The Times of Israel

Syrian leader meets Putin as Russia eyes deal on military bases

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 17:37:43 +0000

Russian president has sought to build relations with Ahmed al-Sharaa since toppling of ally Assad, lauds new government's actions to 'restore Syria's territorial integrity'

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Syrian leader to meet Putin for second time, as Russian presence in country dwindles

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:08:38 +0000

Sharaa has struck friendly tone with Moscow, but still seeks Assad's extradition from Russia, where he fled after coup

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Exiled in Moscow, toppled Syrian dictator said to make quiet return to ophthalmology

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 02:16:10 +0000

Report says Bashar al-Assad and his family are living a luxurious life in Russia and UAE, though cut off from political power and considered 'irrelevant' by Putin

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Syria’s Sharaa, in first Russia visit, says he’ll respect all past deals with Moscow

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:51:27 +0000

Interim Syrian president expected to ask Moscow to extradite Putin ally Assad, who sought refuge in Moscow after ouster; also said to seek Russian backing against Israeli demands

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Syrian FM meets Putin and Lavrov, in first Russia visit since fall of Assad regime

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 19:09:26 +0000

Shaibani thanks Moscow for denouncing Israeli strikes on Syria, hopes for warm ties despite Putin's backing for former dictator; Lavrov invites Sharaa to summit with Arab League

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Putin discusses Syria and Iran in phone call with Netanyahu

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 20:43:16 +0000

Russian president urges Israel to respect Syrian 'sovereignty and territorial integrity,' and offers to mediate new talks on Iran's nuclear program, Kremlin says

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Syria gets fresh batch of currency printed in Russia, as ties continue to warm

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 12:22:50 +0000

Size of delivery, the second since Ahmed al-Sharaa came into power, is unclear; Moscow seeking to maintain influence in Damascus after backing ousted leader Assad during civil war

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Syria’s new leaders cancel port contract with Russian firm

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 17:06:53 +0000

Syrian media reports Tartus port management deal with Russia's STG Stroytransgaz has been annulled, after new administration says contract with Assad's government was not fulfilled

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Syria could take four years to hold elections, de facto leader Sharaa says

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:54:47 +0000

Rebel chief who ousted Assad says drafting a new constitution could take three years, subsequent changes could take another

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Russia denies reports that Bashar al-Assad’s wife, Asma, filed for divorce

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:06:37 +0000

Kremlin also denies that UK-born 'Desert Rose' requested to leave Moscow, where the Assad family fled as rebels took Damascus

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Putin says Israel ‘main beneficiary’ of Syrian rebels’ ousting of Assad

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 15:32:31 +0000

Russian president tells reporters he hopes IDF troops leave buffer zone, but 'I have the impression that not only are they not going to leave, but they're going to reinforce'

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Russia still has a military presence in post-Assad Syria — for now

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 21:52:59 +0000

After years of backing now-toppled regime, Moscow is pulling back from some areas of Syria, but still has troops at primary base in Latakia, saying it is in talks with new leaders

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Breaking silence, Assad denies abandoning Syria despite his flight from rebels

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:39:58 +0000

In first statement since overthrow by jihadists, former dictator claims 'terrorist onslaught' forced his departure, says he 'never abandoned resistance in Palestine'

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After Assad’s fall, Russia pulling some, but not all, of its forces out of Syria

Sat, 14 Dec 2024 20:13:40 +0000

Moscow says it will maintain presence at two main Syrian bases; attitude of new regime toward Russian presence is still unclear

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Desperate Assad deceived those around him in last hours before stealthy flight from Syria

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:54:23 +0000

Ousted Syrian president kept officials and relatives, including his own brother, in dark about his exit plan; hunted for outside help to maintain his rule before eventually fleeing

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