Putin: If terrorists win in Syria, they will reach Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country’s intervention in Syria is temporary, and warns that the failure to tackle Islamist extremists in the war-torn country would mean that they could reach Russia.

Speaking at a government meeting after Russian warplanes strike targets in Syria for the first time, the Russian leader says his air force will be supporting the Syrian army in its offensive operations, but Russia is “not going to plunge into this conflict head-on.” Russia’s army will help Assad’s troops as long as their offensive operation lasts, he says.

He confirms that his country’s military action will be limited to the air and not involve ground troops.

Putin repeats his earlier call for the world to unite against Islamist militants in Syria, and calls preemptive action the only way to fight terrorists, according to Reuters. He also says he expects Assad to sit down and talk with the Syrian opposition about a political settlement in Syria.