Syria agrees to maintain Russian military presence on Mediterranean coast
Syria announced on Sunday that it has reached an agreement with Russia to maintain the country's military presence on the Syrian coast. The deal allows Moscow to retain two strategic facilities in the Middle East following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, specifically the Russian naval base in Tartus and the Hmeimim airbase near Latakia. The Syrian Foreign Ministry stated that both parties have agreed via a memorandum of understanding to convert these facilities into 'joint training centres' within a maximum of three months. While the precise implications of this designation remain unclear, the Damascus statement indicates that Russia's military presence in Syria will continue for the foreseeable future. Russia has not yet publicly confirmed the agreement. Damascus described the deal as the beginning of a 'new chapter' in relations with the administration of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The Foreign Ministry called it the most significant development since negotiations began 18 months ago, providing a framework to 'reorganise the Russian presence on the Syrian coast.' Under the agreement, responsibility for civilian facilities in the region will be transferred to Syria, including the civilian piers at Tartus port and the airport near Latakia. The Syrian Civil Aviation Authority announced on Sunday that it has taken control of Latakia International Airport, previously managed by Russia, and has begun preparations for its reconstruction. Russian activity at the airport had declined significantly following the fall of Assad, and the site had been used to house refugees. Russia was a primary ally of the Syrian government for decades. Following the outbreak of the civil war in 2011, Moscow supported Bashar al-Assad and intervened directly in 2015; Russian airstrikes against Assad's opponents helped his government reclaim territory. Ahmed al-Sharaa, conversely, was a former member of Al-Qaeda and leader of the Al-Nusra Front, which later became Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The Islamist forces under his command were among the targets of Russian airstrikes. In December 2024, al-Sharaa's forces overthrew the Assad government in a rapid operation, leading to Assad's flight to Russia. The fall of Assad and the rise of al-Sharaa were seen as a major blow to Russian objectives in the Middle East, with the future of the Tartus and Hmeimim bases becoming an immediate question. The new Syrian government, seeking stability and reconstruction, did not initially rule out the continuation of Russian operations but demanded concessions, including war reparations and the extradition of Assad. Bashar al-Assad has not been extradited, and there is no indication that his handover was included in the new agreement. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ahmed al-Sharaa met at the Kremlin last October. If implemented as described by Damascus, Russia will retain its strategic military position in the Eastern Mediterranean despite the collapse of the regime that hosted its forces for years.