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

Syria and Russia have reached an agreement to reorganise Moscow's military presence at two key facilities on Syria's Mediterranean coast. Under the deal, Syria will take control of civilian facilities at the Hmeimim air base and the commercial pier at the port of Tartus. The military facilities will be transformed into joint Russian-Syrian training and qualification centres. The agreement marks a significant change to Russia's longstanding military presence in Syria, while allowing Moscow to retain a role at the sites. Hmeimim has been a major hub for Russian military operations in Syria since 2015, while Tartus has provided Moscow with a naval facility on the Mediterranean for decades. Syria's government says the agreement will restore national sovereignty over key strategic assets and open a new phase in relations with Russia. The deal follows 18 months of negotiations and comes after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, a longtime Russian ally, in December 2024.

Al Jazeera's Obaida Hitto reports from Damascus.

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