Home Commentaries & Articles Putin Orders Russian Troop Withdrawal from Syria

Putin Orders Russian Troop Withdrawal from Syria

Putin
Putin had made a similar withdrawal announcement last year, but Russian military operations continued.
Putin
Putin had made a similar withdrawal announcement last year, but Russian military operations continued.

New Delhi: President Vladimir Putin ordered the partial withdrawal of Russian troops during an unannounced visit to Syria on Monday.

In just over two years, the Russian Armed Forces and the Syrian Army have defeated the most combat-ready group of international terrorists.

Putin had made a similar withdrawal announcement last year, but Russian military operations continued.

At the air base, Vladimir Putin was met by President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar al-Assad, Russian Minister of Defence Sergei Shoigu and Commander of the Russian military group Sergei Surovikin.

Vladimir Putin thanked the Russian service personnel who took part in the counter-terrorism operation in Syria and who made the operation a success.

The Russian head of State and President of Syria Bashar al-Assad also met with Russian officers and heard a report by the Commander of the Russian group of forces in Syria on the operations to liberate the country from terrorists.

“By helping the people of Syria to maintain their statehood, to fight off attacks by terrorists, you have inflicted a devastating blow to those who have directly, brazenly and openly threatened our country,” Putin said.

“We will never forget the sacrifices and losses incurred in the struggle against terrorism both here in Syria and in Russia. However, it will not make us fold our hands and retreat. This is not in our peoples’ nature,” he added.

Russia launched its military operation in Syria on 30 September 2015. According to Moscow’s official information, air strikes have helped Damascus to regain control of large parts of the country and drive the Islamic State out from key areas.

President Vladimir Putin had signed a law ratifying a deal with the Syrian government allowing Russia to keep its air base in Syria for almost half a century. The original deal, signed in Damascus in January, allows Russia to use its Khmeimim air base in Latakia Province which it has used to carry out air strikes against forces opposing President Bashar al-Assad.

The document states that Russian forces will be deployed at the Khmeimim base for 49 years with the option of extending that arrangement for 25-year periods.

The two bases, in Tartous and Khmeimim, will continue to operate on a permanent basis.