Aleppo win great step for Syria, region: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the recent liberation of Syria’s second city of Aleppo as a sizeable step toward the restoration of stability in the Arab country and the region in general.

“The liberation of Aleppo from radical elements is a very important part of the normalization in Syria, and I hope, for the region overall,” Putin said at a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday.

The remarks came a day after the Syrian military announced it had attained full control of the northwestern city, having completely cleansed its eastern side of Takfiri terrorists for the first time since 2012.

The victory came about despite military support for the terrorists by the United States, Turkey, and some Arab countries in the Persian Gulf region.

Russia has been carrying out an aerial campaign against militants in Syria, including formerly in Aleppo, on a request from the Syrian government. Iran, too, has been offering Damascus advisory military help.

“Everything needs to be done for fighting to stop on all Syrian territory,” Putin further added. “In any case, we will strive toward this.”

Russia, Iran, and Turkish foreign ministers recently met in Moscow to discuss means of resolving the Syrian conflict.

Militants and civilians had been evacuated from Aleppo and militant-besieged areas elsewhere under a deal between Russia and Turkey earlier.

During the meeting with Putin, Shoigu, the Russian defense minister, said the evacuation of militants from Aleppo was now complete, creating the conditions for a ceasefire deal covering the entire Syrian territory.

He said some 34,000 people had been evacuated from the formerly terrorist-held areas of eastern Aleppo since December 15.

SS