Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to assist in rebuilding Syria’s war-damaged economy as the country's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa made his second visit to Moscow in less than four months on Wednesday (28 January).
In opening remarks, Putin told al-Sharaa, "I want to congratulate you on the fact that the process of restoring the territorial integrity of Syria is gaining momentum."
Putin also reaffirmed Moscow’s support for Syria’s unity. “You know that we always stood for the restoration of Syria’s territorial integrity, and we support all your efforts in this direction,” he said.
Al-Sharaa, on his second visit to Russia since ousting Bashar al-Assad in 2024, thanked Putin for helping to stabilise the situation in Syria and the wider region.
He also underlined the importance of Russia’s role in supporting Syria’s unity and stability, Syria’s SANA state news agency reported.
Reuters reported this week that Russia was withdrawing forces from Qamishli airport in northeast Syria, although it was expected to maintain its larger Hmeimim air base and Tartous naval facility on Syria's Mediterranean coast.
A Syrian foreign ministry source said Damascus viewed the withdrawal from Qamishli as a goodwill gesture.
The source added that it signalled Russia would not become involved in clashes between government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as Sharaa seeks to assert central authority nationwide.
Military bases and regional security concerns
The Syrian source said a key item on the agenda was redefining the status of Russia’s military presence at Tartous and Hmeimim, which Moscow hopes to retain under a new framework in the post-Assad period.
It also added that al-Sharaa intended to raise concerns about the risk of a strike on Iran, with Damascus keen to contain any spillover from a potential U.S. or Israeli attack, particularly given Iran’s past use of Syrian airspace to target Israel.
Al-Sharaa was also seeking greater Russian engagement in future security arrangements in southern Syria, including a possible Russian military police presence in Quneitra in the Golan Heights, to serve as a buffer against Israeli incursions, the source said.
Fighting broke out earlier this month between government forces and the SDF after negotiations over merging the groups collapsed. A ceasefire is currently in place and has largely held, with the truce extended by another 15 days after an initial four-day period expired.
Despite having been on opposing sides during much of Syria’s civil war, the interim government in Damascus has signalled readiness to develop ties with Moscow, hoping Russia could help rebuild the war-ravaged country and offer an additional foreign policy channel.
Yemen's air force carried out 20 strikes on Houthi targets earlier on Friday, Brigadier General Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, Spokesman for t...
The European Space Agency (ESA), Airbus and European partners have put a six-wheeled Mars rover prototype through its paces in Spain’s Tabern...
Azerbaijan won 22 medals, including seven gold, at the Mingachevir Regatta 2026 as more than 100 young rowers from 12 countries competed in the int...
Yemen's air force carried out 20 strikes on Houthi targets earlier on Friday, Brigadier General Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, Spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthis denied targeting a power plant supplying energy to a mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Passengers from a flydubai flight that was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an alleged attempt to crash the aircraft have arrived safely in Israel.
Azerbaijan and Armenia will sign a final peace agreement once Armenia amends its constitution to remove territorial claims against Azerbaijan, Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, has said.
Ukraine is working to resolve a diplomatic dispute with South Korea after Kyiv publicly disclosed the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Thursday, 1 October.
British counter-terrorism police have arrested a 27-year-old dual UK-Iranian national as part of an investigation into a suspected plot involving RAF Fairford, an airbase used by U.S. forces for operations against Iran.
Azerbaijan won 22 medals, including seven gold, at the Mingachevir Regatta 2026 as more than 100 young rowers from 12 countries competed in the international tournament.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says the TRIPP project will establish a direct railway connection between Azerbaijan and Armenia and strengthen wider regional transport links.
Afghanistan and Tajikistan have discussed boosting electricity supplies to Afghanistan and plans for a high-voltage power line through the country to Iran, as Kabul seeks greater access to imported energy.
Türkiye has rejected a news report alleging that its intelligence service arranged secret talks between Syrian officials and Hezbollah, calling the claim “entirely unfounded.”
The Gulf is facing mounting pressure across aviation, defence and critical infrastructure as conflict, changing security arrangements and threats to water supplies reshape the region’s risk landscape.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment