Vladimir Putin suggests Russia could intervene in LIBYA and YEMEN 'to protect its interest
GETTY
Russian President Vladimir Putin holding binocularsThe Russian president said his priority was to protect citizens living abroad, regardless of where they were.
That could include action to safeguard Russians living in the North African state of Libya, which has been ravaged by violent Islamic extremism since the fall of dictator Colonel Gaddafi.
Speaking at the fifth World Congress of Compatriots in Moscow, Mr Putin said: "People who are not in Russia due to various reasons should be firmly sure: we will always protect your interests.
"Moreover, in difficult and crisis situations, such as in Libya, Syria or Yemen."
Russia has been providing humanitarian aid to Yemen since the outbreak of the civil war in March.
REUTERS
A Russian cargo plane delivering humanitarian aid to YemenThe Arab state has suffered from internal conflict between Saudi-backed separatists and forces loyal to the government of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi based in the south, and Iran-backed Houthi forces and those loyal to the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Russia is allied to Iran as the main backers of President Bashar al-Assad in the conflict in Syria.
REUTERS
Aid arriving in Yemen included fresh drinking waterThe United Nations (UN) estimates around 5,000 people have been killed in the conflict since March, more than half of them civilians.
It comes as Russia revealed it has pounded a staggering 263 ISIS targets in Syria over the last two days as Putin steps up his bid to wipe out the terror group.
Moscow's jets carried out 81 strikes on targets belonging to ISIS and other militants across Syria, according to the Russian defence ministry.
REUTERS
People take part in a demonstration in support of the Libyan army in BenghaziRussian bombers "destroyed a large fortified location of Islamic State militants," including an air-defence gun and a tank, a defence spokesman said.
A spokesman said the bombers "destroyed a large fortified location" of sick fanatics including an air-defence gun and a tank.
Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russin President Vladimir Putin in pictures
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Russian President Vladimir Putin, enters the Alexadrovsky Hall to head a meeting of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights at the Kremlin [AP]
Francoise Hollande, Petro Poroshenko, Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin attend a meeting on the Ukrainian crisis as the Elysee Palace in Paris [EPA]
Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande during a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee Palace in Paris [EPA]
Vladimir Putin welcomed by French President Francois Hollande as he arrives at the Elysee Palace for a summit on Ukraine in Paris [EPA]
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Russian President Vladimir Putin leaves the Elysee Palace [Getty Images]
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Russian President Vladimir Putin adopted a different stance on Syrian intervention to many of the other leaders at the summit [null]
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Russian President Vladimir Putin in 1999 [UIG via Getty Images]
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Russian President Vladimir Putin Putin [Getty Images]
Vladimir Putin President of Russia in 2000 [UIG via Getty Images]
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U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland in 2013 [The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Imag]
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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande in Feb 2015 in Moscow [Getty Images]
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