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Syria conflict: Assad says Russia role 'slowing down IS' | Syria conflict: Assad says Russia role 'slowing down IS' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Syria's president Bashar al-Assad says Russia's involvement in his country's war has led to significant changes, including the "shrinking" of the Islamic State (IS) group. | Syria's president Bashar al-Assad says Russia's involvement in his country's war has led to significant changes, including the "shrinking" of the Islamic State (IS) group. |
Russia launched air strikes in late September in support of Mr Assad, Moscow's ally. | Russia launched air strikes in late September in support of Mr Assad, Moscow's ally. |
Mr Assad told Czech television that US air strikes on Syria had not slowed IS, but that Russian bombing was doing so. | Mr Assad told Czech television that US air strikes on Syria had not slowed IS, but that Russian bombing was doing so. |
He also condemned the recent shooting down of a Russian warplane by Turkey. | He also condemned the recent shooting down of a Russian warplane by Turkey. |
Russia has been bombing rebel positions in Syria, but said on launching the air strikes that its main target was IS. | Russia has been bombing rebel positions in Syria, but said on launching the air strikes that its main target was IS. |
But the US said last month that most of the air strikes were against "moderate Syrian opposition forces" opposed to Mr Assad. | But the US said last month that most of the air strikes were against "moderate Syrian opposition forces" opposed to Mr Assad. |
Mr Assad said that since US air strikes on Syria began in September last year, IS "has expanded and the recruiting from around the world has increased". | |
He added: "Since the participation of Russia in the same fight (...) Isis has been shrinking - and al-Nusra Front of course and the other terrorist groups. The facts are telling." | |
However, in September, before Russia began its sorties, the US defence department said IS had already lost up to 10% of its territory in Syria in a year. | |
Mr Assad also criticised the government of Syria's neighbour, Turkey, after its shot down a Russian warplane inside Syria on 24 November. | Mr Assad also criticised the government of Syria's neighbour, Turkey, after its shot down a Russian warplane inside Syria on 24 November. |
In the interview, Mr Assad said the incident showed that his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had "lost his nerve" because Russia's involvement had altered what was at stake. | In the interview, Mr Assad said the incident showed that his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had "lost his nerve" because Russia's involvement had altered what was at stake. |
"The failure of Erdogan in Syria, the failure of his terrorist groups, means his political demise," he said. | "The failure of Erdogan in Syria, the failure of his terrorist groups, means his political demise," he said. |