Alwaght- Russian President Vladimir Putin in an unannounced visit to war-torn Syria has ordered his country's forces to begin withdrawing from the Arab country, RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Putin visited Russia's Hmeymim air base in the Latakia province on Monday and also held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"I order the defense minister and the chief of general staff to start withdrawing the Russian group of troops to their permanent bases," RIA quoted him as saying.
"I have taken a decision: a significant part of the Russian troop contingent located in Syria is returning home to Russia," Putin added.
He warned that should the terrorists try to “rear their heads” in Syria again, Russia will strike them, as “they have never seen before.”
After a short visit to Syria, the Russian president headed for Cairo, where he is scheduled to hold talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
