Putin lands in Syria on unannounced visit to create false impression war is over
The Russian President Vladimir Putin’s airplane made a surprise landing Monday. Dec. 11, at the Russian Hmeimim air base in Latakia and announced he had ordered Russian troops to start withdrawing from Syria.
Putin arrived with defense minister Col. Gen. Sergey Shoigu. Straight after his welcome by a guard of honor composed of Russian units serving in the Syrian war, Putin took the microphone for this announcement: “I order the defense minister and chief of the general staff to start the withdrawal of Russian troops to their permanent bases.” He went on to say: “In the space of two years, the Russian and Syrian militaries have defeated the most battle-hardened grouping of international terrorists.” He then issued a warning to the various terrorist elements still operating in Syria, “Russia will strike them as they have been seen before.”
Putin then sat down with Syrian President Bashar Assad who came to the base to see him. Later Monday, the Russian president has scheduled trips to Egypt and Turkey.
DEBKAfile adds: Putin staged his surprise visit to Syria and comments in order to generate the impression that the Syrian war was over – which he has been trying to do for some weeks – that it had ended in victory for the “Russia and Syrian militaries” and that the time had come for a political resolution.
He omitted mention of the Iranian and pro-Iranian Shiite militias, including Hizballah, their partners in combat on the ground, in which very few Russian troops took part. The main Russian contribution to Assad’s war was and is air support for those ground troops, who filled the depleted ranks of the Syrian army. In ordering the withdrawal of Russian units from Syria, Putin did not specify whether the air units were also being withdrawn. But his warning to “terrorists” still fighting in Syria indicated that in reality the war is far from over. Assad’s heavily reduced army lacks manpower for holding onto areas recently liberated from Syrian rebel forces and he is hard put just to defend his capital, Damascus. The Shiite militias fighting under Iranian Revolutionary Guards commanders can’t do without massive Russian air and intelligence support
The Russian president also skipped reference to the US coalition fighting ISIS in Syria, including the Kurdish YPG militia which liberated Raqqa, pretending the “victory” was just down to the Russian and Syrian armies. But his presentation of the situation is bound to boomerang. The fact remains that US and Kurdish forces control parts of northern Syria; Islamist extremists groups led by the Al Qaeda-affiliated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rule much of Syria’s largest province of Idlib, and motley Syrian rebel groups hold onto areas around Damascus. Southern Syria is pretty much the same sort of patchwork quilt. The Syrian war is therefore very far from over.
I think he will allowed the Hezbollah and iran to go to the Golan ,with the excuse that there are no more russian troops in Syrië. Only airforce ,and a Marine base.
“I think he will allowed the Hezbollah and iran to go to the Golan ,with the excuse that there are no more russian troops in Syrië. Only airforce ,and a Marine base.”
@Scevean,
The Russian air force and “a Marine base” don’t count as Russian troops in Syria ???
Once again Debka did it! They’ve photoshopped the picture with subliminal laxatives, only 1 second looking to Putin, and I am shitting badly since then. I seriously intend to sue for the expenses with undewear.
People, please look fast and confirm, what’s that thing in his hand, a shoe and he’s banging with it?
Al, no, no, that was kruschev. Putin has both shoes still on!
well done Russia , you kicked USISrael and ISISrael’s army out of Syria……..the project is over ??
Sorry, Israel is in admiration for Netanyahu, and there’s no new project custom made for Herzog suckerz, except if you draw yourown for which you already have the experience, like for exemple sell your country for some Nobel fancy reward, or mouth kiss with Abbass.
Best course of action is Hizballah to stay tight together in large patches. The ?ing is on the way! ?
Just like 2000 and 2006, right?
How many wars has the european settler colony won against Hizbollah? How many times have they come home, crying to their pimp, Uncle Sam, for arms and face-saving?
“How many wars has the european settler colony won against Hizbollah?”
@”Hizbullah Rejects Anti-Semites”,
How many times has the European Union and the United Nations saved Hezbollah’s A$$ from the consequences of wars which they started in the first place ????
Ha ha ha.
i don’t believe Putin as all Russian goverment
i don’t believe Putin as all Russian goverment now after good training Arabs are ready to start the war against Israel and they have a modern Russian armament
Putin appears to be a lot smarter than most US leaders, who fall over themselves to please the deep state armament industry.
do you see the “mission accomplished” banner hanging from the aircraft? on the article photo?
More Fake News from Kremlin trolls. Putler and Rushists (Рашисты) are marching joyfully, “Heil Putler! Heil Putler! Heil Putler!” and keep manufacturing Fake News. Nothing is new in Commie countries.
you talk as a nazi
Reminds me of Mr Bush landing on the aircraft carrier after the Iraq war was over….just as the carnage that still goes on today in Iraq was starting..
“Reminds me of Mr Bush landing on the aircraft carrier after the Iraq war was over….just as the carnage that still goes on today in Iraq was starting..”
This reminds me of Pres. Obama going to the golf course after signing the worst deal in modern history with Iran which has given that rogue nation the financial assets to now embed themselves in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon!
From the Debka article:
“The fact remains that US and Kurdish forces control parts of northern Syria; Islamist extremists groups led by the Al Qaeda-affiliated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rule much of Syria’s largest province of Idlib, and motley Syrian rebel groups hold onto areas around Damascus. Southern Syria is pretty much the same sort of patchwork quilt. The Syrian war is therefore very far from over.”
Has anyone informed Putin about this?
Just entering a new phase. US interests similar to Russ. Trump losing his political base. Palestine an interesting issue. Iran will be the ultimate arbiter. Saudi has many internal issues. Truth is the crusades have never stopped. IDF has nuclear weapons. Nothing is going to change. Location of capitol not of any strategic interest. Just propaganda, mumbo jumbo. Turkey is busy with Kurds. Lebanon a good place to party. I rest my case.
Obama after OBL was taken out by a long term effort begun under the Bush term and executed by SEAL Team 6 , took credit for ending Al-Qaeda many of his fanatical followers to this day think Obama was personally responsible for these achievements. OBL was a much bigger program Obama owed a lot to others for and he lied about Al-Qaeda. He then declared peace in Iraq and removed our troops.
I find it hard to believe Putin wants to be like Obama. Putin’s a blatant racist, but so is Obama. What Putin has done with carpet bombing Obama did by declaring peace where there was none. What I don’t get is why when Putin and Obama seem to be more alike do people think Putin would rather collude with President Trump? I can’t help but feel if Hillary had been elected the war against the Islamic State would have been run with the same sort of disdain and corruption Obama ran all our foreign policy including our treatment of Israel.