Saturday, December 14, 2024

Russia Negotiating with Syrian Jihadi Rebels to Keep Military Bases

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikahil Bogdanov told state media on Thursday that Moscow had made “direct contact” with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the al-Qaeda offshoot that toppled Syrian dictator Bashar Assad last weekend.

The Russians are keen to persuade Syria’s new rulers to let them keep their air and naval bases. Bogdanov said talks with HTS are “proceeding in constructive fashion,” particularly on the subject of combating a potentially resurgent Islamic State. He said HTS saw the wisdom of allowing Russia to keep its bases in Syria so it could help with suppressing ISIS. “The bases are still there, where they were on Syrian territory. No other decisions have been made for the moment,” Bogdanov told Russian state media reporters.

“They were there at the Syrians’ request with the aim of fighting terrorists from the Islamic State. I am proceeding on the basis of the notion that everyone agrees that the fight against terrorism, and what remains of ISIS, is not over,” he said.   (Read More)