The Russian News Agency (RIA) has reported that President Vladimir Putin of Russian has ordered Russian troops to withdraw from Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unexpected visit to the Hmeimim air base in Lazkiye, Syria, ahead of his visit to Egypt and Turkiye. Putin met with Bashar Assad on his first visit to Hmeimim, where Russian air forces were deployed.

In Putin's statement here, Putin ordered the Russian forces to begin their withdrawal.

"I order the defense minister and the chief of the general staff to start withdrawing the Russian group of troops to their permanent bases," Mr. Putin said on Tuesday, according to the Russian RIA Novosti news agency.

ILKHA