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Liberation of southern de-escalation zone in Syria is major result for region - Shoigu

This required "pinpoint and highly professional operations of aviation and artillery," Russian Defense Minister said

MOSCOW, August 12. /TASS/. Liberation of the de-escalation zone in Southwest Syria has become a significant and serious result, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Saturday on the air with the Rossiya 24 TV Channel.

"The southwestern de-escalation zone is a result of tremendous job of diplomats, including the military ones. This is the result of work with our colleagues from Israel, Jordan, and certainly from the United States. I would make no secret that this is a highly significant and important result for the region, and may be even a milestone victory," the minister said.

This required "pinpoint and highly professional operations of aviation and artillery, because this is the junction of Israel and Jordan borders; no errors should be made there," Shoigu said. "Therefore, this is a great victory and serious success, making it possible to say that restoration of peaceful life can start and started in one more area, a highly significant one," he noted.

The work on the return of refugees is among critical tasks for Russia, the minister said. "Over 300 thousand Syrians have already returned to areas around Damascus, to Eastern Ghouta Yarmouk," Shoigu said. "It was very difficult to imagine that even a year ago," he added.

Syrian troops started the operation for restoration of control over the Daraa Province in the south on June 18. Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the Russian General Staff Colonel General Sergei Rudskoi said on August 2 that the Southwestern Syria was fully liberated and terrorist groups operating there were wiped out.