Because of military bases?

Russian delegation arrives in Syria

Syria's ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa

(Bild: APA/AP)

For the first time since the fall of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, a high-ranking Russian delegation has traveled to Damascus. The Kremlin had supported al-Assad militarily during the civil war and welcomed the politician to Russia after the upheaval.

Russia intervened militarily in the war in 2015. Following the takeover by the Islamist militia HTS, the Kremlin is now primarily interested in maintaining its military bases in Syria. The naval base in Tartus and the airbase in Hmeimin are Russia's only military outposts outside the former Soviet Union. The delegation that has now arrived includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Alexander Lavrentiev, President Vladimir Putin's Syria envoy.

Russia classifies the HTS militia, which is now in power in Syria, as a "terrorist organization". The group emerged from the Al-Nusra Front, the Syrian branch of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network. For some time now, however, it has adopted a more moderate tone. Its leader and the new Syrian ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa spoke of "deep strategic interests between Russia and Syria" in a TV interview in December. "All Syrian weapons come from Russia and many energy facilities are managed by Russian experts," he said.

Assad's fall "not a defeat"
Russian President Vladimir Putin had said in mid-December that Assad's fall was "not a defeat". The Russian goals had been achieved and Syria would not become a "terrorist enclave". As reported, fighters led by the HTS militia conquered Damascus at the beginning of December following a major offensive and toppled Assad.