Russian forces in Syria will relinquish control of two strategic military bases on the Mediterranean coast, which will be converted into joint Russia-Syria training centres under a new agreement between the two countries, Syria’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

Under the agreement, Syria will take control of the Hmeimim air base and the commercial berth at Tartus port as part of its civil administration. The military facilities at both sites will be converted into “joint training” centres, the ministry said.

The Hmeimim air base and Tartus naval base have served as key Russian military outposts in the eastern Mediterranean throughout Syria’s civil war, which began in 2011.

Russia was the main political and military ally of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad during the conflict. Assad was overthrown in December 2024 by Islamist insurgents led by current interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and subsequently fled to Russia with his family.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry described the new arrangements as a “reorganising of the Russian presence” along the country’s coast.

“This move marks the most significant development since negotiations began approximately a year and a half ago, paving the way for a new phase in Syrian-Russian relations,” the ministry said.

Russia did not immediately comment on the agreement.

Moscow did not intervene during the lightning insurgency that led to Assad’s overthrow, but later provided asylum to the former Syrian leader and his family. Following Assad’s ouster, Russian troops gradually withdrew from Syria, except for those stationed at the two bases.

Syria’s new leadership has sought to maintain strong bilateral ties with Moscow. Interim President al-Sharaa has met Russian President Vladimir Putin twice in Moscow since taking power, with the two Mediterranean bases among the key issues discussed.

Since Assad’s ouster, Syria has also strengthened ties with the United States, Europe and neighbouring Arab countries that had severed relations with Damascus during Assad’s crackdown on protests.

Washington has lifted most of its sanctions on Syria, while French President Emmanuel Macron visited Syria in July and announced that the two countries would appoint ambassadors for the first time in 14 years.