Overnight Defense: Russia withdrawing troops from Syria
THE TOPLINE: Russia plans to wind down its air campaign in Syria about six months after it began, with Russian President Vladimir Putin declaring Monday that Russia had achieved its goals.
Putin said Russian forces will begin withdrawing on Tuesday.
“I believe that the task put before the defense ministry and Russian armed forces has, on the whole, been fulfilled,” Putin said at a meeting with his defense and foreign ministers. “I am therefore ordering the defense minister, from tomorrow, to start the withdrawal of the main part of our military contingent from the Syrian Arab Republic.”
{mosads}Putin’s intervention in Syria has drawn consternation from U.S. lawmakers since it started. Critics say Putin did little to counter the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as he claimed he was doing, instead successfully propping up Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime.
“The announcement that Russia will begin withdrawing some military forces from Syria signals Vladimir Putin’s belief that he has bombed and killed enough of the opponents of the murderous Assad regime to ensure its survival,” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in a written statement.
US PRESSES IRAN ON MISSILE TESTS: The United States vowed Monday to respond to Iran’s recent ballistic missile tests, despite objections from Russia and Iran’s insistence it did not violate international law.
“These were designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power told reporters after a U.N. Security Council meeting. “This merits a council response.”
Iran conducted ballistic missile tests two days in a row last week, drawing swift condemnation from the international community and U.S. lawmakers. On the second test, Iran reportedly fired missiles with the words “Israel must be wiped off the face of the earth” written on them in Hebrew.
The tests reignited a debate among lawmakers about sanctions against Iran. Those in favor of sanctions say the tests were a clear violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, which was passed in July. It supports the nuclear deal with Iran and calls on Tehran “not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology.”
AMERICAN ISIS FIGHTER REPORTEDLY CAPTURED: An American citizen fighting with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was reportedly captured by Kurdish Peshmerga forces in northern Iraq on Monday, according to multiple reports.
The Kurdish news agency Rudaw, citing an unnamed Peshmerga commander, said the man mistook Kurdish territory for the Turkish border. He was apparently trying to return to Turkey.
The man was identified as Muhammad Jamal Amin. Identification cards shown on Kurdish TV show he was from Virginia.
Amin reportedly entered Syria through Turkey two months ago and then went to Mosul, Iraq.
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ON TAP FOR TOMORROW:
The House Appropriations defense subcommittee will hold a member hearing day at 9 a.m. at Capitol HT-2, where lawmakers can highlight local priorities.
The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing with senior military leaders on the services’ readiness at 10 a.m. at Russell 222.
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs will hold a hearing on the U.S. visa program at 10 a.m. at Dirksen 342.
The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on U.S. Transportation Command’s posture for 2017 at 10:15 a.m. at Rayburn 2118.
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, is discussing his acquisition reform proposal at 1 p.m. at the Brookings Institution.
The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing with Navy and Marine Corps leaders on the 2017 budget request at 2:30 p.m. at Hart 216.
The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing with the commander of Air Force Space Command Gen. John Hyten at 3:30 p.m. at Rayburn 2118.
ICYMI:
— The Hill: Iran missile tests reignite sanctions fight
— The Hill: Lawmakers skeptical of restarting Syrian rebel program
— The Hill: Pentagon under fire for proposed cuts to autism care
— New York Times: To Maintain Supply of Sex Slaves, ISIS Pushes Birth Control
— Associated Press: 161 chemical weapons attacks in Syria’s war, new report says
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