NEW YORK (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly emphasized that Moscow rules out sending ground forces to Syria.
"I think perhaps even the Russians are seeing that this is heading for stalemate in the absence of a substantial ground force insertion, which I don’t believe the Russians are disposed to do," Clapper said.
On September 30, Russia launched an air campaign against terrorist groups in Syria following a request from President Bashar Assad. Russian authorities have stressed that the military operation will continue as long as the Syrian Armed Forces continue their offensive liberating the country's regions from militant groups.
Since 2011, Syria has been mired in a civil war with the country's government forces fighting against numerous opposition groups and terrorist organizations, including Daesh and al-Nusra Front.
