Syria: Russia Seemingly Drawing Down Forces

Russia appears to be withdrawing some of its Syria-based forces, Orda reports, citing FT.

Satellite photography and a Ukrainian intelligence assessment allude to this.

Images seem to indicate that the Russian military presence is being reduced: there has been an increase in ground vehicles at the Hmeimim air base, the arrival of several large transport aircraft, and Russian air-defense systems being disassembled.

Meanwhile, two Russian vessels based at the naval base at Tartus are currently stationed outside it. Such a withdrawal may prove to be slower, though.

At the same time, Michael Kofman, a Senior Fellow at Carnegie Endowment specializing in defense analysis focusing on the Russian and Ukrainian militaries, cautions that only time will tell whether this is a signal of a total withdrawal.