In a recent meeting at the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, to discuss the escalating regional situation, which notably impacts Syria.
“I am very interested in your opinion on the overall development of the region’s situation. Unfortunately, it tends to escalate, which directly affects Syria,” Putin stated. The meeting occurred on Wednesday evening.
During the interaction, Putin expressed his pleasure in meeting Assad and highlighted the opportunity to address the breadth of relations between their nations.
He pointed out the worsening regional conditions and stressed their relevance to Syria. Discussions were also anticipated on trade and economic ties between Russia and Syria.
Assad emphasised the importance of their meeting amidst current global and regional dynamics, considering it crucial to explore the development of these situations and potential future scenarios.
He reflected on the longstanding and challenging history between Russia and Syria, noting that the meeting coincided with the anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
“Our countries have experienced tough challenges over the past decades, undergoing significant internal transformations. Nonetheless, our relations have consistently demonstrated trust, signifying the maturity of our peoples,” Assad remarked.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced that 3,162 Syrian refugees have returned from Jordan to their homeland since the beginning of the year, marking a 63% increase compared to the same period last year.
UNHCR data indicated that in 2023, 19,729 Syrian refugees from Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, and Iraq returned to Syria, a 19.36% increase from the 16,529 reported during the same period in 2022.
Jordan hosts over 1.3 million Syrians since the onset of the Syrian crisis in 2011, including more than 628,000 registered Syrian refugees with the UNHCR as of the end of June last year.
