Putin has ordered his military to start the withdrawal of the main part of Russia’s forces from Syria on Monday, saying that the Russian military intervention had largely ‘achieved its objectives’. The Russian president ordered Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu to start the withdrawal of forces from Syria starting on Tuesday: “The task that was set before our defence ministry and armed forces has as a whole been completed and so I order the defence ministry to from tomorrow start the withdrawal of the main part of our military contingents from the Syrian Arab Republic” According to Reuters: Putin, at a meeting in the Kremlin with his defence and foreign ministers, said the pullout should start from Tuesday. He also ordered that Russia intensify its role in the peace process to end the conflict in Syria. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had telephoned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to inform him of the Russian decision. Putin said that the Russian airbase in Hemeimeem in the Syrian coastal province of Latakia and a naval facility in the Syrian port of Tartous will continue to operate. The Guardian reports: In a statement the Kremlin said Putin and Assad agreed that the actions of [...]