Russia potentially losing bases in Syria would significantly affect Russia's ability to operate in Africa, said the ISW think tank.

While the main opposition forces have seized Damascus, the rest of Syria is under the control of numerous other factions.

1 A memorial event for Russian pilot Roman Filipov at the Hmeimim air base near Latakia, Syria, in February 2023. 2 A satellite view of Russia’s naval facility in Tartus, on Syria’s ...

Russia's warships are no longer at its base in Tartus, Syria — a critical facility for Moscow. Satellite imagery shows several warships docked there earlier this month, but they were gone by Monday.

Russia's presence with Syria dates back to Soviet relations with Assad's father, and resulted in a critical asset for Moscow in 1971: naval access to the deep-water Mediterranean port at Tartus.

along the Western portion of the country bordering Lebanon and the port cities of Litakia and Tartus, through to the capital, Damascus. The cities of Homs and Hama, two of Syria's largest by ...