The collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, a long-standing ally of Russia, has upended the Kremlin’s strategy across the Mediterranean and Africa. This shift is forcing Moscow to redirect its focus toward Libya as a potential new stronghold, according to experts.

Russia’s apparent fast-tracking of plans to establish a military hub in Libya could worsen that country’s protracted conflict.

Italian news agency Nova has said that Russia is expanding its military presence in Libya by transferring soldiers and equipment to the Maaten Al Sarra base, on the border with Chad and Sudan.  Nova reported via well-informed Libyan sources that this air base,

Assad’s regime in Syria, a long-standing ally of Russia, has upended the Kremlin’s strategy across the Mediterranean and Africa. This shift is forcing Moscow to redirect its focus toward Libya as a potential new stronghold,

NATO needs a stronger focus on the south and Africa, Italy's prime minister told a news conference on Thursday, saying Russia might boost its presence in eastern Libya after the collapse of its allied regime in Syria.

Turkish Airlines is resuming flights to the Syrian capital, Damascus (DAM), and to Benghazi (BEN), Libya’s second city, from its Istanbul (IST) hub. The two destinations had featured on Turkish Airlines’ network in the past but were discontinued due to the military and political situation in both countries.

It comes after the new Syrian government terminates a 49-year lease on the base the Kremlin brokered with the Bashar al-Assad regime in 2019

Syria's top diplomat said on Wednesday that lifting economic sanctions imposed during the rule of ousted president Bashar al-Assad was "key" to stability in the country. "Removing economic sanctions is the key to the stability of Syria,

The new authorities in Syria ended an agreement with the Russian company managing the key port of Tartous in the latest sign of Russia's waning influence in the country after the fall of the regime.

The Syrian government has canceled the lease agreement that allowed Russia access to the port of Tartus. According to British intelligence and other sources, this presents a significant problem for the Kremlin,

The Syrian government has cancelled the lease agreement that granted Russia access to the port of Tartus. According to British intelligence and others, this is a significant setback for the Kremlin, which has lost one of its most vital bases outside Russia.

Russia has lost a naval base after Syria ended an investment contract with Moscow, asserting its authority over the Tartus port.