Iranian forces in Syria are preparing to move their weapons supply center out from the Damascus international airport, the Russian RT TV reported on February 7 citing military sources.
According to the sources, the weapons supply center will be moved to the T4 airbase in the eastern Homs countryside. Iranian forces previously used the airbase to run its unnamed aerial vehicles (UAV) operations in Syria.
The Israeli Haaretz newspaper released a satellite image showing the alleged positions of Iranian forces in Damascus airport and also claimed that the forces are preparing to withdraw to the T4 airbase.
Click to see full-size image, source: haaretz.com
Iran deployed a large force in the Damascus airport and several other facilities in the early years of the conflict in order to support the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in its war against terrorism. However, Israel claims the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are using these facilities to transport weapons to Lebanese Hezbollah.
The Israeli Air Force targeted Iranian forces inside the Damascus airport multiple times during the last eight years. In the most recent attack, Israeli warplanes destroyed several alleged Iranian positions inside the airport, as well as equipment of the Syrian Arab Air Defense Forces (SyAADF).
If confirmed, the withdrawal of Iranian forces from the Damascus airport will likely de-escalate the situation in this part of Syria and limit Israeli attacks.
