In satellite pics: What’s happening at Russian bases after Assad’s fall

Abig question mark looms large over the future of Russian air and naval bases on the Mediterranean coast in Syria after President Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow in face of a swift rebel offensive.

Russia runs the Khmeimim airbase in Latakia province and a naval base at the Tartus port in northwest Syria.

Both the provinces are now controlled by Assad’s opposition forces, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Syrian National Army who launched a lightning offensive on November 27, taking cities of Aleppo, Hama, Homs before sweeping into capital Damascus on November 8.

Russian military vessels were missing from a satellite image captured by American geospatial firm Planet Labs PBC on December 9, a day after Assad fled Syria.

Ships were not seen in imagery clicked on December 1 and December 3 either, but that could be attributed to their participation in a joint military drill of the Russian Navy and its Aerospace Forces in the Mediterranean Sea. The exercise took place between December 1 and December 3.

However, at least six planes were parked at the Khmeimim airbase on December 6. Imagery of the airbase of later dates was not available yet. The satellite image shows activities around what appears to be a transport aircraft. No fighter jet could be seen in the December 6 imagery though at least two fighters can be seen parked in an image clicked three days earlier.

As per Russian state-media, the rebels had not penetrated Tartus and Khmeimim bases nor harmed any Russian servicemen.

In 2019, rebels had attacked the Khmeimim airbase by drone that killed at least two Russian service members and wounded many others. Some jets were also damaged and destroyed.

TASS news agency citing sources, reported that the bases continued to operate normally in Syria. On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the bases will be “subject for discussions with future Syrian authorities”.

IMPORTANCE OF RUSSIAN BASES IN SYRIA

The Tartus naval base is the only such Russian installation on the Mediterranean and on the southern flank of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) military alliance. It allows President Vladimir Putin to project power in the Middle East and Africa and threaten NATO warships in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Khmeimim airbase is equally important. It is this military facility from where President Putin declared victory over rebels and Islamists and the victory of Russia-backed Assad during a surprise visit in 2017.

Moscow has expanded the Khmeimim air base extensively over the years, building support structures, lengthening runways, expanding aprons, and aircraft shelters.

Reports indicated air defence systems, including an S-400 battery, intelligence gathering and electronic warfare systems were present at the airbase.

Advance Russian fighters like Sukhoi-27/30/34/35s as well as older jets such as Su-24 Fencers and Su-25s Frogfoots; early warning aircraft A-50M, Il-76 transports, an Il-22PP electronic warfare platform, and various other types of aircraft have been stationed at the facility.