DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized 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, the Kremlin said Tuesday. 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 in northern Syria. Hundreds of Russian troops are deployed across Syria and they also have a military air base along Syria’s Mediterranean coast. Assad and Putin discussed cooperation between their armies and ways to continue operations to gain control of the last rebel-held areas in Syria, state media in Damascus reported. “Only a consolidation of all forces in Syria will allow the country to get on its feet and start steady development, moving forward,” Putin said.
