MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Gerasimov added that the joint actions of the Syrian government forces and the Russian Aerospace Forces resulted in reaching a turning point in the Syrian crisis, creating necessary conditions for the launch of the political settlement process.
"I would like to pay special attention to the fight against terrorism, which … is presently the key threat to security. It is necessary for all the international community to combine its efforts under the leading role of the United Nations to combat it [terrorism]," First Deputy Defense Minister Gerasimov said at a briefing for foreign military attaches accredited in Russia.
Gerasimov also noted that, concerning the fight against terrorism, Russia cooperates with Iraq, Iran and Syria within the framework of the information center in Baghdad, with Israel within the framework of a joint working group on Syria deconfliction as well as with Egypt and Jordan among the other states.
The Russian Aerospace Forces started counterterrorism operations in Syria in September 2015, at Syrian President Bashar Assad's request.
Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting Syrian opposition groups striving to overthrow the president. Damascus is also fighting numerous extremist and terrorist groups such as the Jabhat Fatah al Sham and Daesh, both outlawed in Russia. According to the United Nations, at least 300,000 Syrians have died since the beginning of the conflict.
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