Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Friday said the military has completed the partial withdrawal from Syria ordered by President Vladimir Putin, ending over two years of active involvement in the conflict.
“Your order to withdraw the contingent of Russian forces from Syria has been carried out,” Shoigu said during a meeting of top Russian military brass in Moscow.
Russia pulled out air units, military doctors and a battalion of military police, as well as 36 aircrafts and four helicopters, as quoted by Russian agencies.
After this partial withdrawal, Moscow will maintain the Russian reconciliation center and three military police units, as well as the “Hameimim” base and the “Tartous” military naval base.
Russian officials on Thursday approved an agreement to expand Russian military port facilities in Tartous in northwestern Syria, which would become a permanent Russian naval base.
While the Russian defense minister said that 48,000 Russian troops had participated in the Moscow military campaign in Syria, Syria's UN envoy, Bashar al-Jaafari, said US and Turkish troops should leave Syria immediately.
(With AFP)
Also Read
-
Trump strategy document singles out Russia as bad actor globally
US President Donald Trump’s administration named Russia on Monday as a bad actor on the world stage in a policy document that offers a sober ... World News -
On Russia’s Syria pullout claims, Pentagon voices skepticism
The Pentagon on Monday voiced skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement that he had ordered the partial withdrawal of ... Middle East -
Russia provides air cover for Kurdish militia in Syria
Russia’s defense ministry said Monday its planes made hundreds of sorties in support of Kurdish and local militias in eastern Syria, predicting ... Middle East -
Russia says open to working with US to try to resolve Libya crisis
Russia is open to working with the United States to try to solve the crisis in Libya, Russia’s ambassador to Libya was cited as saying on Friday ... North Africa
