Syrian Civil War Essentially Over: Russian Defense Minister

Shoigu made the remark while meeting his Lebanese counterpart, Yacoub Riad Sarraf, at the ongoing ARMY-2017 forum in Kubinka, just outside Moscow on Wednesday.
 
He praised the efforts of Lebanese army to eradicate ISIS and the al-Nusra front terrorist group in areas they hold on the Lebanon-Syria border. On Tuesday, the Lebanese army launched the third phase of the ongoing operation, targeting ISIS-held areas alongside the border.
 
“Both we and you understand that the terrorist flow from one country to another cannot go on perpetually. We wish that our western partners understood that too, and separated the moderate opposition from terrorists at last, ceasing indiscriminate support to everyone,” Shoigu said.
 
Shoigu then brought up the example of the situation in Syria, arguing that the separation of the terrorists from opposition allowed to “de-facto end” the civil war there, allowing a focus on the fight against terrorism.
 
“Moreover, one of the de-escalation zones is immediately close to [Lebanon’s] border, and a part of your units, fighting terrorists in your country, also take part in fighting terrorism in Syria,” Shoigu added.
 
The four de-escalation zones – in Eastern Ghouta, in the Damascus governorate, Idlib in the north, Homs in the east, and in southern Syria – were agreed upon during Astana talks in May. The proposal to establish the zones was signed by Russia, Iran and Turkey, with the approval of the Syrian government. The UN has welcomed the initiative.
 
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday said there are signs of victory in a war that the foreign-backed terrorists started in the country six and a half years ago. But he nonetheless emphasized that the war was not over and that the battle against those who inflicted destruction on the country would continue.  Assad specially thanked Syria’s allies – Russian, Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement – for their diplomatic, economic and military support.
 
The conflict in Syria started in March 2011, with the government of President Bashar al Assad blaming some Western states, especially the US and their regional allies, including Saudi Arabia, of backing Takfiri terrorists wreaking havoc in the country.