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Putin declares victory in Syria, orders Russian troops home
By Ed Adamczyk
Dec. 11, 2017
Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Syria's Khmeimin air base Monday with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. Putin announced the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria. Image courtesy the Kremlin
Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Syria on Monday, declared victory and announced the pullout of his troops.
Accompanied by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Putin spoke to Russian troops at the Khmeimim air base, which has been the headquarters of Russia's military mission in Syria since its military fighter planes first arrived there in 2015.
In his remarks, Putin ordered the start of "withdrawal of troop contingents" from Syria, adding that a Russian presence would remain at both the air base and at the naval base in Tartus.
Putin congratulated the Russian troops involved in Syrian combat, saying, "The homeland is proud of you ... and if the terrorists raise their heads again, we will strike them with such blows which they have not yet seen."
Syria's six-year civil war has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced more than 6 million civilians. Russia and Iran have sided with Assad in the conflict, which has run concurrently with efforts to defeat the Islamic Stateterror group in the north African nation.
Putin has ordered similar drawdowns of Russian troops from Syria in the past.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-...ders-Russian-troops-home/4621513005713/?nll=1
By Ed Adamczyk
Dec. 11, 2017
Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Syria's Khmeimin air base Monday with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. Putin announced the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria. Image courtesy the Kremlin
Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Syria on Monday, declared victory and announced the pullout of his troops.
Accompanied by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Putin spoke to Russian troops at the Khmeimim air base, which has been the headquarters of Russia's military mission in Syria since its military fighter planes first arrived there in 2015.
In his remarks, Putin ordered the start of "withdrawal of troop contingents" from Syria, adding that a Russian presence would remain at both the air base and at the naval base in Tartus.
Putin congratulated the Russian troops involved in Syrian combat, saying, "The homeland is proud of you ... and if the terrorists raise their heads again, we will strike them with such blows which they have not yet seen."
Syria's six-year civil war has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced more than 6 million civilians. Russia and Iran have sided with Assad in the conflict, which has run concurrently with efforts to defeat the Islamic Stateterror group in the north African nation.
Putin has ordered similar drawdowns of Russian troops from Syria in the past.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-...ders-Russian-troops-home/4621513005713/?nll=1