Russian Presidential Special Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on July 12 to discuss the latest developments in Syria. It came as Turkey posted the first photos of the Russia’s S-400 air defense equipment arriving in Turkey. Turkey has backed opposition to Assad but Russia, an ally of the Syrian regime, is now growing closer to Turkey. For Assad therefore the Russian visit was important to shore up relations with Moscow and discuss the next moves in Idlib where extremists and Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army still hold a large area of Syria.
The Jerusalem Post: Assad meets Russians to discuss future of Syria
In this handout picture released by the Syrian Arab News Agency, SANA, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad (R) meets with Russia's special envoy on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev in Damascus on July 12, 2019.
