"The Soviet invasion in Afghanistan in 1979-1989 involved nearly 85,000 troops, and it failed. In comparison with the current operation in Syria there is a difference," he said.
The journalist explained that now Russia is conducting airstrikes against ISIL while the Syrian army, Hezbollah and Iran are fighting terrorists on the ground.
On September 30, the Upper House of the Russian Parliament approved a request from President Putin to use Russian combat forces abroad. Later that day, Russian combat jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces launched airstrikes against ISIL in Syria.
Over the last three days, Russian jets have conducted several dozen raids and destroyed numerous ISIL facilities, including command points, training grounds, communication facilities as well as ammo and fuel depots.
