Syria and Russia have reached an agreement on the future of two strategic bases on the Mediterranean coast, ending their use as Moscow’s military strongholds, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today.
During the Syrian civil war from 2011 to 2024, when President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown, the Hmeimim airbase near Latakia and the Tartus naval base were key Russian strongholds in the eastern Mediterranean, while Russia was Assad’s main political and military ally.
According to the agreement, Syria will assume control over the Hmeimim airbase and the commercial terminal at the port of Tartus, under its civil administration.
The military facilities at both locations will become “joint centers for training and qualification,” the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
The new arrangements represent a “reorganization of Russian presence” along the Syrian coast, the statement said.
“This move represents the most significant shift since the start of negotiations about a year and a half ago, paving the way for a new phase in Syrian-Russian relations,” it added.
Moscow did not intervene in the ousting of Assad from power in December 2024, but granted asylum to him and his family.
The new Syrian leadership seeks to maintain strong bilateral relations with Moscow, with President Ahmed al-Shara having visited Russian President Vladimir Putin twice since taking office.
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