ISIS-K was also linked to the August 2021 bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members and about 170 Afghans as the U.S. was withdrawing from Afghanistan.

It featured a woman going to a bank, complaining there were no humans, and then withdrawing 100 "Euro marks."

He has since said he is withdrawing from public life.

But withdrawing from Tartous would be immensely costly, and Mr Van Lokeren noted that the move would also bring Russian vessels closer to Nato bases, making them easier to track.

This could effectively mean in many cases withdrawing the current right to remain.