Russian president orders troops to begin pullout from Syria

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian forces to begin withdrawing from Syria during a surprise visit to the Arab country, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Putin visited Russia’s Hmeimim air base in the Latakia province on Monday and also held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

“I order the defense minister and the chief of general staff to start withdrawing the Russian group of troops to their permanent bases,” RIA quoted him as saying.

“I have taken a decision: a significant part of the Russian troop contingent located in Syria is returning home to Russia,” Putin added.

The Russian leader congratulated his country’s troops over the defeat of Daesh in Syria, saying the threat of Takfiri terrorism had been removed in the country for the most part.

“The task of fighting armed bandits here in Syria, a task that it was essential to solve with the help of extensive use of armed force, has for the most part, been solved and solved spectacularly,” Putin said.

“I congratulate you!,” he told Russian servicemen gathered at the base where he also met the Syrian president.

Putin stressed that Moscow would keep the Hmeimim air base in Latakia as well as Russia’s naval facility at the Syrian port of Tartous “on a permanent basis”.