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On the night of 18 February, the Khmeimim airbase, where Russian troops are stationed, was attacked by unidentified drones. This was reported by Sabren News, an agency associated with pro-Iranian forces in Iraq. The operation of air defence systems was recorded, but Russian official sources have not yet commented on the incident.
Some Russian military correspondents blame the attack on the Sunni group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which has become one of the key forces after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. If the information is confirmed, this will be the first attack on the Khmeimim base since the change of power in Syria.
Earlier, Bloomberg reported that Russia is trying to maintain a limited military presence in Syria, even after the fall of Assad. The Kremlin is negotiating with the new government on the possibility of using the Hmeymim airbase and the naval base in Tartus. According to sources, in exchange for this, Russia may help in the fight against the Islamic State in the east of the country.
Last week, Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Ahmad al-Sharaa (Abu Muhammad al-Julani), whom the new Syrian government calls the “president of the transitional period”. After that, Moscow handed over to the new government the first batch of funds that the Assad regime had previously taken out of the country.
It is not yet clear whether the attack will change the Kremlin’s plans for a military presence in the region. The situation around Russian bases in Syria remains tense, and Moscow’s official response to the attack is expected in the near future.
