(In a major shift for the Kremlin’s Middle East footprint, Russian forces have officially begun a phased withdrawal from the Qamishli Airport in northeastern Syria, ending a seven-year presence at the strategic hub.)
The evacuation, which began in earnest on Monday, January 26, 2026, saw Il-76MD transport aircraft loading heavy equipment, armored vehicles, and helicopters for relocation to the Khmeimim Air Base on the Mediterranean coast. Sources report that the final “elite contingent” was pulled out today as part of a coordinated plan with the new Syrian government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The withdrawal follows intense pressure from Damascus, which has argued that there is “nothing left for the Russians to do” in the north after government forces seized control of the region from the Kurdish-led SDF earlier this month. While Moscow will maintain its “vital assets”—the Tartus naval base and Khmeimim air base—the loss of Qamishli signals a significant rollback of Russian influence in the resource-rich northeast, a move reportedly carried out in coordination with both Syrian and U.S. stakeholders.
