MIDDLE EAST

Putin orders Russian troop withdrawal from Syria

Syria Putin Frame grab made available by Russian Rossiya 24 TV Channel Sergei troops march at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria. Declaring a victory in Syria, Russian President Putin on Monday visited a Russian military air base in the country and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the Mideast nation | AP

Visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 11 ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria, the Kremlin said.

Putin arrived at the Hmeymim airfield in the coastal city of Latakia earlier in the day on a surprise visit where he met his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad, reports the media.

"I order the Defence Minister (Sergey Shoygu) and the Chief of General Staff to start withdrawing the Russian group of troops to their permanent bases," the media quoted Putin as saying.

Putin had already declared in March 2016 that he was planning to pull out the majority of Russian troops.

"I have taken a decision: a significant part of the Russian troop contingent located in Syria is returning home to Russia."

Putin said that if "terrorists raise their heads again", Russia would "carry out such strikes on them which they have never seen".

"We will never forget the victims and losses suffered in the fight against terror both here in Syria and also in Russia."

The visit marks Putin's first trip since the Syrian conflict began six years ago.  

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