Military sources told Zaman al-Wasl that Russia has taken full control of Palmyra Military Airbase in the Syrian desert from regime forces, making it the fifth Russian military base in Syria.

A Russian military delegation took official control of the airport at a meeting with a delegation of Assad regime officials headed by the commander of the 22nd Air Force Brigade, Maj. Gen Tawfiq Muhammad Khaddour in early June. The airport has now been evacuated from all Iranian presence and from all regime-related military and logistical forces, a private source said.