Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unannounced visit to Damascus, Syria on Tuesday after celebrating Russian Orthodox Christmas (on Jan.7 every year) in St. Petersburg earlier in the day. In a clear signal to the West amid soaring tensions with Iran, Putin attended a high level military briefing at a headquarters in the Syrian capital.
Putin met with Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad in what Russia’s Interfax acknowledged as “a working trip”. The timing of the visit is sure to be noticed in Washington, given it comes amid soaring tensions with Iran over the killing of Qasem Soleimani, and as thousands of additional US troops are deployed to the region ahead of looming potential Iranian reprisal attacks.
David Adams
Article URL : https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/putin-makes-surprise-visit-syria-military-briefing-amid-us-iran-crisis?