Russia's enduring presence in Syria: An unexpected alliance
Russia has reached an informal agreement with Syrian rebels from HTS, allowing its presence at the military bases in Hmeimim and Tartus, as reported by Bloomberg.
Despite previous conflicts with Syrian rebels from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, Russia continues to maintain its military bases at Hmeimim and Tartus.
According to the Business Insider, the presence of Russian forces in these locations stems from an informal agreement with HTS. These bases are situated in western Syria, within Latakia province.
Syria: The significance of the bases in Hmeimim and Tartus
Russian military bases in Syria, especially the naval base in Tartus, hold strategic importance for Moscow. Tartus is Russia's only port in the Mediterranean, making it a vital support point for Russian operations in the region, including those in Africa.
The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, highlighted that Russia aims to maintain these bases to "continue the fight against international terrorism." However, a decision regarding the continued stationing of Russian forces in Syria has yet to be made.
The HTS group, which has its roots in al-Qaeda, is recognised by the UN, USA, and other countries as a terrorist organisation. Nevertheless, after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Russian media and officials ceased to label the rebels as "terrorists." The Joe Biden administration is even contemplating removing this classification if the new Syrian authorities uphold promises concerning the protection of minorities.
Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary, Sabrina Singh, mentioned that "we're seeing Russia consolidate" its troops in Syria, but no withdrawal has been noted. Russian support for the deposed Assad regime was essential for maintaining its presence in the region.
