Putin orders to begin withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria from March 15

[macllyr]

Source: ITAR TASS - Google news - others

"I think that the tasks set to the defense ministry are generally fulfilled. That is why I order to begin withdrawal of most of our military group from Syria starting from tomorrow," Putin said on Monday at a meeting with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Read more: http://tass.ru/en/politics/862267

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Maybe the Butcher of Syria will be made to face the music after Putin stops propping him up so much

[bemildred]

2. First Russian planes leave Syria after Putin’s order to pull out

Russian military planes, which were involved in a five-month campaign in Syria, are departing the Khmeimim airbase. The aircraft are deploying in formations of transport planes and fighter and bomber jets.

The first group of warplanes have departed from the Latakia airbase, said the Russian Ministry of Defense.

“The first group of Russian planes has left the Khmeimim base and flew towards their respective bases in Russia. The formation is led by a Tu-154 and includes Su-34 multipurpose bombers,” the ministry said in a statement.

The planes would break their journey home of more than 5,000 kilometers (3106.86 miles) to refuel at intermediary bases inside Russia.

http://atimes.com/2016/03/obama-hails-russias-decision-on-military-pull-out-from-syria/

[bemildred]

3. Moscow is winding down its presence in Syria. Why? Why now?

On the face of it, it all looks convincing enough. President Vladimir Putin announced the pullout of Russia’s main military contingent in Syria due to the fact that the military had “largely achieved its objectives” and that diplomats had set the ball rolling for an inter-Syrian dialogue to end the civil war.

It should be put on record that Moscow has managed to persuade the main power brokers, e.g. the United States, not to set as a precondition for a comprehensive settlement at its first stage the departure of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. This was a breakthrough, by all counts.

Moscow pushed the idea of embracing all the participants of the national drama, in particular the Syrian Kurds, to allow them to take part in the negotiations on the future of the country that they consider to be their own, with attention paid to the strong desire of the Kurds to be granted wide autonomy.

“It's clear that they (talks) should include the whole spectrum of Syrian political forces, otherwise this cannot claim to be a representative forum,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

http://rbth.com/international/troika/2016/03/15/moscow-is-winding-down-its-presence-in-syria-why-why-now_575853

[bemildred]

4. 'Hope of an end in sight' for Syria war: UN talks

UN investigators welcomed a "significant decrease" in violence in Syria on the fifth anniversary of the start of the brutal conflict on Tuesday, saying they finally glimpsed hope of an end to the war.

"Now, for the first time, there is hope of an end in sight," said Paulo Pinheiro, head of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria.

Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, he hailed the partial ceasefire that has largely held since February 27th, saying it had finally allowed many in the country to "feel a return to normalcy in their daily lives".

"There are, at last, glimpses of a Syria at peace," Pinheiro said, adding that the truce had created the conditions needed to move forward with the new round of peace talks that kicked off in Geneva on Monday.

http://www.thelocal.ch/20160315/putins-withdrawal-of-troops-a-significant-development-at-geneva-talks-on-syria

[bemildred]

5. Russia to continue air strikes against Islamic State in Syria - RIA

The Russian air force will continue striking targets in Syria linked to Islamic State and other terrorist groups despite a partial withdrawal, the RIA news agency quoted Russian Deputy Defence Minister Nikolai Pankov as saying on Tuesday.

Pankov was speaking a day after President Vladimir Putin announced that "the main part" of the Russian military contingent in Syria would begin to withdraw. [nL5N16N10Y]

"Certain positive results have been achieved. A real chance has emerged to put an end to this long-running standoff," RIA quoted Pankov as saying at a "mission accomplished" ceremony at Russia's air base in Hmeymim, Syria.

"But it is still early to talk about victory over terrorism. The Russian aviation group has the task to continue carrying out strikes on terrorist facilities."

http://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-russia-syria-strikes-idINKCN0WH1E8?rpc=401

[bemildred]

6. After Russia withdrawal, EU says any Syria de-escalation welcome

The European Union said on Tuesday after Russia's announcement that it will start withdrawing troops from Syria that any steps to reduce violence were important as peace talks resume.

Catherine Ray, a spokeswoman for the EU's foreign service, told reporters after being asked for comment on the surprise news from Moscow: "Any steps that help achieve de-escalation of violence inside Syria and the prolongation of the cessation of hostilities is very important for the overall peace process." (Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Alastair Macdonald)

http://www.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-syria-eu-idUSB5N15J005?rpc=401

[bemildred]

7. Isis opposition 'at gates of Raqqa' as Syrian Democratic Forces reclaim villages from their control

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces are moving closer to the gates of Raqqa, Isis's de-facto capital in Syria, reports say.

The armed groups, made up mostly of Kurds from the YPG and YPJ fighting units, along with Arabs and Christians, are now 20 miles from Raqqa, Sky News reports.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been celebrating a string of victories as they reclaim villages from Isis control.

In the hopes of retaking communities from Isis those suspected of being Isis militants are arrested and men are often taken aside for questioning.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-opposition-at-gates-of-raqqa-as-syrian-democratic-forces-reclaim-villages-their-control-a6931651.html

[bemildred]

8. Iranian FM: 'Russia's withdrawal from Syria indicates that the ceasefire is holding'

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has praised Russia's withdrawal from Syria after nearly half a year of military engagement in the country’s conflict, claiming that this is "a good sign" that signals that the ceasefire is durable.

Speaking at a press conference after his meeting with his Australian counterpart, Julie Bishop, Zarif stated that "Iran has long aspired for a lasting ceasefire in Syria, and Russia's announcement that it would start withdrawing its forces from Syria indicates that it no longer deems military intervention vital to maintain the ceasefire.

"By excluding ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra from the ceasefire, the world has delivered these organizations a message that it is united against them and that the fight against them will not abate," Zarif added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday night that the "main part" of Russian armed forces in Syria would start to withdraw, explaining that Russia had achieved its goals in Syria.

http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Iran-News/Iranian-FM-Russias-withdrawal-from-Syria-indicates-that-the-ceasefire-is-holding-447982

[bemildred]

9. Russia Coordinates Efforts to Settle Syria Crisis With UN, US Daily - Envoy

GENEVA (Sputnik) – Moscow coordinates its efforts to settle the Syrian crisis with UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan De Mistura and the United States on a daily basis, Russia’s envoy to the UN Office at Geneva said Tuesday.

"On a daily basis, several times a day, we meet and consult with Staffan de Mistura and his team, with US diplomats and military, we have increased the Russian presence in the UN [intra-Syrian] negotiation group," Alexei Borodavkin told journalists.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160315/1036317194/russai-settle-syria-crisis.html

[bemildred]

10. Al-Nusra prepares for new Syria offensive after Russia pullout

DAMASCUS - Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front is preparing to launch a new offensive, a jihadist commander said Tuesday, after Russia announced the withdrawal of its forces from the war-torn country.

"It is clear that Russia has suffered defeat, and within the next 48 hours Al-Nusra will launch an offensive in Syria," a commander of the group told AFP via Skype.

"The Russians withdrew for one reason, and it is because while they were backing the regime, the regime was unable to hold onto the territories that it took over," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"Had it not been for the Russian warplanes, we would have been in Latakia (city)," he said, referring to the provincial capital of the heartland of President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect.

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=75777

[bemildred]

11. Moscow and Washington are not that far apart on Syria

One of the positive and significant aspects of the Syria crisis is its impact on US-Russian relations. Russian President Vladimir Putin's unexpected decision to withdraw forces from Syria is merely the latest chapter of this fast-moving engagement.

Highlighting this constructive and encouraging partnership is the intensive diplomatic cooperation that resulted in the Cessation of Hostilities agreement and the subsequent joint submission of UNSC Resolution 2268 for unanimous Council approval.

Most surprising of all however is the unlikely operational success of the ceasefire's vague and imprecise monitoring and non-existent enforcement mechanisms. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura has pronounced the implementation of the understandings as "overwhelmingly positive".

The opposition's Higher Negotiations Council spokesman noted: "The violations of the truce were great at the start, but [more recently] they were much fewer. There are perhaps some positive matters that we are seeing".

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/03/moscow-washington-syria-isis-160313072514575.html

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12. . nt

[bemildred]

13. Putin throws down the gauntlet on Syria. Any takers?

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Yet, the Russian move is terrific in its optics, highlighting the desire for a political solution in Syria, while at the same time keeping all options open if the other side chooses to betray confidence and tries to shift the military balance against the regime.

The big question remains: What if the ground situation deteriorates, violence cascades and the refugee flow begins again? Sophistry apart, the West (especially Europe) will need a helping hand from Russia to stem any such tragic slide.

In fact, a multitude of tricky sub-plots linger. Assad’s dependence on Hezbollah only increases. Conversely, Tehran cannot hope to walk away from the war anytime soon. On the other hand, will Turkey and Saudi Arabia feel emboldened now to step up their interference to regain lost ground or embark on direct intervention?

Indeed, the key issue boils down to how far the US is willing to work with Russia to impose a solution in Syria. Putin has thrown down the gauntlet. So far, Obama has been pleased with himself by being a “free rider”. Now the need arises to take responsibility to rein in recalcitrant allies – or, at the very least some shared responsibility.

http://atimes.com/2016/03/putin-throws-down-the-gauntlet-on-syria-any-takers/