Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected

Damascus authorities terminate Russian contract for Tartus port

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Jan 2025 00:04
  • 5 Shares
3 Min Read

The new Syrian authorities are reportedly working to boost commercial activity at the port by cutting customs fees by 60%.

Listen
  • x
  • A navy missile ship departs the Russian naval facility in Tartus, Syria. AP
    A navy missile ship departs the Russian naval facility in Tartus, Syria. (AP)

Syria's transitional government has taken a decisive step to reduce Russian influence by canceling a long-standing contract with a Russian company managing the Tartus port. Riyad Judi, director of the customs department in Tartus, confirmed the development to al-Watan newspaper on Monday, noting that the revenues from the port would now go entirely to the Syrian state.

The agreement, originally signed in 2019 under Bashar al-Assad's government, granted the Russian firm Stroytransgaz control over the port for 49 years. In return, the company would invest $500 million in the port, keeping 65% of the profits while the Syrian government retained the remaining 35%.

The Tartus port, Syria's second-largest after Latakia, is a critical Mediterranean hub with a capacity of four million tons annually and home to Russia's only naval base in the region. Established in 1971 by the Soviet Union and later expanded in 2017, the base has served as a strategic outpost for Russian military operations in the Middle East.

The new Syrian authorities are reportedly working to boost commercial activity at the port by cutting customs fees by 60%. Judi highlighted the "excellent" activity at Tartus, with ships from Syria, Arab nations, and international operators transporting goods like iron, sugar, and carbonates.

Related News

IOF encroach on Quneitra, set up checkpoint, arrest youth

Cautious calm in Sweida after ceasefire breach reported

Balancing Russian ties amid western pressure

The decision to cancel the contract comes as Syria's new leadership faces mounting pressure from Western nations to sever ties with Moscow in exchange for easing economic sanctions. European officials have reportedly linked the lifting of sanctions to Syria distancing itself from Russia.

However, Syria's leadership has so far resisted calls to cut ties with Moscow. Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the transitional government, previously affirmed Syria's strategic partnership with Russia during an interview with Al Arabiya, calling Russia "the second most powerful state in the world" and highlighting the long-standing relationship between the two nations.

Read more: Syria's new leadership asserts strategic alliance with Russia

Coinciding with the contract termination, the Russian cargo ship Sparta II docked at Tartus after reportedly waiting offshore for two weeks. Media reports suggest the ship carried military equipment, though these claims remain unverified. The docking indicates Russia's continued presence and influence in Syria, even as the new government recalibrates its foreign policy.

Future of Russian military bases

The fate of Russia's military bases in Syria—Tartus and Khmeimim—remains uncertain. Reports suggest Russia has redeployed some assets to other Middle Eastern locations, including Libya, following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad. Despite this, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has noted that Moscow remains in contact with Syria's transitional government to ensure the continued operation of its bases and broader cooperation.

Russian officials have underscored the strategic importance of their presence in Syria, citing the Tartus naval base and Khmeimim airbase as critical assets for regional stability and counterterrorism operations. Bogdanov has reiterated that Russia's military presence will not be abandoned and remains essential to its broader geopolitical goals in the Middle East.

  • Syria
  • Tartus
  • Russia
  • Russian naval base
  • Tartus port
  • HTS

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS