Gerard Julien, Pool via AP
Russia supports the Syrian Army’s efforts against terrorists in Idlib province, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on August 19 at a joint news conference ahead of talks with his French counterpart, Emanuel Macron.
The Russian president said that before the establishment of a demilitarized zone in Idlib terrorists had controlled 50% of its territory whereas now 90% of Idlib’s territory was controlled by terrorists.
“We see them staging attacks from there. Moreover, and it is very dangerous, we see militants moving from this region to other parts of the world, and it is an extremely dangerous thing,” Putin said, recalling numerous militants’ attempts to attack the Russian airbase at Hmeymim staged from the Idlib zone.
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Putin emphasized that the Idlib zone had never been meant as a safe place for terrorists.
“On the contrary, we have been saying that fight against terrorists will be continued,” he said.
