Putin to Meet Al-Sharaa in Moscow Amid Strategic Russian Withdrawal from Qamishli Airport

The Kremlin announced that President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa this Wednesday in Moscow. The working visit aims to discuss the evolving situation in the Middle East and the future of bilateral relations. Since the fall of the Assad regime, Al-Sharaa’s administration has maintained a conciliatory tone toward Moscow, which is eager to secure its strategic naval and air bases in Tartus and Hmeimim.

On the ground, Russian forces began a significant withdrawal of troops and heavy equipment from Qamishli Airport in northeastern Syria on Tuesday, relocating them to the Hmeimim base. This move marks the end of a five-year Russian presence in the predominantly Kurdish region. The withdrawal follows weeks of military escalation between the new Syrian Army and the SDF, signaling a major strategic shift as Moscow consolidates its footprint in Syria's coastal strongholds.