# Russia-Syria military and civilian cooperation agreement

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/russia-syria-military-and-civilian-cooperation-agreement
> Updated: 2026-08-26T11:28:36.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 3.

Russia and Syria have concluded 18 months of negotiations by signing a memorandum of understanding to reorganize military and civilian cooperation. The agreement facilitates a transition of control over strategic infrastructure toward Syrian state administration.

Under the new terms, Damascus will assume control over civilian facilities at Hmeimim Air Base and the commercial sections of the Tartus port, including the fourth commercial quay. This shift is intended to increase operational capacity and cargo handling efficiency. Russian military installations are scheduled to be reorganized into joint training and capacity-building centers following a three-month transitional period. While Russian personnel will maintain conditional access to these sites, the agreement marks a departure from previous arrangements where Moscow held significant control and legal immunity. Moving forward, Russian forces in Syria will operate under terms established by Damascus.

Following the signing of the memorandum on August 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara held a telephone conversation to discuss deepening bilateral relations. The leaders focused on establishing new frameworks for military and logistical coordination at the Hmeimim Air Base and the naval logistics center in Tartus. During the call, Putin reaffirmed Russia’s support for Syria’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, while expressing rejection of Israeli military actions in the region. Both leaders agreed to maintain high-level coordination to expand cooperation in economic, trade, and humanitarian sectors.

## Claims

- Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia's support for Syria's unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Russia and Syria signed a memorandum of understanding on August 9 regarding the reorganization of military facilities. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The leaders discussed deepening cooperation in trade, economy, and humanitarian areas. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Russia rejects Israeli attacks and violations of Syrian sovereignty. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-26: Russia and Syria discuss reorganization of Hmeimim and Tartus military sites

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara discussed reorganizing Russia's Hmeimim Air Base and Tartus naval facility following a recent memorandum of understanding.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/putin-and-al-sharaa-discuss-reorganizing-russian-military-bases-in-syria

### 2026-08-23: Syria and Russia reach agreement on Tartus and Hmeimim bases

Syria and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding that transitions management of the Tartus naval base and Hmeimim air base facilities toward Syrian civilian administration.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/syria-and-russia-reach-agreement-on-tartus-and-hmeimim-bases

### 2026-08-16: Russia and Syria reach agreement to reorganize military presence

Russia and Syria have agreed to a new memorandum of understanding to reorganize military cooperation, with Damascus assuming control of civilian facilities at Hmeimim and Tartus.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russia-and-syria-restructure-military-presence-at-hmeymim-and-tartus

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Cite as: Russia-Syria military and civilian cooperation agreement. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/russia-syria-military-and-civilian-cooperation-agreement