Russia started to withdraw its troops from Syria, announced the commander of the Russian military group Sergey Surovikin. About it reports “Interfax”.
“Received the task and has started the withdrawal strength of 25 aircraft, of which 23 aircraft of various modifications, and two Ka-52, as well as the military contingent in the squad of the military police of the Russian Federation, special forces, military field hospital, detachment of the mine action centre,” the commander said.
According to the head of the Federation Council Committee on defense and security Viktor Bondarev, this is not about full withdrawal of the military, and on the reduction of the group. In Hamima will remain aviation, air defense and engineer troops.
The President of Russia Vladimir Putin ordered to withdraw troops from Syria on 11 December. He also said that the Russian military base in Tartus and Mamimi will be permanent.
In December, Putin announced about the complete defeat of the insurgents along the Euphrates in Syria. According to the City, during the operation, the Russian military together with the Syrian army killed 32 people, destroyed 394 tanks and other equipment, has released more than a thousand villages and 67 thousand square kilometers of territory.
The Russian military operation in Syria began in September of 2015, the withdrawal of troops Putin declared in March 2016, then it was also about the reduction of Russian military presence. Sources RBC reported that the withdrawal of the contingent was delayed until the end of the year. According to interlocutors of the edition, Moscow planned to complete the Syrian campaign by the end of 2017.
The aim of the Russian operations, the Kremlin calls the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the fight against terrorists, including banned in Russia grouping “Islamic state”.
The defense Ministry officially acknowledged the death in Syria 36 military for all the campaign. However, according to Reuters, only for 2017 in the Republic killed 40 Russians, some of whom came to Syria from private military companies. The Ministry of defence has rejected these data.
Background: Putin spoke about the future of Russian troops in Syria