Russia pulls warships from Syria after rebels take Damascus – HUR

This was reported by Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (known by its Ukrainian accronym HUR).

In Damascus, now held by opposition forces, key government institutions and President Bashar Assad’s residence remain.

HUR stated that losing Damascus, along with the opposition’s offensive in Latakia, Hama, and Tartus, forced the Russian army to evacuate its warships.

On December 8, the frigate Admiral Grigorovich from the Black Sea Fleet and the cargo ship Engineer Trubin from the Northern Fleet left the Tartus base.

Additionally, Russian forces are relocating remaining weapons and military equipment from the Khmeimim air base.

“Following the capture of Damascus, opposition forces are advancing to the coast. Losing the Tartus and Khmeimim bases would seal the Kremlin’s defeat in the Middle East,” HUR stated.

What’s happening in Syria

A large-scale offensive by Syrian opposition forces is underway. On November 27, the opposition launched an attack and, within two days, captured 56 settlements in Aleppo and Idlib provinces, reaching Aleppo’s outskirts.

On November 30, Russian airstrikes hit Aleppo for the first time since 2016, targeting areas controlled by Syrian rebels. That same day, Russia pledged more military support to the Assad regime.

Reuters reported that rebels seized the city of Maarat al-Numan in Idlib province, taking control of the entire region.

Amid growing losses and panic, Russia dismissed its Syria troop commander, Sergei Kisel. Rebel forces are advancing in southern Syria, with urban battles erupting in Hama, Homs, and Suwayda.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has blamed Russia and Iran for worsening the security situation in Syria.

On December 4, U.S. forces launched a self-defense strike on weapons systems in eastern Syria. On December 5, Syrian rebels entered the key city of Hama, forcing Assad’s forces to withdraw. A day later, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry advised citizens against traveling to Syria.

By December 6, rebels led by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) were approaching Homs, Syria’s third-largest city. Meanwhile, a U.S.-backed alliance led by Syrian Kurds captured Deir ez-Zor, a key city near the Iraq border.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to assist Assad in shaping Syria’s future, but Assad rejected the offer.

On December 7, opposition forces declared control of Daraa in the southwest and announced the fall of Assad’s government after entering Damascus. Reports claim Assad fled the country.

There’s a high likelihood that President Bashar Assad died in a plane crash on December 8 while fleeing. Russia, however, claims he left voluntarily.