Lavrov states Russian forces mission in Syria needs to be revised
(MENAFN) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the mission of Russia’s military in Syria requires reassessment, with the possibility of converting its bases into humanitarian hubs.
Since the overthrow of longtime Syrian President Bashar Assad by a coalition led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) last year, the situation in Syria has remained unstable. Despite Assad’s removal, Russia has confirmed it will maintain its presence at the Khmeimim Air Base and the Tartus naval facility, operating under long-term agreements signed with Damascus in 2017.
In an interview with the Bridges to the East project, Lavrov noted that the Russian military’s role must evolve in light of the political transition in Syria. “This also applies to our military bases... this is no longer a presence for militarily supporting the legitimate authorities against various opposition forces. We need to restructure their functions,” he said, suggesting that one potential function could be establishing a humanitarian hub.
Lavrov explained that such a hub could facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid from Russia and Persian Gulf countries to Africa through Syrian ports and airports. He emphasized that regional partners have shown interest in the idea: “We are ready to coordinate the details. In principle, the issue has been discussed. There is mutual interest.”
The Russian minister reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to supporting Syria, stressing that maintaining Syria’s unity should remain a shared priority for all nations with influence in the region.
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