MOSCOW – Russia has sent over 63,000 troops to Syria over the course of itsinvolvement in the conflict, the Russian defence ministry said Wednesday.

A total of 63,012 Russian personnel have “received combat experience” inthe war-torn country, the ministry said in a video about Russia’s campaignto support the Syrian regime dating back to September 2015.

This number includes 25,738 ranking officers and 434 generals as well as4,349 artillery and rocket specialists, it said.

Previously Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in December 2017that over 48,000 military personnel had taken part in the Syrian campaign.

President Vladimir Putin in December last year ordered his armed forces topull the bulk of troops out of Syria.

But the Russian president later clarified that the military would remain inSyria for “as long as it is beneficial” and was not planning to withdrawyet.

The ministry said Wednesday that Russian airforce had conducted more than39,000 sorties that killed “over 86,000 militants” and destroyed 121,466″terrorist targets”.

It said its forces had tested 231 types of modern weaponry in Syriaincluding aircraft, surface-to-air systems, cruise missiles and others.

The video made no mention of Russia’s civilian or military casualties inthe conflict.

Moscow’s intervention in the multi-front war in Syria in support ofPresident Bashar al-Assad has been a turning point in the conflict.

Since it started in 2011, Syria’s war has killed more than 350,000 anddisplaced millions. – APP/AFP