Russia’s defense minister visits Syria, meets Assad
Russia’s defense minister visited Syria on Saturday to meet the country’s leader and inspect the Russian air base there.
Gen. Sergei Shoigu met with President Bashar Assad in Damascus for talks that focused on co-operation between the two militaries and “some aspects of co-operation in the fight against terrorist groups,” the Russian Defence Ministry said. It added that Shoigu held talks with Assad on orders from President Vladimir Putin.
Shoigu also visited the Hemeimeem air base in the coastal province of Lattakia, where he met with Russian pilots.