Moscow, Russia – Russian and international media reports announced that Russia has resumed its military and civilian flights to Syria, after a hiatus of about six months.
This move was seen by observers as confirmation of Moscow’s commitment to
its strategic presence in the Middle East despite its preoccupation with the war in Ukraine.
According to data from Flightradar24, a website specializing in tracking air traffic,
Two Russian aircraft arrived at the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia province during the last week of October.
Among them are an Antonov 124 cargo plane and an Ilyushin 62 transport plane.
Russian media outlets quoted sources close to the Kremlin as saying that flights would resume.
This comes as part of a plan to boost logistical supplies to Russian bases in Syria.
In particular, the Hmeimim airbase and the Tartus naval port,
which represent two key pillars of the Russian military presence in the region.
The decision comes about a month after Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s visit to Moscow.
He discussed with President Vladimir Putin the files of security
and military cooperation, and the future of Russian bases in Syria.
Analysts believe that the resumption of Russian flights to Syria represents
an indication of renewed coordination between Moscow and Damascus.
Russia is seeking to reassert its regional influence after tensions in relations
between the two countries following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
So far, neither the Russian Ministry of Defense nor its Syrian counterpart
has issued any official comment regarding the nature or objectives of these flights.
But observers assert that it is part of a Russian strategy to maintain a permanent foothold in the Eastern Mediterranean.
