Russia is trying to maintain its presence in Syria even after the fall of the Assad regime

Moscow wants to keep military bases in Syria despite change of power. The agreement with the new government has not yet been finalized, but negotiations are ongoing.

Russia plans to maintain a limited military presence in Syria, even after the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which it supported. This is reported by Bloomberg.

Moscow is close to concluding an agreement with the new Syrian government that will allow it to leave some of the military and equipment in the country.

Although the agreement has not yet been reached, the first telephone conversation between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on February 12 indicates a “strengthening of momentum” in the negotiations, the agency notes.

Recall that Russia intervened in the civil war in Syria in 2015, supporting the regime of Bashar al-Assad. However, after his fall, it began to withdraw troops and equipment. As early as December 8, 2024, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine reported that Russia had begun the transfer of its forces from Syria, withdrawing ships from the base in Tartus and taking out the remnants of weapons by aircraft from the Khmeimim air base.

Later, satellite images appeared confirming the large-scale withdrawal of military equipment from the port of Tartus. In particular, the Sparta II ship left the port, and a significant part of the equipment disappeared with it.

Despite this, the new Syrian government has not yet abandoned military cooperation with the Kremlin. The country’s Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Kasra said on February 6 that Syria is ready to allow Russia to maintain its naval and air bases if the agreement meets the interests of the state.