World News | Syria Says It Reached Deal with Moscow on Future of Russian Bases
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. Syria and Moscow have agreed to transform Russia's Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval facility into joint training centres within three months. The deal transfers civilian control to Damascus while Russia seeks to safeguard its military foothold following the ouster of former ally Bashar al-Assad in 2024
Damascus [Syria], August 9 (ANI): Syria has reached an agreement with Moscow regarding the future of Russia's two military bases in the country, which were previously used to back ousted President Bashar al-Assad, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday, citing Syria's official SANA news agency.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry stated that the Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base would be converted into "joint training and capacity-building centres" under new arrangements designed to preserve mutual interests. The memorandum of understanding, finalised after 18 months of negotiations, establishes a deadline of no more than three months to complete the transition.
During the interim period, civilian facilities located at both installations will be handed over to Damascus, Al Jazeera reported.
Russian authorities have yet to issue an official comment regarding the agreement.
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Both the Hmeimim and Tartus facilities had remained fully operational while discussions were ongoing.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited the sites on Sunday "to inspect the facilities and installations included in the historic memorandum of understanding".
Moscow served as a crucial ally to ousted President Bashar al-Assad during Syria's 13-year civil war, providing essential military backing to maintain his regime's power, Al Jazeera reported.
Assad's removal in 2024 dealt a major setback to Moscow's strategic influence across the region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has since sought to build diplomatic ties with his Syrian counterpart Ahmed al-Sharaa to safeguard the future of Russia's only two official military bases outside the former Soviet Union.
Syria has similarly indicated a willingness to cooperate with Moscow, with Putin receiving Sharaa twice in Moscow since the transition of power, Al Jazeera reported.
During the Syrian President's previous visit in January, Putin remarked that "much has been accomplished in terms of restoring our interstate relations", while praising Sharaa for his "efforts to restore Syria's territorial integrity".
Although Sharaa commended Russia's "historic role" in Syria and the wider region, Damascus has consistently demanded that Moscow extradite Assad, who has been sheltering in the Russian capital with his wife since his ouster. (ANI)
(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)