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Representatives of the new Syrian government openly talked about the need to review the Russian military presence in the country. Obeida Arnaout, a spokesman for the government’s political department, stressed in a statement that Moscow should reassess its interests in Syria and demonstrate that it is not hostile to the Syrian people.

“I believe that Russia should reconsider its presence on Syrian territory and its interests,” Arnaut said, adding that Syria is entering a new phase aimed at rebuilding the country after 14 years of armed conflict. According to him, the government is already holding high-level negotiations with the US, UK and the EU.

Meanwhile, there is active movement of Russian troops in the region. Columns of military equipment are heading from Latakia to the naval base in Tartus, and about 400 soldiers were transferred from the suburbs of Damascus to the Khmeimim air base. These two objects – the base in Khmeimim and the port of Tartus – are traditionally considered strategically important for Moscow, as they provide the Russian Federation with direct access to the Mediterranean Sea and the opportunity to conduct military exercises.

Western intelligence services are recording a possible withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria, but there has been no official confirmation from Moscow yet. Moreover, analysts report the movement of Russian ships from Tartus towards Libya. There, according to CNN, Russia is putting pressure on Libyan military leader Khalifa Haftar to gain the right to use the port of Benghazi as a military base.

Earlier, Kursor wrote that after the events in Syria, the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, made new threats against Israel.