Western media, including the Financial Times, suggest that Russia has begun a partial or full withdrawal of its troops from Syria. Satellite images from Maxar Technologies show activity at the Khmeimim airbase.

The images show cargo planes such as the An-124, Il-76 and smaller models such as the An-32 and An-72 arriving at the base with their noses open, indicating that they were loading heavy equipment. Satellites also show Russian ships moving from the Syrian coast across the Mediterranean.

Military bloggers had previously published videos of columns of Russian equipment heading towards the Khmeimim airbase, sparking rumors of an impending evacuation of Russian troops.

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that Russia was close to concluding an agreement with the new Syrian authorities on preserving its bases in Khmeimim and Tartus. However, other Western publications claim that there are no agreements and Moscow has only been given time to organize the withdrawal of forces.

TASS, on the contrary, reports that negotiations on this issue are ongoing and no official decision has yet been made.

The reports come amid global changes following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, with the new Syrian government reportedly seeking to reduce Russian influence and reassess relations with Moscow.

In 2024, Bashar al-Assad's regime fell after a massive offensive by the Syrian opposition. In November, opposition forces began a rapid advance, capturing key cities such as Aleppo, Hama, and Homs. On December 8, they entered Damascus, ending Assad's rule. The president fled the country and fled to Moscow. This event dramatically changed the balance of power in the region, leaving the country in a political vacuum and intensifying the struggle for influence between various factions.