Putin Hails Assad for 'Fighting Terrorists'

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad on Damascus' results in "fighting terrorist groups," the Kremlin said Tuesday.

"For a start I want to congratulate you with the results that Syria is achieving in the fight against terrorist groups... the Syrian nation is going through a very serious experience and nonetheless is approaching the final, inevitable defeat of the terrorists," Putin told Assad, the Kremlin website reported.