RT- Russian President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Khmeimim Airbase in Syria’s Latakia province on Monday morning. He ordered the start of the withdrawal of Russian troops from the country.

“I order the defense minister and chief of the general staff to start the withdrawal of Russian troops to the site of their permanent deployment," Putin stated, speaking in front of Russian military personnel at Khmeimim.

The Russian leader added that in the space of two years the Russian and Syrian militaries have “defeated the most battle-hardened grouping of international terrorists.”