Russia Withdraw From War-Torn Syria

Waves of air-strikes by Russian war-planes against Syrian opposition forces have reversed the tide of the bloody civil war and put the forces of Bashar al Assad on the front foot, ahead of the recent fragile ceasefire.

Moscow has begun to withdraw military equipment from Syria, the Russian Defence Ministry has said.

"Technicians at the airbase have begun preparing aircraft for long-range flights to airbases in the Russian Federation," officials said.

Russian state television showed footage of a Sukhoi-34 fighter bomber leaving the Hmeymim air base, reportedly heading back to Russia.

It comes hours after President Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to begin pulling out of the war-torn country.

During a meeting in the Kremlin with his ministers, Mr Putin said the forces should withdraw because they have largely achieved their aim.

He also ordered the country's diplomatic efforts be stepped up to secure a peace deal in Syria.

The move was announced on the day UN-backed peace talks between the warring sides in Syria resumed in Geneva.

It comes five months after Moscow launched a military operation in support of the Damascus regime.