Interfax: Moscow expects Syrian armed forces to take over fight against IS from Russian Aerospace Forces – diplomat

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MOSCOW. March 15 (Interfax) – The terrorist threat in Syria still persists, even despite “ISIL’s broken back,” and Russia expects the Syrian army to take on the main burden of opposing this threat, says Vladimir Andreyev, a deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department of New Challenges and Threats.

“Naturally, the terrorist threat persists, even with a broken back, and ISIL and other terrorist groups are still posing a threat. It’s necessary to work against it,” Andreyev said in response to a question from Interfax.

The Syrian armed forces should now be taking over more military functions in opposing terrorism, he said.

“The groundwork has been laid [by the Russian Aerospace Forces], and it is going to be utilized more efficiently,” Andreyev said.

Islamic State is a terrorist group banned in Russia.

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