A week after Putin's peace summit in Sochi, the President of Russia visited the Russian airbase in Hmeimim, Syria, on Monday. During his visit, Putin announced that he will withdraw a great part of the Russian forces currently stationed in Syria. Putin also met with Bashar Al Assad, and they claimed that ISIS was defeated, hence the withdrawal.

Russia intervened in Syria two years ago, taking the Western coalition by suprise. The intervention tipped the balance in favour of Bashar Al Assad, who managed to hold on to power and cripple the opposition. Syria and Russia are close allies and the airbase in Hmeimim is an important link in Russia's military presence in the region, as is the naval base in Latakia.

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