Russia's Syria retreat

NY Times:

Putin Orders Syria Pullout, Saying Goals Are Achieved


The order from President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia came as the United Nations has sought to resume peace talks to end the war, entering its sixth year.
So his goal was to kill rebels fighting Assad who were not part of ISIL?  His stated intention when he joined the fight was to go after ISIL, but he only hit the Islamic religious bigots with a few pinprick strikes while concentrating his firepower on the US-backed rebels.   I suspect the real reason for his departure is that it was becoming too costly at a time when he is having to cut his defense budget in the wake of the crash in oil prices.

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