With Syria's Assad gone, his PM agrees to hand power to rebel administration

Uh, yeah. He is just a caretaker at this point.

The Kremlin said it was too early to know the future of Russia's military bases in Syria, but it would discuss the issue with the new authorities.

Actually, they have also said they are in contact with relevant parties and no threat imminent. Russia will keep the bases on the east med.

Last night, footage appeared on large Russian army motorized convoys making their way unhindered west from former bases along the Syrian-Turkey border area, even with some former Syrian army gear. Clearly, they are redeploying to the Latakia and Tartus areas as previous positions are unnecessary. This area is in effect a Russian protectorate already with peacekeepers and will be a stabilization force that can deter unsavoury elements. Also, they have the only air force in the country.

The above two mentioned areas constitute the coastal enclave and is easily defended. One of the few areas largely untouched by the wider civil war. Rebels didn't advance anywhere near there and won't in any number. The above-mentioned redeployment will assist in beefing up the cordon.

Russia effectively controls the only two deep water ports which means seaborne imports/exports. The new ruling authorities might need some grain shipments, energy and other stuff to help stabilize the country.

The way Israel has brazenly moved on the Golan Heights will create jitters and another motive to extend the welcome of Russian military presence for the new management.

JJEToday 06:44 am JST

The Kremlin said it was too early to know the future of Russia's military bases in Syria, but it would discuss the issue with the new authorities.

Actually, they have also said they are in contact with relevant parties and no threat imminent. Russia will keep the bases on the east med.

No threat imminent is not the same as getting to keep colonial bases, particularly when the former puppet is now taking shelter in the colonizer's capital.

Last night, footage appeared on large Russian army motorized convoys making their way unhindered west from former bases along the Syrian-Turkey border area, even with some former Syrian army gear. Clearly, they are redeploying to the Latakia and Tartus areas as previous positions are unnecessary. This area is in effect a Russian protectorate already with peacekeepers and will be a stabilization force that can deter unsavoury elements. Also, they have the only air force in the country.

I'm sure the tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of fighters in Syria are really scared.

The above two mentioned areas constitute the coastal enclave and is easily defended. One of the few areas largely untouched by the wider civil war. Rebels didn't advance anywhere near there and won't in any number. The above-mentioned redeployment will assist in beefing up the cordon.

russia doesn't have the resources to invade another country.

Russia effectively controls the only two deep water ports

For now...

which means seaborne imports/exports. The new ruling authorities might need some grain shipments, energy and other stuff to help stabilize the country.

russia is the beggar in this scenario, they will be accepting the terms presented to them or they will be leaving in further humilation if need be.

The way Israel has brazenly moved on the Golan Heights will create jitters and another motive to extend the welcome of Russian military presence for the new management.

I bet the Sunnis don't welcome russia nearly as much as the Iranian backed terrorists did.

Russia has been in Syria since the 1940s, long before the Assad governments. Tartus naval base has been there since 1971.

Important to keep in mind the Russian Embassy in Damascus wasn't ransacked or even breached in any way, shape or form. All diplomatic staff fine.

The Syrian Embassy in Moscow raised the new opposition flag yesterday.

This surely is not a coincidence.

Jeez, Israel has carried out no less that 100 airstrikes in Syria today. That's unbelievable. This comes after snatching the Golan Heights yesterday. Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile, eh?

Now here an update on the IDF stats:

More than 350 Israeli airstrikes targeting Syrian territory.

Israeli occupied Syrian territory equivalent to twice the size of the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army is technically less than 40 km away from the capital Damascus.

This is why Russia's ongoing presence in Syria is critical. New management will surely consider this.

Jeez, Israel has carried out no less that 100 airstrikes in Syria today. That's unbelievable. This comes after snatching the Golan Heights yesterday. Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile, eh?

So true.

JJEToday 07:12 am JST

Russia has been in Syria since the 1940s, long before the Assad governments. Tartus naval base has been there since 1971.

And I am sure Syrians will keep that in mind, considering they have been being tortured almost that whole time.

Important to keep in mind the Russian Embassy in Damascus wasn't ransacked or even breached in any way, shape or form. All diplomatic staff fine.

The Syrian Embassy in Moscow raised the new opposition flag yesterday.

This surely is not a coincidence.

Still early days. Syrians still thinking about where their loved ones went and who was responsible.

The Israeli army is technically less than 40 km away from the capital Damascus.

This is why Russia's ongoing presence in Syria is critical. New management will surely consider this.

russia won't lay a finger on Israel. That still has bipartisan support in the US.

his PM agrees to hand power to rebel administration

Clearly an inside job. Fundamentally, the Assad administration just crumbled and handed the country over to the the Sunni jihadis.

Israel and the US are very happy now, seeing that the Iran-supported regime is gone, and that Russia will lose its only base in the mediterranean.

How installing another radical islamist theocracy in the Middle East in the name of "country building" or "democracy introducing" will work out remains to be seen. It worked so wonderfully in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Kosovo, etc etc etc.

Repeating a mistake in the belief of expecting a different result is one of the classic definitions of insanity...

I love it how many here are suddenly so supportive of ISIS and Al-Qaeda people have taken over Syria. I can't help think but this is going to come back and bite the west. Surely these two terrorist groups weren't American assets to begin wth?

I dont think either side, right nor left, can look on in anything other than disbelief as legacy media tries to portray a wanted terrorist as some sort of force for good in the Middle-East.

Syria is screwed. Turkey already taking pieces out of the Kurdish North. Israel expanding its borders in the South. Fully expect Iran-backed militia to make a move in the coming weeks and months. Best case situation, this change in power is a sidegrade from Assad's regime.

Syrians are still looking for loved ones missing within Assad's the network prisons, people are camping in the rain and cold winter outside these prisons hoping to collect their loved ones dead or alive.

Assad MUST BE turned over to the WCC to be put on trial, or hand him over to the new government to face JUSTICE.

Syria can't rest with this Tyrant sheltered in Russia served hot meals and worm beds.

Another huge factor is the economic and trade relations shared by the two countries - this cannot be overstated. Russia is basically a vital supplier of essential commodities. One could go on at length about this and other factors.

Rebuilding an increasingly Balkanized country from the damage of the civil war is a huge challenge. Any sensible central govt is going to realize they need Russia's help on many fronts, especially from a security and economic perspective.

Plus, the US-protected Kurds in the east won't hand over the oil fields to Damascus anytime fast. This will make whoever emerges there more reliant on the generous and decent hand of Russia.

Think about it: they aren't going to cutoff their food security just to satisfy a disjointed anti-Russia agenda that some observers may subscribe to.

We know certain quarters would be cock-a-hoop in seeing Russia evicted from Syria, but the wind just isn't blowing in that direction.

Syrians are still looking for their loved ones missing within he Assad's network of prisons, people are camping in the rain and cold winter outside these prisons hoping to collect their loved ones dead or alive.

Assad MUST BE turned over to the WCC to be put on trial, or hand him over to the new government to face JUSTICE.

Syria can't rest with this Tyrant sheltered in Russia served hot meals and worm beds.

russia won't lay a finger on Israel. That still has bipartisan support in the US.

Agreed. The point is Israel's action in the Golan Heights (illegally moving into the UN-mandated buffer zone) and their trigger-happy airstrikes have created unease in Syria and amongst other mid-east states. This has strengthened Russia's position in post-Assad Syria considerably. If the goal was undermining Moscow's influence in Syria, thank Tel Aviv for pulling the rug out from under that one.

Not mentioned here is Turkey got into the act of bombing Syria too, which means three (aligned) countries are illegally attacking Syria - Israel, US and the former.

Assad MUST BE turned over to the WCC to be put on trial, or hand him over to the new government to face JUSTICE.

Good luck with that. The ICC has as much jurisdiction over Syria as it does over US, Russia, or Israel.

Enough of the double standards.

Maybe the new leadership will just be 'nice' terrorists for change, say....al-Qaida 'lite' and 'progressive'!

Syria dominates all global media due to one reason only: oil!

“Oil rises over 1% on ouster of Syria's Assad.”

To puppets?

Syria has little oil, but the pressure on markets is due to the risk of regional war contagion/escalation.

Amazing how little coverage of US and Israeli bombing runs over Syria, even B-52s, Biden's a true war monger!

Be careful what you ask for.

In Iraq, with Saddam, it was safe and women had rights and could even walk the streets at night. Now with him toppled, it is unsafe, and women have no rights and cannot walk the streets at night.

Look at Afghan with the Taliban now in control.

Same in Libya with Gaddafi, another safe country turned upside down now with two governments and a mess.

Highly likely same will now happen in Syria.

Look at all Arab countries. Almost all run by some families and no democracy.

It's a different lifestyle in those countries that the West does not understand.

Syrians are still looking for loved ones missing within Assad's the network prisons, people are camping in the rain and cold winter outside these prisons hoping to collect their loved ones dead or alive.

There is no reason to disbelieve you, but....The Internet is beginning to be filled up with various videos demonstrating how the "liberation" of the unfortunate country is happening. The wildest bullying, humiliation, murder... And now tell me that you are not a supporter of inhuman revenge

JindToday 11:30 am JST

Be careful what you ask for.

In Iraq, with Saddam, it was safe and women had rights and could even walk the streets at night. Now with him toppled, it is unsafe, and women have no rights and cannot walk the streets at night.

They pump more oil than they did under Saddam. Not safer if you were in Saddam's prisons.

Pukey2Today 08:35 am JST

Surely these two terrorist groups weren't American assets to begin wth?

That's right they weren't.

How installing another radical islamist theocracy in the Middle East in the name of "country building" or "democracy introducing" will work out remains to be seen. 

You are the only one alleging this. The US, Israel and Europe are all biting their nails worried that what emerges is a Sunni dominated Islamic Emirate that becomes a haven for jihadists. Assad is gone but nobody is saying what comes afterwards is necessarily better. There are opportunities for improvement but no guarantees this will happen.

Syria dominates all global media due to one reason only: oil!

Syria has little oil, 

Here are the facts

https://www.worldometers.info/oil/syria-oil/

The Russians will be told to close their bases when there's a new government. Putin is pissed with Assad because he pumped billions into Syria and he failed to hold it.

Assad fled to Moscow with $2 billion and has property there worth millions—money belonging to the Syrian people.

After spending 40 years in prison, a man was released at the age of 58. He believed the release was just another psychological torment.

Assad fled to Moscow with $2 billion and has property there worth millions—money belonging to the Syrian people.

wallace, you copy this your post for the day when Zelya will flee from Ukraine. You will need only to change Asad for Zelensky