Russia To Build Third Army Base In Syria, Close To Damascus

Syria has leased a territory to Russia for 49 years and renewable for another 25 years based on mutual consent between the two countries. The agreement was signed last January and the area is located in a small town of Khirbet Ra’es Al Waer, about 50km from capital Damascus.

The Russian technicians and military personnel started construction work in late June and is learned to become a brand new military base that will be only accessible by Russian officers and troops.

The base can accommodate up to 1,000 soldiers and to be equipped with air defence systems, runways, radars, bunkers, missile launchers, refuelling stations and control towers.

Since September 2015 Russia has build up two new bases after Vladimir Putin authorized a military intervention. However, the latest base will be first to be very close to Damascus. The other two are located in the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartous.

If believed to experts the new based may play a key role in the policing the area that is close to the Syrian-Jordanian border.

The area will be a de-conflict zone and Syria will refrain from sending warplanes, soldiers and sending tanks. However, Damascus will reopen police stations and government schools.

The Russian military will man the zone ensuring both the camps of the Syrian conflict refrain from firing at each other