Russia withdraws troops from Syria's Afrin under Turkish attack

MOSCOW, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday it had pulled its servicemen out of northwest Syria's Afrin City, where Turkey was waging an offensive against Kurdish forces.

The operational group of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria and the military police in Afrin were relocated to the Tell-Adjar area within the Tell-Rifat de-escalation zone to avert possible provocations and dangers, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Moscow is concerned about the Turkish military operation in Afrin and it is closely monitoring the development of the situation.

"We call on the opposing sides to exercise mutual restraint," it said.

The Turkish attack on Kurdish forces in Afrin will likely cast a shadow over the upcoming Syrian National Dialogue Congress, which is being brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran for a political settlement of the Syrian conflict. Enditem