Russia appears to be withdrawing troops and equipment from Syria, including in two prized military bases in the western part of the country, according to satellite imagery and videos that have surfaced since the fall of the Assad dynasty.
Russia runs two military bases, the Khmeimim airbase in Latakia and a naval base in Tartus, in western Syria, which had been key to not just propping Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria but also in projecting power in the Mediterranean Sea and supporting Russian military activities in West Asia and North Africa. Following the ouster of Assad, the future of the bases is uncertain.
Even as Russian state media has reported that a deal has been reached with Syrian opposition forces, there are clear signs that Russia is pulling out of Syria, including at the bases in Latakia and Tartus.
Russian withdraws from airbase in Syria
Recent imagery of the Khmeimim airbase from satellite company Maxar (see below) shows Russia withdrawal underway at the base. The War Zone has reported that the imagery shows two Antonov An-124 Ruslan cargo planes with their ’nose’ open, suggesting that they are loading the cargo. These are the largest military transport planes in the world.
The outlet also reported that the imagery further shows three Ilyushin Il-76 cargo aircraft along with a dismantled Ka-52 attack helicopter and packed S-400 air defence system, suggesting that the S-400 and Ka-52 were being loaded for transportation.
The imagery further shows at least one Syrian Il-76 and another Yakovlev Yak-40 aircraft along with smaller An-72 Coaler and An-26 Curl transporters as well as a Su-35 fighter plane, according to the outlet.
Content retrieved from: https://www.firstpost.com/world/with-assad-gone-russia-withdraws-from-syrian-military-bases-changes-tone-for-new-rulers-13844891.html.
