Russia says it's reducing forces in Syria

Naval fleet led by aircraft carrier has begun withdrawing from the Mediterranean

Russia has pulled back its fleet, which was led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, from the eastern Mediterranean. The naval deployment off the Syrian coast has made for a rare sight in the decades since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Russia has pulled back its fleet, which was led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, from the eastern Mediterranean. The naval deployment off the Syrian coast has made for a rare sight in the decades since the collapse of the Soviet Union. PHOTO: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

MOSCOW • Russia said yesterday that it had begun reducing its military forces in Syria under the terms of a fragile ceasefire deal brokered between opposition groups and the Syrian government.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the ceasefire in late December and said Russia would pull back some of its forces in Syria, where its military intervention has turned the tide in favour of President Bashar al-Assad.

The head of the Russian General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, said that had begun yesterday, with the Russian naval fleet led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier beginning its withdrawal from the eastern Mediterranean.

"In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, the Russian Defence Ministry is beginning to reduce its armed forces deployment in Syria," Gen Gerasimov said.

"I want to congratulate the entire crew of the naval aircraft carrier group on the successful completion of their assigned tasks."

The Kuznetsov led the Russian naval deployment operating off the Syrian coast - a rare sight since the collapse of the Soviet Union - in providing air support to the Syrian army. Large-scale strikes on rebel forces were launched from the fleet in November.

"The tasks set for the aircraft carrier group during its military mission have been fulfilled," said Russia's main commander in Syria, Colonel-General Andrei Kartapolov, according to Russian news agencies.

Aircraft on board the carrier conducted 420 sorties and hit 1,252 "terrorist" targets during the two months that it was involved in Syria, Col-Gen Kartapolov said.

He said that Russia still had sufficient air defence capabilities, thanks to its S-300 and S-400 systems deployed in the war-torn country.

Syrian army chief of staff Ali Abdullah Ayoub visited the Kuznetsov to mark the end of its mission.

In remarks shown on Russian state television, he stressed the importance of Russian military support given to Damascus in "the war on terrorism and the need to develop military cooperation" with Russia even after "the victory over terrorism".

However, Russia has previously failed to deliver on promises to pull back its forces from Syria.

Moscow announced a reduction of its military deployment in the country in March last year, but continued supply runs by land and air before sending significant reinforcements in October.

REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 07, 2017, with the headline Russia says it's reducing forces in Syria. Subscribe