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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Putin, on surprise visit, orders Russian forces to start leaving Syria |
| 2017-12-11 |
| [Jpost] President Vladimir Putin ordered "a significant part" of Russia's military contingent in Syria to start withdrawing on Monday, saying Moscow and Damascus had achieved their mission of destroying Islamic State in just over two years. Putin, who polls show will be re-elected comfortably in March, made the announcement during a surprise visit to Russia's Hmeymim air base in Syria, where he held talks with President Bashar Assad and addressed Russian forces. The Kremlin first launched air strikes in Syria in September 2015 in its biggest Middle East intervention in decades, turning the tide of the conflict in Assad's favor, while dramatically increasing Moscow's own influence in the region. Syrian state television quoted Assad as thanking Putin for Russia's help, saying the blood of Moscow's "martyrs" had been mixed with the blood of the Syrian army. |
| Posted by:g(r)omgoru |
| #8 (1) They can visibly say "We did what we came to do, and we're gone." (2) With return to base and turnaround time for the Spetznaz and naval infantry units, spring will likely see a more determined butt kicking around the Crimea. |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2017-12-11 14:33 |
| #7 I'd be willing to argue that with or without any nation-building, most of the ME and the rest of the Muslim world is "pshell nahuy". Starting to withdraw ground troops is a milestone, but I'd bet dollars to donuts that the Russian Aerospace forces will be flying from the motherland once again to pound the crap out of some stray jihadis in the not at all distant future. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2017-12-11 13:51 |
| #6 But who will go to bad for John McSsssssschtainssssch friendssssssch? |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2017-12-11 12:38 |
| #5 Since when does Putin care about public opinion back home? |
| Posted by: Iblis 2017-12-11 12:14 |
| #4 Nope. Its "pshell nahuy, dolboyeb". |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2017-12-11 11:39 |
| #3 Withdraw ...to Tartus |
| Posted by: Frank G 2017-12-11 11:38 |
| #2 Plus, you know how "Nation Building" translates into Russian, Dale? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2017-12-11 11:36 |
| #1 Good move. This will settle some discontent back home. I still say the Russian people don't want war. They want to enjoy peacetime life as long as that will last. They dread the cold winters return. |
| Posted by: Dale 2017-12-11 10:21 |