Source: Al Jazeera [Qatari state media]
“A delegation of Russian officials has arrived in Damascus on the first such visit since Syria’s longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad was toppled by opposition fighters. Al-Assad, a close ally of Moscow, sought refuge in Russia in December, following a lightning offensive by opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The delegation includes Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Alexander Lavrentyev, the Russian president’s special envoy for Syria, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday. The delegation is expected to meet with Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, as well as the foreign minister.” (01/28/25)