Syria has asked Russia to resume patrolling the southern provinces of the country

Syria has asked the Russian Federation to resume patrolling its southern provinces, Kommersant writes.

"Damascus has shown interest in the Russian military police resuming patrolling the southern provinces of Syria, as it did before the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024," the publication says.

According to the source of the publication, such a measure could "limit the military activity of Israel," which has occupied part of the southern regions of Syria since December 2024 and is continuing operations in this territory.

For the first time since the change of power in Damascus, Russia has resumed patrolling, but so far in another area of Syria — near the northeastern city of Al-Qamishli, Arab media say. According to them, this happened just a few days after the visit of Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaybani to Moscow on July 31 — August 1.

Israel occupied part of the southern regions of Syria in December. Then Tel Aviv announced the creation of a buffer zone there in order to secure Israel's northern border and protect the Druze community. Russia's military presence in the area has been reduced. Damascus believes that the return of Russian patrols could "prevent Israeli interference in Syrian affairs."