Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sheikh Qassem: Our supporters make up more than half of Lebanon's population, and all of these people are united under the banner of protecting Lebanon, its Resistance, its people, and its integrity.
Sheikh Qassem: There will be no phased handing in of our arms. [The Israelis] must first enact the agreement before we start talking about a defensive strategy.
Sheikh Qassem: Be brave in the face of foreign pressures, and we will be by your side in this stance.
Sheikh Qassem: Stripping us of our arms is like stripping us of our very soul, and this will prompt us to show them our might.
Sheikh Qassem: We will not abandon our arms, for they gave us dignity; we will not abandon our arms, for they protect us against our enemy.
Sheikh Qassem: The US efforts we are seeing are aimed at sabotaging Lebanon and constitute a call for sedition.
Sheikh Qassem: If you truly want to establish sovereignty and work for Lebanon’s interests, then stop the aggression.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States, which is meddling in Lebanon, is not trustworthy but rather poses a danger to it.
Sheikh Qassem: The United States is preventing the weapons that protect the homeland.
Sheikh Qassem: The government’s latest decision [on the disarmament of the Resistance] is non-charter-based, and if the government continues down this path, it is not faithful to Lebanon’s sovereignty.

US, Western officials say Russia initiated withdrawal from Syria

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 Dec 2024 23:41
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Western officials have told CNN that Russia has begun withdrawing its forces from Syria after the new regime forces took power in the country.

Listen
  • x
  • A Russian helicopter flies over the Hmeimim Air Base, a Syrian airbase currently operated by Russia, located southeast of the city of Latakia in the town of Hmeimim, Syria, on Monday, December 16, 2024 (AP)
    A Russian helicopter flies over the Hmeimim Air Base, a Syrian airbase currently operated by Russia, located southeast of the city of Latakia in the town of Hmeimim, Syria, on Monday, December 16, 2024. (AP)

Russia has initiated a significant withdrawal of troops and military equipment from Syria following the removal of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, US and Western intelligence sources told CNN. The withdrawal, described as large-scale, began last week, though the sources are uncertain whether it is permanent.

The move coincides with reports that Russian officials are exploring negotiations with Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which leads the new regime forces, to retain access to key military facilities, including the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia and the Tartus naval port, both critical for Russia's regional military presence.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov revealed on Thursday that the contacts with HTS were "constructive." He stated that Moscow's aim was to ensure that HTS fulfills its commitments to maintain order, prevent any "excesses," and guarantee the safety of diplomats and foreign nationals.

The deputy foreign minister also underscored Russia's determination to retain its military presence in Syria. The Tartus naval base and the Hmeimim Air Base, near Latakia, remain pivotal to Moscow's efforts against international terrorism, he said.

"The bases are still there, at the request of the Syrians, with the aim of combating terrorists from the Islamic State. No other decisions have been made at this time," Bogdanov noted.

Related News

Syria condemns Israeli forces' incursion into Damascus countryside

Druze spiritual leader urges separate region to protect Syrian Druze

Pursuit of alternatives

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed in a recent briefing that Russia had engaged in dialogue with the new regime forces in Damascus. "We must maintain contact with those who are controlling the situation on the ground because, as I mentioned, we have facilities and personnel there," Peskov said.

US officials also revealed that Russia had started relocating naval assets from Syria to Libya. Moscow is reportedly pressuring Libyan National Army commander Khalifa Haftar to secure a port in Benghazi. Losing access to Tartus in Syria would leave Russia without a Mediterranean base, limiting its ability to maintain power and transport materials between Russia and Africa.

Satellite images from Maxar, reported by CNN, show preparations for withdrawal at Russia's Hmeimim airbase. Heavy transport planes, disassembled attack helicopters, and components of S-400 air defense systems were seen being packed for transport.

Withdrawal or sanctions

In a related context, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp called earlier today for Russia's military withdrawal from Syria as a key condition for lifting European Union sanctions on HTS.

Speaking ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting, Veldkamp stressed the need to tie sanctions relief to an inclusive political transition and the removal of Russian forces.

"I think it's too early to lift those sanctions," Veldkamp said. "We really would like to condition that on an inclusive political transition."

He added, "It's also important to look at conditionality regarding the Russian military bases in Syria. We want the Russians out."

  • Russia
  • Syria
  • United States
  • Bashar al-Assad

Most Read

Tom Artiom Alexandrovich, executive director of the defense division of the Israeli National Cyber Directorate, undated (Social media)

Israeli-born US prosecutor drops Israeli officer child sex crime

  • Politics
  • 19 Aug 2025
Almost instantly after the Helsinki Accords were signed, organisations sprouted to document purported violations, whose findings were fed to overseas embassies for international amplification. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Zeinab el-Hajj)

How ‘Human Rights’ became a Western weapon

  • Opinion
  • 23 Aug 2025
Israeli soldiers stand on the top of armoured vehicles parked on an area near the Israeli-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025 (AP)

Palestinian fighters target Israeli soldiers, vehicles in Gaza

  • Politics
  • 21 Aug 2025
Launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories. (YAF military media)

Yemeni Forces announce firing hypersonic missile at Al-Lydd Airport

  • Politics
  • 22 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference at the Prime minister's office in al-Quds, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu deliberately derailing truce with Gaza occupation: Hamas

Irish President Michael Higgins arrives to deliver his speech during a 42nd World Food Day celebration at FAO headquarters in Rome, on Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Politics

Irish president renews call for UN military intervention in Gaza

US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the US Embassy in Aukar, northern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 21, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US envoy, Netanyahu discuss restraining attacks on Lebanon, withdrawal

Smoke billows following Israeli airstrikes in multiple areas in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ansar Allah vow sustained Gaza support despite Israeli strikes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS