Even though Russian President Vladimir Putin announced earlier this week plans to withdraw forces from Syria, the US-led coalition has only seen a “small handful” of Russian aircraft depart and just some support troops head home, the coalition’s spokesman said. Putin on Monday said his country’s goal has largely been “fulfilled” and he would begin removing troops and aircraft from Syria. US Army Col. Steve Warren said during a Wednesday briefing that the coalition has seen eight to 10 aircraft leave Syria, but other aircraft have conducted sorties within the past 24 hours, though no airstrikes were conducted. There’s been some movement of Russian troops, as well as indications of small units packing up, but “no significant numbers of troops have departed Syria yet,” said Warren. There also has been a “fairly notable reduction” in the amount of activity by Russian forces against Syrian forces opposing President Bashar al-Assad, though there is continued support, Warren added.
When Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Air Force Gen. Dan Caine described the 150 aircraft used in Operation Absolute Resolve, the mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, he referenced many by name, including the F-35 and F-22 fighters and B-1 bomber. Not specified, however, were “remotely piloted drones,” among them a secretive aircraft spotted and photographed returning to Puerto…
