Putin calls Russian bombings in Syria victory, praises Iran and Turkey (Video/Photo)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria after more than two years of an anti-terrorist air campaign conducted in the Arab Republic.

“I instruct the defence minister, the head of the General Staff, to start withdrawing Russian contingents to their permanent location “, said Putin, speaking to the military in Syria, saying they have demonstrated “guxim, heroism, co-ordination, definition, excellent training and high professionalism”.

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Monday that the Russian military contingent had already begun to withdraw from Syria, but that the withdrawal schedule would be determined by the situation on the ground, reports “Sputnik International” Transmission Periscope.

The “will depend on the situation,” told reporters in response to a question of how long it would take to withdraw Russian forces.

Putin has stressed that if terrorists <x0rent their heads” in Syria, Russian forces will carry out similar attacks that “ata have never seen”, adding that the two bases -- in Tartus and Emymim -- as well as in the Syrian reconciliation centre -- will continue to operate.

The president has underlined that with the help of Russia's military operation, Syria has been maintained as an independent and sovereign state, adding that conditions for political resolution in the country under the auspices of the UN and refugees, who must flee their homes, could return.

Putin met with Syrian President Bashar Assad, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, when he arrived at the Hmeym base in the province of Latakia for the first time since the beginning of the terrorist operation in the Arab Republic at the request of Damascus in 2015.

#Putin in #Russian airbags #Composition in #Syria Video 1 Pic.twitter. com/ ES0 NIALXRY

▪ Alexander Khrebet (@AlexKhrebet) December 11, 2017

The Russian president has also held a special meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad at the military base.

Actually, the threat of terrorism in general is very high. The fact that we defeated one of the main bands of Daesh in Syria is extremely important for Syria, for Russia and for the whole world”, the Russian president said at the meeting with Assad.

For his part, Assad has thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for effective assistance in the country's fight against terrorism.

Summing up the results of the two-year military campaign, Vladimir Putin cited other Syrian peace maintenance states, Iran and Turkey respectively, saying they would help establish normality in the country, contributing to the rooting out of terrorism.

Russian Operation in Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement has come nearly a week after his statement on the complete destruction of jihadists along the two banks of the Euphrates River.

Speaking of the course of the operation, Russian General Staff Colonel Sergei Rudskoi stressed that now the terrorist group has been eliminated from Syria, Russian troops will focus their efforts on restoring a peaceful life in the country and respecting party resolutions. /Periscopi/