Syria, Russia agree to jointly run Hmeimim airbase

Syria and Russia have reached a new agreement that reshapes Moscow’s military footprint in the country after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. On Sunday, Damascus announced a memorandum of understanding with Russia covering two key installations: the Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base. Under the deal, Syria will take over civilian areas at Hmeimim and the commercial section of Tartus port, while both bases will become joint Russian-Syrian training centres. The transition is expected to be completed within three months, though Moscow has not yet publicly commented on the pact.

The agreement comes 18 months after Assad’s removal, ending a civil war that began in 2011 and killed hundreds of thousands. Russia had long been Assad’s strongest backer, deploying troops in 2015 to turn the tide of the conflict in his favor. But Moscow stayed out of the final battle for Damascus, and most of its forces left after Assad’s fall. The new arrangement signals a shift from wartime alliances to a more balanced partnership, with Syria regaining control over key infrastructure while Russia keeps a presence.

Analysts say the deal reflects mutual need. “The agreement between Russia and the Syrian government indicates that both countries need each other,” said Alexey Muraviev, a defence and strategic studies researcher at Edith Cowan University. He added that Damascus is unlikely to cut ties with Moscow despite its changed circumstances. The move also allows Russia to maintain influence in Syria, a country where it has invested heavily for decades, without bearing the full cost of occupation.

The Syrian foreign ministry called the deal a “reorganising of the Russian presence” along the coast. Political analyst Ruslan Trad, a fellow at the Atlantic Council, noted that Damascus has already moved on from Russia’s wartime role. For Moscow, the bases offer strategic leverage in the Mediterranean. For Syria, the arrangement balances sovereignty with practical cooperation. The pact marks the most significant development in Syrian-Russian relations since talks began 18 months ago, signaling a new chapter after years of conflict and shifting alliances.