CAIRO, August 9. /TASS/. Syria’s Civil Aviation Authority said it has taken over control of the Latakia airport.

"Control of the Latakia Airport was transferred to the Syrian authorities today. The next step is to renovate the airport so that it can handle international flights again," it said.

The Syrian foreign ministry said earlier that Moscow and Damascus have signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the future of Russian military bases in that country. The document envisages that all civilian facilities, including the Khmeimim airfield located at the Latakia airport, will be transferred to the control of the Syrian authorities within three months.

No official comments from the Russian foreign ministry have been issued as of yet.