Russian warplanes begin to leave Syria
by Dmitry Solovyov and Tom Miles,
2016-03-16 06:41:00.0
MOSCOW/GENEVA — Russian warplanes began leaving Syria on Tuesday as Moscow started to draw down forces that have tipped the war President Bashar al-Assad’s way, and the United Nations (UN) envoy said he hoped the move would have a positive effect on peace talks under way in Geneva.
As the first aircraft touched down in Russia, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura called it a "significant development" and said he hoped President Vladimir Putin’s move would advance progress towards a solution and a peaceful political transition in Syria.
Mr Putin’s announcement of the withdrawal of the "main part" of Russian armed forces in Syria has led Mr Assad’s opponents to speculate Moscow may be trying to press him towards a political settlement — although Damascus has dismissed any talk of differences with its ally and says the move was co-ordinated.
It was unclear what the withdrawal would mean for the outcome of the war or for the future of Mr Assad.
The talks under way in Geneva are part of a diplomatic push launched with US-Russian support to end the five-year-long war that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world’s worst refugee crisis, and allowed for the rise of Islamic State (IS).
US-Russian co-operation had already brought about a lull in the war going into the talks via a "cessation of hostilities agreement" that led to a sharp decline in fighting between rebels and the government in western Syria. But the Syrian government, which had been losing ground to rebels before Russia intervened, had indicated it was in no mood to compromise on the eve of the talks, calling the presidency a "red line" and ruling out a negotiated transfer of power.
The main opposition delegation wants Mr Assad out of power by the start of a political transition. While some rebels have expressed guarded optimism at Mr Putin’s announcement, others doubt Moscow is about to abandon the Syrian leader.
Russian television showed the first group of Russia’s Su-34 fighter plane task force returning from Syria and landing at an air base in southern Russia on Tuesday.
Between 200 to 300 servicemen, journalists and women greeted the pilots, waving Russian flags, balloons in red, white and blue, and flowers. At least six pilots in white helmets and aviator jackets were seen departing from about three planes.
They were mobbed by the crowd before being thrown in the air in celebration. A brass band played Soviet military songs including the Stalin-era "March of the Aviators", and the Russian national anthem. Russia said, however, that it would keep its most advanced air-defence system, the S-400, in Syria.
The Russian air campaign that started at the end of September last year has focused mostly on insurgents battling Mr Assad in western Syria, helping Damascus and allies including Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guards to reclaim important ground near the borders with Turkey and Jordan.
The spokesman for a rebel group in Latakia, where fighting has raged throughout the truce, said he did not believe the Russians were changing course.
"We do not trust them," said Fadi Ahmad of the First Coastal Division rebel group.
Salim al-Muslat, spokesman for the main Syrian opposition alliance in Geneva, said: "We heard the decision, but hearing is different from seeing on the ground." Showing Russian warplanes were still active in Syria, heavy Russian air support was reported to help the Syrian army make major gains against IS near the ancient city of Palmyra.
IS is not included in the cessation of hostilities.
Mr Putin and US President Barack Obama spoke by telephone on Monday about Syria, with the Kremlin saying the two leaders "called for an intensification of the process for a political settlement" to the conflict.
Mr Putin said Russia had largely fulfilled its objectives in Syria. But, he gave no deadline for the completion of the withdrawal and said forces would remain at a seaport in Tartous and at the air base in Latakia.
Reuters
A Russian SU-34 bomber. Picture: EPA/RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY
MOSCOW/GENEVA — Russian warplanes began leaving Syria on Tuesday as Moscow started to draw down forces that have tipped the war President Bashar al-Assad’s way, and the United Nations (UN) envoy said he hoped the move would have a positive effect on peace talks under way in Geneva.
As the first aircraft touched down in Russia, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura called it a "significant development" and said he hoped President Vladimir Putin’s move would advance progress towards a solution and a peaceful political transition in Syria.
Mr Putin’s announcement of the withdrawal of the "main part" of Russian armed forces in Syria has led Mr Assad’s opponents to speculate Moscow may be trying to press him towards a political settlement — although Damascus has dismissed any talk of differences with its ally and says the move was co-ordinated.
It was unclear what the withdrawal would mean for the outcome of the war or for the future of Mr Assad.
The talks under way in Geneva are part of a diplomatic push launched with US-Russian support to end the five-year-long war that has killed more than 250,000 people, created the world’s worst refugee crisis, and allowed for the rise of Islamic State (IS).
US-Russian co-operation had already brought about a lull in the war going into the talks via a "cessation of hostilities agreement" that led to a sharp decline in fighting between rebels and the government in western Syria. But the Syrian government, which had been losing ground to rebels before Russia intervened, had indicated it was in no mood to compromise on the eve of the talks, calling the presidency a "red line" and ruling out a negotiated transfer of power.
The main opposition delegation wants Mr Assad out of power by the start of a political transition. While some rebels have expressed guarded optimism at Mr Putin’s announcement, others doubt Moscow is about to abandon the Syrian leader.
Russian television showed the first group of Russia’s Su-34 fighter plane task force returning from Syria and landing at an air base in southern Russia on Tuesday.
Between 200 to 300 servicemen, journalists and women greeted the pilots, waving Russian flags, balloons in red, white and blue, and flowers. At least six pilots in white helmets and aviator jackets were seen departing from about three planes.
They were mobbed by the crowd before being thrown in the air in celebration. A brass band played Soviet military songs including the Stalin-era "March of the Aviators", and the Russian national anthem. Russia said, however, that it would keep its most advanced air-defence system, the S-400, in Syria.
The Russian air campaign that started at the end of September last year has focused mostly on insurgents battling Mr Assad in western Syria, helping Damascus and allies including Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iranian Revolutionary Guards to reclaim important ground near the borders with Turkey and Jordan.
The spokesman for a rebel group in Latakia, where fighting has raged throughout the truce, said he did not believe the Russians were changing course.
"We do not trust them," said Fadi Ahmad of the First Coastal Division rebel group.
Salim al-Muslat, spokesman for the main Syrian opposition alliance in Geneva, said: "We heard the decision, but hearing is different from seeing on the ground." Showing Russian warplanes were still active in Syria, heavy Russian air support was reported to help the Syrian army make major gains against IS near the ancient city of Palmyra.
IS is not included in the cessation of hostilities.
Mr Putin and US President Barack Obama spoke by telephone on Monday about Syria, with the Kremlin saying the two leaders "called for an intensification of the process for a political settlement" to the conflict.
Mr Putin said Russia had largely fulfilled its objectives in Syria. But, he gave no deadline for the completion of the withdrawal and said forces would remain at a seaport in Tartous and at the air base in Latakia.
Reuters
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