Moscow. July 26. INTERFAX-The withdrawal of the US military contingent from Iraq will not affect the number of the Russian group in Syria, said Deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense Yuri Shvytkin.
"The expected end of the US military mission in Iraq, in my opinion, is not a reason to increase the Russian contingent in Syria. We have enough forces and means that are there, taking into account the possible strengthening of the terrorist orientation, "Shvytkin told Interfax on Monday.
In general, he believes that the consequences of the withdrawal of a contingent of American troops from Iraq are difficult to predict.
"Often, the US leadership's words differ from their deeds. For example, we talked about the withdrawal of troops from Syria, but nevertheless the military contingent continues to operate there and is in some way an accomplice of terrorists. It is difficult to predict the impact of this decision on the Middle East region, " Shvytkin said.
Earlier on Monday, US President Joe Biden, at a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadimi, announced the completion of the American combat mission on Iraqi territory by the end of 2021.
"By the end of the year, we will no longer carry out a combat mission in Iraq," CBS News Radio correspondent Stephen Portnoy quotes Biden as saying.
According to US media reports, Biden clarified that the US role in Iraq will be to continue training the Iraqi military and providing assistance in the fight against IS militants (a terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation).
