Putin slams presence of foreign troops in Syria

Damascus: Russian President Vladimir Putin criticised the presence of foreign troops in Syria, saying they are there against the will of the Syrian Government and are blocking the consolidation of the war-torn country.

Putin was referring to hundreds of US troops stationed in eastern Syria and working with Kurdish-led fighters in



battling the militant Islamic State group, as well as Turkish forces.

Speaking during a meeting  with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad, he said the presence of the foreigners is illegal because they don’t have permission from the United Nations or Syria’s Govt.