INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
There are no signs that Russia is withdrawing military assets from its main air and marine bases in Syria after the topple of Moscow ally
Bashar al-Assad by Islamist-led rebels, the Financial Timesreported Wednesday, mentioning satellite imagery and professional commentary.If
an evacuation was occurring, we would understand, Dara Massicot, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, was
estimated as saying.Russia is reportedly pulling back from smaller sized outposts in Syria while keeping an existence at the Tartus marine
center and the Hmeimim air base, according to FT
CNN Turk reported Sunday that Russian troops had requested Turkeys support for their safe exit from areas that do not consist of Tartus or
Hmeimim.Satellite images and transponder traffic revealed heavy-lift aircraft arriving and leaving Hmeimim over the past week, however
experts priced estimate by feet said their tempo is not constant with a rushed departure.Similarly, feet said no ships that would enable a
maritime evacuation of devices or workers were seen arriving in Tartus
Meanwhile, it reported that the five vessels stationed there were holding positions about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) offshore outside the
range of mortar fire.The Russians dont want them to get hit, so they pull them out to loiter at sea, stated Massicot.Losing Tartus and
Hmeimim would cost Russia both a permanent existence in the Mediterranean and a stop-off point for operations in Africa, where Moscow has
military and financial interests.The Kremlin has stated the future of both bases was subject to discussions with Syrias new management after
Russian news agencies cited anonymous sources stating that the rebels had actually guaranteed their security.
