Syria says it reached deal with Moscow on future of Russian bases

Syria says it has reached a deal with Moscow on the future of Russia’s two military bases in the country, which were used to support ousted President Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian war.

Syria’s official SANA news agency quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying on Sunday that the Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base would be turned into “joint training and capacity-building centres” under new arrangements aimed at preserving mutual interests.

The two facilities are Russia’s only official military bases outside the former Soviet Union.

The memorandum of understanding, reached after a year and a half of negotiations, sets a deadline of no more than three months to complete the transition, SANA said.