Putin: Syrian Army Supported by Russian Forces Liberated Nearly All Country’s Territory from Terrorists

NOVO-OGARYOVO- Nearly all of Syria’s territory, including areas where Christians always lived, has been liberated from terrorists, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with heads of local Orthodox churches.

“The situation in the country [Syria] is gradually changing, Syrian troops supported by the Russian military have liberated nearly all of the country’s territory, including areas where Christians have always lived,” he said, according to Itar Tass.

 Russia will help restore the shrines of Islam and other faiths that suffered damage during the struggle with terrorists in Syria, Putin also noted.

“We’ll give assistance to Christians and to representatives of other faiths, including Moslems who, as all of us know perfectly well, also suffered seriously at the hands of criminals, terrorists and radicals,” Putin said at a meeting with heads of delegations of local [national] Eastern Orthodox Churches.

On Friday, Putin expressed hope that the Russian Orthodox Church, with reliance on its authority in the world, will be able to promote concerted action by the international community for the sake of Syria’s revival, for providing humanitarian assistance to its citizens and for restoring its ruined cultural and spiritual centers.

H.M