In Retrospect image - Aircraft Lovers Group

Headed home after achieving an impressive workload. Each star stands for ten sorties.

First jets leave from Hmeimim for home: Youtube.com

After achieving "[The] objective...to stabilize the legitimate authority and create conditions for a political compromise." (October 11th, interview between the Russian President and Vladimir Soloviev) A contingent of the Russian strike group and most of the deployed Russian security forces are withdrawing from the conflict, as it would appear that the Russian Chiefs of Staff are content with the political and reconciliatory processes ongoing between what is left of any "moderate" opposition and the Assad Government, having successfully brought every group into the peace process aside from Daesh/Al Nusra.

With reconciliatory talks being largely met with success Russia feels that their goals have been accomplished in uniting Syria, once again under the legitimate government, and in forming a cohesive and independent force capable of continuing the war against ISIS and any other radical, distinctly non-Syrian elements. Russia's withdrawal does not indicate a halt to their involvement in the war against the IS, as the permanent Tartas and Hmeimim bases will continue to be operated by the VKS, Syrian Express, and Russian Med Fleet.