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Syria Reclaims Strategic Civilian Infrastructure in Landmark Deal With Russia
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Syria and Russia have finalized a memorandum of understanding to reorganize Moscow's remaining military presence inside the country, concluding nearly 18 months of intensive diplomacy.
Under the agreement, Damascus will take over civil operations at Khmeimim airport and the fourth commercial pier at the port of Tartus, while military facilities will be converted into joint training and qualification centers over a transition period lasting no more than 3 months, as reported by SANA on August 9.
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Syrian officials described the agreement as the most significant milestone since discussions started, following preliminary reports of incoming arrangements that emerged in April.
The transition marks a shift after Russian forces rapidly withdrew from more than 20 outposts, forward positions, and secondary sites across northern, eastern, and mountainous Alawite regions following the change of power in Damascus.
Moscow focused its remaining efforts on holding two strategic Mediterranean strongholds, the Khmeimim airbase near Latakia and the naval facility at Tartus.
Throughout 2025, Russian force reductions proceeded gradually alongside movement restrictions outside base perimeters, occasional dock access limitations at Tartus, and persistent pressure from the new Syrian government.
Flights to Khmeimim restarted in October 2025 after a months-long pause, with diplomatic visits by Ahmad al-Sharaa to Moscow in October 2025 and January 2026 focusing heavily on the future status of Russian troops.
In late January 2026, Russian units began evacuating their longstanding hub near the Qamishli international airport in northeastern Syria near the Turkish border, where forces had maintained a presence since 2019.
Personnel and equipment were redeployed to Khmeimim or flown back to Russia aboard Il-76 transport planes, allowing Syrian authorities to assume control of the site by the end of January.
Russia currently maintains a reduced presence at Khmeimim and Tartus estimated at several hundred to approximately 1,000 personnel.
The remaining troops consist primarily of technical specialists, guards, and a small air detachment, reflecting a major downsizing compared to peak levels during the Assad era.
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