Russia delivered MiG-29 fighter jets to Syria to bolster its military influence
A new Russian move aimed at strengthening its military presence in Syria, by delivering two MiG-29 fighter jets to the new Syrian administration, in an operation that was said to have been carried out with Turkish support and coordination.
The two fighter jets arrived at the Hmeimim airbase near the city of Latakia, as recent satellite images, as well as data circulated within open-source intelligence projects (OSINT) and cross-referenced regional reports.
According to reports, Türkiye played a role in the handover, as Moscow seeks to consolidate its influence after the political change.
The delivery was carried out with the support and coordination of the Turkish side, at a time when Moscow is working hard to re-establish its military influence inside Syria, after the major political transformations that the country witnessed following the fall of Bashar al Assad’s regime at the end of 2014.
Moscow views its presence in Syria as essential for maintaining its strategic access to the Mediterranean Sea, as the Russian bases in Syria serve as a vital hub for supporting Russian military and logistical operations in Africa.
The report explained that Russia is currently working to consolidate its long-term presence in Syria, relying mainly on the Hmeimim air base and the Tartus naval base, which, according to analysts, represent the most important Russian military centers outside the borders of the former Soviet Union.
In a significant development, the report discussed initial indications of a Russian military redeployment in southern Syria, particularly near the Quneitra and Golan Heights regions.
This move comes as part of new understandings with Damascus, which may include the establishment of field observation posts and the deployment of Russian air defense systems near the border with Israel.
Meanwhile, Moscow is currently attempting to rebuild a significant portion of its former military influence network in Syria, but in a format entirely different from that of the war years.
According to the report, the new Russian vision is based on a smaller, but more stable and fortified presence, both politically and militarily.
