Russia significantly reduced its military footprint in Syria after the collapse of the Assad regime295 but continued to maintain troops at the Hmeimim air base and the Tartous naval base.296 At Qamishli airport, where Russian forces had been stationed since 2019,297 Russia reinforced its military presence towards the end of 2025298 but then fully withdrew its troops in late January 2026.299
- 295
New Arab (The), Exclusive: Russia reinforces Qamishli airport base amid Syrian govt advances against SDF, 23 January 2026, url
- 296
WSJ, Russia Resupplies Its Syria Air Base, Hanging On to a Strategic Foothold, 1 June 2026; UNN, The Russian Federation maintains troops, aviation, and ships in Syria despite claims of a reduced presence, 29 April 2026, url; Le Monde diplomatique, Syria’s new leaders keep Russia in play, December 2025, url
- 297
New Arab (The), Russia withdrawing troops from airport in northeast Syria, sources say, 26 January 2026, url
- 298
RUSI, Russia’s Enduring Grip on Syria, 11 November 2025, url
- 299
Al Jazeera, Al-Sharaa meets Putin as Russia seeks to secure military bases in Syria, 28 January 2026, url; New Arab (The), Russia withdrawing troops from airport in northeast Syria, sources say, 26 January 2026, url