Russia says it will complete the withdrawal of most of its military contingent in Syria “in two to three days”, local media have reported.
Russian Air Force Commander Viktor Bondarev’s comments were published by Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda on Thursday.
They came two days after President Vladimir Putin ordered his military to start the withdrawal from Syria, saying that the Russian forces had largely achieved their objectives.
Moscow, however, would keep a contingent at its air and naval bases in Syria, Putin said on Tuesday.
The first group of Russian warplanes that left Syria arrived in Russia on Tuesday, while the second group of jets left Khmeimim airbase in Syria on Wednesday.
The aircraft, including Su-25 bombers and Il-76 airlifters, carried technicians as well as equipment and materials.
The number of Russian soldiers in Syria has never been revealed, but US estimates suggest it varies from 3,000 to 6,000 military personnel on the ground.(Al Jazeera)
Link: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/03/syria-war-russia-forces-withdraw-days-160317063757697.html
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