Russia Begins Military Withdrawal From Syria

"Technicians at the airbase have begun preparing aircraft for long-range flights to airbases in the Russian Federation," officials said.

It comes hours after President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to begin pulling out of the war-torn country.

During a meeting in the Kremlin with his ministers, Mr Putin said the forces should withdraw because they have largely achieved their aim.

He also ordered the country's diplomatic efforts be stepped up to secure a peace deal in Syria.

The move was announced on the day UN-backed peace talks between the warring sides in Syria resumed in Geneva.

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It comes five months after Moscow launched a military operation in support of the Damascus regime.

Waves of airstrikes by Russian warplanes against Syrian opposition forces have reversed the tide of the bloody civil war and put the forces of Bashar al Assad on the front foot, ahead of the recent fragile ceasefire. 

A spokesman said the Russian leader had agreed the military withdrawal in a telephone call with Mr Assad.

Mr Putin said: "The effective work of our military created the conditions for the start of the peace process.

"I believe that the task put before the defence ministry and Russian armed forces has, on the whole, been fulfilled.

"With the participation of the Russian military ... the Syrian armed forces and patriotic Syrian forces have been able to achieve a fundamental turnaround in the fight against international terrorism and have taken the initiative in almost all respects.

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