AMN
President Vladimir Putin has ordered the partial withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria during a surprise visit to the war-torn country. In a televised speech, Putin said, he has ordered the defence minister and the chief of general staff to start withdrawing the Russian troops to their permanent bases.
Russia first intervened in the conflict in 2015, staging air strikes in support of its ally Damascus targeting both the Islamic State group and other jihadists as well as rebels fighting government troops.