'No red line' Russians in Syria face new reality with rebels

Standing at the gates of the Khmeimim airbase, a fighter from the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) eyed a pink vape being puffed on by a Russian soldier.

- William Christou

Standing at the gates of the Khmeimim airbase, a fighter from the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) eyed a pink vape being puffed on by a Russian soldier. Catching his gaze, the soldier offered it. The bearded fighter took a drag and shrugged, giving a thumbs up to the Russian soldier, who let him keep it.

Just over a week ago, Russian jets taking off from Khmeimim airbase were heading towards north Syria to drop bombs on rebel groups. This week, Russians are coordinating with the same factions, now in control of the country after their 12-day lightning offensive toppled the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

"We don't feel unsafe, we are hoping to make friendly relations with the new government as soon as it becomes a legitimate government," said a representative of the Russian military, which allowed the Guardian rare access to the Khmeimim airbase on Sunday. The representative said communication with HTS started a week ago to coordinate military affairs between Russian forces in Syria and its new rebel leaders.

"Neither side is making provocations, and things have been fine," the Russian military representative said, as he gestured to boxes of humanitarian aid and Russian ministry-of-defence-branded backpacks they said were a gift from Russia to the Syrian people. The EU foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, said yesterday that Russia and Iran "should not have a place" in Syria, and said the bloc would raise the issue of Russian military bases with the country's new leadership.

HTS fighters guarded the gates of the airbase as Russian Mig fighter jets took off from the runway. "We used to be scared whenever we would hear the sound of a Russian jet - now it's become normal," Abu Khalil, a 26-year-old HTS fighter guarding the airbase, said. Outside, Russian soldiers milled about Khmeimim town, shopping at stores whose signs were in Cyrillic.