MOSCOW, September 20./TASS/. Colonel General Alexander Dvornikov, who was commander of the Russian force in Syria, has been appointed as Southern Military District commander, its press service reports.

"Colonel General Alexander Drovnikov has been appointed commander of the troops of the Southern Military District in a decree of the president of the Russian Federation," the press service of the military district says.

The general was performing the duties of military district commander from July 1, replacing Colonel-General Alexander Galkin, who had been in command of the district from December 2010.

Dvornikov led the Russian task force in Syria since September 2015 and before that had been first deputy commander of the Central Military District.