In a surprise visit to Russian-operated Hmeymim air base in Latakia, Russian President Vladimir Putin told his troops it’s time to return home.
Putin gave the order to begin the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria after a two-year military campaign. He said Moscow and Damascus have accomplished their mission to destroy ISIL, adding that conditions for a political settlement under the direction of the United Nations are now more favorable.
The delegation for the Syrian government rejoined U.N. sponsored peace talks in Geneva Sunday.
The negotiations are focused on a resolution, unanimously approved by the U.N. Security Council, calling for a transitional government and elections.
To discuss all of this:
- Bassam Abu Abdullah, a political analyst and professor of international relations
- Kamal Alam, a visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute
- Rafif Jouejati, a spokeswoman for a Syrian women’s political movement
- Emily Hawthorne, a Middle East and North Africa analyst at Stratfor
For more:
Russian President Putin orders withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria after decisive IS defeat as he met Monday with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the Russian-run Hmeimim Air Base in Syria's coastal city of Latakia https://t.co/q2HPEVqBxM pic.twitter.com/W9hIybnooj
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) December 11, 2017
“As violence continues to intensify in East Ghouta, thousands of children are suffering in silence”
– @FranEquiza, UNICEF Representative in #Syria. #ChildrenUnderAttack https://t.co/OVPK4y6UOJ
— UNICEF (@UNICEF) December 10, 2017