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Putin orders withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria during surprise visit to Khmeimim Airbase Putin orders withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria during surprise visit to Khmeimim Airbase
(about 1 hour later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria. He gave the command during a surprise visit to Khmeimim Airbase in Syria’s Latakia province on Monday morning.Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria. He gave the command during a surprise visit to Khmeimim Airbase in Syria’s Latakia province on Monday morning.
A “significant part” of the Russian military contingent in Syria should return to Russia, Putin announced, addressing Russian military personnel at Khmeimim. The order to withdraw followed the defeat of “the most battle-hardened grouping of international terrorists” by the Russian and Syrian militaries in the space of two years.
READ MORE: Watch Putin visit Russian troops at Syria’s Khmeimim Airbase (VIDEO)READ MORE: Watch Putin visit Russian troops at Syria’s Khmeimim Airbase (VIDEO)
The Russian president was met by his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu at the airbase, which houses Russian forces assisting Syria in the battle against Islamic State terrorists (IS, formerly ISIS). As he arrived at the base, which houses Russian forces assisting Syria in the battle against Islamic State terrorists (IS, formerly ISIS), the Russian president was greeted by his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, and by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, in a brief stop on his (President Putin's) way to bilateral talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, followed by a meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
“I order the defense minister and chief of the general staff to start the withdrawal of Russian troops to the site of their permanent deployment," Putin stated, speaking in front of Russian military personnel at Khmeimim. The commander of the Russian forces in Syria, Colonel-General Sergey Surovikin, informed the Russian leader that about 70,000 sq km of Syrian territory has been liberated and 32,000 terrorists killed in the last seven months of the operation.Russian special forces, military police, sapper teams and 25 aircraft will now leave Syria, and the field hospital will be removed.
The Russian leader said that in the space of two years the Russian and Syrian militaries have “defeated the most battle-hardened grouping of international terrorists.” Putin added that he had made the decision that a significant number of the Russian military contingent in Syria should return to Russia. Still, the fight with terrorists does not stop there, with Putin warning that should they try to “rear their heads” in Syria again, Russia will strike them as “they have never seen before.” Russia will continue to use Khmeimim Airbase and the Syrian port of Tartus, which provides technical support for the Russian Navy, while the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria also remains.
He warned that should the terrorists try to “rear their heads” in Syria again, Russia will strike them as “they have never seen before.” The Russian leader added that the conditions for a political settlement under the auspices of the United Nations had been created in Syria, and that refugees were returning home. Syria was “preserved as a sovereign and independent state” and refugees are returning home, the Russian president noted. He is expected to discuss the organization of a Syrian people’s congress and further steps towards peaceful settlement, with the leaders of Egypt and Turkey on Monday.
The Syrian president once again expressed deep gratitude to the Russian Air Force. During his surprise visit to Russia’s Sochi just three weeks ago, the Syrian leader expressed thanks for Moscow’s help in the fight against terrorism. 
READ MORE: ‘Terrorist migration may turn Afghanistan into next ISIS stronghold after defeat in Syria & Iraq’ READ MORE: ‘Terrorist migration may turn Afghanistan into next ISIS stronghold after defeat in Syria & Iraq’ 
During the meeting with Russian military personnel at Khmeimim, Putin was told that about 70,000  sq km of Syrian territory has been liberated and 32,000 terrorists killed in the last seven months of the operation. Russian special forces, military police, sapper teams and 25 aircraft will leave Syria, and the field hospital will be removed, the commander of the Russian forces in Syria, Colonel-General Sergey Surovikin, said. The Russian General Staff declared the liberation of Syria from ISIS on December 6, saying that “all terrorist units of ISIS” in the country had been destroyed. Putin later said that the military work was completed “with a full victory,” adding that there “might be some spots of resistance.”  
Putin said that the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria would continue its work, and that Russia would continue to use Khmeimim Airbase and the Syrian port of Tartus, which provides technical support for the Russian Navy. Russia’s campaign in Syria was launched on September 30, 2015 after Damascus asked for Moscow’s help in the fight against extremist Islamist forces trying to overthrow the government. In March 2016, Russia partially withdrew its air force from the Khmeimim Airbase, saying their objectives there had been largely achieved.
After a short visit to Syria, the Russian president headed for Cairo, where he is scheduled to hold talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.