President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has told his country military in Syria to leave the war-torn country.
Putin informed a meeting on Monday at the Kremlin that the pullout of the main part of the Russian forces would start on Tuesday.
However, the Russian leader disclosed that Russia’s Hmeimim airbase and the its port at Tartus would continue to operate as normal.
Putin explained that he is ordering the withdrawal of the forces because they had largely achieved their goals.
Russia is a key ally of Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, and the Kremlin said he had been informed of Putin’s order.
Its entry into the Syrian civil war tipped the balance in favour of the Syrian government, allowing it to recapture territory from rebels.
The comments come amid fresh peace talks in Geneva aimed at resolving the Syrian conflict.
