Russia is discussing with Syria the possible reformatting or restructuring of its military facilities in the country, including the Hmeimim air base in Latakia and the naval base in Tartous, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on June 10, 2026 [1, 2, 3].
The Tartous naval base serves as Russia's only Mediterranean repair and resupply hub, while the Hmeimim air base is a major staging post in northwestern Latakia. These facilities are key components of Russia's military presence in Syria [1, 2, 3].
Zakharova described Russian-Syrian cooperation as developing "very actively," involving both government and business sectors [1]. However, she added that the specifics of any reformatting fall under the purview of Russia's Ministry of Defense. "This, again, falls under the purview of our security apparatus – the Ministry of Defense," she said [2].
The talks come after the December 2024 ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which had raised questions about Russia's military footprint in Syria. Moscow now maintains relations with the new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former rebel commander [1].
Analysts speculate the restructuring could involve downsizing troop deployments, changing the roles or functions of the bases, or modifying cooperation models between Russia and Syria, though no details have been confirmed [3].
The discussions remain ongoing with no final decisions announced. The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman’s statements today confirm Moscow’s intent to review and potentially adjust its military posture in Syria after the political changes there [1, 2, 3].
