"[Russia's aerial campaign in Syria] ruined the plans of Daesh militants to take control over large territories not only in Iraq, but also in Syria, including the eastern coast, Aleppo, Damascus. An entire terrorist international conglomerate is working for these corrupt purposes, tens of thousands of militants from more than 80 countries," Lavrov said at the annual research and educational forum Dialogue in the Name of the Future.
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 Jabhat Fatah al Sham (previously known as al-Nusra Front) and Daesh. According to the United Nations, at least 300,000 Syrians have died since the beginning of the conflict.
