Since 2019, Russia has stationed personnel at Qamishli airport in the northeast, a lesser deployment compared to its air base and naval facility along Syria’s Mediterranean coast, both of which are anticipated to be retained.
Government forces under President Ahmed al-Sharaa have captured significant territories in northern and eastern Syria from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces this month, as Damascus seeks to reinforce its authority throughout the nation.
A fragile ceasefire between the factions was prolonged on Saturday for an additional 15 days.
Two sources indicated that Russian forces initiated a gradual withdrawal from Qamishli airport last week. Some troops were expected to relocate to western Syria, while others would return to Russia, one source mentioned at Russia’s Hmeimim air base.
Another security source from Syria’s western coast noted that Russian military vehicles and heavy arms had been moved from Qamishli to the Hmeimim military airport over the past two days.
No immediate statement was issued by Russia’s defense ministry. The Russian daily Kommersant reported last week, citing an anonymous Syrian source, that the Syrian government might request Russian forces to vacate the base once it has driven the Kurds out, claiming “there’s nothing for them (the Russians) to do there”.
A Reuters reporter observed Russian flags still hoisted at Qamishli airport on Monday, where two planes with Russian markings were seen parked on the runway.
Russia, a close ally of Syria’s ousted President Bashar al-Assad, has built a rapport with Sharaa since he assumed power roughly 14 months ago.
Sharaa assured Russian President Vladimir Putin last year that he would uphold all previous agreements made between Damascus and Moscow, a promise that implies Moscow’s two main military bases in Syria are secure.
