Putin gives air support to Syrian rebels in bid to destroy evil ISIS

The ruthless leader said Russian forces in Syria will "immediately destroy" any target threatening them.

Putin claimed while supporting the Syrian government forces, Russia has backed some units of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a Western-backed opposition group fighting Syrian despot Bashar Assad's army.

He said: ”Several units totalling more than 5,000 people, along with regular troops, are conducting offensive operations against terrorists in the provinces of Homs, Hama, Aleppo and Raqqa.

"We have provided air support for them as well as the Syrian army, helping them with weapons, ammunition and supplies."

However Moscow spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the president meant to say Russia is sending weapons and supplies to Syrian government forces and not the FSA - but provides air cover to both.

Putin and his officials previously said Russia had cooperated with the FSA, but the group's representatives have denied that.

Russian support for the FSA will represent a massive shift in policy for the Kremlin, which has been accused by the West of targeting rebels to support Assad instead of savage ISIS - also known as Daesh.

US State Department spokesman John Kirby said it is unclear "whether these claims of support for the FSA are true".

He added: ”By and large, there's been no major change in calculus from what we've seen them hit, and they are largely continuing to hit opposition.”

But Defence Minister Michael Fallon dismissed Putin's statements, claiming Moscow has to play a more constructive role in the political transition in Syria.

He said: ”What they've got to do is stop propping up the Assad regime, stop bombing opposition groups who are opposed to the Assad regime, stop dropping unguided munitions on innocent villages and groups who've been fighting Assad, and get behind the political process that is now under way of leading that country to a more pluralist government and a future without Assad.”

Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russian warplanes have flown 4,000 combat sorties in Syria since Moscow launched its air campaign in September, destroying a staggering8,000 "terrorist" targets.

Putin also said the military should respond in full force to any further "provocations."

He said the Russian military base in Syria has been bolstered with additional aircraft and air defence weapons.

He said: ”I order you to act in the toughest way.

"Any targets threatening the Russian groups of forces or our land infrastructure should be immediately destroyed."

(dailystar.co.uk)