MOSCOW, June 9. /TASS/. The fall of Aleppo will mark the fall of all terrorist groups in Syria, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riad Haddad said on Thursday.
"The battle for Aleppo will be considered the most important battle," Haddad said at the Russian State Duma. "And the fall of Aleppo will mark the fall of all terrorist groups in Syria," he added.
"The Syrian army will soon move toward Aleppo, and we will liberate this city from all terrorists with support of Russian Aerospace Defense Forces," the ambassador noted.
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"Generals fighting on the ground do not notify us about their plans, but we know that movement toward Aleppo and liberation of this city are planned in the nearest future," he concluded.
Russia’s Aerospace Defense Forces started delivering pinpoint strikes in Syria at facilities of Islamic State and Jebhat al-Nusra on September 30, 2015, on a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad. On March 14, 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to start, from March 15, withdrawing the main part of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ group from Syria. Putin said the tasks set before the military "have been fulfilled on the whole."
Two Russian military facilities - at the Hmeymim aerodrome and in Tartus - are still operational in Syria. The Russian military continue to take an active part in the fight against terrorist groups. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov said strikes on terrorists will continue to be delivered.
Syria coordinates its actions with allies led by Russia
Damascus coordinates all its actions, including in the Raqqa area, with its allies led by Russia, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Riyad Haddad told reporters in the State Duma (lower house of parliament) on Thursday after a meeting of the inter-factional deputy group for protection of Christian values.
"The Syrian Arab Army coordinates all its actions, including in the Raqqa region, with its allies led by Russia," the ambassador said.
"At the moment, fighting is underway near the city of Tabqa. Before long, we will announce that the city has been captured and we will advance further towards Raqqa," he added.