Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (2nd L, Front) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin (2nd R) view a military parade in the Russian-run Hmeimim Air Base in the coastal city of Latakia, Syria, on Dec. 11, 2017. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Syria on Monday, the presidential media office reported. During Putin's visit, he ordered his defense minister to prepare for withdrawing the Russian forces, according to the report. (Xinhua/Syrian Presidency)
DAMASCUS, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Syria on Monday, the presidential media office reported.
In the first time since the beginning of the Syrian conflict over six years ago, Putin visited the Russian-run Hmeimim airbase in Syria's coastal city of Latakia.
Putin met their with Assad and inspected the Russian forces there, according to the report.
During his visit, Putin ordered his defense minister to prepare for withdrawing the Russian forces, according to the report.
He added that "if the terrorists raised their heads again, we will deal them a blow they haven't seen before."
The Russian forces entered Syria in 2015 to shore up the forces of Assad in their fight against the rebels.
