"There's no reason for Russian troop presence in Syria" - Syria's new transitional government

The Spokesperson for the political department of Syria’s new transitional government has called on Russia to reconsider its presence in the country now that their ally; President Bashar al-Assad, has been overthrown.

A convoy of Russian military vehicles was spotted traveling from the coastal city of Latakia, and were headed southward towards the city of Tartus.

Russia operates two military bases in Syria: The Khmeimim Air Base near the port city of Latakia and the Tartus naval base on the Mediterranean coast. They are considered among the Kremlin’s most strategically important military outposts.

The Tartus site is particularly critical, providing Russia with its only direct access to the Mediterranean Sea and a base to conduct naval exercises, station warships and even host nuclear submarines.

Western analysts and intelligence say the Kremlin is engaging in a large-scale withdrawal from Syria, though Moscow has yet to confirm.

Obeida Arnaout, the spokesman for Syria’s new transitional government appointed by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group responsible for Assad’s downfall, says Russia’s recent movement in Syria has been ambiguous.

He stresses that their decision to remove navy ships from ports and move fleets of military vehicles from bases does not clearly indicate whether the Kremlin is indeed withdrawing, or if this is part of their regular movements.

“I think that Russia should reconsider its presence on Syrian territory as well as its interests,” he said.

“Their interests were linked to the criminal Assad Regime. They can reconsider and take the initiatives to reach out to the new administration to show that they have no animosity with the Syrian people, and that the era of Assad regime is finally over,” Arnaout