Putin orders surprise partial withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria
Moscow — President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the partial withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria, during a surprise visit to the war-torn country. Putin arrived at Russia’s Hmeimim airbase in Latakia province, a government stronghold, where he was welcomed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the two men were pictured smiling, shaking hands and hugging. Putin, who announced last week he would seek a fourth Kremlin term in a presidential poll in March, said he had ordered Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to start a partial withdrawal. "I have taken a decision: a significant part of the Russian troop contingent located in Syria is returning home to Russia," he said in a televised speech to troops at the base. Russia first intervened in the conflict in 2015, staging air strikes in support of its ally Damascus targeting both the Islamic State group (IS) and other jihadists as well as rebels fighting government troops. Putin said the troops had helped the Syrian army crush the "...
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