"The fall of Bashar alAsada is likely to weaken Russia's influence on NATO's confederate flank. The Syrian port in Tartus will be hard to replace.
Tartus late hosted 3 Russian frigates, 2 auxiliary units and a Kilo-class submarine with exhaust-electric power. Satellite images taken this week, just after Damascus was seized by the rebels, show that all Russian units have left port. 2 rocket frigates stood about 13 km from the Syrian coast. It is unclear where the remainder of the fleet is located - writes the BBC, who analyzed the photos. Russian abroad Minister Sergei Lavrow claims that the ships went to maneuvers in the Mediterranean Sea. Already on the last Monday, the day after the Syrian rebels captured Damascus, a spokesperson for Kremlin Dmitry Pieski reported that Moscow would begin talks with the fresh Syrian authorities about Russia's future military presence. _Now we are doing everything possible to make contact with those active in security, at the same time our military is taking all essential precautions_ told Doggys. This means that Moscow will effort to get along with erstwhile rebels, whom it has helped Asad destruct for years. In Russian media, they are no longer called “terrorists”, but “armed opposition”. According to Michael Kofman of Carnegie Endowment for global Peace, it is possible that they will let Russia to keep the base in exchange for weapons, diplomatic support or any another benefits. But it's only temporary. _Anyway, Moscow will most likely gotta leave its bases in Syria_ told Kofman weekly “Economic.”
