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Putin
orders start of Russian military withdrawal from Syria, says
‘objectives achieved’
Russian
President Vladimir Putin has ordered Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu
to start the withdrawal of forces from Syria starting Tuesday. Russia
will however keep a military presence at the port of Tartus and at
the Khmeimim airbase to observe ceasefire agreements.
“I
consider the objectives that have been set for the Defense Ministry
to be generally accomplished. That is why I order to start withdrawal
of the main part of our military group from the territory of the
Syrian Arab Republic starting from tomorrow,” Putin
said on Monday during a meeting with Shoigu and Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov.
"In
a short period of time Russia has created a small but very effective
military group [in Syria]... the effective work of our military
allowed the peace process to begin,"
Putin said, adding that with the assistance of the Russian Air Force
"Syrian
government troops and patriotic forces have changed the situation in
the fight with international terrorism and have ceased the
initiative."
T
o
control the observation of ceasefire agreements in the region, Moscow
will keep its Khmeimim airbase in Latakia province and a base at the
port of Tartus, Putin said.
At
Moscow's initiative, a phone conversation between Vladimir Putin and
Syria's President Bashar Assad was held on Monday evening, the
Kremlin reported.
Bashar
Assad has recognized the “professionalism,
courage and heroism”
of Russian Army soldiers and officers, who have taken part in the
military action, thanking Russia not only for extensive help in the
fight against terrorism, but also for providing humanitarian aid and
assistance to the Syrian civilian population.
The
Syrian leader also stressed its readiness to engage in the political
process in Syria as soon as possible, the Kremlin said.
Russia's
president also addressed his foreign minister. He had tasked Lavrov
with intensifying Russia's participation in the peace process to
solve the Syrian crisis, the Kremlin reported.
Moscow
launched its anti-terror campaign in Syria on September 30 last year.
Russia’s participation in the operation, according to a previous
statement by Putin, has its basis in international law and has been
conducted “in
accordance with an official request from the president of the Syrian
Arab Republic [Bashar Assad].”
The
Russian Air Force has been carrying out airstrikes against Islamic
State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and other terrorist targets in the
region, eliminating military equipment, communication centers,
vehicles, arms and fuel depots.
This
will certainly be the top of the headlines for the coming hours'
Initial western response via the Guardian
Vladimir Putin orders start of Russian forces' withdrawal from Syria
This is what the BBC says
Mr
Putin is effectively saying "job done" in Syria. He is
clear, though, that a Russian air base and a naval base will remain,
so this is not a total military pull-out.
Coinciding
with the Syria peace talks, it is yet another sign of Mr Putin's
mastery of diplomatic showmanship.
Russia
has about 30 combat aircraft in Syria and a small ground component
protecting them, along with an unspecified number of Russian advisers
and special forces on the ground, operating with the Syrian military.
Russia's
intervention has achieved its main goals - consolidating President
Assad's position, enabling his forces to re-take key pieces of
strategic territory and ensuring that Mr Assad remains a factor in
any future Syrian settlement
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