Syria, Russia agree on future of military bases

Syria announced Sunday it has finalized a deal with Russia concerning the future of two key military bases. The Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base will transition into "joint training and capacity-building centers" under new arrangements designed to preserve mutual interests, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry.

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the Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base would be turned into "joint training and capacity-building centres, within new arrangements that preserve mutual interests"

The agreement, which followed 18 months of negotiations, sets a deadline of three months to complete the process. During this transition period, civilian facilities at both bases will be transferred to Syrian control. Russia has not yet officially commented on the deal.

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set a time limit of no more than three months to complete the process

Both bases remained operational while the talks were underway. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited the sites Sunday to inspect the facilities. Omar al-Hasri, head of Syria's Civil Aviation Authority, stated that his body is taking control of Latakia's international airport, a civilian facility adjacent to Hmeimim. He called this move "an important step towards restoring and operating Syrian airports and reintegrating them into the national civil aviation system."

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an important step towards restoring and operating Syrian airports and reintegrating them into the national civil aviation system

Syria has expressed a willingness to cooperate with Moscow since President Ahmed al-Sharaa took office. During Sharaa's visit to Moscow in January, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted "much has been accomplished in terms of restoring our interstate relations." While Sharaa has praised Russia's "historic role" in the region, Damascus has also demanded the extradition of former leader Bashar al-Assad, who has been living in Moscow since his ouster.

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much has been accomplished in terms of restoring our interstate relations