Middle East

We’ve killed hundreds of militants, says Putin, as Turkey shoots down drone

Russian airstrikes in Syria have killed hundreds of militants, president Vladimir Putin said on Friday as he called for a shared military effort of ex-Soviet nations to stop the conflict spreading. The military has achieved “impressive” results during the air campaign, which began on September 30, Mr Putin told a meeting of leaders of ex-Soviet nations in Kazakhstan. "Dozens of control facilities and ammunition depots, hundreds of terrorists and a large number of weapons have been destroyed,“ he said. He also reaffirmed that the Russian bombing blitz against the Islamic State group and other rebels would continue "for the period of the Syrian troops’ offensive operations against terrorists”.

We can’t allow them to use the experience they have just gained in Syria back home Vladimir Putin warns against the spread of Islamic militancy

Meanwhile, Turkey’s military says it shot down an unmanned aircraft which entered the country’s airspace from Syria and continued to advance despite three warnings. The plane “was shot down by Turkish planes patrolling the border in line with the rules of engagement”, a military statement said on Friday. In Syria, government troops attacked insurgent fighters in a fresh push to secure the strategic city of Aleppo on Friday. There were heavy clashes near the Jebel Azzan region, about 12 km (8 miles) south of the city, control of which is divided between government forces and rebels. Syrian troops, supported by thousands of Iranian soldiers who have made their way into the country during the past fortnight, were reportedly fighting on three fronts in the area.