Syria to take back Tartous and Hmeimim military bases from Russia
Syria and Russia have reached an agreement to transition two key military bases, Tartous and Hmeimim, into joint training centers. This move marks a significant shift in the Russian military presence in the region following the ouster of former President Bashar Assad.
Why it matters
The reorganization of these strategic Mediterranean outposts signals a major geopolitical realignment in the Middle East following the collapse of the Assad regime.
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DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Russian forces in Syria will give up control of two strategic bases on the Mediterranean coast, which will be used as joint Russia-Syrian training centers under a new agreement between the two countries, Syria’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday.
Russia was the top political and military ally of ousted President Bashar Assad during the country’s civil war between 2011 and 2024. Assad was ousted in December 2024 by Islamist insurgents led by current interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and has since fled into exile in Russia.
Throughout the conflict, the Hmeimem air base and the Tartus naval base were key Russian military outposts in the eastern Mediterranean.
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