Two Russian bases, S-400 air defense systems to remain functioning in Syria

Two Russian military facilities will keep functioning in Syria after Moscow announced a pull back of the bulk of its armed forces in the war-torn country, the Kremlin said Tuesday.

Some Russian personnel would remain deployed at the Hmeimim air base in Latakia and the naval base in the port city of Tartus in Syria to monitor the cease-fire between the Syrian government and the opposition, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Kremlin Administration head Sergei Ivanov also said Russia would maintain all necessary equipment to protect its facilities in the region, including the sophisticated S-400 missile defense systems that were deployed at the Hmeimim air base after Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 fighter jet in late Nov. last year.

The S-400 Triumf is by far Russia's most advanced surface-to-air missile system, capable of hitting an airborne target at a distance of up to 400 km with medium- and long-range missiles.

Russia started an air campaign in Syria on Sept. 30, 2015 at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.8 On Feb. 27, a tentative cease-fire deal, brokered by Russia and the United States, came into force between the Syrian government and the opposition groups in the country.

The truce has since then largely held, and negotiations aimed to facilitate a political transition in Syria are continuing in Geneva, Switzerland.

The positive sign made Russian President Vladimir Putin come to a conclusion that the objective set in Syria had been generally fulfilled, and the Russian leader ordered on Monday the withdrawal of Russian armed forces from the country after a nearly six-month air campaign against terrorist targets. Endi