Syrian rebels take full control of Latakia governorate, home to Russian military bases

Syrian rebel groups have seized full control of the Latakia governorate, home to Russian military bases, a source told the Russian state news agency TASS.

“Since yesterday, the opposition has maintained full control of the Latakia governorate, including the cities of Tartus and Jableh. Opposition forces have not entered, nor do they intend to enter, the territory of the Russian military bases, which are operating as usual,” the source said.

For years, Russia has provided critical support to Bashar al-Assad’s government, including military aid. It established the Khmeimim Air Base and the Tartus naval base as key strategic strongholds in Syria. Following the collapse of Assad’s regime, sources, including Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, reported that Russian forces had begun evacuating ships from the Tartus base and airlifting weapons and equipment from the Khmeimim base.

As of the morning of December 9, Russian officials had not confirmed the withdrawal of their forces from these bases.