| Author (Person) | Rodkiewicz, Witold |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) |
| Series Title | OSW Analyses |
| Series Details | 16.03.16 |
| Publication Date | 16/03/2016 |
| Content Type | Journal | Series | Blog |
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On 14 March 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian military operation in Syria had ended in success, and ordered the withdrawal of 'the main part' of the Russian military contingent from Syria. The reduction of the Russian military as announced was primarily aimed at changing the image of the Russian military presence in Syria: from conducting intense combat operations to a primarily ‘peacekeeping’ mission supervising the ceasefire. Another objective was to minimise the political and financial costs of the operation, while maintaining Moscow’s ability to further influence the military situation in Syria. The withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria was only partial, and was essentially a political operation. Its purpose was to change the image of the Russian military presence, from forces conducting intensive combat operations against the anti-Assad opposition (including bomb attacks which have caused civilian casualties) to a ‘peacekeeping force’, whose main task was to supervise the ceasefire. To this end, the Russians created a ‘centre for control and monitoring of the ceasefire’ at their base in Khmeymim. At the same time, Russia was keeping sufficient forces in Syria to maintain its influence on the situation, as well as an infrastructure that would allow it to rapidly reinforce its contingent and resume intense air bombing. |
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| Source Link | http://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2016-03-16/reduction-russian-contingent-syria |
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| Countries / Regions | Russia |
