Russia asks Turkiye for help in evacuating its soldiers from Syria

Media reports say Russia is seeking Turkiye’s support for safe evacuation of its troops from SyriaRussian media outlets cited CNN Turk as reporting that Russia has asked Turkiye for support in ensuring the safe evacuation of its troops from Syria.According to The Moscow Times, the broadcaster, citing anonymous sources, said that Russia would withdraw ground troops, but that the request did not extend to its Tartus naval facility or Hmeimim airbase.The Russian soldiers will reportedly be sent to areas under Turkiye control and then airlifted to Russia.Russian troops used the Tartus naval facility and the Hmeimim airbase in 2015 to help Moscow’s ally, the now-toppled president Bashar al-Assad, crush the Syrian opposition and Islamic State (IS) terrorists.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reportedly said yesterday that Moscow views the security of the bases as “very important.”  “We’re doing everything possible and necessary to get in touch with those who can provide security.  And our military are also taking precautionary measures,” he said.According to The Moscow Times, Peskov told reporters it was “premature” to discuss the future of Tartus and Hmeimim, saying they are “subject for discussion with whoever is going to be in power in Syria.”He reportedly added that Russia was in talks with Turkiye, an ally of the rebel forces that ousted Assad after a two-week advance.On Sunday, Russian news agencies cited anonymous sources saying that the rebels who ousted Assad “guaranteed the security of Russian army bases and diplomatic institutions in Syria’s territory.”