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Satellite Images Suggest Russia May Be Withdrawing Military Equipment from Syria

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Maxar satellite images show Russian troops loading cargo at their main airbase in Syria, possibly indicating the beginning of a military withdrawal following President Bashar al-Assad’s fall, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Satellite images revealed two heavy Russian transport aircraft prepared to load cargo at the Khmeimim airbase, while a Ka-52 attack helicopter and an S-400 air defense system were seen being dismantled nearby.

Meanwhile, verified footage from NBC News showed a Russian convoy heading north toward Homs along the highway connecting Damascus to Aleppo. “May God never return you,” the person filming commented, noting it was the second convoy he had seen.

“The Russian withdrawal is picking up steam,” Dara Massicot, senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, wrote on X. “Whether it will be full or partial is unclear so far.”

In a significant change, Russian state media has started referring to Syrian rebels as “rebels” instead of “terrorists,” indicating Moscow’s intention to engage diplomatically with Syria’s new leadership while striving to preserve its strategic military presence in the Mediterranean.

As satellite images revealed the possible withdrawal of military equipment, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov confirmed on Thursday that talks are underway with Syria’s new leadership to negotiate continued use of the Khmeimim airbase and Tartus naval facility, pivotal to Russia’s military operations in Syria.

While the outcome is uncertain, these bases—central to Russia’s airstrikes supporting Assad—are expected to be used for operations against remaining Islamic State pockets in eastern Syria.

The progress of the negotiations, however, remains unclear.

The potential loss of the Khmeimim airbase and the naval base in Tartus would deal a significant blow to Russia’s strategic foothold in the Middle East.

The Tartus naval base, in particular, holds immense value for Moscow as it is one of the country’s few accessible warm-water ports, enabling year-round naval operations without the limitations imposed by icy conditions at other Russian ports.

These bases have been critical to Russia’s military and geopolitical influence in the region, making their retention a key priority for Moscow.

While satellite images suggested a potential Russian withdrawal from its base at Khmeimim, Maxar reported that the positions of Russian ships have remained largely unchanged since December 10, with two frigates still stationed off the coast of Tartus.

“The Russian Mediterranean Task Force remains in limbo, anchored on the edge of Syria’s territorial waters, indicating that Russia is not yet willing to withdraw,” Frederik Van Lokeren, a former Belgian Navy officer and Russian Navy analyst, wrote on X.