QAMISHLI, Syria (AP) — Russian troops have begun withdrawing from positions in northeastern Syria, an area still controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which has lost much of its territory to a government offensive.
Associated Press reporters visited a base near Qamishli Airport on Tuesday and found it guarded by SDF fighters who said the Russians had begun moving equipment out in recent days.
The soldiers’ living quarters were largely empty, with items scattered including exercise equipment, protein powder and some clothing.
Ahmed Ali, a SDF fighter deployed at the facility, said Russian forces began evacuating positions around the airport five or six days ago, withdrawing equipment via a cargo plane.
“We don’t know whether its destination is Russia or Khmeimim Air Base, Russia’s main base on the Syrian coast,” he said. “They are still stationed in Qamishli and are gradually withdrawing.”
Russia has yet to make an official statement on withdrawing its troops from Qamishli.
Russia has forged ties with the new Syrian central government in Damascus since former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December 2024 in a rebel offensive led by current interim President Ahmed Salad, although Moscow is a close ally of Assad.
Moscow’s scorched-earth intervention in support of Assad a decade ago turned the tide of Syria’s civil war and allowed Assad to retain his throne. In late 2024, Russia made no attempt to counter the rebel offensive but provided asylum to Assad after he fled the country.
Despite being on opposite sides of the battle line during the civil war, Damascus’s new rulers have taken a pragmatic approach to relations with Moscow. Russia maintains a presence at air and naval bases on the Syrian coast.
Sala is expected to visit Moscow on Wednesday and meet with Putin.
Fighting broke out earlier this month after talks between the SDF and government forces collapsed on a deal to merge the forces. A ceasefire is now in place and largely maintained.
After the four-day truce expired on Saturday, both sides announced that they would extend the ceasefire for another 15 days.
The Syrian Defense Ministry said in a statement that the extension was in support of U.S. military operations to transfer alleged Islamic State militants held in prisons in northeastern Syria to Iraqi detention centers.
