Russian President Vladimir Putin defended his country’s involvement in Syria, insisting that the fall of Bashar al-Assad was not a defeat for Russia. Speaking at his annual press conference, Putin emphasized that Russia’s mission in Syria, which began in 2015, was to prevent the formation of a terrorist haven similar to Afghanistan’s. He declared that this goal had been achieved, despite Assad’s departure after a rebel advance ended his family’s decades-long rule.
Putin noted that he had not yet met with Assad in Moscow but planned to do so soon. He also reiterated Russia’s strategic interest in maintaining control of its military bases in Syria, with many regional nations supporting Russia’s presence there. The Tartus naval base and Hmeimim air base remain vital outposts for Russia’s operations in the Middle East and Africa. Additionally, Putin revealed that Russia had evacuated 4,000 Iranian troops at Tehran’s request.
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