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Fight against Islamic state

Russian MP says Assad thanked Putin for assistance in anti-terrorism fight

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MOSCOW, April 12. /TASS/. Syrian President Bashar Assad expressed gratitude to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for Moscow’s assistance in the fight against terrorism at Tuesday’s meeting with Russian lawmakers, MP Sergey Gavrilov said.

"President Bashar Assad expressed his gratitude to the president of Russia for the assistance in the fight against terrorism and also for the humanitarian and economic support of the Syrian state," said the press service of Gavrilov, who attended the meeting.

The lawmaker said the Syrian leader noted that Putin is the most popular politician in Syria and he could take up any government post.

Russia’s operation against the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups on Syria’s territory lasted for almost six months. Syria’s troops supported by Russia’s Aerospace Forces liberated some 400 settlements. A serious blow was dealt to the illegal oil trade that is a key source of profit for terrorists. The major routes for weapons and ammunition supplies to gunmen were blocked.

President Putin ordered to start withdrawing the main part of Russia’s forces from Syria as of March 15. He said the tasks assigned to the military were generally fulfilled.

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Foreign policy Islamic State

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