Putin lists 'effectiveness' of Russian weapons in Syria

Russian warplanes have flown more than 10,000 combat missions and struck over 30,000 targets in Syria since Russia began its air campaign on Sept. 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

In remarks made during a meeting with military officials in Russia's Sochi city Tuesday, Putin said Russia had also launched 115 ground-to-air and air-to-ground cruise missiles during the same time period. Long-range Russian warplanes taking off from Russia also carried out 178 flights over Syria, he added.

"Airstrikes in Syria have proven the effectiveness and high quality of Russian weapons," Putin said.

However, he added that what is most important right now is the creation of conditions conducive to a political solution in Syria.

Syria has remained locked in a vicious civil war since early 2011, when the regime of Bashar al-Assad cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity.

Since then, more than 250,000 people have been killed and more than 10 million others have been displaced, according to UN figures.

Around 2.7 million Syrians who have fled the civil war in their country are being sheltered at camps inside Turkey, with many others living in cities and elsewhere.

The conflict in Syria has now driven more than four million people – a sixth of the country's population – to seek sanctuary in neighboring countries, making it the largest refugee crisis in a quarter-century, according to the UN.