MOSCOW (AP) — The latest news related to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with top military officials in Moscow. All times local:
1:35 p.m.
President Vladimir Putin says that a Russian military action in Syria is aimed at protecting Russia from extremists based there.
He said Friday at a meeting with the top military brass that the extremists pose a “clear threat” to Russia. He said fending off that threat is the main goal of the air campaign Russia launched on Sept. 30.
Putin said the Russian military action helped change the situation in Syria, supporting the Syrian army offensive. He said that Russia was also helping some units of the opposition Free Syrian Army, which were fighting “terrorists” in Syria, providing air cover and supplying them with weapons.
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1:30 p.m.
Russian President Vladimir Putin says the military should “immediately destroy” any targets threatening its forces in Syria.
He said Friday at a meeting with top military brass that the Russian military base in Syria has been beefed up with additional aircraft and air defense weapons.
The buildup followed the downing of a Russian warplane by a Turkish fighter jet at the Syrian border on Nov. 24. Without naming Turkey, Putin warned anyone against “further provocations,” saying the military will respond in “the toughest way.”
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