Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has called on Russia to return exiled former president Bashar al-Assad, according to a Reuters report.
Bashar al-Assad, a crucial ally of Russia in the Middle East, fled to Moscow last year after being ousted in a rebel offensive that ended over 50 years of Assad family rule in Syria.
Syria’s state news agency, Sana, added that Damascus also wants Russia, which had supported Assad during the Syrian civil war, to restore trust through actions such as compensation, reconstruction, and recovery efforts.
In response, a high-level Russian delegation visited Syria to express support for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as reported by Russia’s foreign ministry on Wednesday.
However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refrained from commenting on the request to return Assad. Russia sent its first significant delegation to Syria on Tuesday, aiming to preserve its two military bases in the country.
The Russian foreign ministry reaffirmed its commitment to Syria’s unity and territorial integrity in a statement, describing the visit as happening at a “crucial point” in Russia-Syria relations. Peskov called the trip “important,” stressing the need for continued dialogue with the Syrian authorities.
The Russian delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov—Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for the Middle East and Africa—met with al-Sharaa, Syria’s new leader.
Russia’s military presence in Syria includes a naval base in Tartus and an air base at Hmeimim, both located on Syria’s Mediterranean coast. These are Russia’s only military outposts outside the former Soviet Union. Moscow has extensively used the air base since intervening in the Syrian civil war in 2015.
Following discussions with the Russian delegation, Syria’s new administration emphasized that restoring relations with Russia requires addressing past mistakes. They insisted that any future cooperation must respect the will of the Syrian people and align with their interests. However, a Syrian source informed Reuters that Russia was reluctant to acknowledge these past mistakes.
The Russian foreign ministry described the talks as a “frank discussion” covering a broad range of topics. Although no specific mention was made of the military bases, both sides indicated they would continue discussions to reach relevant agreements.
