Russia Withdraws Part Of Embassy, Military From Syria
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Russia evacuated part of its embassy staff from the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Sunday after pulling back its military from frontlines and other positions, Worthy News established Sunday.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow confirmed that embassy staff departed on a special Russian Air Force flight on Sunday to Moscow following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, a key Kremlin ally, last week.
Ministry officials said that the flight also carried diplomats from Belarus, North Korea, and Abkhazia, a separatist region in Georgia backed by Moscow.
The exact number of people on board was not disclosed.
Yet it came after Russia pulled back its military from the front lines in northern Syria and posts in the Alawite Mountains, several Russian sources said.
The ousting of Assad, who, along with his late father, former President Hafez al-Assad, forged a close alliance with Moscow, has thrown the future of Russia’s bases – the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia and the Tartous naval facility – into question.
LEAVING SYRIA
Satellite footage reviewed by Worthy News showed what appeared to be at least two Antonov AN-124s, among the world’s largest cargo planes, at the Hmeimim base with their nose cones open, apparently preparing to load up.
At least one cargo plane flew out on Saturday for Libya, Syrian security sources outside the facility said.
The move is part of broader efforts by Moscow to pull back its forces from the front lines while withdrawing some heavy equipment and senior Syrian officers, according to security officials.
However, Russian and Syrian sources suggested that Russia was not pulling out entirely of its two main bases and currently had no intention of doing so, despite the government takeover by Islamic rebels.
Syria, with a key naval base, is seen as a strategic nation for Russia to maintain its military and political footprint in the volatile Middle East.
Despite its presence, Russia was apparently unable or unwilling to keep Assad in power amid its war against Ukraine, Europe’s bloodiest armed conflict since World War Two.
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