In a significant move to reshape Syria’s geopolitical landscape, Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara, the former leader of the rebel faction Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and sought a renewal of Russia’s security presence near the Golan Heights. The primary aim of the request is the re-deployment of Russian military police forces along the frontier with Israel, a buffer zone known as the "Bravo" disengagement line.
Sources familiar with the meeting indicated that Damascus explicitly asked Moscow to resume military police patrols to "prevent Israel′s interference in Syrian affairs." This request comes as the new Syrian government attempts to stabilize the country's south and confronts repeated military strikes and incursions attributed to Israeli forces. Israel has consistently stated that its actions in southern Syria are aimed at preventing the entrenchment of Iranian-linked forces and Hezbollah near the border, viewing their presence as a direct national security threat.
Russia has previously maintained a military police presence in the area, establishing several observation posts along the Bravo Line following the defeat of anti-government rebels in southwest Syria in 2018. This deployment was intended to support the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) peacekeepers and mitigate tensions between the two sides. The previous Russian presence was instrumental in helping the Syrian government regain control over key areas near the border. (Read More)
