Russia is close to an agreement with the new leadership in Syria according to which it will be able to maintain control of the country’s two largest military bases in the port of Tartus and the Haimayim air base, Bloomberg reported yesterday (Thursday). According to the report, Moscow is believed to have “informal understandings” with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham to stay in the two strategic facilities.
The report on the emerging agreement comes after Russia clarified in recent days that it is in direct contact with the rebel elements in Syria, and said that it does not intend to evacuate the Tartus and Chamayim bases, and even threatened a “severe response” if those bases were attacked.
These are two of Russia’s most important bases in the region, and directly and distinctly affect all of its activities in the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea, and from them many aircraft and vessels depart for the benefit of Russia’s military and political activities in many countries in Africa.
At Khmeimim Air Base, Russian aircraft, helicopters, and associated military equipment remain in place. pic.twitter.com/Tp8jp3LPSp
— Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) December 10, 2024
This week, satellite images were published that revealed that the Syrian army withdrew its warships from the port of Tartus, due to the fear of the advance of the rebels and due to the need to ensure that the ships are not harmed by the battles in the country. also, In a Maxar satellite photo published by a New York Times journalist, it appears that Russia continues to keep planes and helicopters at the large Russian air base in Haimayim, near the Syrian coastline.