This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/russia-withdraw-armed-forces-syria-aircraft-carrier-civil-war-ceasefire-assad-regime-rebel-symbol-a7512716.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Russia withdrawing aircraft carrier from Syria 'is more of a symbolic, political statement' says Middle East expert | Russia withdrawing aircraft carrier from Syria 'is more of a symbolic, political statement' says Middle East expert |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Russia's withdrawal of military forces from Syria is "more of a political statement than a military statement," an expert in the Syrian conflict has said. | Russia's withdrawal of military forces from Syria is "more of a political statement than a military statement," an expert in the Syrian conflict has said. |
| Valery Gerasimov, the head of the Russian general staff, said Russia's only aircraft carrier and smaller accompanying warships would be the first to return from Syria. | Valery Gerasimov, the head of the Russian general staff, said Russia's only aircraft carrier and smaller accompanying warships would be the first to return from Syria. |
| However, the announcement is unlikely to be followed by a full withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria, Dr Lina Khatib, the head of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House has said. | However, the announcement is unlikely to be followed by a full withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria, Dr Lina Khatib, the head of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House has said. |
| "Russia is not yet done with its campaign in Syria," Ms Khatib told The Independent. "I think the announcement on its withdrawal is possibly a statement about a milestone in the conflict from Russia's perspective after retaking Aleppo from the rebels. | "Russia is not yet done with its campaign in Syria," Ms Khatib told The Independent. "I think the announcement on its withdrawal is possibly a statement about a milestone in the conflict from Russia's perspective after retaking Aleppo from the rebels. |
| "But there are still other areas in Syria controlled by rebels that Russia and the Syrian regime are going to focus on next." | "But there are still other areas in Syria controlled by rebels that Russia and the Syrian regime are going to focus on next." |
| She added: "That is why this withdrawal announcement is more of a symbolic one, because the fight is not over for Russia." | She added: "That is why this withdrawal announcement is more of a symbolic one, because the fight is not over for Russia." |
| Syrian rebels fleeing from Aleppo have taken refuge in Idlib. At the time, UN special envoy Steffan de Mistura warned a cessation of hostilities across Syria was needed to stop Idlib from becoming "the next Aleppo". | Syrian rebels fleeing from Aleppo have taken refuge in Idlib. At the time, UN special envoy Steffan de Mistura warned a cessation of hostilities across Syria was needed to stop Idlib from becoming "the next Aleppo". |
| Russia previously announced a military withdrawal in March, though Ms Khatib said "that did not really have much of an impact on the ground because the Russian air strike campaign continued." | Russia previously announced a military withdrawal in March, though Ms Khatib said "that did not really have much of an impact on the ground because the Russian air strike campaign continued." |
| She said if Russia does withdraw any troops, they will be non-essential personnel. "I would read the latest announcement as more of a political statement than a military statement," she added. | She said if Russia does withdraw any troops, they will be non-essential personnel. "I would read the latest announcement as more of a political statement than a military statement," she added. |
| Along with its carrier group in Syria, Russia operates an airbase in Latakia and a naval facility in Tartus. | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a partial withdrawal was followed in October by the deployment of its largest surface deployment since the Cold War to bolster the assault on the rebel's last urban stronghold of Aleppo. | Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of a partial withdrawal was followed in October by the deployment of its largest surface deployment since the Cold War to bolster the assault on the rebel's last urban stronghold of Aleppo. |
| Russian military power was instrumental in helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regain control of the city, which was captured from rebel forces last month. | Russian military power was instrumental in helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regain control of the city, which was captured from rebel forces last month. |
| The current Syrian peace process, brokered by Russia and Turkey, is "nowhere near starting" Ms Khatib said. | The current Syrian peace process, brokered by Russia and Turkey, is "nowhere near starting" Ms Khatib said. |
| She said: "I think Russia's actions on the ground continue to indicate that it is not interested in negotiations despite its own announcement of wanting to host talks. | She said: "I think Russia's actions on the ground continue to indicate that it is not interested in negotiations despite its own announcement of wanting to host talks. |
| "The fact that Russia announced a ceasefire that was not met with an actual halt in regime military activities in Syria is an indicator that neither Russia nor the Syrian regime are ready for peace talks. | "The fact that Russia announced a ceasefire that was not met with an actual halt in regime military activities in Syria is an indicator that neither Russia nor the Syrian regime are ready for peace talks. |
| "Basically, as long as Russia and the Syrian regime feel that they have a chance to win this war militarily they will pursue that rather than seek a political compromise." | "Basically, as long as Russia and the Syrian regime feel that they have a chance to win this war militarily they will pursue that rather than seek a political compromise." |