This week began with an outstanding and pleasant event Russian troops in Syria have victoriously accomplished their mission. In order to announce it and to thank the warriors, our President and Commander-in-Chief Putin personally came to the Khmeimim Air Base.
Vladimir Putin: "Yes, the threat of international terrorism is still extremely high. But the fight against the militant groups in Syria, the fight that required extensive use of armed forces is generally resolved. Resolved gloriously. Congratulations!"
Currently, there's no terrorist-controlled locality in Syria. They can say what they want but it's our accomplishment together with the Syrian Army. And it wasn't Trump or anybody else but Putin who came to liberated Syria to announce our victory.
Vladimir Putin: "You're victoriously returning home to your relatives parents wives kids, and friends. I order the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces to begin the withdrawal of the Russian forces to the places of their permanent location. My friends, your Motherland awaits. Good riddance! Thank you for your service.”
- We serve the Russian Federation.
A happy moment indeed. Just over two years ago war-torn Syria was attacked by the wealthiest and most powerful terrorist group in the history of mankind, a quasi-state called ISIS. A spawn of the American regional policy.
To create a distraction, the American Army and their allies were allegedly bombing the terrorists during the fall of 2014. It lasted for over a year. But the American Air Force was working so sluggishly and so feebly by the military standards that the terrorists continued to spread.
In September 2015 we were really close to seeing the black flag of the barbarian pseudo-caliphate flying over Damascus. The terrorists controlled all Syrian oil fields. The last one, Jazal, was surrendered by the Syrian Army on September 7.
Meanwhile, the confident zealots were spreading professionally filmed videos with Hollywood-tier lighting, sound, costumes, directing, and montage showing off executions. A new level of brutality in the world of cinematography. The "actors" were actually murdered. They were cutting their heads off, shooting them, drowning them, and always got away with it.
At the same time, they were destroying Christian shrines. Here's what's left of the monastery in Maaloula. Everything that was against the Sharia was mercilessly destroyed: from people to the ancient Roman monuments in Palmyra. They even murdered Khaled Assad, the main museum curator and notorious archeologist. The 82-year-old had his head cut off and the body hanged by the feet from the antique column in front of the museum.
And it was all moving towards Russia. Terrorists were planning to conquer the Caucasus and the Volga region. The dark forces had thousands of recruits from Russia and Central Asia. They were often used as suicide bombers as well.
Holding a speech at the UN General Assembly on September 28 Putin urged to create a large-scale anti-terrorist coalition like the anti-Hitler one and describes the tragedy in the region as a result of the US activities:
"It's enough to look at the situation in the Middle East and North Africa. The aggressive external intervention instead of reforming the state institutions and life in general ruthlessly destroyed them. Instead of the triumph of democracy and progress, they brought violence, poverty, and a social catastrophe. And the basic human rights including the right to life are given no value. I want to ask those responsible for creating this situation: Do you have any idea what you've done? But I'm afraid my question will remain unanswered because they are still exercising their policy of arrogance, self-righteousness, and subterfuge".
Right after the speech, on the sidelines of the General Assembly Putin met then-President of the US Obama. Putin was blunt: "Russia will answer the plead of the legal Syrian government and will deploy the Air Force." Obama was alarmed. American jets had been controlling the Syrian sky. "And you have no right to be there" said Putin. But offered to hold negotiations on preventing the air accidents. That was it.
Two days later, on September 30, Syrian President Bashar Assad officially asked Russia to provide military aid.
On the same day, the Federation Council sanctioned the use of the Russian military against the Syrian terrorist groups. A couple of hours later, the Russian Aerospace Forces deliver first strikes on the terrorist targets.
By that time, the Khmeimim Air Base was completed, reinforced, and protected. In Syria, Khmeimim was probably the last spot the terrorists were unable to reach. However, its significance proved to be crucial. The deployment speed, stealth, and resolve of our pilots, the expertise of all involved branches, from military transport to intelligence, blew the world's mind.
Americans straight-out slept through the whole thing. Later, Putin would joke: "The American intelligence is one of best in the world. Let's no throw stones at it. It's one of the most powerful, but it doesn't know everything. And is not supposed to know".
A week later — a new sensation. On October 7, our new Kalibr cruise missiles precisely struck the terrorists from the Caspian waters.
It was a premiere, a demonstration of our brand new capabilities, and the destruction of the American cruise missile monopoly.
The attack on board of our A321 in Egypt hit us hard. That's exactly what we were fighting against in Syria. Our response was swift.
In the middle of December, our aircraft conducted around 4,500 additional flights destroying 8,000 terrorist targets.
And after the November attack in Paris when the extremists simultaneously opened fire in several Parisian restaurants, set off an explosive near the Stade de France, and started a massacre in the Bataclan theater, our pilots started writing "for Paris" on their bombs. At that time, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle joined the Russian operation. It paddled a bit in the Mediterranean, and then quit. Russia had to fight against the terrorists for two more years. And despite the US opposing us, we managed to successfully accomplish the operation. This fall, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it was the US and not the ISIS military strength that was the main obstacle in the way of a complete eradication of the Syrian terrorism.
Igor Konashenkov, Ministry of Defense: "The main impediment to destroying ISIS in Syria was not the military strength of the terrorists, but the support of US colleagues".
Still, we managed it. Our strategic aviation came to the rescue. Our White Swans were working in Syria: Tu-160 Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3. They used the newest strategic air-to-earth H-101 missiles. A major surprise indeed. But it wasn't our last novelty. It was the first time, Kalibr missiles were launched from underwater in combat conditions. Our Rostov-on-Don submarine hit every target.
At the same time, we were working to resolve the internal political conflict in Syria. In February 2016, Putin ordered the Khmeimim Air Base to house the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides. As of today, it has imposed ceasefire in 2,300 localities. The Center was distributing thousands of tons of humanitarian aid for Syrian citizens. Russian medics cured more than 50,000 Syrians.
Our pilots, seamen, military engineers mine pickers military advisors, and, of course, special forces proved their heroism in Syria.
The deed of senior lieutenant Alexander Prokhorenko says a lot. He was single-handedly transmitting the guidance intelligence from the enemy's rear. When he was discovered and surrounded Prokhorenko called an airstrike on himself. It happened on March 24, 2016 in the ancient Palmyra.
Three days later, the city was freed.
The first journalist to enter Palmyra was our military correspondent Evgeny Poddubny: "We are in the residential area of Palmyra. The assault teams of the Desert Falcons militia have seized the ancient city".
Maestro Gergiev staged an unforgettable concert of the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra in Palmyra. What message about the Russian values could have been more convincing?
In the meantime, the Russian Aerospace Forces were systematically pulverizing the terrorists and their equipment. They were bombing oil truck columns depriving the zealots of their hard currency.
In November 2016 our strike aircraft carrier team joined the operation. The Syrian shores were approached by the heavy aircraft cruiser General Kuznetsov and the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Pyotr Velikiy accompanied by the heavy destroyers Severomorsk and Vice-Admiral Kulakov. For the first time, our deck-based aircraft was used in combat. A priceless experience.
The West angrily watched our armada sail from the city of Severomorsk. So angrily that Europe even refused to refuel our ships in its ports.
I remember how our Minister of Defense Sergey Shoigu commented on this hypocrisy: "We were especially surprised by the fact the US and NATO made some countries publicly announced that our ships are banned from their ports. Apparently, that's the way our partners contribute to the fight against terrorism in Syria. It's time for our Western counterparts to decide who they're really fighting ISIS or Russia. An old proverb says: "Between two stools one falls to the ground." Perhaps they forgot who murdered those innocent people in Belgium France, Egypt, Iraq and many other countries".
An important milestone was the liberation of Syria's economic capital Aleppo. The Russian aircraft weren't bombing the city. Our pilots never target residential areas with civilians. But the whole operation was planned by the Russian military counselors. The terrorists were finally driven out of Aleppo despite the catacombs they'd dug underground, like a subway with no rails.
The city was treated with care. The people were overjoyed. The Russian military police battalion formed in Chechnya was ordered to patrol the area. It was Putin's idea. The Russian Muslim soldiers quickly found a common language with the locals, just as planned. The mission was accomplished with distinction.
While the zealot territory in Syria was getting smaller Americans were growing more and more impatient. The US started encouraging various provocations. In April 2017, they released some frightening footage and photos from Khan Shaykhun. Somebody's writhing in agony, somebody's getting washed with a hose. Trump's daughter Ivanka ran to her dad in tears with the photos of a quasi-chemical attack. It's clear that the Syrian Army was blamed for everything.
Without pausing to think Trump fired cruise missiles at the Syrian Shayrat Air Base from which the aircraft that delivered the chemical attack had allegedly taken off.
The Syrians suggested that international experts come to Shayrat and Khan Shaykhun, but ultimately, the case was hushed up. Why invite the experts if 59 Tomahawks had already been launched?
The US and Kurds were storming the Syrian Raqqa for eleven months. They managed to enter the city only when it was razed to the ground like Dresden in 1945. Anglo-American style.
October. Until recently, Deir ez-Zor remained the last terrorist stronghold in Syria. Then there was a smaller city — Abu Kamal. Both were liberated.
Thus, the Syrian terrorists had no territory left. On December 6, it was announced by the chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov: "All ISIS groupings on the Syrian territory were eliminated and the territory itself was liberated."
Of course, our military exploits wouldn't be enough if we didn't organize the negotiations in Astana. On the one hand, we actually managed to bring the irreconcilable Syrian opposition to the table. On the other hand, three countries allied to keep peace in Syria: Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
This triumvirate is now the main player in the region. A political settling conference will be held in the near future. The whole spectrum of the Syrian political forces is going to be represented there. Then, there will be a new constitution and elections.
That's the current situation. It's all quite possible. The Syrian state is saved. Two years ago it was hanging by a thread.
Now, the French are suffering because Russia didn't allow them to join the winners.
President Trump announced that it was the US that won in Syria. If that's so, then why did Putin announce it in Syria and Trump stayed at home? Besides, the Pentagon is worried because we're not withdrawing our forces.
The comments of General Konashenkov that represents our Ministry of Defense are traditionally gently humorous: "The Pentagon’s speculations regarding the withdrawal of the Russian troops from Syria betray not only the ill-concealed will to drive us out of the region but also their inability to assess the actual situation. If the return of the Russian aviation, field medics, engineers, and military police; the return of our ships to our sea ports is not broadcasted in America, it's the Pentagon's problem. The solution is simple: they should turn on a Russian or a European TV channel".
