(Photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation)
On 23 August, the Syrian Foreign Minister Faysal Mikdad made his visit to Moscow, where he met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the latest developments in the region.
Speaking at a joint news conference, Sergei Lavrov condemned Israeli airstrikes in Syria, further highlighting growing tensions between Israel and the Russian Federation.
“We strongly condemn Israel’s dangerous behavior in targeting vital infrastructure in Syria, as was the case at the Damascus International Airport,” Lavrov said, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
In his statement, Russia’s Foreign Minister referred to the attacks carried out by Israel on 20 May, using surface-to-surface missiles resulting in large fires at the international airport.
“We demand Israel to respect the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and, above all, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria,” Lavrov added.
Meanwhile, Faysal Mikdad conveyed the greetings of President Bashar Al-Assad to Russian President Vladimir Putin, reiterating Syria’s support for the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.
He also expressed Syria’s support to Russia in its special military operation as “just and legitimate”, asserting that “the West should not wager its financial and military capabilities,” comparing it to Syria’s own lengthy struggle with terrorism and extremism.
During his visit to Moscow, Syria’s minister also addressed the situation with Turkey and reiterated his country’s demands to withdraw from Syria and halt all support to terrorist organizations.
Mikdad also called on the foreign-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to “stand by their homeland and with the Syrian Arab Army to defend the unity of Syria.”
Lavrov reiterated Russia’s appreciation of Syria’s stand on the special military operation in Ukraine, and its official recognition of the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republic.
Syria decided to recognize the independence of the two break-away regions on 29 June.