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| Russian Air Force Takes First Steps for Withdrawal From Syria | Russian Air Force Takes First Steps for Withdrawal From Syria |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MOSCOW — The Russian Air Force contingent deployed in Syria has begun loading equipment and making other technical preparations necessary to start the withdrawal of its forces, the Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. | MOSCOW — The Russian Air Force contingent deployed in Syria has begun loading equipment and making other technical preparations necessary to start the withdrawal of its forces, the Defense Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. |
| The technical staff at the Hmeymim air base near Latakia, Syria, “began to prepare the aircraft for the long-range flights to the Russian Federation,” the ministry said in a statement on its website and on Facebook. | |
| The statement did not specify the number of aircraft. Russia deployed about 50 fighter jets and attack helicopters at the base starting in September. | The statement did not specify the number of aircraft. Russia deployed about 50 fighter jets and attack helicopters at the base starting in September. |
| President Vladimir V. Putin ordered the Defense Ministry on Monday night to withdraw the “main part” of the Russian forces, but he did not provide specifics. | President Vladimir V. Putin ordered the Defense Ministry on Monday night to withdraw the “main part” of the Russian forces, but he did not provide specifics. |
| The process apparently started soon after Mr. Putin’s announcement, and Russian television broadcast pictures of soldiers loading heavy equipment onto giant cargo planes in the dark. Later on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry announced that the first group of fighter jets had left Syria for Russia, according to the Interfax news agency. | |
| Russia has also long maintained a naval repair and refueling station on the coast at Tartus, its sole overseas military outpost. | Russia has also long maintained a naval repair and refueling station on the coast at Tartus, its sole overseas military outpost. |
| Dmitri S. Peskov, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, said on Monday after the announcement that some forces would stay behind and that both facilities would remain in operation. | Dmitri S. Peskov, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, said on Monday after the announcement that some forces would stay behind and that both facilities would remain in operation. |
| The deployment of Russian forces helped turn the tide of the war in the favor of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. The sudden announcement of their withdrawal will put pressure on the government in Damascus to be more flexible in peace talks with the opposition in Geneva. | The deployment of Russian forces helped turn the tide of the war in the favor of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. The sudden announcement of their withdrawal will put pressure on the government in Damascus to be more flexible in peace talks with the opposition in Geneva. |
| The withdrawal of the Russian forces was not entirely unexpected. Mr. Putin has achieved his main goals in Syria, including shoring up Moscow’s foremost Arab ally; preventing the West from forcing a leadership change from the outside; and burnishing Russia’s image as a major player on the world stage. | The withdrawal of the Russian forces was not entirely unexpected. Mr. Putin has achieved his main goals in Syria, including shoring up Moscow’s foremost Arab ally; preventing the West from forcing a leadership change from the outside; and burnishing Russia’s image as a major player on the world stage. |
| In addition, should Mr. Assad require renewed support on the battlefield, the small but effective Russian force could easily be redeployed. | In addition, should Mr. Assad require renewed support on the battlefield, the small but effective Russian force could easily be redeployed. |