Russia pulls troops out of Syria: is something up?

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (Source: Agência Brasil, Wikipedia)

Russia has reportedly pulled its troops out of Syria:

27 June 2013

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s Defense Ministry says it has withdrawn all military personnel from its naval base in Syria and replaced them with civilian workers.

The ministry said in Thursday’s statement that Russia has made the switch at the base in the Syrian port of Tartus a while ago, but did not offer any details. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/06/27/russia-civilians-military-syria/2463225/

27 June 2013

Moscow

In a surprise move, Russia has pulled all its military and nondiplomatic civilian personnel out of Syria. That includes a complete evacuation of the naval supply station in the Mediterranean port of Tartus, which is often discussed as one of Russia’s key reasons for its long and stubborn support of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

“We have neither servicemen nor civilians in Syria anymore. Or Russian military instructors assigned to units of the Syrian regular Army, for that matter,” a Russian defense ministry spokesperson is quoted as telling the Moscow business daily Vedomosti yesterday.

The Tartus naval supply station, Russia’s only military base outside the former USSR, has been effectively closed…

“The first and likeliest reason for the closure is that Russia doesn’t want to risk the lives of 70 military personnel stationed at Tartus,” says Vladimir Sotnikov, expert with the official Institute of Oriental Studies in Moscow.

“Now that the battlefield initiative in Syria’s civil war is in the hands of the Assad regime, Russia might fear some [rebel] provocations against our people. Another possible reason may be to help promote the Geneva-2 talks. We have information that Russia, the United Nations and the US have agreed to a format for the talks. So, perhaps Russia wants to dispel impression that its position is based on some desire to hold on to this station,” Mr. Sotnikov says…

Russia has also been steadily evacuating the estimated 30,000 Russian citizens living in Syria since early this year, and yesterday the Ministry of Emergency Services reported that it had extracted another 130 Russians from Latakia in northwest Syria and flown them back to Russia. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2013/0627/Why-Russia-evacuated-its-naval-base-in-Syria?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feeds%2Fcsm+%28Christian+Science+Monitor+|+All+Stories%29

Whether or not this could be related to possible Israeli actions (see Israel allegedly tells Russia it will bring down the Syrian Assad Regime if attacked) is unclear.

Earlier, Russia indicated that it would long want the naval facility in Syria that it is now seemingly somewhat abandoning.

Since the Bible suggests that Syria will support the coming final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8), a change in or from the Assad regime will be necessary for this to happen–and it will come to pass. Syria’s Assad will either change, break his prior public commitment to not step down or go into exile, or die. He will not keep Syria as he has forever.

The military situation in Syria will likely intensify, so Russia pulling out its military may be a sign that it does not intend to militarily directly defend Syria, should Israel attack.

More trouble is coming to Syria. Damascus (Syria’s capital) will be destroyed:

1 The burden against Damascus.

“Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city,
And it will be a ruinous heap. (Isaiah 17:1).

Damascus will be destroyed and Syria will change.

An Islamic confederation that will include the land of Syria is coming (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8; Psalm 83:4-8) is coming. The move by Russia might play a small role in that.

“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria.
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There is also a related YouTube video you can watch titled Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?