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Khmeimim Air Base

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Hmeymim Air Base
(Latakia Air Base)
Авиабаза «Хмеймим»
قَاعِدَةُ حُمَيْمِيمِ الْجَوِّيَّةِ
Latakia International Airport
Near Hmeimim in Syria
Satellite imagery of Khmeimim air base
A Russian Su-24 bomber at Khmeimim Air Base
Khmeimim Air Base is located in Syria
Khmeimim Air Base
Khmeimim Air Base
Position in Syria
Coordinates35°24′42″N 35°56′42″E / 35.41167°N 35.94500°E / 35.41167; 35.94500
Site information
Owner Russian Armed Forces
Site history
Built2015 (2015)
In use2015–present
Airfield information
Elevation48 metres (157 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
17R/35L 2,797 metres (9,177 ft) Asphalt
17L/35R 2,797 metres (9,177 ft) Asphalt
Map

Khmeimim Air Base (Russian: Хмеймим), also Hmeimim Air Base (Arabic: حميميم), is a Syrian airbase currently operated by Russia, located south-east of the city of Latakia in Hmeimim, Latakia Governorate, Syria and approximately 2 miles north-east of the coastal town of Jableh. The airbase shares some airfield facilities with Latakia Airport. The legal status of the base is regulated by a treaty Russia and Syria signed in August 2015. At the end of 2017, Russia said it had decided to turn the Khmeimim base into a component of its permanent military contingent stationed in Syria.

During the late stages of the Syrian civil war, following 2024 Syrian opposition offensives and the military offensive of a Turkish-backed coalition of forces organized as the Syrian National Army, the Assad regime fell and the Russian base in Latakia came under threat. On 7 December 2024, it was reported that Russia was preparing to evacuate its assets from the airbase.[1] Russian forces were observed transferring S-400 and Tor air defence systems to their naval base at Tartus.[2] On 8 December, Russian control of the airbase was under serious threat from advancing rebel forces.[3] Bashar al-Assad, until then president of Syria, said that he went to the airbase after his opponents were closing in on Damascus, and that he was then evacuated to Russia on 8 December 2024 although he wanted to continue fighting.[4] Later reports emerged that opposition "had no plans to penetrate" military bases, and Russia prefers to deal with new Syrian leadership.[5]

Name

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The name of the village in Arabic is حميميم, usually rendered as Hmeimim or Humaymim in English.

The Russian name of the air base, Хмеймим, has also been transliterated in English as Hemeimeem and Hmeymin.[6]

History

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A parade at the airbase in 2018.
Aleksandr Dvornikov (2nd from the left) briefing Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu alongside other Russian advisors at the airbase in 2016.
See also: Russian involvement in the Syrian civil war, Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war, and Russia–Syria relations

Khmeimim air base was built in mid-2015 adjacent to the Bassel Al-Assad International Airport to serve as "the strategic center of Russian military intervention on behalf of the Syrian government in the Syrian Civil War (2011-present).[7] The existence of the Russian strategic base was revealed by the United States in early September 2015 and American officials expressed concern over the possibility of escalation of the conflict in Syria. The airbase became operational on 30 September 2015.[8][9][10]

On 26 August 2015, in Damascus, Russia and Syria signed a treaty that stipulates terms and conditions of use by Russia of Syria's Khmeimim Airport, free of charge and with no time limit.[11][12][13][14] The treaty, ratified by Russia's parliament and signed into law by president Vladimir Putin in October 2016, grants Russia's personnel and their family members jurisdictional immunity and other privileges as envisaged by Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.[15][16] The Syrian military is in charge of protecting the base perimeter, while the Russian side is responsible for air defense and internal policing of base personnel.[13] The treaty was amended by signing a protocol to the treaty on 18 January 2017.[17]

In late December 2017, Russia announced it had set about "forming a permanent grouping" at Khmeimim as well as at its naval facility in Tartus, after president Putin approved the structure and the personnel strength of the Tartus and Hmeymim bases.[18][19]

Vladimir Putin and Russian pilots at Khmeimim, on 11 December 2017.

During the 2024 Syrian opposition offensives, on 7 December, it was reported that an An-124 transport aircraft had arrived at the airbase, suggesting that Russia was preparing to evacuate its assets.[1] Russian forces were observed transferring S-400 and Tor air defence systems to their naval base at Tartus.[2] On 8 December, Russian control of the airbase was under serious threat from advancing rebel forces.[3] Reuters later reported that deposed Syrian president Bashar al-Assad had made a stopover on the base as he went into exile in Russia.[20]

Operation

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Russian aircraft at Khmeimim on 3 October 2015.

Within several months in 2015 new infrastructure was built: air-conditioned accommodation for approximately 1,000 people, an air traffic control tower, runway extensions, storage facilities, field kitchens, and refuelling stations.[citation needed] Supplies were flown in from Russia or shipped via Tartus harbour 50 km (31 mi) away.[citation needed] The base is reported to be capable of handling Antonov An-124 Ruslan and Ilyushin Il-76M transport aircraft; the deployed aircraft included Sukhoi Su-24Ms, Sukhoi Su-25s, and Sukhoi Su-34s, reconnaissance aircraft Il-20M as well as T-90 tanks, BTR-82 vehicles, artillery, with Mil Mi-24, Mi-28, Ka-52 gunships and Mil Mi-8 support helicopters.[21]

Parade of the units stationed at Khmeimim (11 December 2017).

After the 24 November 2015 shootdown of a Su-24M, a S-400 defensive missile system was installed, allowing Russia to defend the air space from Southern Turkey to Northern Israel.[citation needed]

At the end of January 2016, Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets started to be deployed.[citation needed] In February 2016, one Tupolev Tu-214R was reported to have been deployed.[22][23]

At the end of February 2016 and in response to developments at the Geneva peace talks, a truce coordination center had been established at the airbase to coordinate activities of warring parties and "render maximum assistance" to all parties participating in recent ceasefire agreements; the center will not support ISIL, Al-Nusra, and terrorist groups so designated by the UN Security Council.[citation needed]

The Sixth Directorate of the Russian GRU reportedly operated a signals intelligence station by the airport.[24]

In 2018 RT reported on a large-scale renovation at the airport. This included the construction of a second landing strip, hangars to shelter planes from drone attacks and the sun, and a centralized fuel system to speed up refueling.[citation needed] With the demise of opposing forces, Russian pilots were said to perform mainly training sessions having at hand 30 aircraft consisting of Su-35S, Su-34 and Su-24 planes and Mi-35 and Mi-8AMTSh helicopters.[citation needed]

In 2021, both Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers and Su-35 fighters operating from the base were reported engaged in training flights over the eastern Mediterranean.[25]

Major incidents

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In November 2016, after the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov lost a MiG-29K fighter due to arrestor cable problems, satellite images indicated that at least some of the carrier's air wing of MiG-29K and Sukhoi Su-33 aircraft had been deployed to Khmeimim.[26]

On 3 January 2018, the Kommersant reported that rebel shelling on 31 December 2017 caused the deaths of 2 Russian military personnel and the loss of at least seven aircraft stationed on the base; the Russian MoD on 4 January 2018 acknowledged the attack, and confirmed that two servicemen had been killed, but denied that any jets had been disabled.[27][28][29][30][31] According to Roman Saponkov, a Russian military journalist who posted photographs of the aftermath of the attack on the same day that the Russian MoD published its statement, ten aircraft had been damaged but none destroyed.[32] An article on /Drive said that key questions about the attack were still unanswered despite the Russian MoD's communique.[33]

On 12 January 2018, the Russian MoD announced that the military had eliminated the group of militants that shelled the Khmeimim airbase, close to the western border of Idlib province, in a special operation, and that a drone assembly and storage depot in Idlib province had also been destroyed. Krasnopol precision projectiles were used in both strikes.[34][35]

On 6 March 2018, a Russian Antonov An-26 transport plane crash during an attempted landing at the airbase killed all 39 military personnel on board.[36] The Russian MoD said that the plane was not fired upon, and preliminary data suggested that a technical malfunction had caused the crash.[37]

On September 19, 2018, a Russian Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft coming in to land was shot down by Syrian air defenses targetting Israeli aircraft[citation needed] in a friendly fire incident.[38] The Russian Defense Ministry said that four Israeli F-16 fighter jets had attacked targets in Syria's Latakia after approaching from the Mediterranean. The Israeli warplanes had approached at a low altitude and "created a dangerous situation for other aircraft and vessels in the region. ... The Israeli pilots used the Russian plane as cover and set it up to be targeted by the Syrian air defense forces. As a consequence, the Il-20, which has radar cross-section much larger than the F-16, was shot down by an S-200 system missile," the statement said, adding that 15 Russian military service members were killed.[citation needed] On 3 October 2024 it was reported that the Israel Defense Forces had attacked a weapons dump in or near Khmeimim.[39][40]

Drone attacks

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On 6 January 2018, Russian forces thwarted a drone (UAV) swarm attack on the base, the first of this kind in the history of warfare.[28] Statements from Russia's MoD on 8 and 10 January confirmed earlier reports about the incident, saying that the attempted attack, by 13 armed, fixed-wing drones which were used to attack both the Hmeimim base and the Tartus naval facility on 5–6 January, was repulsed by the Russian forces' radio-electronic warfare technologies; it also denied earlier reports that a greater number of UAVs were involved in the attack and said that the drones could have been obtained only from a country that possessed "high-tech capabilities for providing satellite navigation and remote control."[41][42][43][44]

Referring to the 6 January swarm attack on 25 October, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Colonel General Alexander Fomin said that "Thirteen drones moved according to common combat battle deployment, operated by a single crew. During all this time the American Poseidon-8 reconnaissance plane patrolled the Mediterranean Sea area for eight hours," according to a TASS article which provided details on the operation, claiming that the Poseidon managed the attack, and the drones were switched from autonomous to manual control.[45][46][47][48] Further analysis was provided by Editor-in-Chief of National Defense journal Igor Korotchenko stating "There were three such goals: uncovering the Russian air defense system in Syria, carrying out radio-electronic reconnaissance and inflicting actual harm to our servicemen in Syria," in a 2nd TASS article providing further information on the Russian analysis of the attack and the official Russian belief that it was a Pentagon operation.[49][50] The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the Deputy Defence Minister's claim.[51] In a statement to Military Times the Pentagon said "Any suggestion that U.S. or coalition forces played a role in an attack on a Russian base is without any basis in fact and is utterly irresponsible," in an article covering the likelihood of the Russian claims.[52][53]

On 24 April, the airbase was targeted by another wave of drones in a swarm attack. Russian forces reported they had intercepted and destroyed several "small-size unidentified airborne targets" while they approached the base.[54]

On 30 June, Russian air defences repelled another drone attack on the base, shooting down multiple unidentified unmanned aerial vehicles.[citation needed] During July and August 2018, the airbase was targeted by multiple drone attacks, all were repelled.[55] In August 2018, a total of 47 drones were reported shot down by Russian air defenses.[56] 50 drones were shot down in September–October 2018.[57]

There were three more attacks in August 2019.[58]

Air defense and electronic warfare systems deployed at Russia's Hmeymim air base in Syria have shot down or disabled over 100 drones during terrorists' attempted attacks on the military facility over the past two years, Defense Ministry Spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said on September 27, 2019.[59]

On January 19, February 3 and 11, June 22 and July 11, 2020, and also on September 27, 2021 Russian air defense systems repelled drone attacks.[60][61][62][63][64][65]

Russian withdrawal

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Entrance to the Khmeimim Air Base with Russian presence after Assad's Fall. The Image of Bashar al-Assad torn down by Russian soldiers, 18 December 2024

On December 7, 2024, during a Syrian opposition offensive which ultimately toppled the Assad regime, TheWarZone magazine reported signs of possible evacuation at the airbase. Multiple large transport aircraft arrived at the base, including three IL-76s and one AN-124. One An-72 is typically forward based there. The Russian contingent at base evacuated air defense systems to the port of Tartus.[1][66][unreliable source?][67][68][unreliable source?][69]

Reactions

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At the end of September 2015, NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe, General Philip Breedlove, said that the kind of military infrastructure that Russia had installed in Syria, which included anti-aircraft defence systems, was a de facto no-fly zone: "As we see the very capable air defense [systems] beginning to show up in Syria, we're a little worried about another A2/AD [anti-access/area denial] bubble being created in the eastern Mediterranean." (Russia's third denial zone around Europe)[70][71]

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Khmeimim Airbase was the subject of Russian rapper Akim Apachev's 2021 song "Хмеймим" (Khmeimim).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Nikolov, Boyko (7 December 2024). "Massive An-124 lands at Khmeimim amid Russian retreat signs". bulgarianmilitary.com. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Russians evacuate S-400 and Tor from Hmeymim base". Militarnyi. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  3. ^ a b Osborn, Andrew (8 December 2024). "Russian bases in Syria threatened by insurgent advance, say Moscow's war bloggers". Reuters. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  4. ^ Clinton, Jane (16 December 2024). "Assad claims he wished to keep fighting as Syrian regime fell but Russians evacuated him – Middle East crisis live". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 December 2024. Live site - see entries for 16 December c.13:00.
  5. ^ Sauer, Pjotr (9 December 2024). "Moscow reaches out to new Syrian leadership in move to secure bases". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Press-tour of the Russian and foreign Media representatives to the Hmeymim airbase in Syria". Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Russia to bolster Syria base, eyes economic retaliation against Turkey". Reuters. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  8. ^ Varghese, Johnlee (11 November 2015). "Russia in Syria: 50 journalists from 12 countries visit Russian base in Latakia". International Business Times. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  9. ^ Martinez, Luis (9 September 2015). "Russian Build-Up Continues at Base in Syria, Causing Concern Among US Officials". ABC News. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  10. ^ Crilly, Rob (5 September 2015). "Russia 'is building military base in Syria'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  11. ^ Договор о размещении авиагруппы РФ в САР заключен на бессрочный период [The agreement on deployment of RF air force group is concluded for a limitless period]. RIA Novosti (in Russian). 14 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  12. ^ "О ратификации Соглашения между Российской Федерацией и Сирийской Арабской Республикой о размещении авиационной группы Вооруженных Сил Российской Федерации на территории Сирийской Арабской Республики от 14 октября 2016". docs.CNTD.ru.
  13. ^ a b "Moscow cements deal with Damascus to keep 49-year presence at Syrian naval and air bases". TASS. 20 January 2017.
  14. ^ "On Syria, Russia digs in for the long haul with 'indefinite' deployment: Russia has approved a law ratifying Moscow's deal with Syria to deploy its forces in the country indefinitely. This paves the way for permanent Russian military bases in the Middle East as Assad vows to defeat rebels". Deutsche Welle. 14 October 2016.
  15. ^ Дума ратифицировала соглашение о бессрочном размещении авиагруппы в Сирии [Duma ratified agreement on limitless deployment of aviation group in Syria]. TASS (in Russian). 7 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  16. ^ "Путин подписал закон о размещении авиагруппы ВС РФ в Сирии" [Putin signs law on deployment of Russian air group in Syria]. Interfax. 14 October 2016.
  17. ^ "Соглашение между Российской Федерацией и Сирийской Арабской Республикой о размещении авиационной группы Вооруженных Сил Российской Федерации на территории Сирийской Арабской Республики (с изменениями на 18 января 2017 года)" [Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Syrian Arab Republic on the deployment of an aviation group of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic (as amended on January 18, 2017)]. docs.cntd.ru.
  18. ^ "Россия начала формировать постоянную группировку в Тартусе и Хмеймиме" [Russia has begun to form a permanent group in Tartus and Khmeimim]. TASS. 26 December 2017.
  19. ^ "Russia establishing permanent presence at its Syria bases: RIA". Reuters. 26 December 2017.
  20. ^ "Assad's final hours in Syria: Deception, despair and flight". Reuters. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  21. ^ "New Satellite Imagery Shows Russian Su-24 Jets at the Hmeimim Air Base". Bellingcat. 20 January 2017. Eleven Su-24 jets are visible in the January 10 and 19 satellite imagery, just as there were eleven visible on October 26, 2016.
  22. ^ "Аналитики обнаружили в Сирии секретный российский самолет-разведчик" [Analysts Discover Secret Russian Spy Plane in Syria]. NEWSru. 16 February 2016.
  23. ^ "Russia has just deployed its most advanced spyplane to Syria". theaviationist.com.
  24. ^ Matthews, Owen. "Erdogan and Putin: Strongmen in love". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. The electronic intelligence was gathered, according to the report, by a Russian listening station at Hmemim Airport near Latakia, Syria, operated by the Sixth Directorate of GRU military intelligence.
  25. ^ "Crews of long-range Tu-22m3 bombers from the Russian air base Hmeymim performed training tasks in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea : Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation". eng.mil.ru.
  26. ^ "Satellite images highlight potential problems with Russia's lone aircraft carrier 30 November 2016". Washington Post. 30 November 2016.
  27. ^ Soldatkin, Vladimir (3 January 2018). Pomeroy, Robin (ed.). "At least seven Russian planes destroyed by shelling at Syrian air base: Kommersant". Reuters. At least four Su-24 bombers, two Su-35S fighters and an An-72 transport plane, as well as an ammunition depot, were destroyed by the shelling, Kommersant said on its website, citing two "military-diplomatic" sources.
  28. ^ a b "Syria war: Russia thwarts drone attack on Khmeimim airbase". BBC. 7 January 2018.
  29. ^ "Хмеймим попал под огонь: Радикальные исламисты обстреляли из минометов российскую авиабазу в Сирии" [Khmeimim came under fire: Radical Islamists fired mortars at Russian airbase in Syria]. Kommersant. 3 January 2018.
  30. ^ "Two military personnel killed in Hmeymim airbase shelling December 31". TASS. 4 January 2018.
  31. ^ МО РФ: двое военнослужащих погибли при обстреле авиабазы Хмеймим 31 декабря: В ведомстве также заявили, что сообщения об уничтожении боевиками семи самолетов на авиабазе не соответствуют действительности. TASS (in Russian). 4 January 2018.
  32. ^ Roblin, Sebastien (4 January 2018). "Did Russia Really Lose Seven Warplanes in Syria on New Year's Eve?". Bright Mountain Media, Inc. Retrieved 4 January 2018. According to Saponkov, no aircraft were destroyed but 10 aircraft were damaged, including six Su-24s, one Su-35S, one An-72, one An-30 turboprop observation plane and an Mi-8 transport helicopter. He also claimed that two Su-24s and one Su-35S have returned to operational status.
  33. ^ TREVITHICK, JOSEPH; ROGOWAY, TYLER (4 January 2018). "Russia Confirms Syria Attack But Denies Seven Aircraft Got Destroyed As Photos Emerge". The /Drive. The /Drive.
  34. ^ "Russian military eliminates militants who shelled Hmeymim airbase 31 December". TASS. 12 January 2018.
  35. ^ "Минобороны объявило об уничтожении террористов, обстрелявших российскую базу Хмеймим в Сирии (ВИДЕО)" [Defense Ministry announces destruction of terrorists who shelled Russian Khmeimim base in Syria (VIDEO)]. www.newsru.com.
  36. ^ The Express 7 March 2018 Russian cargo plane crashes, killing 39
  37. ^ "Russian military plane crash in Syria kills dozens". BBC. BBC. 6 March 2018.
  38. ^ "Syria accidentally shot down Russian military plane, Kremlin admits". www.independent.co.uk.
  39. ^ "IDF said to hit weapons depot near Syrian port city of Lattakia". Times of Israel. 3 October 2024.
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  43. ^ "Reports of 31 drones attacking Russian facilities in Syria untrue, says defense official". TASS. 10 January 2018.
  44. ^ "Минобороны опубликовало новое фото беспилотников, атаковавших Хмеймим" [Defense Ministry publishes new photo of drones that attacked Khmeimim]. RIA Novosti. 10 January 2018.
  45. ^ "Thirteen drones moved according to common combat battle deployment, operated by a single crew". TASS. 25 October 2018.
  46. ^ "U.S. Attacked Russia's Syria Base With Drones, Defense Ministry Claims". Haaretz. 25 October 2018.
  47. ^ "Kremlin accuses U.S. of drone attack on Russian air base in Syria". The Jerusalem Post. 25 October 2018.
  48. ^ "U.S. Orchestrated Drone Attack on Russian Base in Syria, Defense Ministry Says". The Moscow Times. 25 October 2018.
  49. ^ "Drone attack on Russia's Syrian airbase was elaborate Pentagon operation, says expert". TASS. 25 October 2018.
  50. ^ "Russia claims US aircraft took control of drones in attempted attack on its Syrian base". Military Times. 25 October 2018.
  51. ^ "Russia: Zakharova deems report about US drone attack on Russian Syria base 'absolutely reliable'". Ruptly. 25 October 2018 – via www.youtube.com.
  52. ^ "Did US drones swarm a Russian base? Probably not, but that capability isn't far off". Military Times. 29 October 2018.
  53. ^ "Russia says US spy plane directed attack against its Syrian air base". News.com.au. 26 October 2018.
  54. ^ "Russian air defenses intercept attacks on its Hmeimim base in Syria: reports". Xinhua. 25 April 2018.
  55. ^ "Two unidentified UAVs flying towards Hmeimim base destroyed in two days". tass.com.
  56. ^ "Russia says drone attacks on its Syria base have increased". Associated Press. 16 August 2018. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022.
  57. ^ "Dozens of drones shot down near Russian military base in Syria in past two months — Putin". tass.com.
  58. ^ "Russia Repels 3rd Drone Attack on Syrian Base". themoscowtimes.com. 12 August 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  59. ^ "Russia's Hmeymim airbase in Syria strikes over 100 terrorists' drones over past two years". tass.com.
  60. ^ "Drone attack on Russian airbase at Syria's Hmeymim repelled". tass.com. 19 January 2020.
  61. ^ "Unidentified drone downed at distance from Russian Hmeymim base in Syria". tass.com. February 2020.
  62. ^ "ЦАМТО / Новости / Боевики попытались атаковать авиабазу Хмеймим". armstrade.org. 11 February 2020.
  63. ^ "ЦАМТО / Новости / Российские военные сбили два беспилотника в районе Хмеймима". armstrade.org (in Russian). 25 June 2020.
  64. ^ "Two terrorist drones downed near Russian base at Syria's Hmeymim". armstrade.org. 12 July 2020.
  65. ^ "Russian Pantsir-S downs drone launched from Syria's Idlib de-escalation area". tass.com. 27 September 2021.
  66. ^ "Russians evacuate S-400 and Tor from Hmeymim base". Militarnyi. 7 December 2024.
  67. ^ The War Zone (8 December 2024). "Signs of possible evacuation at Russia's Khmeimim Air Base in Syria". X (formerly Twitter).
  68. ^ Zoria, Yuri (8 December 2024). "Ukrainian intel: Russia evacuates military bases as Assad regime falls in Syria". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  69. ^ Eardley, Nick; Cheetham, Joshua; Brown, Paul (18 December 2024). "Russia moving equipment at Syrian bases, satellite images show". BBC.com. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
  70. ^ "Top NATO general: Russians starting to build air defense bubble over Syria". The Washington Post. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  71. ^ "Putin Has His Own No-Fly Zone in Syria". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. 2 October 2015. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
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