As Syrian Rebels Advance, Russian Navy Leaves Port of Tartus
They have been in Tartus since 1971.
Although it has been subject to occasional terrorist attacks since the Syrian civil war began in 2014, Tartus has been a largely peaceful albeit shabby seaside town, deep in an area with a majority Alawi Shi’ite population from which President Bashar Al Assad draws his support. Tartus has a secular and liberal atmosphere, and for 50 years the Russians have made themselves at home, enjoying what the port city has to offer - safely at some distance from the war their colleagues are fighting against Ukraine.
The successful offensive mounted by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the terrorist organization which used to be known as the Al-Nusra Front, has changed all this. HTS so far has captured Aleppo to the northeast and Hama 50 miles to the east, but it would be a stretch to imagine HTS could fight their way over the mountains defended by local Alawi militia to get to Tartus.
https://maritime-executive.com/article/as-syrian-rebel-advance-russian-navy-leaves-port-of-tartus
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