Russian delegation in Syria to preserve military bases: What to know

Adam Lucente

Feb 4, 2026

A Russian military Ilyushin Il-76 strategic airlift aircraft takes off from Qamishli International Airport in northeastern Syria's Hasakah province on January 27, 2026. Russia withdrew troops and equipment on January 27 from the airport in Kurdish-held northeast Syria where its forces were based, as Kurdish forces who once controlled swathes of territory in the country's north and east have withdrawn in the face of military pressure of Syrian army advance while the country's new Islamist authorities seek to — A Russian military Ilyushin Il-76 strategic airlift aircraft takes off from Qamishli International Airport in northeastern Syria's Hasakah province, on Jan 27, 2026. — Delil SOULEIMAN / AFP via Getty Images

Syria received a senior Russian military delegation in Damascus on Wednesday for talks on defense cooperation, the latest sign that Moscow is seeking to maintain its military foothold in the country despite its recent withdrawal from one of its bases.

Syria's Chief of General Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Naasan welcomed the Russian delegation, which was headed by Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov.

استقبل رئيس هيئة الأركان العامة اللواء علي النعسان في العاصمة دمشق، نائب وزير الدفاع الروسي السيد يونس بك بيفكوروف والوفد المرافق له، وستستمر زيارة الوفد الروسي عدة أيام بهدف تطوير التعاون العسكري، وتعزيزه بما يخدم المصالح المشتركة بين البلدين.#وزارة_الدفاع pic.twitter.com/UP6j71xQAP
— وزارة الدفاع السورية (@Sy_Defense) February 4, 2026

Syria's official news agency, SANA, reported later on Tuesday that Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met with Yevkurov along with Russian Housing Minister Irek Faizullin and presidential adviser Igor Levitin. The officials discussed the Russian military presence in Syria, bilateral defense cooperation, and economic and development ties, according to the outlet.

Russia’s official news agency, Tass, reported the visit, citing Syrian officials, but the Kremlin has not otherwise commented on the trip.

Russian delegation in Syria to preserve military bases: What to know

Russian and Syrian military officials have held a series of reciprocal exchanges and visits in recent weeks, as the Kremlin continues to view Syria as a key military vantage point.

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