MOSCOW — Russia starts reducing its military presence in Syria, said Friday the chief of the General staff Valery Gerasimov.
“In accordance with the decision of the Supreme commander of the Armed forces of the Russian Federation (President) Vladimir Putin, the Russian defense Ministry starts to reduce forces in Syria,” — said Gerasimov at a briefing broadcast which was shown on Russia 24 TV channel.
The first conflict zone to leave the ships aircraft carrier group led by aircraft carrier “Admiral Kuznetsov”, which participated in the operation, while in the Mediterranean sea.
In late December, Putin said that the Syrian authorities and local armed opposition signed an agreement on the ceasefire and Russia in this regard will withdraw from Syria of the military.
This week, however, a number of Syrian rebel groups announced that they had suspended the discussion on the possible participation in the forthcoming Moscow peace negotiations in Kazakhstan, while loyal to the regime of Bashar al-Assad’s troops and their Iranian-backed allies will not cease violations of the cease-fire.
