MOSCOW, September 30. /TASS/. Two years ago today Russia declared it was beginning an anti-terrorist operation in Syria and its aerospace group dealt the first strikes against facilities and forces of the terrorist group calling itself the Islamic State (outlawed in Russia). Two years on the operation is entering the final phase. That victory over the terrorist forces is near is well-seen in the latest statistics available: Syria’s government army enjoying Russian air support has regained control of 85% of the country’s territory
Russia’s efforts played a tangible role in achieving a situation where fragmented and conflicting groups of the armed opposition presented a common front in the struggle against terrorists. Over the past year Aleppo has been cleared of terrorists and control regained of Palmyra. Akerbat - the militants’ major command center - has been stormed, which allowed for launching an offensive towards Deir ez-Zor. By now the three-year-long siege of that city has been terminated and the Syrian military are conducting security sweeps in its residential areas and suburbs.