Syria has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Russia to convert two Russian military bases in the country into joint training and rehabilitation centers. Syrian state news agency SANA reported the development on Sunday, citing the Foreign Ministry. The two sides agreed that the conversion would take place within the next three months.

Under the new arrangement, Russian military bases and facilities at Hmeimim Airport and the port of Tartus will be transformed into what SANA described as joint training and rehabilitation centers. The report said the measures would protect the mutual interests of both Syria and Russia.

No details were provided about how the two sites would be managed in the future. The announcement also did not specify the nature of Russia’s military presence at the facilities after the planned conversion. No further terms of the memorandum or operational details about the proposed centers were disclosed in the report.