Maher al-Assad

Syria, Russia Reorganize Bases into Civilian Hubs

Syria and Russia agreed in a memorandum to transform the bases at Hmeimim and Tartous into joint training and qualification centers, while transferring civilian facilities such as Hmeimim Airport and Tartous Port to Syrian management within three months, signaling a major shift in their long-running partnership. The announcement, described as the most significant development in roughly 18 months of talks, suggests a new phase in Syrian-Russian relations with potential regional and economic implications depending on implementation.