Syria, Russia and Assad

Russian government delegation makes first official visit to Syria since Assad's fall
DAMASCUS -- A delegation of Russian officials arrived in Damascus on Tuesday for the first such visit to Syria since the fall of former President Bashar Assad. Assad, an ally of Moscow, took refuge in Russia after his ouster in December in a lightning rebel offensive.
Russian Envoys Arrive in Syria for First Time Since al-Assad Fell
Russia’s deputy foreign minister and a special presidential envoy for Syria arrived in Damascus on Tuesday, according to Russian state news.
Russian Delegation in First Syria Visit Since Assad Fall, TASS Reports
MOSCOW (Reuters) -A Russian delegation has arrived in Damascus for the first time since Moscow's ally President Bashar al-Assad was toppled, Russia's TASS state news agency reported on Tuesday, as Russia tries to secure the future of its military bases in Syria.
Russian delegation visits Syria for the first time since al-Assad’s fall
While Russia has maintained its military presence in Syria, recent reports suggest that key agreements — among them a Russian-managed Tartus port project — have been cancelled. View on euronews
France says EU will lift some sanctions against Syria after Assad's fall
Some European Union sanctions against Syria are being lifted, France's foreign minister said on Monday, as part of a broader EU move to help stabilise Damascus after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in December.
Alawites wary as a post-Assad Syria takes shape
Once Syria's most influential minority, Alawites struggle to move on from their association with a hated dictator.
Senior Russian Official to Visit Syria, Sources Say
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov is set to meet Syria's new rulers this week in Damascus, two Syrian sources said on Tuesday, in the first visit by Russian officials since Moscow's ally President Bashar al-Assad was toppled.
Russian delegation visits Damascus to secure military bases after Assad’s fall
Russia, a longtime supporter of Assad’s regime, provided military assistance to bolster Assad against rebel forces throughout Syria’s protracted civil war.
The discovery of brutal mass graves in Syria reveals Assad’s legacy of horror
Syria’s Civil Defense has uncovered over two dozen charred bodies in two basements in rural Damascus, adding to the growing ...
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The Face of the Syrian Revolution
Jon Lee Anderson reports from Damascus. Plus: the insidiousness of the entrepreneurial economy; fear and hope on the subway; ...
EU cautiously agrees roadmap to ease sanctions on Syria in wake of Assad's downfall
European Union foreign ministers have agreed to begin lifting sanctions on Syria, but insist that the measures should be ...
Syria's new leaders turn to Islamic law in effort to rebuild Assad's police
Officers say the move aims to instil a sense of morality as they race to fill a security vacuum after dismantling ousted ...
Syria's economic pains far from over despite Assad's ouster
Samir al-Baghdad grabbed his pickax and walked up a wobbly set of stairs made of cinderblocks and rubble. He is rebuilding ...
Battle Lines: Hunting Assad’s henchmen in Syria and Congo’s war for blood minerals
New Middle East correspondent Henry Bodkin talks to Venetia Rainey about his recent trip to Syria where he went out on the ...
How a contrarian MIT professor fueled Tulsi Gabbard’s doubt about Syrian gas attacks
Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence disregarded U.S. assessments of chemical weapons attacks and instead ...
Assad’s fall opens window for Syrian refugees to head home − but for many, it won’t be an easy decision
Syrians have been the world’s largest refugee population. More than 6 million Syrians have fled the country since 2011, when ...