On his first visit to the capital since the start of the Syrian conflict nearly nine years ago, Putin greeted the Russian forces stationed there on the occasion of the Orthodox Christmas. Russia’s 2015 military intervention was decisive in saving Assad’s regime and Putin hailed the latest advances made by Syrian government forces during his visit. In December 2017, Putin visited Hmeimim, the Mediterranean base where the largest number of Russian forces is deployed, but had not visited Damascus since the start of the conflict in 2011. Peace on the streetsPeskov told Interfax, RIA Novosti and TASS that Putin had met Assad at a command post for Russian forces in Syria, driving through Damascus on the way. The Syrian presidency said Assad and Putin discussed stamping out “terrorism” in jihadist-held Idlib, and Turkey’s “measures” in the north of the country.

Source: The Guardian January 07, 2020 19:41 UTC