Syrian opposition fighters have taken full control of Latakia province, home to Russia's Khmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base, according to the Kyiv Independent and Russian state news agency TASS on December 9.
Despite the shift in control, Russian sources report that opposition fighters have not entered or threatened the Russian military installations.
The claims remain unverified, but the development comes amid reports of Russia withdrawing assets from Syria.
Collapse of Assad’s Regime
The power shift follows the dramatic collapse of Bashar al-Assad's 24-year rule after opposition forces launched a lightning offensive, culminating in the capture of Damascus on December 8.
Assad and his family have since fled to Russia, where they have been granted asylum.
Russia has been a key ally of Assad. The Khmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base have served as strategic footholds for Moscow throughout the Syrian civil war, enabling operations in the Middle East and beyond.
Russian Evacuations Underway
Open-source intelligence suggests that Russian military transport planes have been arriving in Latakia, likely to facilitate the evacuation of personnel and equipment.
However, TASS reports that Russian military facilities in Latakia "are functioning normally" despite the province's takeover by opposition forces.
A Kremlin source told TASS that the fighters had deliberately avoided entering Russian military territories, focusing instead on consolidating control over the province.
The loss of Latakia province is a blow to Russian influence in Syria and raises concerns in Moscow over the future of its military presence in the region.
