Russia's Operation in Syria: One Year On

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's report to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the start of the Russian Armed Forces' major operation in Syria did not include the Syrian city of Aleppo, it touched upon Homs and Idlib, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

Russia regularly discusses situation in Syria with the European Union, Russia's Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov said Monday.

Russia expects Syrian militants to leave the region soon, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday.

Russia stands for resolution of the Syrian conflict by peaceful means, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Tuesday.

Russia's initiative to introduce Aleppo humanitarian pause coincides with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura's one.

Russian involvement in the Syrian crisis is absolutely justified, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev told Sputnik.

The establishment of permanent Russian military bases in Syria will help in the fight against terrorism, the Syrian Defense Ministry told Sputnik on Monday.

Deputy Defense Minister Nikolay Pankov said that Russia plans to establish a permanent naval base in the western Syrian port city of Tartus.

An agreement with Syria on the Russian Aerospace Forces' deployment there will be reviewed by the upper house of Russian parliament on October 12, the draft agenda published on the Federation Council website Friday states.

Moscow's limited military engagement in Syria has helped to bring stability to several regions of the embattled Arab country and boost morale of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies, Syrian political analyst Osama Dannura told RIA Novosti, adding that Russia's campaign saved Syria from repeating the fate of Iraq and Libya.

Russian operation in Syria has led to tightening the grip on the terrorist groups and contributed to preventing as much as possible the spread of terrorism into other countries, according to a Syrian Foreign Ministry source.

Apart from Hmeymim, the Russian Aerospace Forces should have another airbase in Syria given that Russia's anti-Daesh air campaign there is yet to be completed, military expert Alexander Perendzhiyev told RIA Novosti.

Russia's decision to launch airstrikes a year ago helped it gain ground diplomatically, Robert Naiman, policy director for the think-tank Just Foreign Policy, told Sputnik.

One year ago acting at the behest of the Syrian government Russia launched an airborne campaign against the Daesh (ISIS/ISIL) forces threatening the Middle Eastern country.

Syrian Information Minister stated that Russia’s information assistance to Syria helps to unveil the truth about the continuing conflict in the country against the "forgery and falsification" in the world and Arab media.

Syrian Information Minister Ramez Tarjaman said that Russia is playing a very important role in the Middle East, which is leading to stability and to a lasting peace, as a result.

Without Russian military support, Syria would not be saved, according to different experts.

Exactly one year ago, on September 30, 2015 the Russian Aerospace Forces formed a special temporary taskforce that was deployed in Syria to support the government forces of President Bashar Assad in their war against the encroaching forces of Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) terrorist organization.

Friday marks the one year anniversary of the Russian air operation in Syria, aimed at rooting out terrorism and supporting the legitimate government in Damascus. Speaking to a correspondent from Russia's RIA Novosti news agency, residents of the Syrian capital emphasized that they sincerely appreciate Russian assistance.

One year on from the beginning of Russia's aerial campaign in Syria, Russian media reviews the achievements of the country's Aerospace Forces and the success of the operation at large.