MOSCOW. Oct 7 (Interfax) - The Syrian army assisted by Russia's Aerospace Forces has regained control of practically the entire Syrian territory over the past four years, and the main terrorist groups have been defeated, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said on Monday.
"The government has taken control of practically the entire national territory over the past four years, as a result of operations of the Syrian army supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces," Fomin said in his opening remarks at the 2019 Senior Workshop on International Rules Governing Military Operations (SWIRMO).
"Russia stayed uninvolved in the intra-Syrian conflict until Syria's enemies used the potential of terrorist groups against the lawful national government," he said.
ISIL (banned in Russia) was in control of a greater part of the Syrian territory in 2015, he said.
"Russian servicemen started helping the fight of the Syrian legitimate authorities against the terrorist threat on September 30, 2015, on lawful grounds after they were formally invited to do so by the Syrian government," Fomin said.
Then it became possible to concentrate on a political settlement of the Syria crisis and resolution of humanitarian tasks, including in collaboration with the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, he said.
As a result, conditions have been created for launching the Syrian constitutional committee, peace is being restored, and Syrian refugees are returning home, Fomin said.
The Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria has direct contact with the Damascus office of the International Committee of the Red Cross, he said.
"We are interacting with the ICRC in the delivery of humanitarian cargo, the provision of medical aid, and the return of Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons to the places of their pre-war residence. ICRC representatives play an important role in the liberation of detainees by the warring sides, the search for missing persons, and the transfer of bodies to their families," Fomin said.