Syria’s de facto government has reached an agreement with Moscow over the future of Russia’s two military bases in the country, ending 18 months of negotiations.
The facilities at the port of Tartus and Hmeimim airbase will be converted into joint training centres, while civilian infrastructure at both sites will be returned to Syrian control.
New arrangements for Russian bases
The two installations played a central role in Russia’s military support for former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad during the country’s 13-year civil war. Russian air power helped Assad’s forces remain in control until he was overthrown in late 2024.
Under the agreement, the bases on Syria’s Mediterranean coast will operate within “new arrangements that will guarantee mutual interests”, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said, according to the state-run SANA news agency.
The transition must be completed within three months, SANA reported. The Kremlin did not immediately comment on the announcement.
Tartus and Hmeimim were Russia’s only military outposts outside the former Soviet Union and remained operational throughout the negotiations.
Damascus calls agreement ‘historic’
Assad’s removal, following a rapid advance by an alliance of Islamist rebels, dealt a significant blow to Moscow’s influence in the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin has since sought to rebuild relations with Syria’s new authorities.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani inspected the facilities and infrastructure covered by the agreement on Sunday, describing it as “historic”, according to SANA.
Syria’s Civil Aviation Authority also confirmed that it had assumed control of Latakia International Airport, a civilian facility adjacent to Hmeimim airbase whose operations were closely linked to the Russian military presence.
The authority will work to restore the airport, its director, Omar al-Hasri, said. He described the move as an important step towards reintegrating the country’s airports into Syria’s national civil aviation system.
Relations between Moscow and Syria
Damascus has indicated that it remains willing to cooperate with Moscow. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has visited Russia and met Putin twice since taking power.
During their first meeting in January, Putin praised the progress made in bilateral relations and al-Sharaa’s efforts to restore Syria’s territorial integrity.
However, Damascus has repeatedly demanded that Moscow extradite Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia with his wife following his removal from power.
Earlier this year, the Kremlin also withdrew Russian forces stationed at Qamishli airport in Syria’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region in the north-east.
Source: AMNA
