Russia to keep part of its taskforce and aircraft in Syria

MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. Russia will keep some of its planes in Syria to help maintain order in the country, commander of the special aviation regiment, Sergei Aksenov, said on Monday. "Not all the aircraft are to be withdrawn. Some planes will stay in order to maintain order and exterminate militant groups that might emerge," he said in an interview with the Rossiya-1 television channel. Earlier on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Khmeimim airbase in Syria where he said that the most combat worthy group of international terrorists had been crushed and ordered to begin withdrawal of most of the Russian contingent from Syria. He stressed that Russia’s assistance had helped preserve Syria as a sovereignty and create conditions for United Nations-mediated political settlement. Commander of the Russian taskforce in Syria Sergei Surovkin informed the president about the beginning of troops withdrawal from Syria. He said Russia would withdraw 25 aircraft, including 23 warplanes and two Ka-52 helicopters and military contingents, including a military police unit, a military hospital and a Mine Action Center unit. Read more