Russia to scale down military presence in Syria before year’s end

Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff said Thursday that Russia is likely to scale down its military presence in Syria “significantly” before the year’s end. In comments to Russian news agency, the general said that two Russian bases and the Center for Reconciliation, which is responsible for monitoring the ceasefire in several parts of Syria, will stay, as well as “a number of necessary structures”  to maintain the status quo.