BLOOMBERG: Russia finalizing deal with new Syrian regime to keep bases in Syria

[WarGamer]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-12/russia-nears-deal-with-new-syria-leaders-to-keep-military-bases

Russia is nearing an agreement with Syria’s new leadership to keep two vital military bases in the Middle East state, a key objective of the Kremlin after the fall of its ally Bashar al-Assad.

Talks are taking place for Russian forces to remain at the naval port in Tartus and the air base at Khmeimim, according to people with knowledge of the matter in Moscow, Europe and the Middle East, asking not to be identified because the issue is sensitive.

The Defense Ministry in Moscow believes it has an informal understanding with Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, or HTS, the former al-Qaeda offshoot that led the offensive to oust Assad, that it can stay at the Syrian bases, the person in Russia said. The situation could still change amid the instability in Syria, the person cautioned.

[Hope22]

1. Am I correct?

The US bases that T gave Putin during the earlier invasion of Syria? So weird that this is never mentioned!

[karynnj]

4. I don't think we had airbases or ports in Syria other than in the Kurdish area near Turkey.

The Russians had the port decades before the civil war and Wikipedia says the airbases was built by the Russians in 2015.

It is interesting that they might give (lease?) the airbases to Russia, which brutally aided Assad against them in the civil war.

[Klarkashton]

3. Lending a hand to run torture chambers.