Vladimir Putin orders military in Syria to respond firmly to threats

The ruthless leader said Russian forces in Syria will “immediately destroy” any target threatening them.

Russia is supplying weapons to Syria’s government troops but not to the Free Syrian Army, Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Friday, commenting on President Vladimir Putin’s statement on Russia’s support to the Syrian moderate opposition.

“We have provided air support for them as well as the Syrian army, helping them with weapons, ammunition and supplies”. The United States and its allies have accused Russian Federation of bombing the moderate Syrian opposition and using its military intervention to prop up Assad rather than targeting IS positions – criticism that Russian Federation has rejected.

Putin added that Russian forces in Syria were interacting not only with the Syrian government troops but also the opposition, including the Free Syrian Army.

But Defence Minister Michael Fallon dismissed Putin’s statements, claiming Moscow has to play a more constructive role in the political transition in Syria.

During a meeting with in Moscow he advised defense officials to “immediately destroy” targets and warned rival forces against “further provocations”.

“I order you to act as tough as possible”, he told a defence meeting yesterday.

Security of Russian troops and the airbase in Syria has been tightened, he said.

“Russia supplies weapons to the legitimate authorities of the Syrian Arab Republic”, he said.

Last month, Turkey shot down a Russian jet on the Syrian border, claiming it violated Turkish airspace.

And a USA official close to the US-led coalition against so-called Islamic State (IS) told the BBC: “We’ve seen no evidence that the Russians and the Free Syrian Army are working together”.

The number of ISIL fighters in Iraq and Syria totals around 60,000, Mr Shoigu said, and there is a threat of violence spilling over into post-Soviet Central Asia and the Caucasus.

“Our action there hasn’t been prompted by some abstract geopolitical interests or a desire to train and test new weapons systems, which is important too”, Putin said. Vladimir Putin also said:”We will certainly carefully analyze what has happened and today’s tragic event will have serious consequences to Russian-Turkish relations”.

The moves came as Russia’s economy plunged into recession on the back of Western sanctions over Ukraine and plunging oil prices, and prevented most large investors from holding the debt.

The military also expanded its presence in the Arctic, building several new bases and other military facilities there.