The transitional Syrian government is in discussions with Russia about the future of its military bases in Syria, though no final decision has been reached, Murhaf Abu Kasra, the Minister of Defense in Syria's transitional government, said.
"The final resolution of this issue is still unclear. We have not yet received specific directives [from our leadership] on this matter," he said in an interview with Al Araby. "However, negotiations are ongoing, led by [our] leadership with the involvement of the [Syrian] Foreign Ministry."
In late November 2024, opposition forces launched a major offensive against the Syrian army. On December 8, they entered Damascus, prompting government forces to retreat. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad subsequently resigned and left the country.
On December 10, Muhammad al-Bashir, the leader of the opposition’s "Salvation Government" based in Idlib, announced his appointment as head of Syria's transitional government, set to govern until March 1, 2025. Meanwhile, the de facto leader of Syria is now Ahmad al-Sharaa (known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani), the head of the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (designated a terrorist organization and banned in Russia).
Russian Bases in Syria
Russia maintains two military installations in Syria:
1. Tartus Naval Facility – Established in 1971 under a bilateral agreement, this serves as a logistical hub for the Russian Navy.
2. Khmeimim Air Base – Located near Jableh in Latakia province, this was established in September 2015 to support Syrian government forces against the terrorist organization Islamic State (banned in Russia).
On December 19, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested using Russian bases in Syria to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.
According to a TASS report on December 27, the new Syrian authorities do not plan to terminate agreements allowing Russia to operate these bases in Latakia and Tartus in the near future.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense
Based on TASS materials