The Russian military carried out a large-scale operation to evacuate 1500 Syrians, mostly Alawites and Christians, after President Bashar al-Assad fled on December 8, 2024. This was reported to the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche by the commander of the Syrian volunteer formation Simon al-Wakil, who is under EU sanctions for allegedly recruiting mercenaries to participate in the conflict in Ukraine. The rescued refugees, who feared reprisals from radical groups, were taken from the Khmeimim airbase to Russia, where they are now trying to adapt to a new life, learning Russian and getting used to the harsh climate. 

The operation began amid a rapid advance by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham militants, who had captured Aleppo by December 5 and were closing in on the Christian towns of Mhardeh and al-Suqaylabiyah in the west of the country. Abandoned by the government at the height of the civil war, the small towns had held out thanks to local militias backed by the Iranian Quds Force and Russian troops. However, after the fall of the Assad regime, residents faced the threat of ethnic cleansing. According to al-Wakil, the Russian military organized a 110-kilometer (XNUMX-mile) safe corridor from Mhardeh to Khmeimim, allowing refugees to flee the war zone. Many left in a hurry, leaving their homes without documents or personal belongings. 

At the airbase, the evacuees were placed in a hangar, where they waited in fear for their flight, fearing an attack by radicals. Four days later, on December 12, the group, including al-Wakil's family, landed in Moscow. The refugees included Alawites and Sunnis loyal to Assad, as well as Christians, who lost about 200 people in the fighting. In Russia, they were granted a residence permit for six months and are now settling in: learning the language, marveling at the stable energy supply, and planning a move to the Caucasus, where the climate is milder. 

More than 2024 people have fled the country since Assad’s fall in December 300, many heading to Turkey and Lebanon, according to Syrian human rights groups. The evacuations to Russia are part of Moscow’s efforts to support loyal minorities traditionally associated with the regime. Russian forces have also reinforced their positions in Khmeimim despite the threat of Islamist attacks, maintaining control of the key facility amid the chaos, Al-Monitor reported.