Russia Reportedly Requests Support From Turkey in Troop Withdrawal From Syria

Russia has requested Turkey for assistance in safely withdrawing its troops from Syria, according to CNN Turkey.

Russian troops are expected to be moved to those areas of Syria under Turkish control, from where they will subsequently be flown back to Russia. Russian forces are reportedly to maintain a presence in two strategically important locations—the naval base in Tartus and the Khmeimim airbase.

Syrian rebels announced the collapse of the Russian-backed Assad regime following their capture of Damascus on December 8, ending over five decades of authoritarian dynastic rule. 

Rebel forces swiftly seized key strongholds, prompting the ousted Bashar al-Assad to flee to an undisclosed location. Unconfirmed reports indicate that Assad, accompanied by his family, may have been provided with asylum in Moscow on humanitarian grounds.

With the loss of control over Damascus and continued offensive operations by anti-Assad forces, Russian forces face the likelihood of losing their strategic military bases in both Tartus and Khmeimim. This would signify a significant blow to Russia’s presence in the region and a strategic defeat in Syria.