is absolutely legitimate, since it is carried out on the basis of the official request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.”

The operation, he added, “has strictly defined frames, aircraft and other means are used exclusively for attacking terrorist groups. There are also time limits coinciding with the Syrian forces’ offensive operations against terrorists.”

The Russian president pointed out that Russia has “managed to establish business contacts with the Middle East countries,” clarifying that Russia is now in talks with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, and other countries and tries to establish cooperation with the United States and Turkey.

He reiterated Moscow’s commitment to creating a broad coalition to fight against terrorism and called on all the parties concerned to join the work of the information center in Baghdad.

“According to various estimates, already between 5,000 and 7,000 descendants from Russia and other CIS countries are fighting on the side of ISIS. Of course, we cannot allow that they use today’s experience in Syria later in our home,” Putin said .

Putin stressed the growing need for cooperation in countering international terrorism and in the framework of the CIS, the alliance of former Soviet states.

Putin said that CIS countries should be ready to counter attempts of terrorists to break into Central Asia and stressed that it is necessary to closely monitor the situation near the CIS external borders, noting the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.

Reem/H.Said

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