MOSCOW, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Russia continues to pull its troops and aircraft from Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
Russia began withdrawing troops from the war-torn Middle East country in December under an order Putin announced during his visit to the Hmeymim military airfield in Syria. Thirteen warplanes, 14 helicopters and 1,140 troops have pulled out of Syria over the past few days.
Putin made the announcement at a Kremlin ceremony honoring military school graduates.
Sergey Surovikin, the commander of Russian forces in Syria, said that in the first stage, Russia planned to pull out 23 warplanes, two Ka-52 helicopters, and part of its special operation forces, field hospital troops and demining teams.
However, Russia will keep two military bases in Syria, the Hmeymim military airfield and the Tartus naval base, under an agreement with the Syrian government.
On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that 15 Russian aircraft with crew had been withdrawn from Syria.
Russia has participated in anti-terrorist operations in Syria since September 2015 at the request of the Syrian government.
