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| Russia begins surprise withdrawal from Syria as peace talks get underway | Russia begins surprise withdrawal from Syria as peace talks get underway |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MOSCOW — Russian forces began to withdraw from Syria on Tuesday, hours after a surprise announcement from Russian President Vladimir Putin that he would end the bulk of his nation’s military deployment as suddenly as he started it. | MOSCOW — Russian forces began to withdraw from Syria on Tuesday, hours after a surprise announcement from Russian President Vladimir Putin that he would end the bulk of his nation’s military deployment as suddenly as he started it. |
| The pullback, which came as peace talks got underway in Geneva, threw a new twist into the bloody conflict, which marked its fifth anniversary on Tuesday. After rescuing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from the verge of defeat, Putin now appears to be pressuring his longtime ally to reach a deal. | The pullback, which came as peace talks got underway in Geneva, threw a new twist into the bloody conflict, which marked its fifth anniversary on Tuesday. After rescuing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from the verge of defeat, Putin now appears to be pressuring his longtime ally to reach a deal. |
| The Russian Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that "personnel are currently loading equipment, logistics support means and property onto military-transport airplanes.” | The Russian Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that "personnel are currently loading equipment, logistics support means and property onto military-transport airplanes.” |
| [8 stories to read if you want to understand the Syrian conflict] | |
| By midday in Syria, groups of Russia fighter jets and military transport planes were taking off from the coastal Hmeimim air base in Latakia on their way home to Russia. | By midday in Syria, groups of Russia fighter jets and military transport planes were taking off from the coastal Hmeimim air base in Latakia on their way home to Russia. |
| At an air base in Russia’s southern Vorenezh region, small crowds waved Russia’s red-blue-and-white flag to greet returning warplanes. Well-wishers tossed pilots into the air as they descended from their planes, and a military band played the Soviet-era Aviators’ March. | At an air base in Russia’s southern Vorenezh region, small crowds waved Russia’s red-blue-and-white flag to greet returning warplanes. Well-wishers tossed pilots into the air as they descended from their planes, and a military band played the Soviet-era Aviators’ March. |
| But even as Russian servicemen were departing, some limits on the withdrawal were already taking shape. Russia plans to leave its powerful S-400 surface-to-air missile systems in place in Syria, a senior Russian official said. That means that Russia will continue to control Syrian airspace, a powerful deterrent to nations such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia — and even the United States — that might contemplate instituting no-fly zones over parts of Syrian territory. | But even as Russian servicemen were departing, some limits on the withdrawal were already taking shape. Russia plans to leave its powerful S-400 surface-to-air missile systems in place in Syria, a senior Russian official said. That means that Russia will continue to control Syrian airspace, a powerful deterrent to nations such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia — and even the United States — that might contemplate instituting no-fly zones over parts of Syrian territory. |
| [No “Plan B” at Syrian peace talks] | [No “Plan B” at Syrian peace talks] |
| The high-tech anti-aircraft system significantly alters the balance of the power in Syria and gives Russia a major foothold in the Middle East. Senior Kremlin leaders said Tuesday that the Russian pullout did not spell an end to their nation’s activities in the region. | The high-tech anti-aircraft system significantly alters the balance of the power in Syria and gives Russia a major foothold in the Middle East. Senior Kremlin leaders said Tuesday that the Russian pullout did not spell an end to their nation’s activities in the region. |
| “We will not ease” the fight, Sergei Ivanov told reporters, the Interfax news agency reported. “Rather, we will intensify it. But for that end we do not need the contingent that is present today.” | “We will not ease” the fight, Sergei Ivanov told reporters, the Interfax news agency reported. “Rather, we will intensify it. But for that end we do not need the contingent that is present today.” |
| Russian advisers embedded with the Syrian military also planned to remain, Russian media reported, citing unnamed sources. | Russian advisers embedded with the Syrian military also planned to remain, Russian media reported, citing unnamed sources. |
| “When it is seen that the political component will move forward successfully, and the Syrian army and police are capable of destroying hotbeds of terrorism in Syria on their own, then we will possibly think about the S-400” and its removal, the chairman of the defense and security committee of Russia’s upper house of parliament, Viktor Ozerov, told the Interfax news agency. | “When it is seen that the political component will move forward successfully, and the Syrian army and police are capable of destroying hotbeds of terrorism in Syria on their own, then we will possibly think about the S-400” and its removal, the chairman of the defense and security committee of Russia’s upper house of parliament, Viktor Ozerov, told the Interfax news agency. |
| The six-month deployment helped Assad forces retake almost 4,000 square miles of territory — nearly the size of Connecticut — eliminating the possibility that he might be deposed by force. It bolstered Russia’s main ally in the Arab world. It also bought Russia a role as a major player on the international stage, forcing the United States and other Western allies to bargain with them after two years of isolation after Ukraine. | The six-month deployment helped Assad forces retake almost 4,000 square miles of territory — nearly the size of Connecticut — eliminating the possibility that he might be deposed by force. It bolstered Russia’s main ally in the Arab world. It also bought Russia a role as a major player on the international stage, forcing the United States and other Western allies to bargain with them after two years of isolation after Ukraine. |
| [Russia and U.S. find common ground with cease-fire] | [Russia and U.S. find common ground with cease-fire] |
| But Putin had always said that the deployment would be limited, and he appears to have concluded that Russia’s major aims were achieved after six months of airstrikes and other help to Assad’s forces. | But Putin had always said that the deployment would be limited, and he appears to have concluded that Russia’s major aims were achieved after six months of airstrikes and other help to Assad’s forces. |
| After after a cease-fire went into effect at the end of February, U.S. officials had become increasingly frustrated with their Russian partners as Assad forces continued to press an assault against the Syrian opposition. Russian airstrikes on opposition territory came to a virtual halt, officials said, even as Syrian government attacks continued. | After after a cease-fire went into effect at the end of February, U.S. officials had become increasingly frustrated with their Russian partners as Assad forces continued to press an assault against the Syrian opposition. Russian airstrikes on opposition territory came to a virtual halt, officials said, even as Syrian government attacks continued. |
| Overall, the cease-fire has brought a measure of peace to the devastated country. | Overall, the cease-fire has brought a measure of peace to the devastated country. |
| Tuesday’s pullout appears to put pressure on Syrian leaders to reach a deal in Geneva, even as Russia retains the flexibility to quickly redeploy should it find that necessary. | Tuesday’s pullout appears to put pressure on Syrian leaders to reach a deal in Geneva, even as Russia retains the flexibility to quickly redeploy should it find that necessary. |
| Assad envoys and representatives from the Syrian opposition were engaged in U.N.-brokered talks this week, although they appeared to be starting slowly. Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. envoy leading the bargaining, met Monday with regime envoys and was due to meet later Tuesday with the opposition leaders, who planned to mark the grim five-year anniversary with a ceremony in a garden at U.N. headquarters in Geneva. | Assad envoys and representatives from the Syrian opposition were engaged in U.N.-brokered talks this week, although they appeared to be starting slowly. Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. envoy leading the bargaining, met Monday with regime envoys and was due to meet later Tuesday with the opposition leaders, who planned to mark the grim five-year anniversary with a ceremony in a garden at U.N. headquarters in Geneva. |
| De Mistura praised the Russian move on Tuesday, saying in a statement that it was “a significant development, which we hope will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations in Geneva.” | De Mistura praised the Russian move on Tuesday, saying in a statement that it was “a significant development, which we hope will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations in Geneva.” |
| [How the Syrian revolt went tragically wrong] | [How the Syrian revolt went tragically wrong] |
| In central Damascus, there was little sign of the anniversary of the conflict, which began with mass protests against Assad’s government. The regime does not mark the occasion. Streets were filled with commuters and shoppers as usual, in a city that has taken on a new air of confidence in recent months after the Russian intervention. | In central Damascus, there was little sign of the anniversary of the conflict, which began with mass protests against Assad’s government. The regime does not mark the occasion. Streets were filled with commuters and shoppers as usual, in a city that has taken on a new air of confidence in recent months after the Russian intervention. |
| Syrian state media tried to play down the significance of Russia’s pull back. State television stressed that the decision was taken in coordination with the Syrian government, even though a day earlier the Kremlin had said that it had not consulted with its Syrian partners before the move. | Syrian state media tried to play down the significance of Russia’s pull back. State television stressed that the decision was taken in coordination with the Syrian government, even though a day earlier the Kremlin had said that it had not consulted with its Syrian partners before the move. |
| “I assure the counterterrorism process is continuing seriously and solidly,” Syria’s information minister Omran al-Zoubi told the channel, he said. “Russia is committed to Syria and Syria is committed to Russia.” | “I assure the counterterrorism process is continuing seriously and solidly,” Syria’s information minister Omran al-Zoubi told the channel, he said. “Russia is committed to Syria and Syria is committed to Russia.” |
| But other allies of the Assad government said that the Russian announcement had thrown them significantly off-balance. | But other allies of the Assad government said that the Russian announcement had thrown them significantly off-balance. |
| The snap pullout “came as a shock,” said an official with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia that has sent fighters to Syria to aid Assad. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the group’s internal discussions. | The snap pullout “came as a shock,” said an official with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia that has sent fighters to Syria to aid Assad. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the group’s internal discussions. |
| “We have to wait and see the real intentions of the Russians, because at the end there is fear that Hezbollah would be paying the price,” the official said. | “We have to wait and see the real intentions of the Russians, because at the end there is fear that Hezbollah would be paying the price,” the official said. |
| Opponents of the Syrian regime also appeared eager to take advantage of the turnabout. A commander of the al-Qaeda-aligned Jabhat al-Nusra, a faction fighting in Syria, told the AFP news agency that the group was preparing an offensive “in the next 48 hours.” | Opponents of the Syrian regime also appeared eager to take advantage of the turnabout. A commander of the al-Qaeda-aligned Jabhat al-Nusra, a faction fighting in Syria, told the AFP news agency that the group was preparing an offensive “in the next 48 hours.” |
| Russian state television — always a reliable barometer of the message that the Kremlin wants to send its citizens — moved quickly to portray the pullout as a capstone to a successful Russian military foray. Even the meteorologists got involved, showing the flightpaths of the planes and the likely weather along the way, including some thunderstorms. | Russian state television — always a reliable barometer of the message that the Kremlin wants to send its citizens — moved quickly to portray the pullout as a capstone to a successful Russian military foray. Even the meteorologists got involved, showing the flightpaths of the planes and the likely weather along the way, including some thunderstorms. |
| The Russian decision took the White House by surprise. President Obama and Putin talked about it in a call that had previously been scheduled to discuss the implementation of the cease-fire. | The Russian decision took the White House by surprise. President Obama and Putin talked about it in a call that had previously been scheduled to discuss the implementation of the cease-fire. |
| It was not immediately clear how the pullout would affect Russia’s longterm plans in Syria. | It was not immediately clear how the pullout would affect Russia’s longterm plans in Syria. |
| Previous denials of Russian military activity in Ukraine and Syria have later proved to be false. But assuming the images broadcast on television were real, there were indeed dozens of Russian warplanes departing on Tuesday. | Previous denials of Russian military activity in Ukraine and Syria have later proved to be false. But assuming the images broadcast on television were real, there were indeed dozens of Russian warplanes departing on Tuesday. |
| The mission was Russia’s first overseas combat deployment since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, and military leaders here had been eager to show off their abilities. Russian military analysts spoke brightly of the good training that Russian soldiers were getting; the Defense Ministry even shifted part of its training budget to Syria. | The mission was Russia’s first overseas combat deployment since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, and military leaders here had been eager to show off their abilities. Russian military analysts spoke brightly of the good training that Russian soldiers were getting; the Defense Ministry even shifted part of its training budget to Syria. |
| Hugh Naylor in Geneva, Loveday Morris in Damascus, Suzan Haidamous in Beirut and Andrew Roth in Moscow contributed to this report. | Hugh Naylor in Geneva, Loveday Morris in Damascus, Suzan Haidamous in Beirut and Andrew Roth in Moscow contributed to this report. |
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