The combined forces of Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad have completely wiped out the Islamic State in Syria, the defence ministry has said.
“The mission of defeating the Islamic State bandit groups in Syria has been accomplished,” Lt General Sergei Rudskoi, head of the general staff’s main operations directorate, said as combat maps and footage of Russian planes and Syrian soldiers firing their guns in celebration flashed on the huge screen behind him at a security press briefing.
