Putin: “More Than 90% of Syria’s Territory Is Free from Terrorists’

MOSCOW- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that “more than 90% of the Syrian territory has been free from terrorists.”

“I would like once again to thank our military servicemen who take part in the counterterrorism operation in Syria. It was possible to radically reverse the situation thanks to their courage, precise and professional actions and valor. More than 90% of Syria’s territory is already free from terrorists,” the president said at a meeting with senior officers and prosecutors on the occasion of appointing them to higher ranks, conferring higher military and civil service ranks upon them, Itar Tass reported.

 He recalled that the de-escalation zones are being set up in concert with the Syrian authorities, while the political settlement and national reconciliation process is gaining momentum.

“Military operations against terrorists, and, let me emphasize that these are not some poorly organized gangs, these are well-equipped, trained and generously sponsored and motivated groups, have shown that the capabilities of the Russian Aerospace Forces, our army and navy have qualitatively increased. We need to push ahead with efforts to boost this potential, introduce new weapon systems and improve the effectiveness of combat training,” Putin noted.

Moscow to Washington: “Your presence in Syria is illegal”

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reaffirmed her country’s position on the issue of the intervention of the Washington-led international “anti-ISIS” coalition in Syria, pointing out that its presence under the pretext of fighting terrorism is illegal due to not being approved by the legitimate Syrian government.

During the weekly session on Thursday, Zakharova pointed out that there are certain parties who always try to exploit the humanitarian issue in Syria for political purposes in order to put pressure on the Syrian government and its allies in the fight against terrorism, according to Fort-Russ.com.

She noted that the Russian Coordination Center in Hmeimim in Lattakia province this year alone provided more than 45 tons of humanitarian aid to the civilians living in the embattled Damascene district of Eastern Ghouta (the latter has is included within de-escalation zones).

Zakharova reminded that the EU sanctions against Syria are only worsening the humanitarian crisis in the country as they are preventing delivery of crucial medications and basic supplies to the Syrians in need.

She then called on the humanitarian organizations to provide aid to all areas in need in Syria.

Before finishing her speech, Zakharova noted that those who sponsor the terrorists in Syria, are doing it deliberately in order to harm the political process in the country and prevent the delivering of humanitarian aid, while also noting how they’re maintaining the hotbeds of chaos and instability by the help of their assests, such as the notorious “White Helmets” who are spreading fake rumors and deceiving the public in order to undermine efforts of those who truly fight against terrorism.

H.M