Contents tagged with Syria

  • Putin dismisses Assad's overthrow as Russia’s defeat

    Russian president Vladimir Putin does not consider the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad a defeat for Russia, citing internal changes among groups that fought against Syrian government forces. According to Putin, Russia has achieved its goal in Syria by preventing the creation of a "terrorist enclave" there.

    "You mentioned Syria. You want to portray everything happening in Syria as some sort of defeat for Russia. I assure you, it is not. And I'll tell you why: we went to Syria 10 years ago to …

  • Russian troops in Syria grapple with supply shortages amid strategic withdrawal

    Russian forces stationed in Syria are reportedly experiencing shortages of water and provisions, prompting a continued withdrawal from remote areas of the country. The issue is notably present at Russia's naval facility in Tartus and the airbase in Khmeimim, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence.

    Amidst these logistical struggles, Russian troops have been withdrawing from distant Syrian regions, often accompanied by rebels who have toppled Bashar al-Assad's regime. Ukrainian intelligence …

  • Russia begins withdrawal of military forces from Syria

    Russia has begun pulling its military forces from Syria, according to media reports and satellite imagery. Reuters, citing an anonymous source within the Syrian security forces, reports that on Saturday, a cargo plane departed Russia’s Khmeimim Airbase in Latakia province for Libya. The source, whose affiliation with either Assad’s security services or the new regime remains unspecified, indicated that more flights are expected in the coming days. Cargo helicopters have also been spotted at the …

  • Assad seeks sanctuary in Russia: a new addition to Moscow's 'collection' of exiled leaders

    Bashar al-Assad and his family have been granted asylum in Russia on "humanitarian grounds." While there are no official photos yet of Assad settling into his new surroundings, speculation is rife about what he might owe Vladimir Putin for this hospitality and who his new neighbors might be, Digi 24 reports.

    Columnist Mark Galeotti suggests that the discredited Syrian ruler will make his home in Barvikha, an upscale enclave for Russia's affluent near Moscow. Historically, this area housed …

  • Russian lawmaker proposes relocating Assad family to Mariupol to aid Donbas recovery

    In an interview with Russian outlet Gazeta.ru, Dmitry Kuznetsov, a member of Russia's State Duma and the International Affairs Committee, has proposed that Bashar al-Assad, the ousted Syrian president who fled to Russia following rebel capture of Syria's capital Damascus, could be relocated to occupied Mariupol

    Kuznetsov argued that the former Syrian leader, along with his family, should settle in Mariupol, where they could "take it under their wing." For his "contribution to the restoration …

  • Kremlin: opposition forces promise security for Russian bases in Syria following government overthrow

    Rebel forces, who seized power in Syria, have pledged to ensure the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions in the country, as reported by Russia's state news agency TASS, citing an anonymous Kremlin source.

    "Russian officials are in contact with representatives of the armed Syrian opposition, whose leaders have promised to guarantee the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic institutions in Syria," said the agency's source.

    Another TASS source in Syria disclosed …

  • Russia seeks Turkish assistance for troop withdrawal as Assad regime collapses in Syria

    Russia has reached out to Turkey for support in ensuring the safe withdrawal of its troops from Syria following the downfall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

    Reports indicate that Russian forces plan to leave Syria, retaining only two strategic locations: the naval base in Tartus and the Khmeimim airbase. Troops are expected to be transported to areas controlled by Turkish forces and flown back to Russia from there.

    The armed opposition has captured the capital, Damascus, leading President Bashar …

  • Russian forces encircled in Syria: negotiations underway for evacuation

    Several groups of Russian military personnel are reportedly encircled in Syria, according to information from several channels and media outlets. Russia is allegedly negotiating for corridors to evacuate the soldiers.

    "What our grouping in Syria looks like today. It is a multitude of various units with their own weaponry, divided into several groupings—the 'Mountain,' 'Palmyra,' 'Plains,' etc., in addition to the well-known Khmeimim and Tartus bases," reads the post of the Russian war channel …

  • Kyiv: Ukraine open to restoring ties with Syria after Assad's fall

    Ukraine is open to the possibility of restoring relations with Syria after the fall of the authoritarian regime of Bashar al-Assad, reaffirming its support for the Syrian populace, said Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, following developments in Syria where rebels have seized control of Damascus, leading Assad to announce a peaceful transfer of power before fleeing the country.

    According to Minister Sybiha, the current priority is to stabilize the region, protect the populace from …

  • Syrian rebels advance into Tartus: uncertainty looms over Russia's naval base amid Assad's fall

    Russia had planned to maintain its military presence in Tartus until at least 2066, but the collapse of Assad’s regime has changed everything.

    The capture of Damascus by rebels and the overthrow of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime has raised significant questions about Russia's continued military presence on Syrian soil. This involves two key Russian bases: the naval facility in Tartus and the Khmeimim airbase. According to Al Jazeera, armed opposition groups have already entered the …