Russia is negotiating with the new Syrian authorities on maintaining two of its military bases in the country, Tartus and Khmeimim.
Moscow and the Syrian jihadists who seized power in the country last weekend are currently discussing “maintaining Russia’s presence in Syria and its previous status,” according to TASS sources familiar with the negotiations. “The Russian side has secured temporary security guarantees, so the military bases are operating as usual,” the agency’s source has said.
On December 9, a TASS source reported that the day before, armed formations of then-President Bashar Assad’s opponents had established full control over the provinces of Latakia and Tartus, where Russian military bases are located. They did not invade the Russian bases in Tartus and Khmeimim.
