Kommersant Claims Damascus Open to Return of Russian Military Police in Southern Syria

Damascus has allegedly expressed interest in resuming patrols by Russian military police in Syria’s southern provinces — an arrangement that existed prior to the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, Orda.kz reports, citing Kommersant. 

A government source involved in Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al‑Shaibani’s meetings with the diaspora in Moscow on August 1 confirmed that such a measure could help curb Israeli military activity, which has extended into parts of southern Syria since December 2024.

Damascus has not officially confirmed this.

While Russia has not resumed southern patrols, media reported that shortly after al‑Shaibani’s Moscow visit, Russian military police resumed patrols near the northeastern city of Qamishli — still under de facto SDF (Kurdish-led) control — even without SDF participation. 

Russia continues to maintain a strategic presence at Qamishli Airport. In May 2025, militants attacked Russia’s Khmeimim air base in Syria, killing at least two soldiers, according to AP.

Moscow continues to maintain its forces there and at its naval facility in Tartus. 

There have been reports of other attacks and Russian equipment being drawn down in the area as well.