Ahmad al-Sharaa addresses foreign military presence in Syria

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa stated during an Atlantic Council panel in New York that Syria does not require foreign military bases in the foreseeable future. Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, al-Sharaa emphasized that any foreign military presence on Syrian territory must be based on a legal framework approved by the People's Assembly to ensure full state sovereignty.

Regarding the Russian military presence, al-Sharaa noted that an understanding has been reached to reduce Russian forces to two locations, which will function as centers for training and capacity building. This follows a memorandum of understanding reached in August to reorganize the Russian presence in Hmeymim and Tartus. Under these new arrangements, the Syrian state is set to manage facilities with a civilian character, such as Hmeymim airport and the fourth commercial pier in Tartus, while military installations transition into joint training centers.