ICAD Satellite images reveal the disappearance of Russian equipment from Qamishli airport north east of Syria without an official announcement!

The ICAD platform team monitored the near-complete disappearance of Russian military equipment from the base of Qamishli airport in northeastern Syria, according to recent satellite images, which included the removal of radars, air defense systems and other military equipment, in a remarkable shift that wasn’t officially announced by Moscow.

In a video posted on Wednesday on X, the ICAD platform explained that this change wasn’t present in previous photos taken over the past years, which indicates a radical shift in the nature of the Russian military presence at the airport, without providing any official explanation for the background of this withdrawal or its reasons.

The Qamishli airport witnessed remarkable activity by Russian forces during 2025, as on August 11 last year, Russian reinforcements that included the transfer of equipment and soldiers at night, the development of the base’s infrastructure, including radar and aircraft sites, in addition to raising the Russian flag over the airport building.

Russian cargo planes also regularly landed in Qamishli from the Hmeimim base, often during the night or dawn hours, to transport logistical and military equipment, while the number of Russian soldiers at the base was estimated at about 200.

ICAD reported in a previous report published on July 12 that the airport had seen at least 18 Russian flights in three months, using AN-26 and AN-72 light cargo planes, often carrying personnel and military equipment.

Air activity also showed a marked increase in the flight of a Russian SU35S fighter, with the pace of cargo flights escalating during March and April, peaking in May, which ICAD considered an indication of systematic moves to reposition rather than a complete withdrawal.

Despite previous reports that ruled out Russia’s intention to withdraw due to the lack of heavy cargo planes or preparations to evacuate the base, the latest satellite images reflect a new reality, which isn’t yet clear whether it indicates a final withdrawal or a strategic repositioning of Russian forces and equipment in northeastern Syria.