Russia close to deal with Syria for post-Assad military presence, Bloomberg reports
The Kremlin is seeking continued access to the naval base in Tartus and the Khmeimim airbase, which have served as key military footholds in the region.
Bashar al-Assad
Putin holds first call with Syria's transitional president, pledges support and future cooperation
Russian President Vladimir Putin held his first official phone conversation on Feb. 12 with Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad.
Syria to reassess Russian military presence 'based on national interests,' may seek Assad's extradition
Russia's ability to retain its naval base in Tartus and airbase in Khmeimim will depend on what Moscow offers in return, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said.
Syrian rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa named transitional president
Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the main rebel group who led the overthrow of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, has been named Syria's transitional president, the country's military command announced on Jan. 29.
Syria calls on Russia to hand over Assad, key aides in first post-ouster talks, media reports
The demand was allegedly raised during the first negotiations between Syrian officials and a Kremlin delegation following Assad's ouster in December. After his overthrow by rebels, Assad fled to Moscow, where he now resides.
Syria demands Russian compensation for 'past mistakes' in first talks since Assad's fall
Russia deployed troops to Syria in 2015 to support Assad regime's brutal crackdown against anti-government forces.
Russian state delegation arrives in Syria, first since fall of Assad
The delegation includes Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov, and the Russian president’s special envoy for Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev.
EU agrees to ease sanctions on Syria following Assad's fall, chief diplomat says
"While we aim to move fast, the lifting of sanctions can be reversed if wrong steps are taken," EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas posted on X, adding that the EU plans to scale up humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in Syria.
Syria reportedly blocks evacuation of Russian military equipment from naval base
The Sparta II, a Russian cargo ship under U.S. sanctions, has been drifting near Tartus since Jan. 5 after leaving Baltiysk in Kaliningrad Oblast on Dec. 11, according to the Moscow Times.
I survived a Russian torture camp. So I had to see Assad's Sednaya prison
Editor's Note: Stanislav Aseyev is a Ukrainian writer, journalist, veteran, and a survivor of the Izolyatsia prison in Russia-occupied Donetsk, infamous for its torture of prisoners. He was the first Ukrainian journalist to see to the Sednaya prison and death camp in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime
Ukraine's foreign minister meets with Syrian leadership in Damascus
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visited Damascus on Dec. 30, marking the first official Ukrainian delegation to Syria in years. During the trip, he held talks with Syria’s de-facto leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa.
Fall of Assad’s regime disrupts Russian army recruitment in Syria
The collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria following a lightning rebel offensive in November has shaken Assad-ally Russia’s near-decade of influence in the country. It has also had one other lesser-known consequence: disrupting Moscow’s ability to recruit Syrian fighters for its war in Ukraine. The Kyiv
Putin claims Russia wasn't 'defeated' in Syria
"Everything what is happening in Syria is not a defeat for Russia," Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Assad releases first statement since fleeing to Russia, claims he never considered 'seeking refuge'
In a post on the official Facebook page of the Syrian presidency, Assad said he was releasing the statement to address "misinformation and narratives far removed from the truth" in the wake of his overthrow.
Assad airlifted $250m in cash from Syria to Russia over two years, FT reports
The FT said Syria's central bank flew nearly two tonnes of $100 bills and €500 notes into the country, which were then deposited in sanctioned Russian banks.
Russia appears to be withdrawing military assets from Syria, satellite images suggest
At least two AN-124 heavy military transport planes were spotted at Khmeimim air base, located in Latakia on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, with their nose cones lifted, signaling readiness to load cargo, according to satellite images collected by Maxar.
What Russia’s army in Syria stands to lose after fall of Assad
The Kremlin confirmed on Dec. 11 that longtime Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad had fled to Moscow after rebels took the capital city of Damascus in a lightning offensive that shocked the world. Assad’s exile in Russia comes as little surprise. The Kremlin had invested heavily in propping up the
'We hope that at least he won't call Assad' — Zelensky slams Orban for phone call with Putin
President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Dec. 11 following his hour-long call to Russian President Vladimir Putin during which the two discussed the war in Ukraine.
How the downfall of Russia-backed Assad in Syria may affect Ukraine war
The Kyiv Independent’s Natalia Yermak sat down with Neil Quilliam, a Middle East expert at Chatham House, to talk about what it means for Russia’s war in Ukraine and how it might put Kyiv and the West in a more favorable position in the potential peace negotiations with Moscow.
Russia convinced Assad to flee Syria amid rebel offensive, Bloomberg reports
Moscow persuaded Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to flee to Russia with his family after realizing his regime was bound to lose to the opposition's rapid advance, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 11, citing its sources.
Syria's ousted dictator Assad in Russia, Russian official confirms
This comes as the first official confirmation of speculations that Assad and his family fled to Moscow following the collapse of the dictator's regime in Syria.
Russian troops evacuate from Syria amid base siege, military intelligence says
Military transport aircraft, including An-124 and Il-76 planes, continue to transport personnel and equipment to Russian airfields in Ulyanovsk, Chkalovsky, and Privolzhsky.
What does Assad’s downfall mean for Russia and Ukraine?
As Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime collapsed in a matter of days, Russia's influence in the Middle East appeared to wane. Preoccupied with its all-out war against Ukraine, Russia was unable to prevent the Dec. 8 downfall of its main ally in the region. The stunning rapidity of the rebels'
Russia seeks Turkey’s help to withdraw troops from Syria, CNN Turk reports
According to the outlet’s correspondent in Ankara, Russia has proposed relocating its forces to Turkish-controlled areas of Syria before transporting them to Russia by air.
Syrian opposition takes full control of Latakia province hosting Russian bases, Russian media reports
Syrian opposition fighters took control of the Latakia province, where Russian military facilities – the Kheimin airbase and the Tartus naval base – are based, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Dec. 9, citing a Syrian source.
Russian losses in Ukraine prevented Moscow from saving Assad regime in Syria, Biden says
"Additionally, Russia's support for Assad also failed. And that's because Ukraine, backed by our American allies, has put up a wall of resistance against invading Russian forces, inflicting massive damage on the Russian forces," U.S. President Joe Biden said.
Syria's Assad, his family have arrived in Moscow after being granted asylum, sources tell Russian news agencies
Russian news agencies reported on Dec. 8 that Syria's Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Russia, where they have been granted asylum on "humanitarian grounds."
Assad regime collapse in Syria exposes weakness of Russia, Iran, EU's top diplomat says
In a post on X, top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas described Assad’s fall as a “positive and long-awaited development," saying that the collapse "shows the weakness of Assad’s backers, Russia and Iran."
Russia withdraws ships, weapons from Syria, Ukrainian intelligence reports
The withdrawal comes as rebels advancing from Damascus push toward Syria's coastal provinces, including Latakia, Hama and Tartus, where Russian military bases are located, Ukraine's military intelligence agency said.
Reuters reports Assad may have died in plane crash, later removes report
Reuters on Dec. 8 reported, citing its Syrian sources that "there was a very high probability that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may have been killed in a plane crash" as he was fleeing Damascus following its capture by rebels. Reuters later deleted the information from its reporting.
Syrian rebels announce fall of Russia-backed Assad regime
"The tyrant Bashar al-Assad has fled. We declare the city of Damascus free from the tyrant Bashar al-Assad," rebel leaders claimed on Dec. 8.
Rebels enter Damascus, Assad reportedly flees capital
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad boarded a plane out of Damascus on Dec. 8 as rebel forces swept into the capital, two senior army officers told Reuters.
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