Putin says Russia to permanently keep air base and naval facility in Syria
After ordering withdrawal of troops after two-year military campaign, Russia to keep Hmeymim ai base
December 11, 2017
MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Russia would keep its Hmeymim air base in Syria’s Latakia Province as well as its naval facility at Tartous “on a permanent basis” despite a decision to start pulling some of its forces out of Syria.
Putin on Monday ordered Russian forces in Syria to start withdrawing, saying that after a two-year military campaign, Moscow and Damascus had achieved their mission of destroying Islamic State.
