Russian largely halts activities at Syria’s Hmeimim air base

HMEIMIM, Syria

Activity at Russia’s Hmeimim Air Base in Syria, which played a pivotal role in altering the trajectory of the civil war in late 2015, has reportedly come to a near standstill.

Following the summer of 2015, when the regime of Bashar al-Assad faced significant losses to opposition forces, Moscow responded to the regime’s request for support by deploying fighter jets to Hmeimim.

Using an air corridor extending through the Caspian Sea, Iran and Iraq, Russian forces finalized preparations at the base by late September 2015.

On the last day of that month, Russian jets launched the first airstrikes against opposition forces, establishing military dominance that helped the Assad regime regain control of vast swathes of territory in subsequent months.

Russian air forces, which had been Assad's primary guarantee of survival up to November 2024, coordinated with US air forces -- more active in eastern Syria -- to avoid potential conflicts and dangerous encounters in shared airspace.

Operations at base slow significantly

As clashes intensified in Syria after Nov. 27, the regime’s military rapidly disintegrated, losing control of key cities.

Russian jets from Hmeimim carried out limited airstrikes against opposition and anti-regime forces.

Amid the collapse of regime forces and Iranian-backed militias, global attention focused on whether Russia would intensify its involvement.

Airstrikes appeared, however, to be far fewer compared to previous years. Recent images of the Hmeimim base revealed inactivity on its vast runways and hangars, raising questions about Russia’s future military role in the region.

Russia in contact with emerging Syrian leadership

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed the situation on Dec. 16 and said Russia must engage with those who control the situation on the ground, as it has personnel and facilities in the region.

Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, emphasized ongoing communication with all political factions in Syria, underscoring the priority of ensuring the safety of Russian personnel and military-political assets.

The security of Russian citizens, military components and institutions in Syria is the top priority, said Zakharova, reiterating the importance of adherence to international legal norms, including the Vienna Conventions.

She urged a comprehensive political process in Syria under the framework of UN Security Council resolutions.

Putin: Iranian-backed forces evacuated via Hmeimim

Russian President Vladimir Putin disclosed during an annual year-end news conference that Iran previously requested Russian assistance in deploying troops to Syria.

Now, he said, Tehran had asked for Russian help to withdraw the forces.

“We facilitated the evacuation of 4,000 pro-Iranian fighters from Syria to Tehran using the Hmeimim Air Base,” said Putin, adding that some Iranian-backed groups were relocated to Lebanon and Iraq without engaging in further conflict.

The developments highlight a shift in Russia’s military and diplomatic approach in Syria amid a rapidly changing landscape.

*Writing by Alperen Aktas in Istanbul