Russia Accuses the U.S. and the U.K. of Recruiting Agents to Target Its Bases in Syria

The Russian news agency reported on Saturday that Russian intelligence accused American and British agents of trying to provoke attacks on Russian military bases in Syria, aiming to compel Moscow to vacate these bases.

• 66 Mass Graves… Witnesses Reveal Details of the “Terror Machine” in Syria

• Armed factions have become a key player in the Syrian landscape – Details

Since the fall of the Baath regime on the 8th of this month, with opposition forces entering the capital Damascus, Russian forces’ influence has been confined to two bases on Syria’s coast, under Western pressure to limit Russian presence in the Middle East and Mediterranean, near Europe’s shores.

Moscow, an ally of the al-Assad regime for decades, is now attempting to reach an agreement with the opposition to ensure the safety of its two strategically significant military bases. Meanwhile, the European Union has sent a message to Syria’s new leaders, stating that there will be no lifting of sanctions or recognition of the new authorities without addressing Russian influence.

• Bashar Al-Assad: Details of the Final Days in Syria

• More than 7,000 Syrians in Jordan return to their country after al-Assad’s fall

Days after the Syrian president fled to Moscow, Russian cargo planes left an airbase in Latakia for Libya, amid reports that Moscow was seeking to reduce its military presence and transfer unnecessary equipment.

Satellite images also showed Russian naval ships departing from Moscow’s base in Tartus.

Russia has a major airbase in the coastal city of Latakia, known as “Hmeimim,” and naval facilities in Tartus, home to Moscow’s only repair and resupply center in the Mediterranean. These facilities also serve as a transit point for transporting military contractors to Africa.

• Al-Julani Rewards Turkey by granting it Priority in Syria’s Reconstruction

• Transfer of Armed Elements from Syria to Libya… A New Muslim Brotherhood Plan

The two bases are essential infrastructure for maintaining Moscow’s influence in the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Africa. However, Western powers, embroiled in a conflict with Moscow over the war in Ukraine, are striving to curb Russian influence in this strategic region.

The Tartus base, established in 1971 under an agreement between former President Hafez al-Assad and the Soviet Union, remains Moscow’s only permanent Mediterranean port. This facility plays a key role in refueling and repairing Russian ships, allowing them to stay in the Mediterranean without crossing Turkish straits to reach Kremlin bases in the Black Sea.

• U.S. Warnings of an “Imminent” Turkish Operation in Northern Syria

• Moscow Surrounds Its Presence in Syria with a “Shield of Mystery”

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, many Russian military installations were closed. However, Moscow retained its naval base in Tartus, albeit scaled down in size and capabilities.

In 2010, with President Vladimir Putin’s more ambitious policies, Russia increased military spending to modernize its army and began upgrades to allow Tartus to host larger ships.

In 2015, Russia escalated its involvement by deploying its army and the Wagner Group to support al-Assad’s regime. By the end of that year, Russian media reported the presence of 1,700 troops at Tartus, although details were sparse. The current number of personnel at these facilities remains unknown, as Russia’s Ministry of Defense does not provide specific data on its deployment in Syria.

•  “Al-Joulani’s Plans”: Abolishing Mandatory Military Service and Undermining Syrian Kurds

• Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance: Obstacles to Syrians Returning Home

• Decoys and Fake Helicopters: New Details Emerge About al-Assad’s Escape from Syria