REPORT: Russia says has begun draw-down of forces in Syria

Russia has begun a down size of its military forces in Syria, the head of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov said on Friday.

“In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, (President) Vladimir Putin, the Russian Defense Ministry is beginning to reduce its armed forces deployment in Syria,” Gerasimov said.

He also added that Russia's naval task force led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, which has been operating in the Mediterranean off the Syrian coast, would be the first to return from Syria.   
 
 Putin said in December Russia had agreed to reduce its military deployment in Syria under the terms of a ceasefire deal between Syrian opposition groups and the government in Damascus.



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