Assad welcomes more Russian military bases in Syria
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad welcomed on Wednesday any Russian proposals to set up new military bases and boost troop numbers in Syria.
This followed the meeting that al-Assad held with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin in Russia’s capital, Moscow.
On Wednesday, al-Assad paid an official visit to Moscow to hold talks with his Russian counterpart, Putin, on the eve of the 12th anniversary of the Syrian war.
The visit comes amid Russian efforts to reconcile between Syria and Turkey – which has supported Syrian opposition groups that tried to topple al-Assad since the beginning of the Syrian Civil War on March 15, 2011.
The Syrian president suggested that Moscow’s military presence in Syria should become “permanent”.
“We think that expanding the Russian presence in Syria is a good thing,” according to al-Assad.
“We believe that if Russia has the desire to expand bases or increase their number, it is a technical or logistical issue,” he added.
There are two Russian military bases in Syria: Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia Governorate and Russian naval facility in Tartus Governorate; both governorates are on the Syrian coast.