Syria reclaims control of key coastal sites in deal with Russia

Middle East Eye reports that Syria and Russia have reached a memorandum of understanding scaling back Moscow's military presence on Syria's Mediterranean coast, concluding eighteen months of negotiations. Syria will assume control of civilian facilities at Hmeimim airport and Tartus port, while Russian military installations transition to joint training centers. The shift reflects changing Syrian-Russian relations since Assad's December twenty twenty-four toppling; President Ahmed al-Sharaa has visited Moscow twice to negotiate the arrangement as part of his government's effort to assert national sovereignty.

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