Putin hosts Assad, expected to focus on rebuilding Syria

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV and BASSEM MROUE
Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting Syrian leader Bashar Assad for talks in the Kremlin that are expected to focus on rebuilding Syria after a devastating civil war and mending the country’s ties with Turkey. Welcoming Assad at the start of Wednesday’s meeting that comes on the anniversary of Syria’s 12-year uprising-turned-civil war, Putin emphasized the Russian military’s “decisive contribution” to stabilizing the country. Russia has waged a military campaign in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assad’s government to fight back armed opposition groups and to reclaim control over most of the country. While Russia has concentrated its military resources in Ukraine, Moscow has maintained its military foothold in Syria.