Moscow ‘preparing’ for military drawdown in Syria

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

Moscow is “preparing” to reduce its military presence in Syria, Nikolay Patrushev, the head of Russia’s National Security Council, said Thursday.

According to Russian media reports, Patrushev announced that "preparations are underway" for a military withdrawal from Syria.

Until now, it remains unclear whether the officials were referring to a partial or total military withdrawal from the country.

Patrushev did not provide a specific date for the withdrawal, but said it would happen "when ready".

Last week, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of Russia’s General Staff, said Russia would "probably" reduce its military presence in the war-torn country.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, for his part, has previously said that military operations in Syria were “nearing completion”.