Putin keeps Syrian mercenaries in Ukraine, leaving Assad short-handed

The Center for National Resistance reported the information.

Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad reportedly requested military assistance from Vladimir Putin, including the release of Syrian mercenaries recruited by Russia for the war in Ukraine, to help defend his regime.

In response, Putin refused Assad’s request, and according to the Center for National Resistance, this decision has led Russia to "effectively lose Syria."

"Putin repeatedly betrays 'allies' in pursuit of even minor success in Ukraine. Earlier, the dictator abandoned Armenia, as all combat-ready Russian units are caught in the grinder for the Kremlin's imperial ambitions," the post reads.

What is happening in Syria

In Syria, a large-scale military operation by opposition forces against government troops has been ongoing. The Syrian opposition launched a major offensive on the morning of November 27, capturing 56 towns across the Aleppo and Idlib provinces within two days and advancing to the outskirts of Aleppo.

On Saturday, November 30, Russian aviation conducted airstrikes on Aleppo for the first time since 2016, as Syrian rebels pushed into the city center. Simultaneously, Russia pledged additional military support to Assad's regime to counter the opposition's gains.

On the same day, Reuters reported, citing military sources, that Syrian rebels had captured the town of Maarat al-Numan in Idlib province, thereby taking control of the entire province.

The Russian authorities decided to dismiss the commander of the Russian forces in Syria, Sergey Kisel, amid losses and growing panic among Russian troops. The situation for the Russian contingent in Syria is worsening as rebel forces advance in the south, with urban battles taking place in Hama, Homs, and Suwayda.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Russia and Iran bear responsibility for the security situation’s degradation in Syria.

On December 4, the U.S. military carried out a defensive strike against weapons systems in eastern Syria. On December 5, Syrian rebels entered the key central city of Hama, with regime forces withdrawing from the city. The next day, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged citizens to avoid traveling to Syria.

As of December 6, Syrian rebels, led by the jihadist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), advanced towards Homs, Syria's third-largest city. Additionally, the U.S.-backed alliance, led by Syrian Kurds, seized Deir ez-Zor, the main city in eastern Syria and a key border crossing with Iraq.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan offered to help Syrian leader Bashar Assad shape the future of Syria, but his proposal was rejected.

On December 7, Syrian opposition forces declared control over the city of Daraa in the southwest of the country. Later, rebels claimed they had entered the capital, Damascus, and announced the fall of dictator Bashar Assad's government. The president allegedly fled the country.

On Sunday, December 8, Russia began withdrawing its military ships from the Syrian port of Tartus after rebels captured Damascus.

Later, Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Al-Jalali stated that the country needed to conduct free elections to allow its people to choose their leadership.

Bild reported that Assad planned to transfer power to pro-Turkish forces and leave for Russia. Negotiations regarding this transfer took place in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

Russian media reported on the evening of December 8 that Assad, along with his family, had flown to Moscow, where Russia reportedly granted them asylum.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated that Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad is "safe" in Russia.