An S-400 air defence missile system is deployed for a combat duty at the Hmeymim airbase to provide security of the Russian air group's flights in Syria.
The military operation in Syria is not dictated by geopolitical interests, but is designed to protect the country, said Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that terrorists in Syria are a direct threat to Russia. The Russian military's actions in Syria are being coordinated with Russian special services such as the FSB, who are disclosing terrorist cells, including Islamic State, Putin said.
All forces threatening Russian servicemen in Syria should be destroyed, according to the Russian president. "
Any targets threatening our [military] group or land infrastructure must be immediately destroyed," Putin said, speaking at a Defense Ministry event. Putin said
over 5,000 members of the Free Syrian Army are operating on the terrorists' side.
"In general, the actions of the Russian groups deserve high praise. This is a result of work by the Ministry of Defense, General Staff officers, Russian Air Force pilots and the Russian Navy," he added.
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu added that Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) controls about 70 percent of Syria's territory, adding that in Syria and Iraq there are about 60,000 militants. "
The Islamic State area of influence is expanding," he said, "There is a threat that their actions will be transferred to Central Asia and the Caucasus."
To the date, the Russian military has carried out about 4,000 sorties, striking around 8,000 terrorist facilities in Syria, he added. Drones have proved a necessary part of the military operation against the terrorists, according to Shoigu. He said that Moscow has an about 1,720 drones at its disposal.
Comment: More signs we are headed for a recession.