The Russian government has established contact with the Syrian rebel groups responsible for ousting Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship on Sunday, according to a report by the Interfax news agency.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told the outlet that discussions with Syria’s leading insurgent faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, were "proceeding in constructive fashion" regarding the status of two of the defense ministry’s facilities in the country.
Bogdanov indicated the Kremlin seeks to continue operating Hmeimim Air Base in Latakia and a naval facility in the port city of Tartus.
"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 IS, is not over," he was quoted as saying.
Russia initially sent forces to Syria in 2015, ostensibly to support the al-Assad regime during uprisings against its rule. Military experts have pointed out that the presence of Russian personnel in the Middle Eastern nation also secured Moscow's only naval base in the Mediterranean, thereby strengthening its strategic influence in both the region and Africa in recent years.
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