Russia packing up military equipment at base in Syria, satellite images show
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A satellite image showing an An-124 heavy transport aircraft with its nose cone lifted at the Hmeimim Air Base in Syria’s coastal Latakia province.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MOSCOW - Russian forces appeared to be packing up military equipment at a military airbase in Syria, according to satellite images released by Maxar following rebels’ overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad
On Dec 14, a Russian cargo plane departed from Russia’s airbase in the Syrian port city of Latakia for Libya, a Syrian security official stationed outside the facility said.
The official told Reuters that additional Russian departures from the Hmeimim Air Base in Latakia were expected in the coming days.
Increased activity has been observed at the airbase throughout the day. In addition to the departing cargo plane, an Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane and an Alligator helicopter were seen landing at the base.
Helicopters were also seen flying within the base, and a SU-34 jet landed for refuelling. A Zeppelin hovered overhead, and two trucks carrying Russian flags were seen travelling within the base.
The satellite images taken on Dec 13 show what appear to be at least two Antonov An-124s, one of the world’s largest cargo planes, with their nose cones open at the Hmeimim airbase.
“Two An-124 heavy transport aircraft are at the airfield – both with their nose cones lifted and prepared to load equipment and cargo,” Maxar said.
“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 airbase.”
Russia’s naval base at Tartous, Russia’s only Mediterranean repair and replenishment hub, “remains largely unchanged since our Dec 10 imagery coverage with two frigates continuing to be observed offshore of Tartous,” Maxar said.
Britain’s Channel 4 News reported that it had seen a convoy of more than 150 Russian military vehicles moving along a road.
Channel 4 said the Russian military was moving in good order and that it appeared there had been a deal struck to allow the Russians to exit Syria in an orderly fashion.
Moscow has said it hopes to maintain its two bases in Syria – the Hmeimim airbase at Latakia and the naval base in Tartous – to keep up efforts against what it called international terrorism.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Dec 12 that contacts with the political committee of Syria’s Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham were “proceeding in a constructive fashion”.
Moscow has backed Syria since the early days of the Cold War, recognising its independence in 1944 as Damascus sought to throw off French colonial rule. The West long regarded Syria as a Soviet satellite.
The Kremlin has said its focus since Mr Assad’s fall was to ensure the security of its military bases in Syria and of its diplomatic missions.
