Report: Why Syria's Assad Supports Russia's Putin?

Bashar Al-Assad said, according to a statement issued by the Syrian presidency, "What is happening today is a correction of history and a restoration of balance to the world that it lost after the dissolution of the Soviet Union," noting that "Russia today is not only defending itself but the world and the principles of justice and humanity."

In his first telephone conversation with his most prominent ally since the start of the Russian military operation on Ukraine Thursday, Assad added that "Syria stands with Moscow, based on its conviction of the correctness of its position, and because confronting the expansion of (NATO) because it has become a comprehensive threat to the world."

Russia, which in September 2015 began a military intervention in Syria, is Assad's most important ally and maintains significant influence in the country. Its military intervention contributed to tipping the balance of power on the ground in favor of government forces.

Moscow has also been a major supporter of Damascus in the Security Council since the outbreak of the conflict in March 2011.

According to Russian and Syrian officials, in July 2015, Syrian President Assad made a formal request to Russia for airstrikes to combat international terrorism, while laying out Syria's military problems.

According to media reports, after a series of major setbacks suffered by the Syrian government forces in the first half of 2015, a political agreement was reached between Russia and Syria to intensify the Russian involvement.

Thus, Moscow is the closest friend to Damascus when most of the world's countries remained in the grey zone, waiting for clear visions before taking further actions with or against the Syrian regime. It's logical nowadays for Assad to pay back and announce his country's support to the military operation against Ukraine.

In January 2016, a few months after Russia's involvement in Syria, diplomat Ranjit Gupta wrote in The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs, that the Russian reinforcement was a "godsend for Assad, greatly boosting the regime's sagging morale and that of its armed forces."

https://see.news/syrian-president-assad-gives-1st-interview-since-baghdadi-killed/