Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad says Russia’s involvement in his country’s war has led to significant changes, including the “shrinking” of the Islamic State (IS) group, the BBC reports.

Mr Assad told Czech television that US air strikes on Syria had not slowed IS, but that Russian bombing was doing so.

He also condemned the recent shooting down of a Russian warplane by Turkey.

Assad said that funds and arms for terrorists come mainly via Turkey with support of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, according to Sputnik News.

Funds and arms for terrorists come mainly via Turkey with support of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, the Syrian President  said.

“If you really want to fight them [terrorists] and defeat them, you must prevent the supplies of arms, finances and recruits, which mainly goes through Turkey with support of Saudi Arabia and Qatar,” Assad told the Czech Television.

“This is the first step, which is necessary to take, when starting to fight terrorism. Otherwise you fight them, while they have unlimited supplies [of arms] from different countries, primarily of other region with support or the blind eye of the West. More precisely some of its states,” Assad added.