Syrian rebels Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have rapidly taken control of the whole country in only 11 days, but they are treading cautiously when it comes to the naval and airports under Russian control.

Satellite imagery show that Russian naval ships have left Moscow's base at Tartous on Syria's coast and some have dropped anchor offshore following the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces.

Russian warships could be seen at a naval facility in Tartus earlier this month, but on Monday, they were gone.