Middle East

Putin Orders Russian Forces Out of Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to begin pulling out of Syria, saying his goals there have largely been achieved.

Putin made the surprise announcement Monday after a meeting with his defense and foreign ministers. The Russian president said the military withdrawal will start on Tuesday, and the Kremlin said Putin had alerted Syrian President Bashar Assad of the decision.

State Department spokesman John Kirby did not have an immediate comment when asked by reporters if he was aware the Russian announcement was coming. Kirby said the last public call between Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was last Thursday.