ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow has no regrets for its ongoing military campaign in Syria, which began with a deployment there four months ago.
"The actions of the Russian air force, in response to the request of the Syrian leadership -- have really helped turn around the situation in the country, helped towards reducing the territory controlled by terrorists," he claimed, according to AFP.
Last week the conflict monitor IHS Jane's 360 more-or-less confirmed that assessment when it reported that, "Russia's immediate objective in Syria, namely to shore up the Assad government's position and save it from military defeat at the hands of the Sunni rebels, has largely been achieved."
It estimated that with Russian air support forces fighting on the side of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, have managed to regain 1.3 percent of territory they had previously lost.
"Momentum has shifted back in favor of government forces, which are stabilizing the front lines in areas that are core to the government's survival, and making slow but steady progress as coordination between the Russian Air Force, Hezbollah and the Syrian Army appear to be improving," the report continued.
Since that report the forces arrayed against Assad's enemies have achieved two notable victories. In the western Latakia province, where Russia's main operational hub in Syria is based, they recaptured the town of Rabia, the last major urban area held by opposition forces in that province.
On Sunday, in the southern province of Deraa, they recaptured the strategically important town of Sheikh Miskeen.Representatives of different Syrian opposition groups are meeting in Riyadh to discuss their options.
They are frustrated that the Americans want them to enter negotiations without any preconditions, such as a halt to ongoing Russian-Syrian air strikes and sieges against their forces across Syria.
"The actions of the Russian air force, in response to the request of the Syrian leadership -- have really helped turn around the situation in the country, helped towards reducing the territory controlled by terrorists," he claimed, according to AFP.
Last week the conflict monitor IHS Jane's 360 more-or-less confirmed that assessment when it reported that, "Russia's immediate objective in Syria, namely to shore up the Assad government's position and save it from military defeat at the hands of the Sunni rebels, has largely been achieved."
It estimated that with Russian air support forces fighting on the side of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, have managed to regain 1.3 percent of territory they had previously lost.
"Momentum has shifted back in favor of government forces, which are stabilizing the front lines in areas that are core to the government's survival, and making slow but steady progress as coordination between the Russian Air Force, Hezbollah and the Syrian Army appear to be improving," the report continued.
Since that report the forces arrayed against Assad's enemies have achieved two notable victories. In the western Latakia province, where Russia's main operational hub in Syria is based, they recaptured the town of Rabia, the last major urban area held by opposition forces in that province.
On Sunday, in the southern province of Deraa, they recaptured the strategically important town of Sheikh Miskeen.Representatives of different Syrian opposition groups are meeting in Riyadh to discuss their options.
They are frustrated that the Americans want them to enter negotiations without any preconditions, such as a halt to ongoing Russian-Syrian air strikes and sieges against their forces across Syria.
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