Russia and Syria Discuss Middle East Cooperation

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the defense ministers of Russia and Syria met in Moscow and discussed prospects for cooperation, in addition to the situation in the Middle East. Earlier today, Thursday, the Russian Foreign Minister and his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Al-Shaybani, held talks in the Russian capital, Moscow, where they touched upon the relations between the two countries. The Syrian Foreign Minister added, “The current period is full of various challenges and threats, but there is also an opportunity to build a united and strong Syria. Of course, we are interested in having Russia with us on this path.” On December 8, 2024, control was seized over the official Syrian television building in the capital, Damascus, and the country’s takeover was announced, along with the departure of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had stepped down, and a source in the Kremlin stated that Assad and his family arrived in Moscow, where they were granted asylum for humanitarian reasons.