New Delhi:

India and the United Arab Emirates will look to further their already-strong strategic partnership to an all-time high when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his counterpart Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan will meet in Delhi today for a comprehensive strategic dialogue.

Mr Jaishankar and Sheikh Al Nahyan will review the entire gamut of ties between India and UAE and focus on enhancing the strategic partnership. The meeting also assumes significance as it comes close on the heels of the regime change in Syria.

West Asia, popularly called the Middle-East by Western nations, is at a critical juncture, with tensions between Israel and Iran simmering, the situation in Syria being extremely volatile, and Turkey launching strikes on Syria too. Bashar Al-Assad has been granted asylum in Moscow and Russia has lost its access to the Mediterranean Sea with the Tartus naval base in Syria now no longer in its control.

The two leaders will discuss the crises in the middle-east in great detail. Besides geopolitics, and strategic ties, Mr Jaishankar and Sheikh Al Nahyan will have a comprehensive dialogue on other aspects of the bilateral relationship between India and UAE, including trade and commerce, investment, cultural and scientific ties, among others.

Sheikh Al Nahyan, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister of UAE, will then call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It was Prime Minister Modi’s historic visit to the UAE in August 2015 that elevated the bilateral relationship between the two countries to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The two nations also signed the landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA in 2022 which resulted in a massive upswing in trade and investment between the two sides. The trade deal led to the elimination of several tariffs and significantly lowered other levies. This further led to enhanced market access across various sectors.

Today, India and the UAE are among each others top trading partners, and the bilateral trade between the two countries stood at around USD 85 billion in 2022-23. UAE was also among the top four investors in India in terms of Foreign Direct Investments or FDI in 2022-23.

The two leaders will aim to build on these and scale up economic ties when they meet in New Delhi tomorrow. Mr Jaishankar might also raise the issue of visa applications reportedly being denied to Indians after new rules have been set in the UAE.

Dubai’s emigration department recently introduced stricter requirements for tourist visas, mandating travelers to provide hotel booking documents with QR codes and a copy of their return tickets. For travelers staying with relatives, additional proof of accommodation is needed by the latter. This has reportedly led to a significant rise in visa applications being rejected.

(Inputs from PTI)
 

New Delhi:

India and the United Arab Emirates will look to further their already-strong strategic partnership to an all-time high when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his counterpart Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan will meet in Delhi today for a comprehensive strategic dialogue.

Mr Jaishankar and Sheikh Al Nahyan will review the entire gamut of ties between India and UAE and focus on enhancing the strategic partnership. The meeting also assumes significance as it comes close on the heels of the regime change in Syria.

West Asia, popularly called the Middle-East by Western nations, is at a critical juncture, with tensions between Israel and Iran simmering, the situation in Syria being extremely volatile, and Turkey launching strikes on Syria too. Bashar Al-Assad has been granted asylum in Moscow and Russia has lost its access to the Mediterranean Sea with the Tartus naval base in Syria now no longer in its control.

The two leaders will discuss the crises in the middle-east in great detail. Besides geopolitics, and strategic ties, Mr Jaishankar and Sheikh Al Nahyan will have a comprehensive dialogue on other aspects of the bilateral relationship between India and UAE, including trade and commerce, investment, cultural and scientific ties, among others.

Sheikh Al Nahyan, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister of UAE, will then call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It was Prime Minister Modi’s historic visit to the UAE in August 2015 that elevated the bilateral relationship between the two countries to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The two nations also signed the landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA in 2022 which resulted in a massive upswing in trade and investment between the two sides. The trade deal led to the elimination of several tariffs and significantly lowered other levies. This further led to enhanced market access across various sectors.

Today, India and the UAE are among each others top trading partners, and the bilateral trade between the two countries stood at around USD 85 billion in 2022-23. UAE was also among the top four investors in India in terms of Foreign Direct Investments or FDI in 2022-23.

The two leaders will aim to build on these and scale up economic ties when they meet in New Delhi tomorrow. Mr Jaishankar might also raise the issue of visa applications reportedly being denied to Indians after new rules have been set in the UAE.

Dubai’s emigration department recently introduced stricter requirements for tourist visas, mandating travelers to provide hotel booking documents with QR codes and a copy of their return tickets. For travelers staying with relatives, additional proof of accommodation is needed by the latter. This has reportedly led to a significant rise in visa applications being rejected.

(Inputs from PTI)
 

Beirut:

Syrian rebels who ousted president Bashar al-Assad said on Tuesday that they had taken the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, while a war monitor confirmed Kurdish forces had withdrawn.

“Our forces have seized the entire city of Deir Ezzor,” the rebels said in a statement, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said that Kurdish forces had withdrawn to other localities.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Jerusalem:

The Israeli military said Tuesday that it conducted about 480 strikes over the past 48 hours on strategic military targets in Syria, days after the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad.

“Within the last 48 hours, the IDF (army) struck most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria, preventing them from falling into the hands of terrorist elements,” the military said in a statement, adding that the targets included 15 naval vessels, anti-aircraft batteries and weapons production sites in several cities.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

India on Tuesday evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria, two days after rebel forces overthrew President Bashar Assad’s authoritarian government.

The evacuation, coordinated by the embassies of India in Damascus and Beirut, was put into effect following an assessment of the security situation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

“The Government of India today evacuated 75 Indian nationals from Syria, following recent developments in that country,” it said in a late-night statement.

“The evacuees included 44 ‘zaireen’ from Jammu and Kashmir who were stranded at Saida Zainab. All Indian nationals have safely crossed over to Lebanon and will return by available commercial flights to India,” it said.

The MEA said the government accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad.

“Indian nationals remaining in Syria are advised to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus,” it said.

“The government will continue to monitor the situation closely,” the MEA added.

The Syrian government collapsed on Sunday as the rebels seized control of the capital Damascus after capturing several other prominent cities and towns. Assad fled the country after the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took control of Damascus, marking the end of his family’s 50-year rule.

Russian state media reported that Assad is in Moscow and will be given asylum. His nearly 14-year tenure was marked by civil war, bloodshed and brutal crackdown on his political opponents.

The MEA Monday said it is monitoring the unfolding developments in Syria and advocated a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led political process going forward in that country.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Mystery surrounded the whereabouts of Bashar al-Assad, who was no longer in Damascus when rebels captured the Syrian capital on Sunday, ending more than five decades of his family’s rule.

Two senior army officers said Assad had boarded a plane early on Sunday in Damascus for an unknown destination.

Russia, one of Assad’s closest allies, confirmed that Assad had left Syria but did not say where he was, including whether Moscow had given him refuge.

“As a result of negotiations between B. Assad and a number of participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to resign from the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Assad has not spoken in public since the sudden rebel advance a week ago, when insurgents seized northern Aleppo in a surprise attack before marching into a succession of cities as frontlines crumbled.

There was also no official announcement on Sunday of the whereabouts of Assad’s wife Asma or their children, the eldest of whom has long studied in Russia and received a degree from a university in Moscow last year.

A Syrian Air plane took off from Damascus airport around the time the capital was reported to have been taken by rebels, according to data from the Flightradar website.

The aircraft initially flew towards Syria’s coastal region, a stronghold of Assad’s Alawite sect, but then made an abrupt U-turn and flew in the opposite direction for a few minutes before disappearing off the map. Reuters could not ascertain who was on board.

Two Syrian sources said the sudden change in course and disappearance of the plane from tracking could indicate it had been shot down, or that it had switched off its transponder.

The plane departed Damascus soon after rebels had taken the central city of Homs, cutting the capital off from the coast where Assad’s Russian ally has air and naval bases.

The only trackable flight departing Syria visible after midnight on Flightradar24, a flight tracking site, left Homs for the UAE, hours after rebels had captured the city.

As the rebel advance gathered steam over the past week, there was speculation that Assad might seek refuge in Moscow or with his other main ally Iran. Syrian state media had said on Saturday he was still in Damascus.

He had visited Moscow just before the rebel offensive. Iranian news agencies published a photograph of him on Saturday that they said showed him meeting a top Iranian official in Damascus.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Celebrations erupted around Syria and crowds ransacked President Bashar al-Assad’s luxurious home on Sunday after Islamist-led rebels swept into Damascus and declared he had fled the country, in a spectacular end to five decades of Baath party rule.

Assad’s whereabouts were not immediately clear, but his key backer Russia said he had resigned from the presidency and left Syria.

Residents in the capital were seen cheering in the streets as the rebel factions heralded the departure of “tyrant” Assad, saying: “We declare the city of Damascus free.”

AFPTV footage showed a column of smoke rising from central Damascus, and AFP correspondents in the city saw dozens of men, women and children wandering through Assad’s luxurious home after it had been looted.

The rooms of the residence had been left completely empty, save some furniture and a portrait of Assad discarded on the floor, while an entrance hall at the presidential palace not far away had been torched.

“I can’t believe I’m living this moment,” tearful Damascus resident Amer Batha told AFP by phone.

“We’ve been waiting a long time for this day,” he said, adding: “We are starting a new history for Syria.”

Assad’s reported departure comes less than two weeks after the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group challenged more than five decades of Assad family rule with a lightning offensive.

“After 50 years of oppression under Baath rule, and 13 years of crimes and tyranny and (forced) displacement… we announce today the end of this dark period and the start of a new era for Syria,” the rebel factions said on Telegram.

While there has been no communication from Assad or his entourage on his whereabouts, Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali said he was ready to cooperate with “any leadership chosen by the Syrian people”.

The head of war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP: “Assad left Syria via Damascus international airport before the army security forces left” the facility.

AFP has been unable to independently verify some of the information provided by the different parties, including the reported departure.

Prisoners set free

Around the country, people toppled statues of Hafez al-Assad, Bashar al-Assad’s father and the founder of the system of government that he inherited.

For the past 50 years in Syria, even the slightest suspicion of dissent could land one in prison or get one killed.

As rebels entered the capital, HTS said its fighters broke into a jail on the outskirts of Damascus, announcing an “end of the era of tyranny in the prison of Sednaya”, which has become a by-word for the darkest abuses of Assad’s era.

The rapid developments came just hours after HTS said it had captured the strategic city of Homs, where prisoners were also released.

Homs was the third major city seized by the rebels, who began their advance on November 27, reigniting a years-long war that had become largely dormant.

US President Joe Biden was keeping a close eye on the “extraordinary events” unfolding in Syria, the White House said.

US president-elect Donald Trump said that Assad had “fled his country” after losing Russia’s backing.

Assad’s rule had for years also been supported by Lebanese group Hezbollah, whose forces “vacated their positions around Damascus”, a source close to it said Sunday.

‘Syria is ours’

Rebel factions aired a statement on Syrian state television, saying they had toppled the “tyrant” Assad and urged fighters and citizens to safeguard the “property of the free Syrian state”.

State TV later broadcast a message proclaiming the “victory of the great Syrian revolution”.

According to the rebels, the Islamist leader of HTS, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, arrived in Damascus on Sunday.

HTS is rooted in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda.

Proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Western governments, it has sought to soften its image in recent years, and has told minority groups living in areas it now controls not to worry.

Before Sunday’s announcements, Damascus residents had described to AFP a state of panic as traffic jams clogged the city centre, with people seeking supplies and queueing to withdraw money.

But morning saw chants and cheering, with celebratory gunfire and shouts of “Syria is ours and not the Assad family’s”.

Before Damascus, a string of towns and cities, including the northern city of Aleppo, had fallen from Assad’s hands.

The commander of Syria’s US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which controls much of northeast Syria, hailed “historic” moments with the fall of Assad’s “authoritarian regime”.

In a sign of the complexity of Syria’s war, Israel struck Syrian army weapons depots Sunday on the outskirts of Damascus, according to the Observatory, which relies on a network of sources around the country.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the overthrow of Assad was a “historic day in the… Middle East” and the fall of a “central link in Iran’s axis of evil”.

“This is a direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, Assad’s main supporters,” he added.

The rebel offensive began the very day a ceasefire took effect in Lebanon after nearly a year of war between Israel and Hezbollah.

The UN envoy for Syria said Syria was at “a watershed moment”, while Turkey, which has historically backed the opposition, called for a “smooth transition”.

Iran, a key backer of Assad throughout the civil war years, said it expected “friendly” ties with Syria to continue, even as its embassy in Damascus was vandalised.

Jordan urged its citizens to leave neighbouring Syria “as soon as possible”, as have the United States and Russia, which both keep troops in Syria.

Since the rebels’ offensive began, at least 826 people, mostly combatants but also including 111 civilians, have been killed, the Observatory said.

The United Nations said the violence has displaced 370,000 people.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in Syria was a “historic day in the… Middle East” and the fall of a “central link in Iran’s axis of evil”.

Netanyahu said the events are “a direct result of the blows we have inflicted on Iran and Hezbollah, Assad’s main supporters. It has triggered a chain reaction across the Middle East, empowering those seeking to break free from this oppressive regime.”

He spoke on a visit to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

In recent months, Israel has killed commanders in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as well as the senior leaders of Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, both of which are backed by Tehran.

The Israeli premier said Assad’s overthrow “presents significant new opportunities” for Israel “but is not without risks”.

He said his country was “pursuing a good neighbour policy” and that: “We extend a hand of peace to our Druze neighbours, who are brothers to our Druze citizens in Israel. We also extend this hand of peace to Kurds, Christians, and Muslims who wish to live peacefully with Israel.”

Syria is a multi-ethnic, multi-confessional country with significant minorities of Christians, Alawites and Kurds as well as the Druze, an ethno-religious Arab minority group with significant populations in Israel and Lebanon, and others.

“We will closely monitor developments and take the necessary steps to defend our border and our security”, Netanyahu said.

He also said he had ordered the military to take control of a demilitarised buffer zone on the Syrian border.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, speaking on the same trip, said of Iran: “Its tentacles are being severed one by one”.

Islamist-led Syrian rebels overthrew more than five decades of rule by Assad and his father Hafez in a lightning offensive that began on November 27, dramatically overturning a years-long stalemate in the civil war that began in 2011.

Assad was propped up by substantial military support from Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, as well as by the Russian military from 2015 onwards.

The Israeli military killed long-time Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a massive air strike on Beirut in September.

Since the Syrian civil war erupted in 2011, Israel carried out hundreds of strikes in the country, mainly targeting the army and Iran-backed groups.

The military intensified such strikes after almost a year of hostilities with Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon escalated in late September, before a ceasefire took effect on November 27, the same day Syria’s rebel advance began.

Israel rarely comments on individual strikes in Syria but has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran to expand its presence in the country.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Syria’s future hinges on uncertainty after the abrupt fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Once thought unassailable, Assad’s rule collapsed under the pressure of a rapid offensive led by a group called Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as the Al-Nusra Front affiliated with terror group Al-Qaeda, and allied factions. 

Bashar al-Assad came to power in 2000, succeeding his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria with an iron grip for nearly three decades. Initially, there were hopes that Bashar would bring reform and openness to Syria. However, these aspirations were dashed as he maintained the repressive structure of his father’s regime.

READ | Fall Of Assads: How An Alawite Family Ruled Over A Sunni Nation For Decades

Assad’s legacy will forever be marred by his response to the protests in 2011, which escalated into a brutal civil war. Over half a million people have been killed, six million became refugees, and countless more are internally displaced. With military backing from Russia and Iran, Assad survived against a fragmented opposition, relying on Russian air power and Iranian-backed militias like Hezbollah.

Preoccupied with their own struggles – Russia in Ukraine and Iran facing regional challenges – neither could offer significant support. Within days, the rebels captured key cities like Aleppo, Hama, and Homs, before advancing into Damascus itself.

A Fragile Transition

Rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani, known now by his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, announced the formation of a transitional authority. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed al-Jalali has been appointed as the caretaker of state institutions.

READ | “End Of Era Of Tyranny”: Bashar Al-Assad Flees Syria As Rebels Move In

In a statement, al-Jalali expressed his willingness to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people.

Despite these efforts, HTS’s history – rooted in al-Qaeda – casts a long shadow over its promises of a diplomatic and nationalist approach. Scepticism abounds regarding its long-term intentions and ability to govern a fractured country.

The end of Assad’s rule does not immediately translate to peace for Syrians. HTS’s past association with extremist groups raises fears of a harsh, authoritarian rule under the guise of Islamist governance. Millions of displaced Syrians, both within the country and abroad, face an uncertain future as they watch the unfolding events with hope and trepidation.

The Russian Setback

The fall of Assad marks a blow to Russian influence in the Middle East. Since its intervention in 2015, Russia has been the regime’s most steadfast supporter, maintaining strategic assets such as the Tartous naval facility and the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia. These bases are vital for projecting power across the Mediterranean and into Africa.

READ | How A Syrian Teen Triggered Al-Assad’s Fall With Graffiti 13 Years Ago

However, Russia’s military focus is currently consumed by its war in Ukraine. The loss of control in Syria raises questions about Moscow’s ability to safeguard its strategic footholds in the region. 

Iran Losing The Axis Of Resistance

For Iran, Assad’s downfall disrupts the “Axis of Resistance” that connects Tehran to Hezbollah in Lebanon through Syria. This network has been crucial for transferring weapons and exerting influence in the region. With Hezbollah weakened from its recent conflict with Israel and Iran’s proxies in Yemen and Iraq under pressure, Tehran’s war strategy will need a different approach.

READ | Mass Hangings, Torture That Destroyed Hope: Syria’s ‘Human Slaughterhouse’

Iran’s preoccupation with Israel, which it views as an existential threat, further limits its capacity to respond effectively in Syria. Israel’s recent targeting of Iranian assets has compounded these challenges, leaving Tehran on the defensive.

Turkey’s Role

Turkey’s role in Assad’s fall remains ambiguous. While President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had long advocated for a diplomatic resolution to the Syrian conflict, his calls were consistently rebuffed by Assad. Turkey, home to over three million Syrian refugees, has a vested interest in resolving the conflict to facilitate their return.

READ | Where Is Bashar Al-Assad? Questions Over Syrian President’s Whereabouts

Ankara has denied direct involvement in the HTS offensive, but analysts suggest that Turkey’s tacit approval or indirect support may have played a role. Erdogan’s priorities include securing Turkey’s borders and countering Kurdish militias in northern Syria.

Israel’s Strategic Thinking

For Israel, the collapse of Assad’s regime represents both opportunity and risk. The fall of Iran’s primary ally in Syria disrupts the supply chain to Hezbollah, but the emergence of HTS as a dominant force introduces new uncertainties.

Israel has reinforced its presence along the Golan Heights, preparing for potential spillovers or attempts by rebels to seize Syrian army stockpiles. The Israeli military is also wary of Iran and Hezbollah exploiting the chaos to acquire advanced weaponry.

New Delhi:

Concerned about the deteriorating situation in Syria, the Government of India put out a late-night advisory to all Indian nationals to completely “avoid all travel to Syria until further notice”.

In the statement, which shared an emergency helpline number and an email ID, the Ministry of External Affairs appealed to all Indians currently in Syria to “remain in touch with the Indian Embassy in Damascus”.

New Delhi’s urgent notification also stated that “Those who can, are advised to leave (Syria) by the earliest available commercial flights.” For those who cannot, the advisory asked them to “observe utmost precaution about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum.”

The emergency helpline number shared is for the Indian Embassy in Damascus. It is +963 993385973. This number can also be used on WhatsApp the statement read, adding an emergency email ID as well – which is hoc.damascus@mea.gov.in. Updates shall be shared once the staff is contacted, the advisory stated.

Travel advisory for Syria:https://t.co/bOnSP3tS03 pic.twitter.com/zg1AH7n6RB

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) December 6, 2024

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SYRIA – AND HOW BAD IS THE SITUATION

Syria is in the midst of a political turmoil, with the Russia and Iran-backed Bashar Al-Assad regime finding itself surrounded by rebel groups and militias which are backed by Turkey. Rebel forces have, over the last week, pressed a lightning offensive across Syria aiming to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

The Islamist-led rebels were at the gates of Syria’s Homs, a war monitor told news agency AFP. Several other Syrian cities have fallen out of government control – some without even a bullet having to be fired.

The offensive by the Islamist rebels have been so swift, that Syria’s second city Aleppo and strategically located Hama have already fallen from President Bashar al-Assad’s control. This has happened for the first time since the civil war began in 2011.

Bashar al-Assad’s clan has ruled Syria for the past five decades, but for the first time ever, it has looked truly vulnerable to a total collapse. Should the rebels capture Homs, it would cut the seat of power in the capital Damascus from the Mediterranean coast, a key bastion of Bashar Assad.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, by Friday morning (local time), the Islamist rebels were less than five kilometres from the edge of Homs.

WHO IS BEHIND THIS – AND WHAT IS HIS PAST

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or HTS rebel alliance, has categorically said that the goal of this offensive is to overthrow Bashar al-Assad and end his rule in Syria.

“When we talk about objectives, the goal of the revolution remains the overthrow of this regime. It is our right to use all available means to achieve that goal,” Jolani told CNN in an interview.

The Islamist rebel alliance conducting the offensive that began on November 27 is led by HTS, which stems from the Syrian branch of the Al Qaeda, but has sought to moderate its image in recent times.

Abu Mohammed al-Jolani is also known as the ‘blue-eyed boy’ of ISIS terrorist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Several years ago, he was kept at the infamous US detention facility in Iraq. But al-Jolani, once written-off as a lost cause by the US, has emerged from the shadows. He now finds himself as a power figure in Syria.

Interestingly, the Islamist rebels launched their offensive in Syria the same day a ceasefire took effect in the war between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah, which along with Russia and Iran have been firm backers of the Bashar al-Assad government.

SYRIA’S FATE HANGS IN THE BALANCE

Turkey, which has extended its full support to the rebels, said on Friday that its Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan shall be meeting his Russian and Iranian counterparts this weekend in Qatar for an emergency discussion on the situation in Syria.

Meanwhile, the political wing of the HTS-led rebel coalition has reportedly reached out to Russia and China to support them in their “struggle for liberation” from the decades-old Syrian regime headed by Bashar al-Assad. They have reportedly informed Moscow and Beijing that they would like to officially establish diplomatic ties with both countries.

The foreign ministers of Iran, Iraq, and Syria also met on Friday in Baghdad to discuss the goings-on in Syria.

Russia, which is heavily invested in the war in Ukraine, has not yet revealed how it is reading this situation and what its next step will be, but Moscow has hinted for providing limited support to the Bashar Assad regime to defend itself against the rebels.