Russian Call for Iran’s Withdrawal From Syria Denied

Sources in Syria’s presidential office have denied media reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded Iran withdraw its military advisors from the war-ravaged Arab country.
Quoting unnamed Russian officials, the sources told the Arabic-language al-Mayadeen newspaper on Sunday that Putin’s remarks did not include the Russian forces and Iranian advisors who are in Syria on the request of the legal government and they will leave the country whenever Damascus wants, Fars News Agency reported.
Putin and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad held a meeting in Syria in Sochi last week during which Putin said foreign forces will leave Syria after the Syrian army’s complete victory against the terrorist groups and the start of political process in the country.
In relevant remarks in December, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani reiterated Tehran’s decision to continue its military advisory role in Syria until all terrorist groups are dismantled.
“We, on the request of the government in Syria, will continue our presence and provide advisory services until the annihilation of all terrorist groups,” Shamkhani said.