Russia's strategic maneuver: Adjusting military footprint in Syria
Russia is withdrawing troops from the front line in northern Syria and from outposts in the Jabal an-Nusayriyya mountains, but it is not leaving its two main bases, Reuters reports.
After the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, the future of two Russian bases in the Latakia province in Syria—the Humaymim airbase and the naval base in Tartus—is in question.
Satellite recordings from Friday revealed at least two An-124 planes, among the largest transport aircraft in the world, at the Humaymim base apparently preparing for loading. At least one of these aircraft departed on Saturday for Libya, a Syrian official responsible for overseeing the base told Reuters.
According to Syrian sources, Russia is withdrawing part of the heavy equipment and officers but does not plan to leave the bases. The goal is to regroup forces in response to changes in the country.
But are talks not being conducted?
A high-ranking official close to the new interim authorities in Syria told Reuters that the issue of the presence of Russian troops in Syria and earlier agreements between the Assad government and Russia are not currently subject to discussion.
“It is a matter for future talks, and the Syrian people will have the final say,” the official said. “Our forces are also now in close vicinity of the Russian bases in Latakia,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has stated in recent days that Russia is conducting talks with the new Syrian authorities regarding the bases.
Some warships have left the base in Tartus
It is currently unknown what the leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which overthrew Assad—Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, thinks about the functioning of Russian military bases in Syria in the longer term.
The BBC reported on Wednesday that some military ships have left the Russian naval base in Tartus.
This base was established based on an agreement signed by the Soviet Union with then-Syrian leader Hafez al-Assad (father of Bashar al-Assad) in 1971—during the Cold War period when the USSR's navy was forced to leave its bases in Egypt.
