DHAKA: Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad says Russia’s involvement in his country’s war has led to significant changes, including the ‘shrinking’ of the Islamic State (IS) group.

Russia launched air strikes in late September in support of Assad, Moscow’s ally.

Assad told Czech television that US air strikes on Syria had not slowed IS, but that Russian bombing was doing so, reports the BBC.

He also condemned the recent shooting down of a Russian warplane by Turkey.

Russia has been bombing rebel positions in Syria, but said on launching the air strikes that its main target was IS.

The US said last month that most of the air strikes were against ‘moderate Syrian opposition forces’ opposed to Syria's government.

Assad said that since US air strikes on Syria began in September last year, IS ‘has expanded and the recruiting from around the world has increased’.

He added, ‘Since the participation of Russia in the same fight (...) Isis has been shrinking - and al-Nusra Front of course and the other terrorist groups. The facts are telling’.

BDST: 2122 HRS, DEC 02, 2015
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