Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

Russian presence in Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow on October 15, 2025. (Alexander Zemlianichenko / POOL / AFP)
October 16, 2025, 10:01 am
Russia postpones its Arab summit, in sign of declining Mideast influence
Putin cites Egypt talks on Gaza as reason for pushing back Moscow confab, but report says Saudi, UAE, Egyptian leaders had never confirmed they’d attend the event
By ToI Staff
Russian army armored vehicles drive near the Hmeimim Air Base, a Syrian airbase currently operated by Russia, located southeast of the city of Latakia in the town of Hmeimim, Syria, December 16, 2024. (AP/Leo Correa)
December 16, 2024, 11:52 pm
Russia still has a military presence in post-Assad Syria — for now
After years of backing now-toppled regime, Moscow is pulling back from some areas of Syria, but still has troops at primary base in Latakia, saying it is in talks with new leaders
By ABBY SEWELL
In this image from video released by the US Air Force, a Russian fighter jet flies close to a US drone over Syria, July 23, 2023. (US Air Force via AP)
July 25, 2023, 10:07 pm
Russian fighter jet fires at US drone flying over Syria
Altercation follows incident last week in which a Russian fighter jet flew close to US surveillance plane with crew inside
By Lolita C. Baldor and TARA COPP
Russian troops in the Syrian district of Daraa al-Balad in Syria's southern province of Daraa, on September 1, 2021. (Sam HARIRI / AFP)
May 8, 2022, 11:01 pm
Russia said to pull troops from Syria to bolster forces in Ukraine
In worrying development for Israel, now-abandoned bases reportedly transferred to IRGC and Hezbollah; Moscow has been main force in Syria preventing Iranian expansion
By ToI Staff
A Syrian anti-aircraft missile is fired near Damascus during an alleged Israeli airstrike on February 9, 2022. An errant anti-aircraft missile exploded over northern Israel. (SANA)
April 17, 2022, 10:58 am
Russia claims Syria intercepted Israeli missile in attack near Damascus
No confirmation of assertion in state media by senior Russian military official, in comments made the same day Moscow lashed out at Israel over its statements on Ukraine invasion
By ToI Staff
A MiG-31 fighter jet of the Russian air force carrying a Kinzhal hypersonic cruise missile is parked at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria, February 15, 2022. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
February 15, 2022, 11:03 pm
Russia sends warplanes, hypersonic missiles to Syria for major naval drills
Deployment includes nuclear-capable bombers, fighter jets carrying state-of-the-art projectiles, in apparent showcase of Russian ability to counter US forces in region
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
Illustrative: An El Al plane lands at Ben Gurion Airport, on October 13, 2021. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
January 31, 2022, 10:39 pm
Russian jammer in Syria said to cause interference with flights to Israel
Pilot says spoofing, which tricks plane’s GPS into thinking it is elsewhere, is affecting civilian flights over Mediterranean; Israel complained publicly of issue in 2019
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: Missiles in the sky near the international airport, in Damascus, Syria, on January 21, 2019. (SANA, Syria's official news agency, via AP/ FIle)
January 31, 2022, 5:39 am
Israeli airstrikes said to hit Hezbollah targets near Damascus
Strikes are first since Russia publicly carried out joint air-defense patrols with Syrian air force; state TV says attack caused ‘material damage’
By ToI Staff and Judah Ari Gross
In this photo released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on June 25, 2021, a pair of the Russian air force's Tu-22M3 bombers taxi at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
January 24, 2022, 10:34 pm
Israel said holding talks with Russia over Syria standoff, may limit air campaign
Moscow reportedly announces joint jet patrols with Damascus will become regular occurrence; report claims Israeli officials struggling to understand reason for sudden policy change
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Illustrative: A Russian MiG-31 fighter jet carrying a Kinzhal missile takes off from the Hemeimeem air base in Syria on June 25, 2021. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
January 24, 2022, 3:12 pm
Russia said conducting joint patrols of Syrian border airspace, including over Golan
As tensions mount between Putin and world powers over Ukraine, Moscow appears to make a statement regarding its presence in the Middle East
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, listens to Syrian President Bashar Assad during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, September 13, 2021. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
September 14, 2021, 9:50 am
Putin hosts Syria’s Assad for talks on capturing rebel areas
Syrian state TV says the two discuss continued military operations in country’s long civil war, amid recent reports of Russian airstrikes on Idlib
By Albert Aji
In this photo taken from a video provided on May 25, 2021, by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, crew members leave a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber upon its landing at Hemeimeem air base in Syria. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
May 25, 2021, 10:12 pm
Russia deploys 3 nuclear-capable bombers to Syria
Moscow’s Defense Ministry says Tu-22M3 planes will take part in training missions; deployment marks first time since Cold War that Russia has stationed heavy bombers in Mideast
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
Russian military police take part in a joint Turkish-Russian army patrol near the town of Darbasiyah in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province, along the Syria-Turkey border, November 11, 2019. (Delil Souleiman/AFP)
November 14, 2019, 5:01 pm
Russia bolsters new Syria base on Turkish border
Helicopters moved to airport in northeastern city of Qamishli as Russian military grows its presence in area after US withdrawal
By AFP
Destruction at the entrance of a hospital in the village of Kafr Nabl, south of the jihadist-held Syrian province of Idlib, May 5, 2019, reportedly hit by Russian airstrikes. (OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP)
May 7, 2019, 9:16 am
Fighting kills 43 in Syria’s northwest, monitor says
Government forces backed by Russian air power push forward in areas in northwest Syria still controlled by jihadists
By AFP
A US soldier sits on an armored vehicle at a newly installed position in Manbij, north Syria, April 4, 2018. (Hussein Malla/AP)
October 16, 2018, 9:48 pm
US said planning targeted economic sanctions to push Iran out of Syria
New Trump administration strategy will deny reconstruction aid to areas hosting Tehran’s forces, sanction Russian and Iranian companies delivering aid, TV report says
By ToI Staff
Load More

Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community

Sign in or Register

Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Sign in or Register
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.