Russia’s role in Middle East politics endures, shifts to being ‘secondary power’

Two Russian military bases will remain in Syria as the region continues to recalibrate its relations with major powers amid the Iran war

At the time, Moscow operated about 100 military facilities in the war-torn country, following its intervention in the Syrian civil conflict from 2015 to prop up then president Bashar al-Assad in alliance with Iran and its regional proxies.

According to a deal announced by the Syrian foreign ministry on Sunday, Russia’s only two official military bases outside the former Soviet Union would be turned into “joint training and capacity-building centres, within new arrangements that preserve mutual interests”.

No further details were given, but Russian military contingents would reportedly remain at both facilities under the new arrangement.