Spokesman: Putin, al-Sharaa discussed future of Russian military bases in Syria

The future of Russia’s military bases in Syria was among the topics discussed during talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syria’s transitional president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has confirmed.

Speaking to reporters, Peskov said the issue of the bases “was on the agenda,” but declined to provide further details, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

Commenting on reports suggesting that Syrian authorities were interested in resuming Russian patrols in the country’s southern regions, Peskov said he was unaware of such information. “I haven’t heard that. No, that didn’t happen. I simply don’t know where that information came from,” he added.

The meeting between Putin and al-Sharaa took place in the Kremlin on October 15 and marked the first in-person talks between Moscow and Syria’s new leadership.

Russia maintains two key military facilities in Syria — the naval logistics base in the port city of Tartus and the Hmeimim airbase near the coastal town of Jableh in Latakia Province.

In December 2024, President Putin said Moscow had proposed using its bases in Syria to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. Later that month, a source told the Russian state news agency that the new Syrian authorities had no immediate plans to terminate the existing agreements allowing Russia to operate the two sites.

By Aghakazim Guliyev