🔻Syria announced that after a year and a half of intensive negotiations, it has reached an agreement with Russia that sets out the future of two Russian military bases in Tartus and Hmeimim.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry, citing the country’s official news agency SANA, said: “Under this memorandum of understanding, the process of reorganizing Russia’s presence on the coasts of Syria will begin, and the Syrian government will take charge of facilities of a non-military nature, foremost among them the Hmeimim airbase and the commercial pier number four of the Port of Tartus, in such a way that these two facilities will gradually be brought under a non-military management system.”

The ministry added: “With regard to bases and facilities of a military nature, the two sides agreed to redefine their function; so that these facilities will be turned from military bases into joint centers for training and capacity building. This measure will be carried out within the framework of new arrangements that preserve mutual interests.”

📸Syria Civil Aviation Organization / GettyImages