For the first time since the Syrian Civil War began in 2011, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made a visit to Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin. But this time, it was a bit of a surprise, for the US anyway.
Assad flew to Moscow on Tuesday to personally to thank President Putin for Russia’s ongoing military support. The Syrian leader said that Russia’s involvement has stopped “terrorism” from becoming “more widespread and harmful” in Syria.
The Kremlin has stated that it had invited President Assad to visit Moscow, but kept the visit quiet until Wednesday morning when President Assad returned safely to Damascus.
While in Moscow, three rounds of talks were held between Assad and the Russian leadership. The first was a closed meeting between Assad and Putin alone, and the other two included the Russian Foreign and Defense Ministers.
President Putin told Assad that it was his hope that progress on the military front would soon into movement toward a peaceful political solution to the Syrian Civil War.
The Kremlin is likely to use the visit to reinforce its domestic narrative that the intervention in Syria is just and has been effective at fighting the expansion of terrorism throughout the region. Moscow maintains that its intervention in Syria was a common sense move that was designed to roll back international terrorism as a result of what it says is ineffective action from the United States.
Putin has remained hesitant about sending Russian ground forces for fear of an entanglement similar to the Soviet incursion in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
Russia has a combined force of around 50 jets and helicopters inside of Syria protected by Russian marines, as well as military advisers working with the Syrian army. Russian officials claim to have flown over 700 sorties against more than 690 targets in Syria since the air campaign began Sept. 30.
Like this piece? Rise News just launched a few weeks ago and is only getting started. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with global news. Have a news tip? (No matter how big or small!) Send it to us- [email protected]
Cover Photo Credit: Alberto Cabello/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
What Do You Think?
-
WATCH: Sally Yates Bashes Trump In Harvard Law Commencement Speech
Former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates spoke to the graduating class of Harvard Law School this week and she touched upon the controversy that led to her firing.
“Defending the constitutionality of the travel ban would require the Department of Justice to argue that the executive order had nothing to do with religion, that it was not intended to disfavor Muslims,” Yates said in the speech. “Despite the numerous prior statements that had been made by the president and his surrogates regarding his intent to effectuate a Muslim ban.”
Yates went on.
“I believed then and I believe now that resigning would have protected my personal integrity, but it would not have protected the integrity of the Department of Justice.”
Watch her full speech:
RISE NEWS is a grassroots journalism news organization that is working to change the way young people become informed and engaged in the world. You can write for us.
What Do You Think?
-
GOP Govs Refuse To Accept Syrian Refugees
Update: 3:00 PM EST
The Republican governors of 13 American states have announced their intention to refuse to have refugees fleeing from the Syrian Civil War relocated in their states. The moves come as result of the news that one of the suspected Paris terror attack suspects slipped into Europe with a group of refugees and then made his way to western Europe.
“Neither you nor any federal official can guarantee that Syrian refugees will not be part of any terroristic activity,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wrote according to Fox News. “As such, opening our door to them irresponsibly exposes our fellow Americans to unacceptable peril.”
In addition to Texas; Illinois, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Arizona, Indiana, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Michigan, Alabama, and Arkansas have all also decided to refuse the admittance of refugees from Syria.
Gov. Robert Bentley announced his decision in a strident statement.
“After full consideration of this weekend’s attacks of terror on innocent citizens in Paris, I will oppose any attempt to relocate Syrian refugees to Alabama through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program,” Bentley said. “As your Governor, I will not stand complicit to a policy that places the citizens of Alabama in harm’s way.
Over four million people have fled Syria in the past four years and the flow is only expected to quicken as more violence grips the war torn country.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is a candidate for the GOP Presidential nomination. He is also the children of immigrants from India.
It is unclear if the action of these governors is even allowed due to federal supremacy over matter of foreign policy.
Rise News is continuing to work on this developing story and will update this piece as new information comes to us.
Cover Photo Credit: Enes Reyhan/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
What Do You Think?
-
ISIS Raises Up To $1.5 Billion From Bank Looting, Oil Sales
The United States says the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group has made up to $1.5bn from looting banks in Iraq and Syria, and from black market oil sales. Speaking at Chatham House in London on Thursday night, senior US Treasury official Adam Szubin said the US was working with the Iraqi government… Read More
What Do You Think?