Russia cargo plane departs Syria for Libya

The portrait of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin hangs next to an entrance to a building, reportedly used by the Russian Army, in the in the Syrian town of Al-Bassah in the Latakia province on December 12, 2024. [AAREF WATAD / AFP/ Getty Images]

A Russian cargo plane departed from Russia’s air base in the Syrian port city of Latakia heading for Libya on Saturday, a Syrian security official stationed outside the facility said.

The official told Reuters that additional Russian departures from the Hmeimim Air Base in Syria are expected in the coming days.

Increased activity has been observed at the air base throughout the day. In addition to the departing cargo plane, an Ilyushin II-76 cargo plane and an Alligator helicopter were seen landing at the base.

Helicopters were also seen flying within the base, and a SU-34 jet landed for refuelling. A Zeppelin hovered overhead, and two trucks carrying Russian flags were seen travelling within the base.

On Friday, satellite images showed Russia moving military equipment at Hmeimim Air Base, with two Antonov AN-124 cargo planes visible.

Russia, a longstanding ally of Assad, granted the ousted Syrian leader asylum last weekend after helping him to flee his country as the rebels approached Damascus.

Moscow has said it hopes to maintain its two bases in Syria – the Hmeimim Air Base in Latakia and a naval base in Tartus – in order to keep up efforts against what it called international terrorism.

Read: Russia forces withdraw from Syria’s Qamishli airport

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