Putin hails Assad for 'fighting terrorists': Kremlin

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

"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.