“Such targets”, he said, “must be immediately destroyed”.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Friday that he has provided weapons, air cover and supplies to a key Western-backed Syrian opposition group.
Alexei Druzhinin/AP Russian President Vladimir Putin said that while his country supports Syrian government forces, its military also has provided air cover, weapons and supplies to some units of the Free Syrian Army, an opposition group. Putin also disclosed that the Russian army now supports the Free Syrian Army, without going into details.
“We support it from the air, as well as the Syrian army, we assist them with weapons, ammunition and provide material support”, Putin added. Putin said the Russian military action helped change the…
“This is a result of work by the Ministry of Defense, General Staff officers, Russian Air Force pilots and the Russian Navy”, he added. “Any target threatening a Russian grouping or our ground infrastructure needs to be immediately destroyed”, Putin said.
Moscow has imposed a series of economic sanctions on Ankara after Turkish fighter jets shot down a Su-24 bomber on the Syrian border on November 24.
The influence of Islamic State is increasing in Syria, where militants control around 70 percent of the country, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday.
“We can say with absolute confidence that significant damage has been inflicted upon ammunition warehouses and a mine production plant, as well as the oil infrastructure”, Shoigu said.
” “We have already taken additional measures to ensure security of Russian servicemen and air base”.
“Special attention should be paid to strengthening the combat potential of the strategic nuclear forces and implementing defense space programs”, continued Putin during the meeting.
The Russian military operation in Syria is not motivated by geopolitical interests or a desire to test new weapons.
Without naming Turkey, Mr Putin said the military should respond in full force to any “further provocations”.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s foreign minister said his country is refraining from responding to Russian efforts to hit back over the warplane, but added that Turkey’s patience is not without limits.
This has been the stated goal of Russia’s aerial intervention in the Syrian civil war since operations began on September 30.
“I won’t give exact figures now because this will be said by the defense minister in his report, but I’ll say the main thing”.
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Putin’s call for a tougher military response is also likely to cause concern among monitors who have repeatedly accused Russian Federation of conducting an indiscriminate bombing campaign and killing civilians in Syria.
