Putin warns of destorying any forces threatening Russian military in Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday warned of immediate destruction to any forces threatening Russian military troops in Syria.

"Any targets threatening Russian forces or our ground infrastructure should be destroyed immediately, and I order (them) to act as tough as possible," Putin, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armed Forces, said at a meeting of senior Defense Ministry officials.

Warning those attempting to organize any kind of "provocations against the Russian military," he said Russia has adopted additional measures to ensure security of its military and air bases, which have been reinforced by "aviation groups and anti-aircraft systems with all air operations covered by fighter jets."

Since the downing of its Su-24 warplane by Turkey on Nov. 24, which has sparked a fierce war of words between the two sides, Russia has deployed a sophisticated S-400 missile defense system at its airbase in Syria.

Putin added that Russian forces in Syria were interacting not only with the Syrian government troops but also the opposition, including the Free Syrian Army.

"Currently, some of its (Free Syrian Army) units with a total strength exceeding 5,000 men are on the offensive against terrorists alongside the regular troops in provinces of Homs, Hama and Aleppo. Besides, we are providing them, as well as the Syrian army, with air support and are supplying armaments, ammunition and hardware," he specified.

The president said Russia's operation in Syria was not directed by "geopolitical interests, or any desire to test new weapons," but out of direct threat from the IS.

"Militants have created a real stronghold in Syria and they plan to expand to other regions. All this is a direct threat to Russia and our military is defending first of all our own country," he said.

Putin reiterated the importance of ramping up cooperation with countries "really interested in eliminating terrorists," including the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition.

Russia has been launching air strikes against the Islamic State (IS) and other terrorist groups in Syria since Sept. 30 at a request of the country's president Bashar al-Assad, deploying its air forces at the Hmeimin airbase in Syria and also using long-range aircraft based in Russia, as well as its warships in the Mediterranean and the Caspian Sea.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was also present at the meeting, said that Russia's air forces have performed more than 4,000 sorties in Syria and destroyed more than 8,000 terrorist facilities since the start of the campaign.

"A considerable damage has been caused to the IS militants," he said. Endi