Syria's official news agency SANA quoted the country's Foreign Ministry as saying that Hmeimim airbase and Tartus naval base will be converted into "common training and capacity building centers, within the framework of new agreements to protect common interests".
The memorandum was signed after a year and a half of negotiations, "setting a deadline of no more than 3 months to complete the process," SANA said. Civil facilities at both bases will be handed over to Damascus.
According to Russia's TASS news agency, the Syrian Port and Customs Authority said that Russia and Syria have agreed to transfer commercial zones at the port of Tartus to the Syrian side.
After a series of negotiations between Syria and Russia, the two sides reached an agreement to transfer the former commercial zones held by the Russian side at the port of Tartus, including wharf No. 4 and surrounding warehouses and works, to the Syrian side," the agency stated.
Russia has 2 military facilities in Syria - a Russian naval logistics center in the port city of Tartus and Hmeimim airbase near the city of Jableh in Latakia province.
These bases were originally used to provide military support to leader Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian civil war. Russia was Assad's main ally throughout the 13-year conflict. The overthrow of the Syrian leader in 2024 strongly impacted Russia's influence in the region.
Since then, Moscow has made efforts to build relations with the new government in Damascus to ensure the future of the only 2 official Russian military bases outside the former Soviet space.
In a press conference from Arab countries on October 13, 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov revealed that Damascus is interested in maintaining Russian military bases in Syria, however, these bases may be reorganized to serve other purposes.
Both Hmeimim and Tartus bases are still operating while negotiations between Russia and Syria are taking place.
On August 9, senior Syrian diplomat Asaad al-Shaibani visited 2 bases "to inspect the facilities and equipment mentioned in the historical memorandum", according to SANA.
Mr. Omar al-Hasri - head of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority - said that this agency is taking over Latakia International Airport, a civilian facility located next to Hmeimim base, which is closely related to Russia's presence.
Specialized teams of the agency have begun to assess the technical and operational aspects of the airport, its facilities and systems, to prepare for the development of a recovery plan," AFP quoted Mr. Hasri as saying.
He called this move "an important step towards restoring and operating Syrian airports and reintegrating these airports into the national civil aviation system".
Syria has expressed its willingness to cooperate with Russia. Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has been received twice by President Vladimir Putin in Moscow since taking office.
During Mr. Sharaa's most recent visit in January 2026, Mr. Putin said that "many achievements have been made in restoring relations between the two countries", while praising Mr. Sharaa for "efforts to restore Syrian territorial integrity". Meanwhile, Mr. Sharaa praised Russia's "historical role" in Syria and the region.
Previously, also in 2026, Russia withdrew troops from Qamishli airport in northeastern Syria.
