A Russian delegation has arrived in Syria, with their plane landing in Damascus, RIA Novosti news agency reports.
The delegation includes Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Russian Presidential Special Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev.
This is the first official visit by Russian officials since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The purpose of their trip has not been specified.
The former Syrian president lost power following a rapid offensive by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham* (HTS) group, which is recognized as a terrorist organization and banned in Russia. In just one week-from late November to December 7-HTS advanced from northern Syria to Damascus. Government troops and security forces offered almost no resistance. Bashar al-Assad fled the country and was granted asylum in Russia.
The new Syrian authorities are in talks with Moscow regarding the continued presence of Russian military forces in Khmeimim and Tartus, located on the Mediterranean coast, according to Transitional Government Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Kasra. The two sides previously reached an agreement to station Russian troops at these bases for 49 years.
HTS* leader Ahmed al-Sharaa claimed that Syria does not want the withdrawal of Russian troops. Moscow also has no intention of leaving the Syrian bases, Reuters said. The fate of these bases "will be determined through dialogue," the Kremlin stated. Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed using these bases to deliver humanitarian aid to Syria.
On January 21, Damascus terminated its agreement with the Russian company Stroytransgaz regarding the management of the Tartus port.
*terrorist group, banned in Russia