Assad Expresses to Putin Gratitude for Russia’s 'Comprehensive' Support to Syria

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad during a meeting in Sochi on November 20, 2017 (AFP)
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad during a meeting in Sochi on November 20, 2017 (AFP)
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Assad Expresses to Putin Gratitude for Russia’s 'Comprehensive' Support to Syria

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad during a meeting in Sochi on November 20, 2017 (AFP)
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad during a meeting in Sochi on November 20, 2017 (AFP)

Syrian President Bashar Assad expressed to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin gratitude to Moscow’s “comprehensive support and aid” to Damascus.

In a telephone call on Monday, “the Syrian President expressed his deep gratitude to Russia for the comprehensive aid and support being provided to the Syrian people,” the Kremlin said in a statement.

Assad and Putin discussed current issues on the bilateral agenda, primarily the prospects for further development of trade, economic and humanitarian ties. They also tackled efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic and Russia’s supply of its Sputnik V vaccine to Syria.

On February 22, Damascus authorized the vaccine to be used in the country.

On Syria, the officials focused on promoting the intra-Syrian peace process within the Constitutional Committee, added the Kremlin.

Assad also briefed Putin on the preparations for the upcoming presidential elections on May 26.

The Syrian presidency said in a statement that “Assad thanked Russia for the humanitarian assistance provided to help the Syrian people overcome the impact of the unjust blockade imposed on the country.”

It added that the two presidents also tackled a number of political issues, particularly the work of the Constitutional Committee and western pressure aimed at “diverting it from its track.”



Militants Killed and Wounded in Eastern Syria, Media and War Monitor Say

The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns. (AFP via Getty Images file)
The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns. (AFP via Getty Images file)
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Militants Killed and Wounded in Eastern Syria, Media and War Monitor Say

The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns. (AFP via Getty Images file)
The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns. (AFP via Getty Images file)

A number of militants were killed and wounded in eastern Syria early Sunday near a strategic border crossing with Iraq in apparent airstrikes, pro-government media and an opposition war monitor reported.

Pan-Arab television network Al-Mayadeen cited unnamed sources saying that at least eight Syrians were killed in the strike by the Bou Kamal crossing in Israeli airstrikes.

It was unclear how they confirmed Israeli jets were behind the strikes.

Meanwhile, Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said five airstrikes killed at least 15 militants, among them leaders, and wounded at least 20 others. The Observatory said the strikes targeted headquarters and warehouses in the city of Deir Ezzor and surrounding towns.

Pro-government radio station Sham FM said that prior to the blasts heard in Deir Ezzor, explosions were heard at a US military base in northeastern Syria following rocket and drone attacks.

None of the reports could be independently verified.

The US military’s Central Command, which has launched airstrikes on Iranian military personnel and Tehran-backed militant groups in Syria’s eastern Deir Ezzor province, didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

The Israeli military doesn’t usually acknowledge its strike on Syria. However, when it does so, it says it targets Iran-backed militants.