Fall of Assad puts Russia’s military footprint in Syria at risk
The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has put the existence of key Russian military bases in Syria at risk, The Washington Post reports.
Main points of the article:
▫️ Russian military facilities in Syria include a naval port on the Mediterranean Sea for basing submarines and an airfield for projecting power across the Middle East and Africa.
▫️ However, after rebels overthrew Kremlin-backed President Bashar al-Assad, the future of these facilities became uncertain.
▫️ The key Russian bases are located along the Mediterranean coast: the naval base in Tartus and the Khmeimim airfield in Latakia governorate.
▫️ Losing Tartus would have a significant impact on the Russian navy, which aims to maintain a permanent presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.
▫️ The Khmeimim airbase served as a hub not only for Russian strikes against Syrian rebels but also for supporting mercenaries in Libya, the Central African Republic, and Sudan.
As a result of Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapsing, Russia risks losing key bases that it used to extend its influence across the Middle East and Africa. This highlights, once again, the Kremlin’s inability to sustain its influence in key regions and the limitations of its military power.
