Syria says it reached deal with Moscow on future of Russian bases

What the report says

Syria says it has reached an agreement with Moscow on the future of Russia’s two main military facilities in the country, the Hmeimim airbase and the Tartus naval base. According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the Foreign Ministry said the sites will be reworked into joint training and capacity-building centres under a new arrangement intended to preserve the interests of both sides.

The memorandum of understanding was reached after roughly a year and a half of negotiations, SANA reported. It said the transition should be completed within no more than three months, and that civilian facilities at both bases will be transferred to Damascus in the meantime. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited the sites on Sunday, according to the report.

The bases have been central to Russia’s military presence in the eastern Mediterranean and were used to support former President Bashar al-Assad during Syria’s civil war. Their future has been closely watched since Assad’s ouster in 2024, which weakened Moscow’s influence in the region. Russia has not publicly commented on the reported deal.

More broadly, the reported agreement appears to fit wider efforts by Moscow and Damascus under President Ahmed al-Sharaa to maintain ties despite the political shift in Syria. Separately, Syria has continued to press for the handover of Assad, who is living in Russia.