Russians begin withdrawal from airbase near Latakia

Russia appears to be dismantling and removing military equipment from an airbase in Syria, according to satellite imagery, Reuters reports. A Syrian security official near the Russian airbase in Latakia stated that a Russian cargo plane departed for Libya on Saturday.

Satellite images captured by Maxar Technologies on Dec. 13 show what appear to be at least two Antonov AN-124s, among the largest cargo planes in the world, parked at the Hmeimim airbase in coastal Latakia province.

"Two heavy transport An-124 aircraft are present on the airfield, both with their nose cones open and ready to load equipment or cargo," Maxar detailed in its report. "Nearby, a Ka-52 attack helicopter is being dismantled, likely in preparation for transport, while components of an S-400 air defense unit are also being prepared for removal from their previous deployment site at the airbase."

However, Russia's naval base in Tartus, the country's sole repair and resupply hub in the Mediterranean, "remains largely unchanged since our images from December 10, with two frigates still observed off the coast of Tartus," the report concluded.