Russia sends second Syria delegation since Assad’s fall to safeguard military interests
Russia has been engaged with Syria’s new authorities as it seeks to maintain its presence and role in the region after the fall of its long-time ally, President Bashar al-Assad, last year.
A high-level Russian delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak arrived in Syria on Tuesday, as Moscow recalibrates its relations with the new authorities in Damascus following the ouster of its longtime ally President Bashar al-Assad late last year.
The secretary general to the Syrian presidency, Maher al-Sharaa, brother of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, welcomed the Russian delegation upon its arrival at the Damascus International Airport earlier on Tuesday, Syria’s state-run news agency, SANA, reported.
According to Russian media, the delegation also includes Minister of Construction and Housing and Public Utilities Irek Faizullin, Deputy Minister of Defense Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Vershinin.
What happened: The Russian officials then held a closed-door meeting with several Syrian ministers and officials, including Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, SANA said, which did not disclose further details.
