Russia's Only Interest in Syria is in Fighting Terrorism - Putin

STAVROPOL (Sputnik) — Russia will not interfere in Syria's internal affairs and only aims to help the country's legitimate authorities eliminate terrorism on Syrian soil, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday.

"You know, we do not intend to interfere in the political system, in solving problems faced by Syria or other countries in the region. Our only task is to help your people, help countries' — in this case Syria's — legitimate authorities fight terrorism, eliminate terrorists on Syrian soil," Putin said, addressing a Syrian student at the North-Caucasus Federal University. 

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with opposition factions and Islamist terrorist groups such as Islamic State (IS, outlawed in Russia) fighting the Syrian Army.

Since the beginning of the war, the United States and some of its allies have been supporting the so-called moderate Syrian opposition, while urging Syrian leader Bashar Assad to resign. Moreover, Washington has made Assad's resignation a precondition for engaging with the Syrian authorities, who have been fighting IS on the ground all this time.

Moscow has been conducting airstrikes against IS targets in Syria since September 30, following a request from President Assad, whom Russia recognizes as the legitimate authority in the country, stressing that Syrian people should be free to chose their leadership without outside intervention.