Russia and Syria have unexpectedly maintained ties following the US and Israeli-backed regime change in Damascus last year
News Desk - The Cradle
Citing the flight-tracking website Flightradar24, the newspaper said that at least two Russian aircraft flew to the Russian air base in Latakia Governorate, on the Syrian coast.
A Russian Air Force Ilyushin Il-62M transport plane flew from Libya to Latakia, then to the Moscow region on 26 October. Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan heavy cargo planes have arrived at the airport on three occasions since 24 October.
Bloomberg also cited an anonymous source close to the Kremlin as saying that Russia is resuming flights to Hmeimim, which Moscow relies on as a logistics hub to project power in West Asia and Africa.
Russia also maintains a naval base at the port of Tartous, its only foothold in the Mediterranean.
Relations between Russia and Syria have been in flux since Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the former Al-Qaeda affiliate, took power in Damascus in December, toppling former president Bashar al-Assad's government.
Moscow had supported Assad's government in its war against the HTS-led insurgency, which was backed by the US, Israel, and their Gulf and European allies.
After HTS took control of Syria, it was unclear whether Russia would maintain its naval base in Tartous and air base in Hmeimim.
However, a silent partnership between Russia and Israel regarding Syria and Iran has become apparent since HTS-leader Ahmad al-Sharaa declared himself president.
In February, Reuters reported on a white paper issued by Israel saying that top Israeli officials were lobbying their US counterparts to ensure that Syria remains “weak and decentralized” by allowing Russia to keep its air and naval bases on the Syrian coast as a counter to Turkish influence.
US officials were reportedly shocked by the Israeli proposal, considering Russia is a US enemy in the Ukraine conflict, while Turkiye is a member of NATO. The proposal was also conveyed to members of Congress during meetings in Israel.
During the Israel–Iran war in June, Russian President Vladimir Putin explained that Moscow would not assist the Islamic Republic militarily despite a recent strategic agreement signed between them.
Addressing the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on 23 June, Putin said Russia must “stay neutral” because “almost two million people from the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation reside in Israel. It is almost a Russian-speaking country today. And, undoubtedly, we always take this into account in Russia's contemporary history.”
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, hundreds of thousands of Russian Jews have emigrated to Israel. Many are dual Russian-Israeli citizens.
Ahmad al-Sharaa, Syria's self-appointed president and former Al-Qaeda chief, visited Moscow on 15 October for talks with President Putin – marking his first visit to the country.
Among the topics of discussion was Russia's military bases in Syria.
“We respect all previous agreements with Russia, and we are trying to redefine the nature of these relations, with the aim of ensuring Syria's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security stability, which is linked to regional and global stability,” Sharaa said during his meeting with Putin.
Sharaa alleged on 12 September that he and his forces took power in Damascus as part of an agreement with Russia.
The president told Al-Ikhbariya TV channel that his forces had begun secret negotiations with Russia during the 11-day offensive that toppled the former government.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Syria was receiving currency shipments from Moscow as part of a deal signed with the Assad government.
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