ALBAWABA - Russia has stepped up its aviation operations after Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in Syria, CNN said, with daily flights from Syria's Hmeimim Airbase to a military base in the Libyan desert.
The action is seen as a calculated attempt by Moscow to maintain its influence in the Mediterranean area and to find a different supply route for its military presence in Africa.
According to CNN's analysis of flight monitoring data, Russia has been utilizing big cargo aircraft, such as Antonov-124s and Ilyushin-76s, to operate several flights daily since mid-December. According to reports, these aircraft are in route to the Al-Khadim Airbase in eastern Libya, close to Benghazi.
This action comes as Western and U.S. authorities have reported that Russia has started moving large amounts of military troops and equipment out of Syria. According to CNN, sophisticated air defense systems are among the transferred assets.
Formerly used as a logistical facility to assist Russian mercenary activities across Africa, particularly in the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Mali, and Burkina Faso, Hmeimim Airbase has been crucial to Russia's growing sway over the continent. According to reports, one recent plane from Al-Khadim was seen traveling to Bamako, Mali, where Russia now serves as the main foreign military base in place of France.
For many years, al-Khadim has been a crucial base for Russia, allowing it to provide troops and weaponry to Khalifa Haftar's forces, who control a large portion of eastern Libya.
NATO is concerned about Russia's recent actions. “Instead of being 1,000 kilometers away, they are now just two steps from us,” Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told La Repubblica, expressing concern about Russian naval troops' closeness in the Mediterranean.
The alliance is keeping a careful eye on Russian action in Libya's Tobruk and Benghazi districts, a NATO source told CNN, highlighting the increased sensitivities over Moscow's growing military presence.
