Photo Russian pilots climbing into a fighter jet at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria in October. Credit Vladimir Isachenkov/Associated Press MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Monday ordered the withdrawal of the “main part” of Russian forces in Syria , a surprise move that he said was justified by the “overall completion” of Moscow’s military mission in the war-ravaged country. Mr. Putin’s order, reported by the state news media, came as the war in Syria was about to enter its sixth year and a United Nations mediator in Geneva was trying to revive peace talks to stop the conflict, which has displaced millions and created a humanitarian catastrophe. Russia has operated a naval base on the Syrian coast since the Soviet period, but Mr. Putin’s order seemed to relate to warplanes operating from a new air base in Latakia that since September have carried out […]