A source in the Kremlin has told Russian media that militants who have overthrown Bashar al-Assad have guaranteed the security of Russian military bases in the country.
“Russian officials are in touch with representatives of armed Syrian opposition, whose leaders have guaranteed security of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions on the Syrian territory,” a Kremlin source told TASS.
Militants led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an offshoot of al-Qaeda, launched an offensive in Syria against Russia’s ally, Assad, on November 27 and quickly took over the capital, Damascus. The Kremlin source also told TASS that Assad has fled to Moscow for asylum.
“Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow. Russia has granted asylum to them proceeding from humanitarian considerations,” the source said.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that Assad had decided to flee Syria. “Following his talks with a number of participants in the armed conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, Bashar al-Assad decided to step down as the Syrian President and leave the country, instructing the government to transfer power peacefully,” the ministry wrote on Telegram.
The ministry insisted Russia was not involved in the talks but said it was in contact with the opposition. “The Russian Federation maintains contact with all Syrian opposition groups,” the ministry said.
The ministry called for “all parties to respect the opinions of all ethnic and religious groups in Syrian society.”
President Biden on Sunday celebrated the overthrow of Assad, saying it was possible thanks to US support for Ukraine and Israel.
The mid-east situation is more fluid than it has been in decades.
The only constants:
Russia's military assets in Syria remains solid.
US gets the oil.
Israel gets more land.
The Syrians get a finger.
However, the fog may clear sooner than expected as the new owners of Syria are already turning on each other.
The Turkish proxies attack the Kurds (no surprise there).
The Israelis attack retreating Hezbollah (even less surprising)
ISIS are on the move from their desert enclaves.
and Iran have yet to response to the Turkish sudden but inevitable betrayal.
Interesting times.
Where do you get your news? Russian military bloggers are disputing that claim. I'm not saying that I trust Russian military bloggers (generally), but I do not see why they should lie to make themselves look worse.
Reacting to the above article.
I have doubts that any player, currently fighting for their piece of the Syrian pie will dare to antagonize Russia. Even the opposition , who endured Russian air strikes, probably see themselves as future allies.
The Russians themselves were never a part of the axis of "resistance" and will not give their mid east port so willingly.
My prediction is that the Syrian coastal area will become mostly populated with Allawites and Christians (more or less the current case anyway) under an unofficial protection by Russian forces.
No clue what will happen to the Kurds..
I guess it depends on how far Turkey is willing to directly interfere and how much will Trump see them as useful allies.
Well thanks for answering – while what you propose would make economic sense, I'm less convinced that things will develop quite as organized.
Agreed, however, economics aside, for the Allawites, their best chances are safety in numbers making the coastal area the ideal place to huddle.
Same for the Christians. It seems somewhat counter productive to remain in areas, occupied by what is essentially Al-Qaeda. They are not known for their tolerance for other religions..
the Druze might gather in the Golan area next to Israel and Lebanon as both states have a large Druze population which may assist them in case the situation is Syria gets worse. Hopefully the Kurds will find peace in the northern parts of Syria.
The latest I have heard indicates that you are and were right, i.e. the Russians have struck deals with the new administration.
My concern was that there would not be a new administration strong enough to control the developments and hence not strong enough to do what made most sense.
But that also implies that it is with those Islamists that the deal(s?) have been made – as it is AFAIK them who have control even in the costal areas.
NB probably somewhat early to say much of this with any certainty.
Don’t be so sure. Turkey and the west have broken many promises. As reliable as a thief in the night.
… and generally for Syrians the bloom will soon come off their new neanderthal liders
"Har har har ! Mine is an evil laugh ! Now die !"
Have They…?!
If the HTS or HTTP or BTS or whatever K-Pop Al-Qaedenese cousin just overthrew Assad are smart, they'll leverage security for Russian Federation assets into convincing the RF to arm them against US occupiers in east Syria.
The Soviets gave the Americans a Vietnam in Vietnam before the Americans gave the Soviets a Vietnam in Afghanistan before the Americans gave themselves a Vietnam in Afghanistan before pivoting to give the Russian Federation an Afghanistan in Ukraine … so only reasonable the Russian Federation should have the opportunity to deal the Americans a Ukraine in Syria.
I see your point and means Russia would have to join the resistance alliance but HTS is not part of resistance alliance because they are supported by Turkey, Israel and US which don’t give a damn about Palestinian cause…!
I got dizzy reading paragraph two. Good one.
I'm sure you did. Also sure you did not understand it, as cause and effect is concept you don't get.
Nice try. Actually, it's rather feeble, but it is a try.
Now, please, Russian Federation, supply the new Syrian regime with ALL the weapons & money they need to bash the f**k out of American troops occupying lower east Syria. It's only fair.
Well, now we know Russia was in on it as well.
Is this the same Russian Federation that bomb the f##k out of Syrian people and their cities?
Only Turkey can lend a hand. Good luck with that.