Russian forces expedite retreat amid Syrian upheaval
The Russian military command is preparing to evacuate equipment from the Hmeimim base in the city of Latakia, according to Russian propaganda channels on Telegram.
As reported by "War Observer," several Il-76 and An-124 "Ruslan" aircraft arrived at the airport on Saturday. These aircraft have been used for the rapid transport of heavy equipment, including parts of the S-400 system.
This information was confirmed by Ilya Tumanov, the author of the Telegram channel Fighterbomber and a captain in the Russian Aerospace Forces. The decision to withdraw the equipment was made after rebel forces took control of Damascus, the capital of Syria.
"Why this wasn't prepared three days earlier remains a rhetorical question. Considering that we have only one airport left within our reach, it's conceivable that the equipment will be transported to Russia or possibly to Africa," Tumanov wrote.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Russian bases in Syria remain on high alert. Russia’s military bases in Syria were 'on high alert' but there was 'no serious threat to their security'," the FT quoted Russia's statement.
Earlier, the Russian MFA reported that Bashar al-Assad resigned from the office of President of the Syrian Arab Republic (SAR) and ordered the peaceful transfer of power.
The Russian MFA noted that Moscow did not participate in these negotiations, but it maintains contacts with all Syrian opposition groups.
Withdrawal of the Russian fleet from Tartus
On Tuesday, it was reported that Russia has begun evacuating ships from the naval base in Syrian Tartus following the rapid advance of Islamist rebels in Syria.
According to sources, on the morning of December 2, the tanker "Elniya"—crucial for the maintenance of Russian forces in the Mediterranean Sea—left Tartus. Along with it, other units may have left the base. The Russian naval group in Syria currently consists of five ships and one submarine. It includes two "Admiral Gorshkov" class frigates, an "Admiral Grigorovich" class frigate, a modernized "Kilo" class submarine, and two auxiliary ships.
The naval base in Tartus on the Mediterranean coast is a strategic asset for Russia. The Soviet fleet was stationed there since 1971, but after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the units were withdrawn. Russian armed forces returned to Tartus in 2012 when Moscow decided to intervene in the Syrian civil war, supporting President Bashar al-Assad. Before the invasion of Ukraine, Russia strengthened its forces in Tartus to counter NATO aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean Sea.
Hmeimim base as a key operational point
The Russian Aerospace Forces air group has been stationed at the Hmeimim airport in Syria since 2015, based on an agreement to combat ISIS. Russian aircraft also used airports in Palmyra and Homs, which are currently under rebel control. The Hmeimim base houses dozens of modern Russian fighter jets, as well as strategic and front-line bombers.
