Russian transport aircraft spotted in Syria and large military columns amid withdrawal

Large numbers of Russian transport aircraft have been spotted at the Khmeimim air base, while columns of Russian military vehicles have been filmed near Syria's coast amid what appears to be a withdrawal from Syria. 

Video footage on social media on Friday showed columns of Russian armoured vehicles and trunks near Syria's coast. MEE could not immediately verify the videos. 

But analysts said it appeared Russia was evacuating troops, including packing up an S-400 air defence battery. 

"While tactical aviation is still there, RF appears to be consolidating at Khmeimim and Tartus. In short, a withdrawal is under way," Michael Kofman, a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, wrote on X.