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.”



Lebanese Military Calls for Calm

A Lebanese Army patrol. (EPA)
A Lebanese Army patrol. (EPA)
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Lebanese Military Calls for Calm

A Lebanese Army patrol. (EPA)
A Lebanese Army patrol. (EPA)

In its first statement since the recent escalation with Israel and following the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Lebanon's military called for calm among the Lebanese “at this dangerous and delicate stage."
Government officials fear that the country’s deep political divisions at a time of war could rekindle sectarian strife and violence in the small Mediterranean country.
“The Israeli enemy is working to implement its destructive plans and spread division among the Lebanese,” the military said.
Military vehicles have been deployed in different parts of the capital as thousands of displaced people continue moving from the south to Beirut.
An Israeli airstrike on northeast Lebanon killed 11 people Sunday morning, a day after the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah confirmed the death of multiple commanders, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The Israeli army says it's carrying out attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the number of those displaced by the conflict from southern Lebanon has more than doubled and now stands at more than 211,000, according to the United Nations.
Hezbollah and Israel have traded near-daily strikes since the Israel-Hama s war started after the Palestinian militant group stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, sparking fears of regional war.