Russia has set up a new helicopter base at an airport in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli. The Russian Defence Ministry’s Zvezda TV channel showed the base was established by U.S .forces. They left the site after forces withdrawal from northern Syria according to President Donald Trump’s order. The video at Russian TV channel shows some U.S. equipment left in campus territory, like medical kits, electric power generators, conditioning systems, beds etc.
The first unit deployed consists of three helicopters, including a Mi-8 military transport helicopter, Mi-35 helicopter, 2 military trucks and an APC. But , no doubt, more will follow. Russian command considers, that this move is designed to increase Moscow’s control over the events on the ground in the region.
There is a high probability that the new base would be permanent. The deployment of mobile Pantsir surface-to-air missile systems to protect the site speak to that fact. Moscow is seeking greater control over the developments near the Turkish border where Russian and Turkish forces carry out joint patrols.
This could come in hand for Russian operations east of the Euphrates if and when the U.S. withdraws completely from Syria. The deployment has a significant logistic meaning, because Russians begin to control Qamishli city airport. Strategically this control enables the Kremlin to conduct military operation in a wider region, using its bases in Armenia, Syria, Naval groups in Black and Caspian Seas, offering a chance to increase presence in Iraq and interoperability with Iran.
The base deployment is a reason why Moscow might be exaggerating the importance of its decision to establish a more formal presence here. Now there are evidences of creating Russian A2/AD zone with prospects of enlarging beyond Syrian borders. These are very dangerous signs of shaping threats to the U.S. and NATO interests in the region and creation of powerful and operable coalition of Syria, Iran, Lebanon, under Russian leadership. Russia has two permanent military facilities in Syria, an air base in Latakia province used for air strikes against forces opposing President Bashar al-Assad, a naval facility at Tartus in the Mediterranean and a naval group in the Caspian Sea.
