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Russian defense minister confirms Russian ground operation in Syria ruled out

According to head of the lower house Defense Committee's head, Sergey Shoigu made this statement during the "government hour" in the State Duma
Destroyed Dahaniya neighborhood of the Syrian capital, Damascus Valery Sharifulin/TASS
Destroyed Dahaniya neighborhood of the Syrian capital, Damascus
© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

MOSCOW, December 16. /TASS/. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has confirmed during the "government hour" in the State Duma that the Russian military’s ground operation in Syria is ruled out, head of the lower house Defense Committee Vladimir Komoedov told reporters.

"Shoigu said that we are not inclined and we will not take part [in the ground operation]," Komoedov told reporters when asked whether Shoigu spoke about the prospects of the Russian military’s participation in the ground operation in Syria.

"We are creating favorable conditions for the offensive of the Syrian Army. Soldiers’ boots must come to the border and install a boundary marker. The soldiers are coming, but these are Syrian soldiers. Our ground troops will not take part [in the operation]," he added.

Russian officials have repeatedly said that the Russian army will not take part in the ground operation in Syria.