Syria and Russia reach a memorandum of understanding on the future of Moscow’s bases at Tartous port and Hmeimim air base after 18 months of negotiations, Syria’s foreign ministry says, according to Syrian state news. The agreement is aimed at settling how the facilities are run going forward.
Under the terms described by the Syrian ministry, Syria takes over management of civilian facilities, including Hmeimim airport and the commercial berth at Tartous port. These components are set to be gradually integrated into Syria’s civilian administration. The outlets also frame the talks as prolonged and tied to Russia’s long-standing military presence in the region.
While both sources reference the same negotiating timeline and the bases involved, they emphasize different context: one focuses on the Syrian ministry’s description of civilian control and integration steps; the other highlights that Tartous and Hmeimim are Russia’s main military footholds in the Middle East and situates the talks as ongoing since 2024.
