Russia strikes deal with Syrian rebels to keep crucial bases
Russia has reached an informal agreement with Syrian rebels from HTS, allowing its presence in military bases in Hmeimim and Tartus, Bloomberg reported.
Despite previous conflicts with the Syrian rebels from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Russia continues to operate its military bases in Hmeimim and Tartus.
According to the Business Insider, the presence of Russian forces in these locations results from an informal agreement with HTS. These bases are located in western Syria, in the Latakia province.
Syria: The importance of the bases in Hmeimim and Tartus
Russian military bases in Syria, especially the naval base in Tartus, hold strategic significance for Moscow. Tartus is the only Russian port on the Mediterranean Sea, making it a key support point for Russian operations in the region, including in Africa.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Mikhail Bogdanov, emphasized that Russia wants to maintain these bases to "continue the fight against international terrorism." However, a decision on the continued stationing of Russian forces in Syria has not yet been made.
The HTS group, originating from al-Qaeda, is recognized by the UN, the USA, and other countries as a terrorist organization. Nonetheless, after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Russian media and officials stopped labeling the rebels as "terrorists." The Joe Biden administration is even considering removing this classification if the new Syrian authorities fulfill their promises regarding the protection of minorities.
Deputy Pentagon spokeswoman, Sabrina Singh, reported that "we're seeing Russia consolidate" in Syria, but no withdrawal has been observed. Russian support for the Assad regime was crucial for maintaining its presence in the region.
