Russia shuffles forces in Syria, uncertain future for bases
Russia is withdrawing troops from the frontline in northern Syria and from outposts in the Jabal an-Nusayriyya mountains, but it is not abandoning its two main bases, reports Reuters.
Following the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad, the future of two Russian bases in the Latakia province of Syria - the Humaymim airbase and the naval base in Tartus - is uncertain.
Satellite images from Friday showed at least two An-124 planes, among the largest transport aircraft in the world, at the Humaymim base apparently being prepared for loading. At least one of these planes departed on Saturday for Libya, according to a Syrian official responsible for overseeing the base, who spoke to Reuters.
According to Syrian sources, Russia is withdrawing part of its heavy equipment and officers but does not intend to vacate the bases. The goal is to reorganise forces in response to changes within the country.
But are talks not being held?
A high-ranking official close to the new interim authorities in Syria told Reuters that the presence of Russian troops in Syria and previous agreements between the Assad government and Russia are not currently up for discussion.
"It is a matter for future talks, and the Syrian people will have the final say," the official said. "Our forces are also now in close vicinity of the Russian bases in Latakia," he added.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has stated in recent days that Russia is engaged in discussions with the new Syrian authorities concerning the bases.
Some warships have left the base in Tartus
It remains unclear what the leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which toppled Assad - Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Muhammad al-Jolani, thinks about the future of Russian military bases in Syria in the long term.
The BBC reported on Wednesday that some military ships have departed from the Russian naval base in Tartus.
This base was established under an agreement signed by the Soviet Union with the then-Syrian leader Hafez al-Assad (father of Bashar al-Assad) in 1971, during the Cold War period when the USSR navy was forced to evacuate its bases in Egypt.
