Syrian Defense Minister: We Are Considering the Possibility of Maintaining Russian Military Bases

Maref Abu Qasra, the Syrian Defense Minister, announced that the new government of the country is considering the possibility of maintaining Russian military bases after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, provided that this action aligns with Syria's national interests. In an interview with The Washington Post, he emphasized that Damascus is ready to allow Moscow to keep its bases in Syria, including the naval base in Tartus and the airbase in Hmeimim, if favorable concessions are received. He stated, 'If we gain a benefit from this agreement for Syria, then yes.' This stance represents a significant change in the policy of the new Syrian government, which was previously under Russian airstrikes before the fall of the Assad regime in December. According to Maref Abu Qasra, relations between Moscow and Damascus have improved following recent changes. He added, 'In politics, there are no permanent enemies.' The unexpected fall of Bashar al-Assad following a large-scale attack by rebel forces has cast uncertainty on the future of Russian military presence in Syria. However, it now seems that the new Syrian government is looking to leverage this situation to secure its own interests. The interim President of Syria has traveled from Saudi Arabia to Turkey, and the Syrian army has entered Lebanese territory, engaging with Hezbollah forces. Ahmad al-Shara stated that the presence of Iranian government forces in Syria posed a threat to the region.