Russia resumes flights to Hmeimim Air Base in Syria

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Bloomberg
30 Oct 2025 18:59

Russia has resumed military flights to Syria's Hmeimim Air Base amid renewed talks with Damascus to review longstanding military base agreements and redefine bilateral cooperation following the country's political transition.

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A cargo plane, belonging to the Russian troops, is seen entering the Russian Khmeimim Air Base in Jabla in Latakia, Syria on December 15, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)

Russia has resumed its military flights to the Hmeimim Air Base in Syria after nearly six months of suspension, as both countries work to rebuild their relations.

According to data from the flight-tracking website Flightradar24, at least two Russian aircraft have flown to Latakia, where the base is located. One of them, an Ilyushin Il-62M transport plane belonging to the Russian Air Force, flew from Libya to Latakia and then to the Moscow region on October 26. Another, an Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan heavy transport aircraft, arrived at the airport three times since October 24, with the latest flight taking place on Wednesday.

Bloomberg cited a person close to the Kremlin confirming that Russia has resumed the flights. The report added that Moscow has relied on its bases in Libya to expand its military influence in the Middle East and Africa.

In addition to the airbase, which serves as a key logistical hub for Russian operations across parts of Africa, Russia maintains the Tartus naval port, its only maritime foothold in the Mediterranean.

The resumption of military flights comes shortly after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani announced that Damascus is engaged in extensive discussions with Moscow to review earlier military agreements. Al-Shaibani said the talks cover the status of Russian installations in Syria, including the Hmeimim Air Base and Tartus Naval Facility, which have been central to Moscow's regional influence since 2015. He clarified that no new deals have been finalized, but that both sides are "reassessing old agreements to reflect new political realities."

The discussions follow interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa's visit to Moscow earlier this month, during which he met Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the future of bilateral cooperation, regional stability, and the role of Russian military bases. The meetings marked what both governments described as a "new historic phase" in relations.

The report noted that the collapse of the Assad government about a year ago and his subsequent flight to Moscow raised doubts about the Kremlin's cooperation with Syria's new transitional government, led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa, and Russia's ability to retain its military installations.

Loss of bases would mark a setback for Russia

According to Bloomberg, the loss of either of the two bases would represent a major strategic setback for the Kremlin, which remains locked in an escalating confrontation with the United States and its European allies nearly four years after Putin ordered the military operation in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has sought to court the new Syrian administration and has met with al-Sharaa twice this year. Both Washington and the European Union have eased some of their economic sanctions on Syria.

Two weeks ago, President Vladimir Putin met with al-Sharaa in Moscow, where the future of Russia's bases was among the topics discussed, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

Russia's Ministry of Defense announced on its Telegram channel that Defense Minister Andrei Belousov held talks on Tuesday with his Syrian counterpart, Marhaf Abu Qasra.

Even if Russia manages to maintain a military presence in Syria, it is expected to be on a smaller scale than before Assad's ouster, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg earlier this year.

Readiness for cooperation between both sides

A Kremlin-linked source familiar with the airbase added that a delegation from Syria's Foreign Ministry is currently in Moscow working on reopening the Syrian embassy.

Syria's official news agency SANA, quoting the ministry's press office, reported that officials intend to resume consular and administrative services for Syrian citizens.

On Wednesday, President al-Sharaa addressed the Future Investment Initiative summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, stating that he would seek to attract foreign investors to help rebuild the country.