Damascus, Syria – The Russian airbase at Hmeimim in Syria is currently sheltering approximately 9,000 people fleeing a surge of sectarian violence, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced on Thursday, as reported by Reuters.
Hmeimim remains one of two strategic military bases in Syria that Russia is striving to retain, despite the overthrow of its long-time ally, former president Bashar Al-Assad, by Syrian rebels in December.
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“They were seeking refuge, simply understanding that it was a matter of life and death,” Zakharova told reporters. She noted that the majority of those taking shelter at the base were women and children.
The ongoing sectarian violence has escalated tensions between Syria’s interim government security forces and fighters from Assad’s Alawite minority. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, hundreds of Alawite civilians have been killed in apparent retaliatory attacks following clashes with government forces. Interim President Ahmed Al-Sharaa has warned that these killings pose a serious threat to Syria’s national unity.
The fall of Assad, whom Moscow had supported for years during Syria’s civil war, has significantly weakened Russia’s strategic foothold in the Middle East. In response, Russia is working to establish diplomatic ties with the new Syrian leadership under Al-Sharaa, though the future of its military presence at Hmeimim and the Tartus naval facility remains uncertain.
Zakharova emphasized that Russia is taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of its citizens and military installations in Syria. She stated that Moscow is in close communication with Arab states, Turkiye, and Iran in an effort to facilitate long-term stability in the region. Expressing Russia’s deep concern over the recent violence, she added that Moscow expects those responsible to be held accountable.
As the crisis unfolds, the fate of thousands of displaced civilians and Russia’s role in Syria’s future remains in question.
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