Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 19, 2024
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, December 19, 2024
Putin says Israel is main beneficiary of events in Syria, doubts IDF will withdraw troops
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Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking during his annual news conference and call-in show at Gostinny Dvor in Moscow, Russia, December 19, 2024. (AP/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Israel is the main beneficiary of the downfall of the Assad regime in Syria and casts doubt on Israel’s plans to withdraw troops from a buffer zone once the situation stabilizes.
Putin condemns Israel’s seizure of territories in Syria and said he feels that Israel has no intention of withdrawing its troops from Syria.
“We hope that Israel will at some point leave the territory of Syria. But now it is bringing in additional troops,” Putin says at his annual end-of-year press conference.
Israeli forces moved into a buffer zone on the border once Assad fell and his troops fled the area. Israel says that the move is temporary until the situation in Syria stabilizes and it is clear there is no threat.
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