MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Some Western media outlets earlier reported that a military plane has crashed in an area to the south-east of Damascus after flying over territory controlled by Islamic State terrorists.
"The Russian combat aircraft have not flown near Damascus or its outskirts today. All jets from the air group are at the Hmeimim airbase," the spokesman told reporters.
On March 15, Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian forces to withdarw from Syria. According to the president, the Ministry of Defense and the armed forces as a whole has achieved its goal.
Moscow, however, maintains a military presence. Putin also indicated that Russian forces will remain at the port of Tartus and Hmeymim airbase in Latakia.
