Russia blames US, UK for terrorist attacks aimed at weakening military presence in Syria

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service has accused the intelligence agencies of the United States and the United Kingdom of plotting to carry out terrorist attacks on Russian military facilities in Syria.

This revelation comes amid growing tensions surrounding Russia's military presence in the Middle East, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

The intelligence service claims that Washington and London aim to use these planned attacks to pressure Russia into withdrawing its military forces from Syrian territory. The service further asserts that the terrorist acts would be carried out by militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS), targeting Russian bases located primarily in the Latakia province, a region of strategic importance to Moscow.

On December 27, the situation in Syria took another twist, as the new Syrian authorities reportedly indicated their intention to uphold the agreement with Russia regarding the presence of Russian military bases in the country.

Moscow and Damascus are actively discussing the future of Russia’s military contingent in Syria. These discussions reportedly involve determining the size of the permanent Russian presence, ensuring that the stability of Russian-Syrian military agreements remains unaffected by the ongoing hostilities in the region.

The political landscape in Syria has become increasingly volatile since late November, when opposition armed groups launched a significant offensive against the government forces. As a result, several settlements fell into the hands of opposition fighters, and on December 8, Damascus—Syria's capital—was captured by these groups. In response, Syrian military commanders announced the end of President Bashar al-Assad's rule, signaling further instability and uncertainty about the future governance of the country.

By Vafa Guliyeva