Russia appears to be scaling down its military presence in Syria, particularly at Hmeimim Air Base, following the collapse of the Assad government. Satellite images captured by BlackSky and obtained by Business Insider show movement of military equipment over the past few days.
The Russian Il-76 strategic cargo planes, S-400 surface-to-air missile launchers, and An-32 transport aircraft spotted in images suggest a drawdown of Russia’s assets in Syria. However, it remains unclear whether this is permanent or temporary.
Russia long supported Assad in Syria’s civil war but now faces uncertainty with rebel forces controlling key provinces. The Kremlin aims to ensure security for its bases, while the European Union and US express concerns over Russian activities in the region.
The recent developments highlight a shift in Russia’s military strategy in Syria, which relies heavily on Hmeimim and Tartus to project power across the Middle East. Losing access to these strategically valuable bases would be a significant setback for Moscow.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-military-pulls-back-syria-seen-packing-up-new-images-2024-12