Putin declares a Russian victory as forces withdrawn from Syria
● Historic visit to war-ravaged area ● Troops praised for terror triumph
President Vladimir Putin declared victory against “terrorists” in Syria during a surprise visit to a Russian military base in the country.
It was Mr Putin’s first trip to Syria.
Russia launched an air campaign in 2015 from the country that allowed President Bashar Assad’s forces to gain the upper hand against the Islamic State group as well as Syrian rebels.
It was also the first visit by a foreign head of state to warravaged Syria since the civil war started in 2011.
Mr Putin’s brief stop yesterday at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria’s coastal province of Latakia while en route to Egypt came days after the Russian president said he would run for re-election on 18 March.
The visit helped to show off Moscow’s global clout to the national audience and coincided with Mr Putin announcing a partial pull-out of Russian troops.
In a televised speech made at the base, Mr Putin hailed his troops’ “excellent” performance in Syria, where the Russian military declared victory against the Islamic State group last week.
“You have shown the best qualities of a Russian soldier – courage, valour, team spirit, decisiveness and excellent skills,” he said. “The Motherland is proud of you.”
Russia launched its air campaign in Syria at the end of September 2015 as Mr Assad’s government was teetering on the brink of collapse. The strike quickly changed the course of the conflict.
Russian officials said the troops were sent to Syria mainly to fight “terrorists”, including IS and al-qaida, but they also battled mainstream rebels opposed to the Assad family’s four-decade rule.
Mr Putin has hosted Assad twice in the past six years, including a surprise 21 Novemrussian ber visit that Mr Assad undertook to the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Russian television stations showed Mr Putin walking off the plane at the air base, embracing and shaking hands with Mr Assad. The two then visited a military operations room. The Hemeimeem base, located in the heartland of Mr Assad’s Alawite minority, has served as the main foothold for the Russian military campaign in Syria.
“Here in Syria, far away from our borders, you helped the Syrian people to preserve their state and fend off attacks by terrorists,” Mr Putin said, facing the troops lined up on the tarmac. “You have dealt a devastating blow to those who blatantly threatened our country. We will never forget about the victims who fell in the fight against terror both here and in Russia.”
Mr Putin also said he had ordered the military to withdraw a “significant part” of the Russian contingent in Syria.
“Friends, the Motherland is waiting for you,” he said. “You are coming back home with victory.”
Mr Putin said the Russian military would maintain its presence at Hemeimeem and a naval facility in Tartus.
General Sergei Surovikin, the Russian military commander in Syria, said 23 warplanes, two helicopter gunships, special forces units, military police and field engineers would be withdrawn.
He said the remaining forces would be sufficient to “successfully fulfil the tasks” to stabilise the situation in Syria. Gen. Surovikin did not say how many troops and weapons would stay behind.
Syria has allowed Russia to use Hemeimeem air base indefinitely without cost. Moscow also has a deal with Syria to use the Tartus base for 49 years, which could be extended if both parties agreed.
The Russian military plans to modernise the air base and expand its runways to allow it to host more warplanes. It also intends to expand the Tartus facility significantly to make it a full-scale naval base capable of hosting warships.