Iraq News

In Syria, Putin orders partial Russia troop withdrawal

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to Syria on Monday (December 11th) and ordered the partial withdrawal of Russian troops from the country, saying their task had been largely completed, AFP reported.

Putin was welcomed at Russia's Hmeimim airbase by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on the surprise stopover.

In a televised speech to Russian troops, Putin said he had ordered his Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to start a partial withdrawal.

"I have taken a decision: a significant part of the Russian troop contingent located in Syria is returning home to Russia," he said in a televised speech at the base in Latakia province, a regime stronghold.

Russia first intervened in the conflict in 2015, staging airstrikes in support of its ally Damascus targeting both the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) and other extremists as well as opposition groups fighting the regime.

Putin said last month that efforts to end the war were entering a "new stage" as the focus shifted from military intervention to political reforms.

He said both Hmeimim and Russia's naval facility in Tartus would continue to function and warned that Russia would repel any fresh attacks by militants.

The commander of Russia's forces in Syria, Sergei Surovikin, said 23 Russian planes, two helicopters and military police would be returning to Russia soon, national television reported.

The first jets were scheduled to leave Monday.

The size of the Russian deployment in Syria is not known but independent Russian military expert Pavel Felgenhauer has told AFP that up to 10,000 troops and private contractors could have taken part in the conflict.

This is the third time Russia has announced it will be reducing its military force in Syria.

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