Russian forces in Syria are reportedly preparing to evacuate their bases, according to satellite images obtained Friday by AFP from Maxar Technologies, following the ousting of former president and Kremlin ally Bashar al-Assad by Syrian rebels last week.
Russia, which has been militarily involved in the Syrian conflict since 2015, maintains a naval base in Tartus and an airbase in Hmeimim on Syrian soil.
The images appear to show Russian forces loading military equipment onto two heavy transport Antonov An-124 aircraft at Hmeimim, located in the coastal region near the city of Latakia.
On the same day, a Russian army convoy of approximately 250 vehicles departed the Homs area for Hmeimim, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
The convoy was reportedly transporting "individuals of various nationalities, including Russians, Belarusians, and Koreans, as well as members of certain embassies," according to the SOHR.
On December 10, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) stated on Telegram that the Kremlin had already begun evacuating its troops on December 8, the day of Assad's fall, using both air and naval routes from Tartus.
However, the status of the remaining Russian naval forces based in Tartus remains unchanged, according to Maxar photographs. The two frigates deployed there continue to operate in the area without any notable changes.
Comments