Russia to hand civil control of Hmeimim air base and Tartus naval port to Syria

Russia and Syria have concluded an arrangement that ends Moscow’s direct military use of the Hmeimim air base near Latakia and the Tartous naval facility. Under the deal, Syrian civil authorities will assume full administration of both sites, while the existing military infrastructure will be converted into "joint training and qualification centres".

Background to the bases

Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Hmeimim has functioned as Russia’s principal air hub in the eastern Mediterranean and Tartus has been its only naval repair yard on the sea. The two installations have therefore represented the core of Moscow’s military foothold on Syrian soil.

From withdrawal to formal hand‑over

The agreement formalises a pull‑back that began after Bashar al‑Assad was toppled in December. Russia, which had backed the former president for 13 years, chose not to intervene in the rapid offensive launched by interim president Ahmad al‑Sharaa and instead offered Assad asylum. Since then, Russian forces have been drawn down gradually.

Al‑Sharaa, now serving as interim president, has travelled to Moscow on two occasions to discuss the future of the bases with Vladimir Putin, making the issue a central item on the agenda.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry described the transformation as a "reorganising of the Russian presence" along the coast and hailed the pact as "the most significant development since negotiations began approximately a year and a half ago, paving the way for a new phase in Syrian‑Russian relations."

Wider diplomatic shift

The base deal arrives amid a broader opening of Syria to the international community. The United States has lifted most of its sanctions, European capitals are renewing contacts, and French President Emmanuel Macron visited Damascus in July, announcing the exchange of ambassadors for the first time in 14 years. Arab neighbours that had severed ties during the crackdown on protests have also restored diplomatic relations.

Implications for both sides

For Syria’s interim leadership, the removal of overt foreign military control eliminates a prominent symbol of external domination while preserving a diplomatic and logistical link to a permanent UN Security Council member. For Russia, the arrangement secures continued Mediterranean access without the expense and political risk of a standing combat deployment.

Moscow has not yet issued a public comment on the agreement.