First group of Russian aircraft leave Syria for Russia: Defense Ministry

Moscow (Russia),Mar.15 : The first group of Russian aircraft has left the Hmeimim air base in Syria for their home base in Russia, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.The move came after Moscow announced it would withdraw from Tuesday the bulk of its forces from the war-torn Middle East country, reports the Xinhua news agency.The Guardian further quoted the Russian Defense Ministry statement, as saying that the withdrawal of aircraft was being done on the orders of President Vladimir Putin.The withdrawal of most Russian forces from Syria is being timed to coincide with the resumption of peace talks in Geneva.The start of negotiations in Switzerland on Monday offered Putin an opportune moment to declare an official end to the five-and-a-half-month Russian air campaign that has allowed the Syrian regime’s army to regain key ground and strengthen its positions ahead of the talks.With Russia’s main goals in Syria achieved, the pullback will allow Putin to pose as a peacemaker and help ease tensions with Nato member Turkey and the Gulf monarchies vexed by Moscow’s military action.