Assad praises Russian 'brothers' during visit to air base in Syria

DAMASCUS - Syria's President Bashar al-Assad said on Tuesday that his country won't forget the support of Russia, according to the presidential media office.

The president made the remarks during his visit to the Russian-run Hmeimim Air Base in Syria's northern city of Latakia, during which he reviewed the latest military hardware.

Assad visited the base "with all joy and pride," saying that the fighters and pilots coming from Russia help "their brothers of the Syrian Army ... and the Syrian people in defending the unity and sovereignty of Syria and fight against the terrorists."

Assad's visit to Hmeimim was his first official tour of the base, which has been run by the Russian forces since 2015 when they intervened to aid the Syrian government forces in face of the foreign-backed insurgency.

The report said Assad toured the base and reviewed the modern military gears, including warplanes, such as the latest Su-35, and armored carriers.

Assad, along with his wife and three children, also visited wounded soldiers in the central city of Hama to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

But the visit to the Hmeimim base comes at a time when the White House warned there are "potential preparations for another chemical weapons attack" by the Syrian government forces and warned Assad that he would face a "heavy price" if one is carried out.

Both Syria and Russia have denied any such attack is being planned.

US warplanes have struck the Syrian Army several times over the past two months.

Russia has repeatedly slammed the strikes amid reports that it provided the army with high-tech military equipment to defend itself against further attacks.

The president's visit to the base apparently aims to showcase confidence and the strong alliance with Russia in the face of the US threats.

Xinhua

(China Daily 06/29/2017 page11)