sochi russia size russia military force syria likely significantly reduce drawdown could start end year chief russian military general staff say thursday russia military support syrian president bashar al-assad notably air strike crucial defeat islamic state syrian opposition force little leave completion military objectives course decision make supreme commander-in-chief deployment reduce valery gerasimov tell reporters sideline meet president vladimir putin military top brass black sea resort sochi gerasimov say force would likely substantially reduce leave russia two military base ceasefire-monitoring center number necessary structure support situation develop syria putin host assad sochi monday discuss move military operations search political solution syria conflict nl8n1nr0k3 wednesday putin back turkey iran host syrian peace conference take central role major diplomatic push finally end syria civil war seventh year nl8n1ns5rq march last year putin say russia achieve goals syria order withdrawal main part force however u.s.-led coalition operate syria say statement russia combat power largely intact russia likely reduce troop syria year-end military chief