Syria denies Russia’s troops withdrawal linked to disagreement

Damascus has denied that Russia’s announcement to withdraw its military forces from the Arab country “reflects a Syrian-Russian difference.”

Syria confirms that Russia's "decision to reduce forces" was made "in complete coordination between the Russian and Syrian sides, and is a step that was carefully and accurately studied for some time," read a statement released by the Syrian presidential office on Monday.

The Syrian army also released a statement stressing that it will continue fighting the ISIL Takfiri terrorist group, the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front, "and other terrorist groups linked to them."

Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that "the main part" of the Russian forces started to withdraw from Syria, and that diplomats had been called upon to increase their efforts for a peaceful solution to the five-year-long conflict.

“With the tasks set before the Defense Ministry and the military largely fulfilled, I'm ordering the defense minister to start the pull-out of the main part of our group of forces in Syria, beginning tomorrow,” he said.

Following the announcement, the Kremlin released a statement saying that Putin and US President Barack Obama had discussed the move during a phone conversation.

ME