The Tartous naval base is its only Mediterranean repair and resupply hub, and Hmeimim is a major staging post for military and mercenary activity in Africa.

Russia is pulling back its military from northern Syria and posts in the Alawite Mountains but is not leaving its two main bases, four Syrian officials told Reuters.

Russia is withdrawing troops from the front line in northern Syria and from outposts in the Jabal an-Nusayriyya mountains, but it is not leaving its two main bases, Reuters reports. After the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad,

Russian soldiers killed by North Korean troops in friendly fire, Kyiv says - Zelensky warns Russia’s use of North Korean forces in Kursk will extend to other parts of war zone

North Korean troops recently killed Russian soldiers in a friendly fire attack, according to Ukrainian intelligence.

"We have seen hundreds of (North Korean soldiers) on the battlefield already, and (Ukraine is) successfully fighting them as we are fighting with the Russians," Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova told CBS News.