Official announcements from the Russian Ministry of Defense or international news agencies

Putin: Russia Evacuates 4,000 Iranian Fighters from Khmeimim Base to Tehran, Claims No Defeat in Syria

Dec 19, 2024, 12:11 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has evacuated 4,000 Iranian fighters from Syria to Tehran, asserting that the country has not been defeated in the region. During a press conference, Putin emphasized that Russia achieved its strategic goals in Syria, particularly in preventing the emergence of a terrorist enclave. He stated that the evacuation was conducted at the request of Iran, following the withdrawal of pro-Iranian units and government troops without resistance. Putin also remarked on the changing dynamics in Syria, identifying Israel as the main beneficiary of the current situation, and expressed hope that Israel would eventually withdraw its forces from Syrian territory.