Putin orders partial withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria!

• The visit marks Putin's first trip to Syria.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday gave the order for a partial withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria during a visit to the country's airbase there, news agencies reported."I order the defence minister and the chief of general staff to start withdrawing the Russian group of troops to their permanent bases," Putin said as he visited Hmeimim airbase, RIA Novosti news agency reported. "I have taken a decision: a significant part of the Russian troop contingent located in Syria is returning home to Russia."

The visit marks Putin's first trip to Syria and comes as Assad's forces have retaken control over most of Syria under the Russian air cover.

The air base has served as the main foothold for the air campaign Russia has waged since September 2015 in support of Assad.