Russia to reassess Syrian base presence with new regime

The Kremlin announced on Monday that it is too early to determine the fate of Russia's military bases in Syria, noting that discussions with Syria's new leadership will shape their future.

The statement comes after a rapid offensive by an alliance of militias led by Hayat al-Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a former al-Qaeda affiliate, forced Bashar al-Assad to flee to Russia. This upheaval has cast uncertainty over the status of two strategically critical Russian military installations in Syria.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed the situation, stating, "It's premature to talk about it yet. This is all a subject for discussion with those who will be in power in Syria." Peskov acknowledged the "extreme instability" in the region and emphasized that Russia is actively engaging with relevant actors to address security concerns.

"Our military is taking all necessary precautions, and all efforts are being made to establish contact with those capable of ensuring stability," Peskov added, highlighting the volatile dynamics in Syria.

* The Jerusalem Post contributed to this article.