Russian air strikes in Syria to last 3-4 months: Duma committee head

PARIS - Reuters

Footage released by Russia's Defence Ministry September 30, 2015, shows precise airstrikes carried out by the country's air force on Wednesday, against ISIL ground positions in a mountainous area in Syria. Reuters Photo

Russia estimates its air strike campaign in Syria could last three to four months, the head of the foreign affairs committee at the State Duma, Russia's parliament, said on Oct.2.

"There is always a risk of being bogged down but in Moscow, we are talking about an operation of three to four months," Alexei Pushkov told French radio Europe 1, adding that the strikes were going to intensify. 

Pushkov was speaking a few hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin was due to meet leaders of France, Germany and Ukraine in Paris for talks.