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Russian Aerial Campaign Spurred US Anti-Terror Efforts in Syria, Iraq

© Ministry of defence of the Russian Federation / Go to the mediabankRussia's Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback tactical bombers strike ISIS sites in Syria
Russia's Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback tactical bombers strike ISIS sites in Syria - Sputnik International
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Samir Aita, a member of the Syrian Democratic Forum opposition party, said that even without a strong official cooperation between Russia and the US, the Russian intervention marked the beginning of a real international effort to stop the expansion of the Daesh terrorist group.

Islamic State fighters fire their weapons during clashes with the Kurdish-led Syria Democratic Forces in Manbij, in Aleppo province, Syria (File) - Sputnik International
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MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russia's military operation in Syria made the US-led international coalition accelerate its counter terrorism efforts in the Middle East and launched real international campaign against the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) jihadist group in the region, Samir Aita, a member of the Syrian Democratic Forum opposition party, told Sputnik.

“Direct and massive Russian intervention had led to the acceleration of the US support to the forces combating ISIL: the Iraqi army, the Kurdish-Iraqi peshmergas and the Syrian PYD. Then, even without a strong official cooperation between Russia and the US, the Russian intervention marked the beginning of a real international effort to stop the expansion of ISIL. In a year, the possibility was reached for an end of ISIL domination on territories in Iraq – if Mosul is effectively liberated before the end of 2016 – and of its weakening in Syria,” Aita said.

He underlined that today Syria is mired in a parallel proxy war between regional forces with an immense cost for its population that has become a victim to the conflict.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with opposition factions and Islamist terrorist groups such as Daesh and the Nusra Front, now known as Jabhat Fateh al Sham, both outlawed in Russia, fighting the Syrian Army.

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A US-led international coalition has been conducting airstrikes against Daesh in Iraq and Syria since 2014, without seeking approval from the UN Security Council or the Syrian government. Russia has been conducting an aerial campaign against terrorists in Syria since September 30, 2015 at Syrian President Assad's request.

In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the pullout of the bulk of the Russian contingent in Syria as the anti-terrorist campaign's objectives had broadly been completed. At the same time, Russia did not abandon its obligations to provide the Syrian government with weapons and military equipment, train military specialists. Hmeimim air base and a naval facility in the port of Tartus remain operational while Russia's S-400 and Pantsir air defense systems continue to be on duty in Syria to protect Russian servicemen in the war-torn country.

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