President Vladimir Putin of Russia convened with the current Syrian head of state in Moscow, a figure the Kremlin previously labeled as a leader of terrorists.
Russian President Vladimir Putin / © Associated Press
During his meeting with Ahmed al-Shaara, the freshly appointed President of Syria, the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, pledged support in rebuilding the country following the protracted, nearly fifteen-year war. It is notable that, a decade prior, the Kremlin had characterized the present-day Syrian leader as a “villain” and vowed to “annihilate” him.
The Kremlin’s communications office reported on Putin’s commitment to assist the Syrian president.
“I am aware that significant reconstruction will be necessary in Syria, and our business entities, notably those in the construction industry, stand prepared for this collaborative undertaking,” the Russian president conveyed during his discussion with the Syrian leader.
Furthermore, at his assembly with Ahmed al-Shaara, Putin asserted, with apparent cynicism, that historically, “there have never been any problematic chapters between Russia and Syria at the international level.”
According to The Moscow Times, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist faction in Syria headed by al-Shaara (also identified as al-Julani), was formerly designated by Moscow as a “terrorist organization” known for employing “brutal and savage tactics.”
In 2016, the Russian Foreign Ministry declared that “the struggle against these terrorists will persist until they are completely eradicated.” Subsequently, in 2017, the Russian Defense Ministry alleged that al-Julani suffered the loss of an arm in an attack by the Russian Aerospace Forces.
In December 2024, rebels under the command of Ahmed al-Shaara gained control in Syria after the prior president, Bashar al-Assad, sought refuge in Moscow.
Currently, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is endeavoring to secure agreements to maintain Russian military installations in Syria, which have faced uncertainty since the downfall of the Assad administration.
The preceding week, Syrian authorities requested the removal of Russian forces from the Qamishli base, situated in the capital of Syrian Kurdistan. Since 2019, this base has acted as a crucial point for overseeing the country’s northeast and as a pivotal logistical center for troop deployments.
As a point to remember, Russia is in the process of transferring equipment and heavy armaments from Qamishli to the Russian airbase, Hmeimim, located in western Syria. A portion of the deployed personnel is anticipated to return to Russia.
Source: tsn.ua