Russia To Start Pulling Military Out Of Syria

05:38

March 14, 2016

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad (left) during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow on October 20, 2015. Assad, on his first foreign visit since Syria's war broke out, told his main backer and counterpart Putin in Moscow that Russia's campaign in Syria has helped contain "terrorism." (Alexey Druzhnin/AFP/Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to begin withdrawing from Syria tomorrow. The Russians have been conducting airstrikes in Syria since late last year, it said to help Syrian President Bashar Assad fight ISIS. But critics say Russia has really been targeting the rebel forces opposed to Assad. Here & Now's Robin Young gets the latest from NPR's diplomatic correspondent Michele Kelemen.

Guest

Michele Kelemen, diplomatic correspondent for NPR. She tweets @michelekelemen.

This segment aired on March 14, 2016.