Putin visits Assad in Syria, promises troop withdrawal
Putin made the announcement of the planned troop withdrawal at Khmeimim air base in northwest Syria, according to Russian state news TASS, before his meeting with Assad in Syria.
"The task of fighting armed bandits here in Syria, a task that it was essential to solve with the help of extensive use of armed force, has for the most part, been solved and solved spectacularly. I congratulate you!" said Putin.
Russia had an estimated 4,000 troops in Syria, Reuters reported in November 2015, citing unnamed US security officials and independent experts.
Russia has also supported the Syrian Army with air strikes.
"President al-Assad thanked President Putin over Russia’s active participation in fighting terrorism in Syria, stressing that what the Russian military personnel have achieved will not be forgotten by the Syrian people..." Syrian state news SANA reported Assad as saying.
Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergey Shoigu and Commander of the Russian troops in Syria Colonel General Sergey Suroviki were also present at the base in Latakia.
Russia has been the Assad regime's primary backer in the nearly seven-year-long civil war, using its powers in the United Nations to effectively veto sanctions against Damascus.
Putin is also to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey on Monday for the eighth time in 2017.