Russian Forces Actively Withdraw Equipment From Syria, Satellite Images Show

Various media outlets report increased activity at Russian military bases in Syria, indicating the evacuation of equipment after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.

Satellite images captured on December 13 by Maxar and published by Reuters reveal at least two Antonov AN-124 aircraft, among the world's largest cargo planes, with their nose cones open at the Hmeimim air base in Syria's coastal Latakia province.

"Nearby, a Ka-52 attack helicopter is being dismantled and likely prepared for transport while elements of an S-400 air defence unit are similarly preparing to depart from its previous deployment site at the air base," Maxar wrote.

According to Maxar, Russia's naval base in Tartus, its only Mediterranean repair and replenishment hub, "remains largely unchanged since our December 10 imagery coverage with two frigates continuing to be observed offshore of Tartus.”

Channel 4 News reportedly observed a convoy of over 150 Russian military vehicles traveling along a road. The report noted that the Russian forces were moving in an organized manner, suggesting that an agreement had been reached to facilitate their orderly withdrawal from Syria.

HUR  reported on December 12 that 4–5 military transport planes operate daily between Hmeimim and Russian airfields. Additionally, Russia is using vessels to evacuate the remaining equipment.

“To transport weapons and military equipment from Syria to the Tartus base, the aggressor state’s ships Ivan Gren and Alexander Otrakovsky continue their journey. Currently, they are in the Norwegian Sea, with their passage through the English Channel planned in a few days,“ HUR wrote. “The Russian cargo ship Sparta is also en route to the Syrian port, having departed from the city of Baltiysk. Additionally, the vessel Sparta II, which set sail from St. Petersburg, is expected to be involved in transporting military equipment from the Arab Republic.”

Additionally, it was noted by Reuters, citing a Syrian security official, that a Russian cargo plane departed from Syria’s Hmeimim air base in Latakia for Libya on Saturday, December 14.

The official said that further Russian departures from the coastal Latakia air base are anticipated in the coming days.

Earlier, on December 12, it was reported that Russia was negotiating with Syria's new leadership to maintain control over two key military assets in the Middle East—the Tartus naval base and the Hmeimim airbase.