Syrian army chief meets Russian deputy defense minister to discuss military cooperation

By Lina Altawell

ISTANBUL (AA) - Syrian Chief of General Staff Ali Noureddine al-Naasan met in Damascus on Wednesday with Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov and his accompanying delegation, Syria’s Defense Ministry said.

A ministry statement said the Russian delegation’s visit will last several days and is intended to develop and strengthen military cooperation in ways that serve the shared interests of both countries.

The visit comes after Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow for the second time one week earlier.

Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December 2024, ending the Baath Party’s regime, which had been in power since 1963. A new transitional administration led by Sharaa was formed in January 2025.