Putin Orders Withdrawal Of Russian Troops During Surprise Syria Visit | Zero Hedge
Description: Putin ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria to begin immediately.
Keywords: Zero Hedge,Zerohedge,Finance,Economics,Markets,Politics,Analysis,Vladimir Putin
Date: 2017-12-11T00:00:00Z

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# Putin Orders Withdrawal Of Russian Troops During Surprise Syria Visit

by Tyler Durden
Dec 11, 2017 9:31 AM
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Drawing a stark contrast between himself and his counterpart in the US, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise appearance at Khmeimim Airbase in Syria - which has traditionally been used by the Russian air force - on Monday morning, where he ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria, now that the ISIS insurgency that once controlled roughly one-third of the country’s land area has been effectively dismantled.

The Russian president was met by his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu at the airbase. Russian forces fighting with the Syrian Army during the country's civil war were stationed at the base. Putin ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops to begin immediately, according to Russia Today.

“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 said, speaking to a crowd of Russian soldiers. The Russian leader said that during the span of two years, the Russian and Syrian militaries have “defeated the most battle-hardened grouping of international terrorists,” adding that he’s decided a significant portion of the Russian troop contingent should return to Russia.

Putin warned that if ISIS tries to “rear their heads” in Syria again, Russia will retaliate with a level of force that “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.

Putin was told that about 70,000 square kilometers (about 43,500 square miles) of Syrian territory has been liberated and 32,000 terrorists killed in the last seven months of the operation. Russian special forces, military police and 25 aircraft will leave Syria, and a field hospital will be removed, according to the commander of the Russian forces in Syria, Colonel-General Sergey Surovikin.

The Russian president said that the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria would continue its work, and that Russia would continue to use the Khmeimim Airbase and the Syrian port of Tartus, which provides technical support for the Russian Navy.

Putin is now headed to Cairo, where he is scheduled to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

It’s worth noting that Putin’s decision to withdrawal Russian personnel stands in stark contrast to the US, which appears to be moving toward a semi-permanent air presence in the battle-torn, Iran-allied country.

Last month, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon that the US is preparing for a long term military commitment in Syria to fight ISIS "as long as they want to fight." Mattis indicated that even should ISIS loose all of its territory there would still be a dangerous insurgency that could morph into an "ISIS 2.0" which he said the US would seek to prevent. “The enemy hasn’t declared that they’re done with the area yet, so we’ll keep fighting as long as they want to fight,” Mattis said. “We’re not just going to walk away right now before the Geneva process has traction.”

- Vladimir Putin

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TahoeBilly2012 Dec 11, 2017 9:34 AM

US out now!

Killtruck TahoeBilly2012 Dec 11, 2017 9:36 AM

Too bad a US president would never do this.

In any country.

Bes Killtruck Dec 11, 2017 9:40 AM

#thankstrump

GlassHouse101 Bes Dec 11, 2017 9:42 AM

ECONOMIST 1988 PHOENIX IS HERE!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9OkdkgZqbo

balz Dec 11, 2017 9:37 AM

Putin is the man. Thank you to Russia for destroying those ISIS bastards. That was a gift to humanity.

Salsa Verde Dec 11, 2017 9:37 AM

Remove your military from region after it completes its mission and before it wears out its welcome; what a concept.

chunga Salsa Verde Dec 11, 2017 9:40 AM

Syria - ISIS Is Defeated - The U.S. Is Next In Line

http://www.moonofalabama.org/2017/12/syria-isis-is-defeated-the-us-is-ne...

> The Islamic State in Syrian and Iraq is officially defeated. The UN resolution which allowed other countries to fight ISIS within Syria and Iraq no longer applies. But the U.S. military, despite the lack of any legal basis, wants to continue its occupation of Syria's north-east. The attempt to do so will fail. Its Kurdish allies in the area are already moving away from it and now prefer Russian protection. Guerrilla forces to fight the U.S. "presence" are being formed. The U.S. plan is shortsighted and stupid. If the U.S. insists on staying there many of its soldiers will die.

Bill_Brasky_69er Dec 11, 2017 9:37 AM

Vlad no want to pay for expensive occupation. Best to let stupid Americans do it.

MusicIsYou Dec 11, 2017 9:40 AM

Putin proving yet again he is much better at playing multi dimensional chess. Russian withdrawal will focus Arab hatred on U.S troops in the region especially since Trump's declaration about Jerusalem.

Snout the First Dec 11, 2017 9:39 AM

God bless Russia, the Holy Orthodox Church, and Vladimir Putin.

AntiMatter Dec 11, 2017 9:43 AM
Newsweek: Pentagon “Made Secret Deal with ISIS” to “Battle Assad in Syria”

“The U.S. military allowed thousands of Islamic State militant group (ISIS) fighters to flee from their de facto capital of Raqqa, Syria, in a secret deal that boosted the U.S. fight against the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad."

Yes, Virginia, there is a diabolical ideology at work in Iraq and Syria. This diabolical ideology has been supported by the Pentagon,which got their support from the Neoconservative movement, which got their support from the Israeli regime.

https://www.veteranstoday.com/2017/12/11/newsweek-pentagon-made-secret-d...

RagaMuffin Dec 11, 2017 9:40 AM

You can only have ISIS 2.0 if the backers of ISIS 1.0 want it.............

falak pema Dec 11, 2017 9:40 AM

The military and geopoliitical new master of the ME can play magnanimous.

While the Duck tries to play at Houdini with his Jerusalem gambit; his ME strategy apparently in tatters on the strategic if not tactical front.

Putin, as the key player in the Oil patch he now holds OPec and Saud by their nuts!

With Erdogan and Sissi now looking his way not towards the US.

<Some awesome blitzkrieg that we have seen unfurl since the Ukraine takeover and the Asian Pivot in its wake.

small axe Dec 11, 2017 9:43 AM

What a concept: actually withdrawing troops after an overseas military adventure. After 17 years in Afghanistan, US needs to get a clue. And about those 50,000 US military personnel in Japan 70+ years after WWII...never mind.

my new username Dec 11, 2017 9:41 AM

He did this 2 years ago - and it was all a scam then, too.

sister tika Dec 11, 2017 9:42 AM

Thank you, Mr. Putin, for doing what had to done in Syria.

MusicIsYou Dec 11, 2017 9:43 AM

Trump the real estate agent versus Putin the ex KGB Colonel, gee I wonder who'll win.

Salzburg1756 Dec 11, 2017 9:44 AM

Drumpf is on the phone right now with his handlers in Tel Aviv asking: What should I do now?

WTFUD Dec 11, 2017 9:46 AM

Just leave Syria with the s400's and a dozen tactical nukes to be on the safe side as it's not IS but IS-raeli who's belligerent and behaving in a psychotic manner.

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