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Russia's Pullout From Syria Hailed as 'Brilliant Tactical Move'

© Sputnik / Igor Kovalenko / Go to the mediabankPilots of Russian Su-34 bomber jets from Syria welcomed at an airbase in Russia's Voronezh region.
Pilots of Russian Su-34 bomber jets from Syria welcomed at an airbase in Russia's Voronezh region. - Sputnik International
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Putin's unexpected decision to partially withdraw Russian forces engaged in the anti-Daesh operation in Syria has been largely hailed as a smart move that would help to resolve the five-year-long conflict, as well as bolster Moscow's international standing.

The Russians "are getting out of the conflict with minimal losses," independent military analyst Alexander Golts told the Guardian. "I think it's a pretty brilliant tactical move."

Putin made the announcement on Monday and in less than a week the withdrawal of Russian troops has been mostly completed. Three Sukhoi Su-34 combat aircraft, which made their combat debut in Syria, and a Tu-154 transport plane left the Arab Republic the day following the announcement. All 12 Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft and several Il-76 transport planes returned home on March 16.

Syrians walk past a billboard bearing a national flag and a slogan which reads in Arabic You are the future and long live the country in Damascus on December 2, 2015 - Sputnik International
Damascus Residents Comment on Russia Pulling out of Syria
This should not come as a surprise since Moscow's military engagement in Syria was always meant to be limited in scope and time. Nevertheless, Russia is ready to redeploy its forces to the war-shattered country in hours, should its assistance be required.

The pullout comes at a time when five years of bitter fighting gave way to a nationwide ceasefire, which does not include Daesh, al-Nusra Front and other groups designated as terrorists by the UN. The truce, which was brokered by Russia and the US, has proved to be durable, giving impetus to the peace talks in Geneva.

"The timing of the Russian 'withdrawal' was strategically perfect," geopolitical analyst and former World Bank economist Peter Koenig observed. Editor-in-Chief of Russia in Global Affairs Fyodor Lukyanov echoed the sentiment, saying that Vladimir Putin "used the first and the best opportunity to begin to withdraw."

© Sputnik / Dmitriy Vinogradov / Go to the mediabankSu-25 jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces at the Hmeymim airbase, Syria
Su-25 jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces at the Hmeymim airbase, Syria - Sputnik International
Su-25 jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces at the Hmeymim airbase, Syria

Three Su-24M bombers return to Chelyabinsk Region from Khmeimim Air Base - Sputnik International
Busting the Myth of Why Russian Forces Pull Out of Syria
The Russian president expressed hope that the pullout will send a "positive signal" to all major stakeholders and will help to build up trust among those participating in the talks. Yet, Koenig warned, the US and its allies are unlikely to take the fragile peace process seriously.

"They want, as they wanted from day one of the US / NATO instigated 2011 'civil war,' a 'regime change' – meaning Assad must go. This has not changed in the minds of the hawks of Washington, including Obama, who are under strong pressure from Israel," the analyst suggested.

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