Russia withdraws troops, but does not leave Syria – media

After toppling the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, Russia withdrew its military from the front line in the north of the country and from posts in the Alawite Mountains, but did not leave its two main bases. This was reported by Reuters on Saturday, December 14, citing four unidentified Syrian officials.

We are talking about the Khmeimim airbase in Latakia province and the naval base in the city of Tartus.

Satellite imagery from December 13 showed at least two An-124s – among the world’s largest cargo planes – preparing to load at the Khmeimim base. At least one transport worker flew to Libya on Saturday, a Syrian security official stationed outside the facility said.

Syrian military and security sources in contact with the Russians told Reuters that Moscow was withdrawing its forces from the front line and removing some military equipment and senior Syrian officials.

But agency sources stressed that Russia is not taking back its two main bases and has no plans to do so.

Some equipment is being flown back to Moscow, as are senior officers in Assad’s army, but the aim at this stage is to regroup and redeploy in line with events on the ground, said a senior Syrian army officer in contact with -Russian military liaison to Reuters.

On Saturday, the Main Intelligence Directorate said hundreds of Russian soldiers could not make it from Homs province to the air base in Khmeimim because they feared their convoy would come under fire.

Bloomberg previously wrote that Russia is negotiating with the new Syrian leadership to maintain bases at the naval port in Tartus and the Khmeimim airbase.