(VOVworld) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that Russia will not end its air strikes in Syria until the terrorist organizations of Jabhat al-Nusra and IS are defeated.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks at a joint press conference with his Emirati counterpart in the capital, Abu Dhabi, February 2, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Lavrov said he saw no reason to stop these airstrikes. Russia began its airstrike campaign in Syria last September at the request of the Syrian government. The support of Russia’s air force has enabled the Syrian military to gain control over a number of territories seized by IS and gave the Syrian government more leverage the ongoing peace talks in Switzerland.