STAVROPOL (Sputnik) — Russia will be careful, but resolute in its fight against terrorism, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday.
"We will act — as a famous movie character said — carefully, but strongly. Strongly, but carefully," Putin said at a forum, quoting 1969 Soviet movie classic The Diamond Arm.
The Russian leader also thanked Russian servicemen for the effective military operation in Syria against the Islamic State (ISIL), also known as Daesh jihadist group, which is outlawed in many countries, including Russia.
Moscow has been conducting airstrikes against Daesh targets in Syria since September 30, following a request from President Bashar Assad.
Russian aircraft carried out over 5,600 sorties as of mid-January, destroying thousands of terrorist targets, including several hundred militants, dozens of command centers and depots.
