Russia is withdrawing its forces from forward positions in northern Syria and from outposts in the Alawite mountains, four Syrian officials told Reuters, but not abandoning its two main bases in the country following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad .
The ouster of Assad, who forged a close alliance with Moscow along with his late father, former President Hafez al-Assad, has put the future of Russia’s bases – Hmeimim air base in Latakia and the Tartus naval facility – into question.
Satellite footage from Friday showed at least two Antonov An-124s, one of the world’s largest cargo planes, visible at the Hmeimim base with their nose cones open, apparently preparing to load. .
At least one cargo plane took off for Libya on Saturday, a Syrian security official stationed outside the facility said.
Syrian military and security sources in contact with Russia told Reuters that Moscow was withdrawing its forces from the front lines and some heavy equipment and senior Syrian officials.
But sources, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, said that Russia is not withdrawing from its two main bases and has no intention of doing so at the moment.
A senior Syrian army officer in contact with the Russian military told Reuters that some equipment was being sent back to Moscow, as were very senior officers of Assad’s army, but that the aim at this stage was to regroup in accordance with developments on the ground and Have to redeploy.
A senior rebel official close to the new interim administration told Reuters that the issue of the Russian military presence in Syria and previous agreements between the Assad government and Moscow were not being discussed.
“This is a matter for future negotiations and the final decision will be that of the Syrian people,” the official said, adding that Moscow had established communication channels.
“Our forces are also now close to Russian positions in Latakia,” he said, without elaborating.
The Kremlin has said Russia is discussing the bases with Syria’s new rulers. Russia’s Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment on Reuters reporting.
A Russian source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said discussions were ongoing with Syria’s new rulers and that Russia was not withdrawing from its positions.
Reuters was unable to immediately find out how Syrian rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa – known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani – saw the long-term future of the Russian bases.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose intervention in the Syrian civil war in 2015 helped shore up support for Assad at a time when the West was calling for his removal from power, on Sunday released Assad from Russia after Moscow helped him escape. Gave shelter in.
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Moscow has supported Syria since the beginning of the Cold War and recognized its independence in 1944 as Damascus sought to overthrow French colonial rule. The West had long considered Syria a Soviet satellite.
Bases in Syria are an integral part of Russia’s global military presence: the Tartus naval base is Russia’s only Mediterranean repair and resupply center, with Hmeymim a major staging post for military and mercenary activity in Africa.
According to the Syrian military and Western intelligence sources, Russia also had eavesdropping posts in Syria that ran parallel to Syrian signal stations.
The Tartus facility dates from 1971, and was granted a free lease for 49 years to Moscow in 2017, after Russia intervened in the civil war to help Assad.
Yoruk Isik, an Istanbul-based geopolitical analyst who runs the Bosphorus Observer, said Russia was likely sending cargo planes from Syria through the Caucasus, and then to Al Khadim airbase in Libya.
A Reuters journalist said that on the highway connecting Hmeimim Air Base to Tartus Base, a Russian convoy of infantry fighting vehicles and logistics vehicles could be seen heading towards the air base.
The convoy had stopped due to a fault in one of its vehicles, soldiers were standing near the vehicles and trying to fix the problem.
“Whether it’s Russian, Iranian or the previous government that was oppressing us and depriving us of our rights… we don’t want any interference from Russia, Iran or any other foreign interference,” said Ali Halloum, who Jabla, who is from and lives in Latakia, told Reuters.
In Hmeymim, Reuters saw Russian troops moving around the base normally and jets in hangars.
Satellite imagery taken on December 9 by Planet Labs showed at least three ships of Russia’s Mediterranean fleet – two guided missile frigates and an oiler – about 13 km (8 miles) northwest of Tartus.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
