Russia is withdrawing forces from an airport in northeastern Syria, a move seen as aimed at ending its military presence in an area where the Damascus government is seeking to regain control from Kurdish forces.
Russia has deployed forces at Qamishli airport since 2019. The scale of presence here is relatively small compared to the Hmeimim airbase and a Russian naval base on the Mediterranean coast of Syria, two locations that are said to still be maintained.
This month, government forces under President Ahmed al-Sharaa controlled many areas in northern and eastern Syria from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, as Damascus sought to assert power throughout the country. A fragile ceasefire agreement between the parties was extended for another 15 days on January 24.
Two sources said that the Russian army has begun the process of gradually withdrawing from Qamishli airport since last week. Part of the force is expected to be transferred to the Hmeimim airbase in western Syria, while others will return to Russia.
A Syrian security source in the western coastal area confirmed that Russian military vehicles and heavy weapons have been transported from Qamishli to Hmeimim military airport in the past 2 days.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has not made an official comment. Russia's Kommersant newspaper last week quoted a Syrian source as saying that the Syrian government may ask Russia to leave this base after pushing back Kurdish forces, because "there is no role for Russia there".
A Reuters reporter said he still saw Russian flags flying at Qamishli airport on January 26, with 2 Russian aircraft docked on the runway.
Russia is a close ally of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has established relations with Mr. Ahmed al-Sharaa since he came to power about 14 months ago.
Mr. Sharaa once told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Damascus would respect all agreements previously signed with Moscow, showing that the two main Russian military bases in Syria are still guaranteed.
