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Putin, Turkmen leader discuss security in airspace over Caspian due to Russia's airstrikes

Last week, the Caspian Flotilla warships launched 18 cruise missiles at seven targets in the Raqqa, Idlib and Aleppo provinces of Syria
Russian Caspian Flotilla ships launching missiles at IS targets in Syria on November 20  Russian Defense Ministry's Press and Information Department/TASS
Russian Caspian Flotilla ships launching missiles at IS targets in Syria on November 20
© Russian Defense Ministry's Press and Information Department/TASS

TEHRAN, November 23. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin met on Monday with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov to discuss issues of security of airspace over the Caspian Sea.

"As for the concerns of our friends in the region about the use of airspace over the Caspian Sea, the Kazakh friends have said nothing so far but we will bear it in mind. We understand that it might pose some discomfort but we know that all the efforts Russia is taking to counter terrorism are a burden first of all for Russia… Terrorist organization, such as the Islamic State and others, they spare no one, including civil aircraft," Putin said.

"So, if there is some discomfort, it should be minimized… But have a tragic experience linked with our plane, we will do it as long as we think it appropriate to punish those responsible," Putin stressed.

"These operations are not forever. I have been saying it from the very beginning that they will have a temporary nature. It is linked with the offensive operation of the Syrian national army against terrorist organizations," the Russian leader said.

He stressed that the Syrian crisis had been addressed and would be addressed by political means and added that this issue had been discussed with the Iranian leaders.

"Our Kazakh colleague are allegedly worried over what is going on over the Caspian Sea, which is linked with military issues, the Turkmen leader said, adding that it implied possible problems with international civil air service. "There are questions of whether flight routs or levels should be changed. There are such worries. Our Kazakh colleagues are worried over that," Berdymukhamedov said.

On November 20, the Caspian Flotilla warships launched 18 cruise missiles at seven targets in the Raqqa, Idlib and Aleppo provinces of Syria. On October 7, the Caspian Flotilla warships took part in the operation against the Islamic State terrorist group fore the first time. They delivered a massive cruise missile strike at the IS targets in Syria from the Kalibr NK sea-based complex from the Caspian Sea water area.