Russian troops withdraw from Syria according to US and West Officials
Russian troops withdraw from Syria according to US and West Officials
Russia has started to deduct a considerable amount of military equipment and troops from Syria after the former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad . This reports two US officials and a western official who is familiar with the intelligence information information.
scope of the withdrawal
The officials characterized the Russian deduction as comprehensive and significant, The deduction started last week. However, it remains unclear whether this deduction will be permanent, according to the officials.
negotiations with rebels
According to US and Western secret services, Russian civil servants try to find out whether Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the currently most important rebel group in Syria, is open to a negotiating solution. This solution could enable Russia to remain at some of its key bases, including the air -base Khmeimim in Latakia and a port system in Tartus.
reactions of the Kremlin
In a press conference last week,Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia will keep in touch with the rebels in Damascus. "We have to maintain contact with those who control the situation on site because we have institutions and staff there," he said.
redistribution of military resources
Two US officials reported that the Russians started moving naval units from Syria to Libya. Another defense officer added that Moscow put pressure on the Libyan National Army commander, Khalifa Haftar, to secure Russia's entitlement to a port in Benghazi.
meaning of the port in tartus
Without a Libyan port and in the event of a forced abandonation of Tartus in Syria, Russia would remain without access to a Mediterranean port to exercise power on the southern NATO flank. The loss of Tartus, itself temporarily, would also make it difficult for Russia to transport illegal materials between Russia and Africa, according to the defense officer.
satellite images and preparations
Last week, CNN reported that Russia is apparently busy loading and preparing aircraft to leave its military base in Syria, based on satellite images that were collected by Maxar on Friday morning. In the Khmeimim air base, two AN-124 heavy military transport aircraft were visible on Friday, which were available to load. At the same location, a KA-52 attack helicopter was dismantled, obviously to prepare for transport. Parts of an S-400 air defense-a Russian floor-air rocket system-were also observed when packed.US reactions
U.S. Foreign Minister Antony Flasch said on Saturday that he could not comment on a Russian deduction. The spokesman for the Pentagon, Major General Patrick Ryder, reported on Monday that the USA in Syria could now operate more freely to carry out anti-isis operations, since Russian air defense systems that are a risk of US military aircraft are no longer used in the country.
Current military activities
The US armed forces in the central command have carried out several air strikes on ISIS camps and operational in Syria since the fall of Assad at the beginning of this month, including an attack on Monday. "An important factor that has changed in Syria is the airspace. In the past, the air defense systems of the Syrian regime and Russia have existed, which in many cases restricted our ability or the desire to go to these areas in order to carry out anti-isis operations," Ryder told journalists. "It is now a much more permissive environment in this regard."
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