Syria Reasserts Sovereignty Over Russian Bases

 

Russian Air Force Su-25 attack jets at Humaymim

On August 9, the Syrian Foreign Ministry announced that Damascus and Moscow have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) addressing the future of Russia's two military facilities in Syria: the naval facility at Tartus and the air base at Humaymim (colocated with Latakia International Airport). 

The MOU comes after negotiations between the Russians and the new government of Syria following the removal of the Bashar al-Asad regime in December 2024.

 

Tartus has been used by Russian Navy ships for over 50 years. In 1971, Syria and the Soviet Union had signed an agreement to establish a Soviet naval logistics and support facility at the port. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the base remained open for use by the Russian Navy. 

In 2015, the Bashar al-Asad government requested Russian military assistance to help in the fight against anti-government groups and the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The logisitics facility at Tartus then developed into a semi-permanent Russian naval presence. At the same time, the Russian Air Force deployed combat and support aircraft to Humaymim air base and established a logistics air bridge between Russia and the Syrian base.

In 2017, Russia secured renewable 49-year leases for both the naval facility at Tartus and the air base at Humaymim. These facilities became Russian exclusion areas. 

The Russians made extensive improvements to the air base to handle the expanded air force presence - runways extended, new taxiways and parking aprons, aircraft maintenance hangars, administrative buildings, and barracks built, as well as delployment of a state-of-the-art air defense and electronic warfare systems.

After the fall of the al-Asad government in December 2024, Russia withdrew its ships from the port at Tartus. It was not until the spring of 2026 that Russian Navy ships returned for a short time. While they continue to have access, there is not a restored permanent presence.

Today's agreement replaces the 49-year leases on both the naval facility and the air base. The key points of the MOU:

• The Syrian Ministry of Defense will gradually take over the administration of the air base at Humaymim and the commercial pier at the port of Tartus.
  
  
• The transfer will be completed and the new arrangements will take effect in three months.
  
  
• The Syria Civil Aviation Authority will take over the Latakia International Airport and begin its rehabilitation.
  
  
• The military facilities at Humaymim and Tartus will be transformed into joint Russian-Syrian training and qualification centers.

Russia's loss of the Syrian bases has forced them to seek alternative bases for its presence in the Mediterranean. Although they can still use Humaymim air base as a staging area for their operations in the Middle East and Africa, Libya is now being used more and more - Russia has access to as many as six air bases in the country. 

As Syria attempts to reconstitute its armed forces, it is increasingly turning to Turkey for assistance and training. What remains to be seen is where the Ahmad al-Shara' government will seek to acquire new weapons, including aircraft and air defenses. While it would be preferable to wean the Syrians off Russian equipment, I am not sure Western governments will be willing to supply Damascus with sophisticated weaponry.