Russia to withdraw armed forces from Syria starting with aircraft carrier group

[Zippyjuan]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...war-ceasefire-assad-regime-ally-a7512541.html

I thought their goal was to get rid of ISIS in Syria. ISIS is not part of the cease fire agreement and Syrian forces have not really ventured into ISIS controlled territory. I believe it was just last year Russia announced they were cutting back on their air strikes only to increase them again soon after.

Russia has begun to withdraw its military forces from Syria, the chief of staff of the Russian armed forces has said.

Valery Gerasimov said Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, and smaller accompanying warships would be the first to return from the Syrian port town of Tartous to Murmansk.

"In accordance with the decision of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, [President] Vladimir Putin, the Russian Defence Ministry is beginning to reduce its armed forces deployment in Syria," TASS news agency quoted Mr Gerasimov as saying on Friday.

Mr Putin said Russia had agreed to reduce its military deployment in Syria under the terms of a December 30 ceasefire deal between Syrian opposition groups and the Syrian government.

Russian military power was instrumental in helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regain control of Aleppo, which was captured from rebel forces last month.

Mr Putin sent the country's largest surface deployment since the end of the Cold War to Syria in November in order to bolster the assault on last rebel-held urban stronghold, a show of strength dismissed by Nato sources as "posturing".

Airstrikes from the Admiral Kuzetsov on rebel targets in northern Syrian marked the first time the carrier had been used in combat, despite having been in the Soviet Union's navy since the 1980s.

Its short deployment was marked by the loss of a Su-33 and a MiG-29 fighter jet, both of which crashed while trying to land after sorties due to problems with the carrier's landing system.

The current ceasefire in the Syrian conflict was brokered by Russia and Turkey, which supports Syria's Sunni rebels. It is nominally in place across areas of the country not controlled by Isis or Kurdish groups, but both the government and opposition have blamed each other for several violations.

 

[Jan2017]

Airstrikes from the Admiral Kuznetsov on rebel targets in northern Syrian marked the first time the carrier had been used in combat, despite having been in the Soviet Union’s navy since the 1980s.

the link says they were deployed in November . . .
and, so in January already heading back (albeit due to the Dec. 30 cease-fire deal struck)

Can we get a "Mission Accomplished" sign out again - this time from the Russians (?)

 

[dannno]

Maybe they expect ISIS funding to dry up in a couple weeks.

 

[Dr.3D]

Maybe they expect ISIS funding to dry up in a couple weeks.

That would be my guess.

 

[TheCount]

Maybe they were tired of crashing their planes trying to land them.

 

[Jamesiv1]

This is a fine example of Putin working to make Syria Great Again.

 

[jmdrake]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...war-ceasefire-assad-regime-ally-a7512541.html

I thought their goal was to get rid of ISIS in Syria. ISIS is not part of the cease fire agreement and Syrian forces have not really ventured into ISIS controlled territory. I believe it was just last year Russia announced they were cutting back on their air strikes only to increase them again soon after.

You realize that ISIS had a stronghold in Allepo right? You realize that ISIS just got pushed out of Allepo right? And anyway, I thought you wanted the Russians gone? Make up your mind.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ISIS+pushed+out+of+allepo

Don't forget, shill, that once Russia killed a major ISIS leader in Allepo, the U.S. tried to take credit for it after spending weeks (months?) claiming that "only freedom fighters and civilians" were in Allepo.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=russia+kills+isis+leader+in+allepo+u.s.+claims+credit

Prior to Russia getting involved in Syria, Obama was basically not doing sh*t.

 

[pcosmar]

Prior to Russia getting involved in Syria, Obama was basically not doing sh*t.

And Hillery was doing lots of sh*t.

 

[jmdrake]

And Hillery was doing lots of sh*t.

True. I guess I should have qualified my remarks with "not doing anything helpful to U.S. interests."

 

[silverhandorder]

Every time Russians announce a pull back zippy makes a thread. Then they double down and silence. Who gives a shit? They have their own end game.

Lol at zippy trying to parse propaganda.

 

[vita3]

Trump admin is not going to be helping ISIS.