Syria’s coast guard has been reactivated under the administration of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), marking a significant effort to restore governance following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. The coast guard began patrols this week near the port city of Tartus, a strategic location that also hosts a Russian naval base.
The Syrian Coast Guard, now operated by Fighters from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) under the Transitional Government, began Patrols on Wednesday off the Coast of Tartus, near the Russian Naval Base and Port in the City. pic.twitter.com/Enhj2JN218
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 10, 2025
Footage shared on social media showed HTS-operated small patrol boats navigating coastal waters, marking the first reappearance of the Syrian Coast Guard in years. These vessels, relics from the Assad era, have been repurposed by HTS, with no indications of new foreign assistance, according to Al-Araby.
Additional Footage of the New Syrian Coast Guard operating yesterday off the Coast of Tartus. https://t.co/D3WEaP073x pic.twitter.com/WMdTRiWPOA
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 10, 2025
The patrols come as Russian forces appear to be withdrawing from Tartus. Military equipment has been seen stockpiled at the port, while a Russian freighter is reportedly waiting offshore to evacuate remaining assets. The absence of Russian warships signals a decline in Moscow’s influence, leaving HTS to consolidate its control over Syria’s coastal areas.
Suriye kıyılarını koruma ve deniz operasyonlarını yeniden başlatma yeteneklerini geliştirmek için Tartus’taki Suriye Sahil Güvenliği’ne askeri teçhizat ve tekneler geliyor. pic.twitter.com/bmA6RIVzyy
— Mehmet Ardıç 🇹🇷 (@MehmetArdic_) January 7, 2025
