Syria refutes Reuters report on US bases, stresses shift in approach

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Websites
6 Nov 2025 23:36

An official Syrian Foreign Ministry source refutes Reuters’ claims about US bases in Syria, noting a shift in Washington’s stance toward direct engagement with Damascus.

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Crewmen enter Bradley fighting vehicles at a US military base at an undisclosed location in Northeastern Syria, on Nov. 11, 2019. (AP)

An official source at Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has categorically denied claims published by Reuters regarding the presence and status of US military bases in the country, describing the report as baseless and inaccurate.

Speaking to SANA, the source stated that the current phase is witnessing a notable shift in the US position toward Syria, with increased indications of direct engagement with the transitional government in Damascus. The source claimed that this evolving stance includes support for Syria’s unity and a rejection of any initiatives aimed at division.

The official further explained that efforts are underway to transfer previously unavoidable arrangements and understandings made with temporary entities back under the authority of the Syrian state. This transition is taking place within a broader framework of joint political, military, and economic coordination.

The source concluded by affirming that Syria is firmly committed to strengthening stability and advancing cooperation based on full national sovereignty and mutual respect.

What did Reuters report?

Reuters today cited six sources as saying that the United States is preparing to position military personnel at an airbase in the Syrian capital as part of its efforts to finalize a security arrangement between Syria and "Israel"..

If implemented, the deployment would mark Washington’s first military presence in Damascus and signal a dramatic shift in Syria’s geopolitical orientation following the reported fall of former president Bashar al-Assad and the country’s ongoing realignment under transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Reportedly, the move came as Damascus simultaneously renegotiates older military agreements with Russia, following Moscow’s recent resumption of flights to the Hmeimim Air Base in Latakia after a six-month suspension. According to Syrian officials, both sides are reassessing the future of Russia’s installations, including Hmeimim and the Tartus naval port, in light of Syria’s new political landscape.

The base in question lies at a strategic entry point to southern regions expected to form a buffer zone under a proposed "non-aggression" agreement between Syria and "Israel" being steered by the Trump administration.