Speaking at a meeting with cabinet members the Russian president said the only way to fight international terrorism in Syria was acting pre-emptively, destroying terrorists in the areas they have already occupied.

The only way to�battle terrorism is through�pre-emption and by�targeting occupied territories, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.

"The only true way to�combat international terrorism�� and those fighting in�Syria and its neighboring countries are just that, international terrorists�� is through�pre-emption, and fighting and destroying insurgents in�territories that are already occupied, instead of�waiting for�them to�come to�our house," Putin said at�a meeting with�government officials.

The president noted that Russia believes the fight against�terrorism must be carried out�in line with�an international plan.

Earlier on�Wednesday, Russia�s upper house of�parliament authorized the use of�the country's armed forces in�the war-torn Syria. According to�presidential aide Sergei Ivanov, the military goal of�the operation is exclusively air support of�the Syrian government forces in�their fight against�the Islamic State.

By Sputnik News