Syria Seeks Permanent Russian Military Presence
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
MOSCOW (Worthy News) – Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad has said he would “welcome a permanent Russian military presence” in his country and supports Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Assad, who met Russian President Vladimir this week in Moscow, told reporters that he awaits Russian proposals to set up new military bases and boost troop numbers in Syria.
“We think that expanding the Russian presence in Syria is a good thing,” Assad explained in remarks that were likely to upset the West and perhaps Israel. “Russia’s military presence in any country should not be based on anything temporary.”
He added: “We believe that if Russia has the desire to expand bases or increase their number, it is a technical or logistical issue.”
His enthusiasm for a Russian presence dates back to the Syrian Civil War in 2015, when Russia intervened militarily, helping to tip the balance in Assad’s favor.
Moscow ensured the autocratic Syrian leader’s survival despite Western demands that he be toppled. In return, Assad stressed that Syria stood beside Russia on the issue of Ukraine.
“Because this is my first visit since the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, I would like to repeat the Syrian position in support of this special operation,” Assad told Putin, according to a Kremlin transcript.
Syria recognizes the territories of Ukraine, which Russia has seized as Russian, he said.
“I say that these are Russian territories, and even if the war had not happened, these are historically Russian territories,” Assad added.
Assad also thanked Putin for the help Russia had given to Syria after a devastating earthquake and praised the Kremlin chief for his “support of Syrian unity.”
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