Russia evacuates its diplomats from Syria, including Belarus, North Korea envoys

Russia has carried out the evacuation of its diplomats from Syria, including representatives from Belarus and North Korea, amid growing tensions in the region.

According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all involved diplomats were successfully airlifted out of the country, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The evacuation flight departed from a military base in Latakia, a coastal city in northwestern Syria, which has been a key location for Russian military operations during the ongoing conflict.

It is worth noting that Russian forces continue to operate at Khmeimim Air Base in Syria's Latakia province, despite the recent collapse of the Bashar Assad regime. Following the fall of the Baath regime, Russia has been relocating its troops from various Syrian cities, including Damascus and Homs, to the base.

On December 16, Russian military vehicles were observed entering the base, while a cargo plane landed as surveillance balloons gathered intelligence and helicopters patrolled the area.

Khmeimim Air Base remains strategically significant, housing airstrips, air defence systems, and other crucial military equipment. Despite the shifting political landscape, the Russian Embassy in Damascus continues to function, maintaining a presence in the war-torn country.

Syria has been locked in a brutal civil war since early 2011, when Assad's regime responded to pro-democracy protests with violent repression. Over the years, the conflict has displaced more than 5 million civilians.

On December 8, Assad, who ruled Syria with an iron grip for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia after anti-regime forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), swiftly seized control of Damascus. This marked the culmination of a rapid offensive in which key cities across Syria fell within two weeks.

By Aghakazim Guliyev