Putin's WAR on ISIS is OVER: Russia pulls troops out of Syria and says job is DONE

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VLADIMIR Putin’s fight against Islamic State (ISIS) appears to be over after the president ordered the Russian military to start pulling its troops out of Syria.

Russia will start withdrawing the “main part” of its forces in the war-torn country, saying its military intervention had largely achieved its objectives. 

Russia could start pulling out its troops as soon as tomorrow, Putin said during a meeting at the Kremlin with his defence and foreign ministers.

The surprise move comes as fresh peace talks begin in Geneva aiming to resolve the five-year Syrian conflict. 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had telephoned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to inform him of the Russian decision.

Russia has been a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, with its entry into the civil war in September 2015 tipping the balance in favour of the Syrian government. 

Russia has been carrying out a ruthless air strike campaign in Syria

Russia’s military intervention has allowed Assad’s regime to repeater territory from rebels. 

Putin said at the Kremlin meeting: "I consider the mission set for the Defence Ministry and the armed forces on the whole has been accomplished. 

"I am therefore ordering the Defence Ministry to begin the withdrawal of the main part of our military force from the Syrian Arab Republic from tomorrow."

Putin has been a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

The Russian president also ordered Russia to intensify its role in the peace process to end the conflict in Syria. 

Putin also said that Russia's Hmeimim airbase and the its port at Tartus would continue to operate as normal.

Debris of a collapsed building after a Russian air strike in Damascus

The Russian president said both must be protected "from land, air and sea".

A ceasefire agreed by most participants in the Syrian conflict has been largely observed despite reports of some violations on all sides.