Putin Orders Partial Withdrawal of Russian Troops from Syria
During a surprise visit to Khmeimim Airbase on Monday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the withdrawal of troops from Syria after 'Russian and Syrian armies had achieved their mission to destroy ISIS'
IsraelDefense
| 11/12/2017
Photo: AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday that Russia will pull its forces from Syria following the successful two-year military campaign against the Islamic State group.
"I order the defense minister and the chief of general staff to start withdrawing the Russian group of troops to their permanent bases," Putin said, according to RIA Novosti news agency.
According to Reuters, Putin made the announcement during a surprise visit to the Khmeimim air base in Latakia Province, where he held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and addressed Russian military servicemen.
Haaretz reports that the Russian president said that despite the decision to pull away, "a significant portion of the Russian contingent," if "terrorists raise their heads" in Syria, Russia will hit them with powerful strikes. He also said that Russia would retain the Hmeymim air base as well as a naval facility at the Syrian port of Tartous.
On Thursday, the Russian military said it had accomplished its mission of defeating Islamic State in Syria, and there were no remaining settlements there under the group’s control.
During a surprise visit to Khmeimim Airbase on Monday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the withdrawal of troops from Syria after 'Russian and Syrian armies had achieved their mission to destroy ISIS'
Photo: AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday that Russia will pull its forces from Syria following the successful two-year military campaign against the Islamic State group.
"I order the defense minister and the chief of general staff to start withdrawing the Russian group of troops to their permanent bases," Putin said, according to RIA Novosti news agency.
According to Reuters, Putin made the announcement during a surprise visit to the Khmeimim air base in Latakia Province, where he held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and addressed Russian military servicemen.
Haaretz reports that the Russian president said that despite the decision to pull away, "a significant portion of the Russian contingent," if "terrorists raise their heads" in Syria, Russia will hit them with powerful strikes. He also said that Russia would retain the Hmeymim air base as well as a naval facility at the Syrian port of Tartous.
On Thursday, the Russian military said it had accomplished its mission of defeating Islamic State in Syria, and there were no remaining settlements there under the group’s control.
