Russia Relocates Troops from Damascus Amid Syrian Power Shift

Syrian opposition forces near Aleppo. Photo: gettyimages.com

Russia has withdrawn at least 400 troops from the Damascus area, transferring them to the Khmeimim air base, reports the Financial Times.

Kamal Lababidi, a political bureau member of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, revealed that the withdrawal was coordinated with Syria’s new authorities. These troops, previously stationed at the Syrian army’s Fourth Division headquarters in Qudsaya and the Russian embassy in Damascus, were transported in a convoy of nearly 100 vehicles, including armored personnel carriers, fuel tankers, and mobile medical units.

A video reviewed by FT confirms the relocation. Lababidi stated that the soldiers were flown from the Khmeimim base to Russia.

Ongoing negotiations at Damascus’ Four Seasons Hotel, now the rebels’ de facto headquarters, reportedly aim to arrange the evacuation of remaining Russian troops from other areas of Syria.

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