Syria's Al-Sharaa Details Agreement With Russia on Military Bases

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa announced on Wednesday that Syria has reached an agreement with Russia to reduce its military presence in the country to two bases, which would be converted into training facilities for the Syrian army, according to a report from Sky News Arabia.

Al-Sharaa said the agreement reflects Damascus's broader goal of removing foreign military bases from Syrian territory, describing it as part of a new direction for the country's foreign and security policy.

Redefining the Russia-Syria relationship

Russia has maintained a military presence in Syria for years, including naval and air facilities that have served as key strategic assets in the region. The agreement described by al-Sharaa would mark a significant scaling back of that footprint.

Repurposing the remaining bases as training centers for the Syrian military suggests a shift in the relationship from direct Russian operational presence toward a more limited advisory or training role.

Details on the timeline for implementing the reduction, and the specific terms governing the two remaining bases, were not fully outlined in the announcement.