Syria Post-Assad Reconstruction and Foreign Relations

Syria and Russia finalized a deal on Tartous and Hmeimim bases after 18 months of talks, converting military sites to joint training centers within three months. Civilian facilities revert to Syrian control, reshaping Russia's post-Assad footprint and challenging assumptions of full withdrawal. Syrian transitional parliament held first session in July 2026, raising legitimacy concerns. President al-Sharaa calls for security agreement with Israel conditional on Golan sovereignty. This adds a new dimension to regional power competition in the Levant.