Vladimir Putin: Israel main beneficiary of events in Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a news conference today (Thursday) where he answered the questions of both foreign reporters and Russian citizens on a whole host of questions.

Putin denied that Russia was "beaten" in Syria, claiming that tens of thousands of Syrian forces and Iranian and pro-Iranian forces fled without putting up a fight as the rebels advanced, even claiming that Aleppo fell to just 350 rebel soldiers.

The Russian President also said that Russia is in contact with the different rebel forces now in control of much of the country and that they are negotiating the possibility of maintaining the Khmeimim base as a clearing house for humanitarian aid to the country.

Putin also noted that the Russians used Khmeimim to help evacuate some 4,000 Iranian and pro-Iranian fighters from Syria, and that he believes Israel is the main beneficiary of Assad's collapse.