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Syria Moves to Reclaim Russian Bases—Turning Them Into Army Training Hubs
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Syria intends to repurpose remaining Russian military bases on its territory into training facilities for its national armed forces, signaling a shift in the country’s post-war military infrastructure.
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Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa announced the plan on April 1 during a panel discussion at Chatham House in London. “Among dozens of bases, only two remain, and we are trying to turn them into bases for training the Syrian army,” he said.
The two remaining facilities are the naval base in Tartus—Russia’s only full-fledged naval installation in the Mediterranean—and the Khmeimim airbase near Latakia, which previously served as the main hub for Russian air operations in Syria.
President Ahmad Al-Sharaa participates in a dialogue session at the Royal Institute of International Affairs “Chatham House” in London, UK.
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Overall, Syria previously hosted around 21 military bases and 93 outposts across the country. Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024, Russia began a large-scale withdrawal of forces, abandoning many forward positions and auxiliary sites.
In the weeks after the change in power, Russian troops pulled out rapidly from northern, eastern, and mountainous regions, consolidating their presence around Tartus and Khmeimim. Throughout 2025, the withdrawal continued gradually, with reports of movement restrictions outside these bases and periodic limitations on Russian naval access to Tartus.
Despite the reduction, a limited Russian presence remains at both Tartus and Khmeimim. Estimates suggest the contingent now consists of several hundred to around one thousand personnel, primarily technical staff, security units, and a reduced aviation component—significantly lower than levels seen during the Assad era.
Earlier in January, Russian forces began withdrawing from the Qamishli airbase in northeastern Syria near the Turkish border, with personnel and equipment seen being loaded onto Il-76 transport aircraft.
According to Kurdistan 24, cited by Clash Report, the move included relocating aviation assets and ground equipment to other positions, signaling a broader reduction of Russia’s military footprint in the region.
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