Syria welcomes 'historic' Shaibani-Putin meeting in Moscow in first post-Assad visit

Syria on Thursday commended the "historic meeting" between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Moscow, affirming that a new chapter between the two countries had begun.

Shaibani's trip marked the first visit to Russia by a senior official from Syria's new government, nearly eight months after longtime president Bashar al-Assad was ousted from power.

Assad’s regime, which relied heavily on Russian military support throughout Syria’s civil war, collapsed on 8 December following a lightning offensive by Islamist-led forces. He reportedly fled to Moscow shortly afterwards.

The Syrian foreign ministry’s media department said Shaibani’s meeting with Putin was the start of a new phase of political and military understanding between Damascus and Moscow, based on respect for Syrian sovereignty and support for its unity.

"The meeting represents a strong political indicator of the beginning of a process to restore Syrian-Russian relations, enhancing regional balance and empowering the Syrian state," the media department said.

Shaibani had told his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, that Syria wants Russia by its side. The two held a joint press conference on Thursday.

"The current period is full of various challenges and threats, but it is also an opportunity to build a united and strong Syria. And, of course, we are interested in having Russia by our side on this path," Shaibani told Lavrov, according to a Russian translation of his comments.

"But, of course, there are a number of factors that determine and complicate these relations on the ground," Shaibani said, adding that the relations should be based on "mutual respect."

The Syrian minister added that there were some governments "spoiling the relationship between the new Syria and Russia".

Russia’s military footprint in Syria remains significant, with a naval base in Tartus and an air base at Hmeimim - Moscow's only official military outposts outside the former Soviet Union.

These bases played a central role in Russia’s 2015 military intervention on Assad's behalf, including extensive airstrikes on rebel-held areas.

It remains unclear whether Syria’s new Islamist-led government will allow Russia to retain the bases. Neither minister commented on the lease, which runs until 2066.

Lavrov said Thursday that Moscow was ready to help Syria rebuild after more than a decade of devastating conflict and to review "agreements and contracts concluded under different conditions".

Despite Assad’s removal, Syria continues to suffer from instability and sectarian violence, which has fuelled public scepticism toward the new leadership. Minority communities, including the Alawites and Druze, have faced attacks and alleged atrocities by government-aligned forces.

Addressing recent clashes in southern Syria’s Suweida province, Shaibani denied claims that the state was targeting the Druze community.

"We have no plan or intention to commit genocide against the Druze or attack them," he said, adding that their protection remained the government's responsibility.

A week-long battle in Suweida last month between Druze militias, government forces, and Sunni Bedouin fighters ended with a fragile ceasefire still holding.

Meanwhile, Israel has seized territory in southwest Syria and is demanding the establishment of a demilitarised zone in the area. Turkey, which supports the new Syrian government, also continues to maintain military positions in parts of northern Syria.

Israel intervened during the fighting in Suweida, bombing key government sites in Damascus and the country's south as it claimed to be defending the Druze.

"Syria warns against Israeli interventions that are pushing the country toward chaos, and affirms that its doors are open to all who respect its sovereignty and unity and preserve its security and stability," Syria’s foreign ministry said.

According to a statement by Syria’s SANA news agency, Putin also stressed "Russia’s absolute rejection of any Israeli intervention or attempts to divide Syria and affirmed Moscow's commitment to supporting Syria in its reconstruction and restoration of stability."

Damascus ally Ankara has also warned about any attempts to partition Syria, which it says would pose a direct threat to Turkey.