Russia’s Putin makes surprise visit to Syria amid US-Iran tensions
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a surprise visit to Syria’s capital, Damascus, meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and observing “signs of peaceful life” in the city.
The two leaders met at the command center of the Russian forces in the Arab country’s capital on Tuesday, just a few hours after Putin’s plane landed in the Damascus International Airport, Syria’s official news agency SANA reported.
According to RT, at the meeting, Putin and Assad listened to reports by military officials on the conditions on the ground in various regions of Syria, which has been receiving assistance from Russia in the form of counter-terrorism airstrikes since September 2015.
During their meeting, the Russian president told Assad that “signs of peaceful life are visible to the naked eye on the streets of Damascus,” according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
“In his conversation with Assad, Putin noted that we can now say with confidence that a huge distance has been traveled toward restoring Syrian statehood and the country’s territorial integrity,” Peskov further quoted the Russian leader as saying.
The Russian airstrikes have helped Syrian forces clear nearly all of the Arab country from the presence of foreign-backed militants, who began a reign of terror there in 2011.
During his visit, Putin also hailed the latest advances made by Syrian government forces.
According to the Kremlin, the Russian president will visit several facilities in the Arab country during the trip.
The last time Putin visited Syria was in December 2017, when he only briefly stopped at the Russian base of Hmeimim on the Mediterranean coast.
Israel launches air strikes on Syria-Lebanon border crossing
US vetoing of Gaza ceasefire resolution ‘disgraceful’: Iran’s UN envoy
Syria condemns Israel's killing of 36 in 'horrific' strike on Palmyra
Lindsey Graham threatens to sanction US allies backing ICC arrest warrants
VIDEO | Tens of thousands of Catalans protest to demand access to better housing
Israel launches air strikes on Syria-Lebanon border crossing
Russia: Comprehensive deal with Iran will include defense, security ties
VIDEO | Israeli embassy shooting in Jordan leaves gunman dead, 3 police injured
VIDEO | Paris march in support of Palestine women
VIDEO | ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister, ousted regime war minister
120 Palestinians perish as Israeli war machine keeps ravaging Gaza
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
