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Syria and Russia Agree to Recast Tartus and Hmeimim as Joint Training Sites

Syria will assume civilian control of key port and airport facilities within three months as military areas are converted to joint training centers, a move that reduces Moscow's sole control over its coastal foothold.

Image
Der LuftwaffenstĂĽtzpunkt Hmeimim in der syrischen Provinz Latakia
Ein Flugzeug startet im Hintergrund, im Vordergrund ein bewaffnetes Fahrzeug

Overview

  • A framework agreement announced Sunday sets a three-month timetable to transfer civilian facilities at Tartus port and Latakia/Hmeimim airport to Syrian administration and to repurpose military installations as joint training and rehabilitation centers.
  • Syrian officials have begun technical assessments and site visits, and the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority said it will take over oversight of Latakia International Airport adjacent to Hmeimim.
  • The agreement preserves a continued Russian military role through shared use of the bases but leaves key details unresolved because Moscow had no immediate public comment on legal arrangements, troop levels, or long-term basing rights.
  • Control of the Tartus commercial pier and the airport shifts economic and operational authority to Damascus, which could change port operations, customs control, and local employment tied to the facilities.
  • The two sites are Russia's only foreign bases outside former Soviet states and their negotiated reconfiguration follows roughly 18 months of talks after the December 2024 change in Syrian leadership, a shift some outlets describe as a loss of exclusive Russian control while others emphasize a preserved Russian presence.