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Syrian officials have reportedly demanded the return of ousted President Bashar al-Assad as a condition for allowing Russia to maintain its military bases in the country.

Some shit you should know before you read: Back in December, rebels with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group with previous ties to al-Qaeda, launched a coordinated offensive that toppled Bashar al-Assad’s regime, ending his family’s five-decade rule over Syria. Led by Ahmed al-Sharaa (al-Julani), a former high-ranking official of al-Qaeda who defected, HTS capitalized on Assad’s deteriorating military strength and widespread public discontent to seize control of key cities. As his government collapsed, Assad fled to Moscow aboard a Russian military aircraft, reportedly taking billions of dollars in state funds, and has since been residing in Russia with his family under the protection of the Kremlin. Despite efforts to rebrand itself as a nationalist opposition force, HTS has been scrutinized for its extremist ties, raising concerns among some countries about the group’s true agenda.  

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What’s going on now: Over the last few days, Russian officials have met with Syria’s new leadership in Damascus to secure their continued military presence in the country, particularly at the Tartus naval base—Russia’s only foothold in the Mediterranean. With Tartus and the Hmeimim airbase serving as key strategic hubs for Moscow’s operations in the Middle East and Africa, losing them would deal a severe blow to Russia’s ability to project power beyond its borders. The delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, is seeking to negotiate an agreement that would allow Russia to maintain its bases. However, discussions have reportedly become tense, as Syrian officials demanded significant concessions in return for any continued Russian presence.

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Al-Julani reportedly pressed Moscow for financial compensation, reconstruction aid, and an acknowledgment of past mistakes, particularly Russia’s role in propping up Assad’s brutal regime. Syrian officials also demanded the return of Assad. Despite these demands, Russia has remained reluctant to concede much, and no formal agreement was reached, leaving its future military presence in Syria uncertain.

This all comes as Western countries, particularly the United States and European Union nations, intensify efforts to pull Syria away from Russia’s sphere of influence. In a recent high-level US visit to Damascus, American officials reportedly discussed potential economic aid packages, diplomatic recognition, and security cooperation in exchange for Syria distancing itself from Moscow. In addition, the US Treasury Department announced it was dropping some sanctions previously imposed on the Syrian government.

Meanwhile, Germany and France have sent their foreign ministers to meet with Syria’s new leadership, with the EU indicating its open to easing sanctions as part of a broader effort to realign Syria with the West. Some G7 nations are exploring alternative trade routes to reduce Syria’s reliance on Russian imports, while Ukraine has already shipped wheat to Syria as a symbolic gesture of support.

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