Putin: Russia Can Reinforce Its Forces in Syria Within Hours

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, stated on Thursday, March 17, that Russia can strengthen its military presence in Syria within hours whenever it chooses. According to Reuters, Putin made these comments three days after announcing the withdrawal of part of Russia's forces from Syria during a speech at the Kremlin, asserting that the remaining troops in Syria have the necessary capabilities to combat terrorists and support Bashar al-Assad. At a ceremony honoring 700 military personnel, he expressed confidence that serious successes would be witnessed in the near future. He expressed hope that the ancient city of Palmyra would soon be reclaimed by Syrian government forces from the Islamic State group. Putin stated, 'I hope this pearl of world civilization, or what remains of this ancient city from the hands of robbers, will be returned to the people of Syria and the world.' The city of Palmyra, or Tadmur, fell to the Islamic State forces last year. UNESCO considers the ancient site of this city as one of the most important cultural heritage sites globally and refers to it as a manifestation of several civilizations. The archaeological remains of Palmyra date back to ancient Roman times, over two thousand years ago. For the first time, the Russian President announced the cost of Russia's military presence in Syria to be 33 billion rubles, equivalent to 481 million dollars. He stated that Russian air operations against the Islamic State, Al-Nusra Front, and 'other terrorist groups' would continue. However, according to Reuters, Putin emphasized that Moscow does not wish to send its forces back to Syria and hopes that peace negotiations will be fruitful. He said, 'If necessary, Russia can return within hours according to developments in the region and based on the circumstances, utilizing all its military capabilities.' On Monday, Putin unexpectedly announced the withdrawal of Russian military forces from Syria, stating that Moscow had achieved most of its objectives and would now focus its efforts on the peace process.