On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected claims that Russia’s involvement in Syria over the past nine years had failed, but he did express concern regarding Israel’s military activity there since the overthrow of his ally Bashar al-Assad, describing Jerusalem as the “main beneficiary” of Assad’s removal.

During a lengthy annual press conference, Putin responded to multiple inquiries about Syria, stating that Russia had offered to continue operating its air and naval bases in the country under the new leadership in Damascus. In his first public remarks on the matter, he also revealed that he had not yet met with Assad since the former president’s recent flight to Moscow, though he planned to do so in the near future.

Putin downplayed the negative impact of Assad’s downfall on Russia, asserting that Moscow’s military involvement in Syria since 2015 had been crucial in preventing the country from descending into a “terrorist enclave.”

He added that Israel was the “main beneficiary” of the current situation in Syria.

Shortly after Assad’s fall, Israel deployed its troops into the buffer zone on the Syrian side of their border, launching numerous airstrikes to destroy Syrian military assets. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed responsibility for the destruction of most of Assad’s regime’s strategic military capabilities to prevent advanced weaponry from reaching hostile groups.

“Russia condemns the seizure of any Syrian territories. This is obvious,” Putin stated, noting that Israel had advanced 25 kilometers (16 miles) into Syrian territory and reached fortifications built by the former Soviet Union for Syria.

Putin remarked that Russia hoped Israel would eventually withdraw from Syrian soil, but noted that Israel had instead been sending more troops to the region. “I think there are already several thousand there. And I have the impression that not only are they not going to leave, but they are going to reinforce there.”

This week, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu told soldiers stationed in the buffer zone that they would need to remain there “until another arrangement can be found that guarantees Israel’s security.”

The IDF clarified that its presence in the buffer zone and other strategic locations was a temporary, defensive measure and that it would remain in place until the situation in Syria stabilized. The military also acknowledged its operations beyond the buffer zone in various areas.

Putin also noted that Turkey had intervened in Syria for its own security reasons, particularly in response to Kurdish fighters in Syria whom Ankara considers to be terrorists.

“We all understand this. There will be many problems. But we are on the side of international law and for the sovereignty of all countries, while respecting their territorial integrity, meaning Syria,” Putin remarked.

Russian armored vehicles were seen near the Hmeimim Air Base in Syria, a key Russian military installation located southeast of Latakia, on December 16, 2024 (AP/Leo Correa).

Putin added that most Syrians with whom Russia had communicated about the future of its military bases in the country supported Russia’s continued presence, though talks were still ongoing.

He also mentioned that Russia had proposed using its Hmeimim airbase for humanitarian aid deliveries and that 4,000 Iranian fighters had been evacuated from Syria via that base.

When asked about the missing American journalist Austin Tice by a U.S. reporter, Putin said he would inquire with Assad about Tice’s fate and was also prepared to ask Syria’s new leadership about the whereabouts of the journalist.

{Matzav.com}