MP Shamanov expects Damascus to regain control of eastern border, ISIL to cease to exist by yearend
ASTANA. Oct 30 (Interfax) - Government forces will regain control over Syria's eastern border and the terrorist organization ISIL (banned in Russia) will cease to exist as a military structure by the end of 2017, the State Duma Defense Committee Chairman, Vladimir Shamanov, said at a meeting between Russian and Kazakh parliamentarians on Monday.
"We are expecting government forces to regain control over Syria's eastern border and ISIL to cease to exist as an organized military structure by the end of this year," Shamanov said.
Over 1 million Syrian citizens have returned home since the beginning of the Russian Aerospace Forces' Syria campaign in 2015, including 660,000 this year, he said.
"In fact, we can say that principal objectives of the Russian military campaign in Syria have been achieved," Shamanov said.