国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Russia to withdraw majority troops from Syria, keep two bases_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Russia to withdraw majority troops from Syria, keep two bases

MOSCOW, Dec. 11 -- Russia will pull most of its troops out of Syria after claiming a victory against the Islamic State (IS) but will maintain an airbase and a naval base in the war-torn country, President Vladimir Putin announced Monday.

During a surprise visit to the Hmeymim military airfield in Syria, Putin gave the order for a "significant" pullback of Russian troops, saying in the past two years, the Russian armed forces and the Syrian army have defeated the most lethal group of international terrorists.

Thanking Russian servicemen who took part in the anti-terrorist operations in Syria, where the Russian air force task group has been deployed since the end of September 2017, he said, "We will never forget about the sacrifices and losses during the fight against terror, both here in Syria and in Russia."

The Russian troops will return home to relatives, parents, wives, children and friends with a victory, he added.

However, Russia will keep two military bases in Syria, the Hmeymim airbase and the Tartus naval base.

"If terrorists raise their heads again, we will deal them such blows they have not yet seen," Putin said.

In January, Syria signed a deal with Russia, allowing the latter to use the Hmeymim airbase in the coastal province of Latakia for at least 49 years.

Russian warplanes stationed in the airbase flew numerous sorties in the past two years, destroying IS arms depots, equipment and personnel. They also provided air cover for Russian long-range strategic bombers during intensive airstrikes in recent weeks.