Russian forces have begun withdrawing from positions in northeastern Syria, an area still under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), after the group lost much of its territory in an offensive by government forces.
Associated Press reporters visited a base near the Qamishli airport on Tuesday, where they found SDF fighters securing the facility and said the Russians had begun withdrawing their equipment in recent days.
The rooms that had previously served as accommodation for the soldiers were mostly empty, with scattered items left behind, including exercise equipment, protein supplements and some clothing.
Russia is urgently withdrawing its forces from Syria, evacuating equipment and aircraft.
Units are leaving the base at Qamishli airport, while helicopters and fighter jets are being loaded onto transport planes and flown out of the country. pic.twitter.com/cCdvFQGmuR
— Saint Javelin (@saintjavelin) January 26, 2026
SDF fighter Ahmed Ali, stationed at the base, said Russian forces began evacuating their positions around the airport five or six days ago, hauling in equipment via cargo plane.
– We do not know whether the equipment was transferred to Russia or to the Hmeimim base – he said, referring to the main Russian base on the Syrian coast. “They still have a presence in Qamishli and are withdrawing gradually.”
Russia has not yet officially announced the withdrawal of its forces from Qamishli.
Moscow has built relations with the new central government in Damascus since December 2024, when former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in an opposition offensive led by current Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, although it was previously a close ally of al-Assad.
Russia’s military intervention ten years ago, marked by intense bombing in support of al-Assad, then turned the tide of the civil war and allowed him to stay in power. However, Russia did not oppose the opposition offensive at the end of 2024, but provided al-Assad with asylum after he fled the country.
Despite being on opposite sides during the war, the new authorities in Damascus took a pragmatic approach to relations with Moscow. Russia has maintained a presence in its air and naval bases on the Syrian coast.
President al-Sharaa is expected to visit Moscow on Wednesday and meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
(Vijesti.ba)
