In what has been described as an abrupt and surprising decision, Vladimir Putin has ordered that Russian forces should begin withdrawing from Syria. According to reports, the Russian president called President Bashar al-Assad of Syria to tell him that troops would begin to leave on Tuesday.
Russia’s intervention in Syria began in late September 2015, and it is thought that he is now preparing to scale back operations in confidence that Assad’s forces have been saved from potential collapse.
Putin is reportedly attempting to increase diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the conflict. In a phone call with President Obama, the two world leaders agreed that the search for a political solution to the conflict should be intensified.
Many in the Arab world were angry at Russia’s decision to enter the conflict on the side of Assad, accusing Putin’s airstrikes of indiscriminately targeting civilians and attacking moderate rebel groups not considered to be extremist.
In response to Putin’s surprising decision this week, Twitter users voiced their opinions on the topic.
قرار بوتن للضغط على بشار للرحيل وسيرحل بشار ويطلب الاقامة ف طهران شريطة عدم مقاضاته والروس لم يظمنو له ذلك #بوتين_ينسحب_من_سوريا
— محمد دراج (@darrag1) March 15, 2016
Putin's decision puts pressure on Bashar to leave, and eventually he will seek residency in Iran on the condition of immunity. However, Russia hasn't guaranteed him that.
لازال العرب يقعون في أخطأ الماضي روسيا إنسحبت بإتفاق أمريكي لعمل كمين لدول التحالف يجب أخذ الحيطة والحذر #بوتين_ينسحب_من_سوريا
— مدينة الصمت (@hossen501) March 15, 2016
#بوتين_ينسحب_من_سوريا
— فيصل عطيه القرشي (@faisal12038) March 15, 2016
انسحب الدب الروسي. فجأه تذكر جهاد الافغان.
ظن المسكين أنها نزهه.
#بوتين_ينسحب_من_سوريا
— لانا #الشام (@LanaKG) March 14, 2016
Is it too late to say sorry pic.twitter.com/biHhmj3Dz6
Can't describe how much im proud and beyond happy about this action
— Sieraai (@Sieraai) March 14, 2016
#بوتين_ينسحب_من_سوريا
