European Union: Extremism, Russia And Iran Should No More In Syria

JAKARTA - EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said extremism, Russia and Iran should have no place in Syria's future.

Many foreign ministers have stressed that it should be a requirement for a new leadership to remove the influence of Russia (in Syria), Kallas said after a meeting with European foreign ministers.

Four Syrian officials told Reuters at the end of last week Russia withdrew its military from the front lines in northern Syria and from posts in the Alawi Mountains.

But Moscow will not leave its two main bases in the country after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.

Earlier, former Syrian President Bashar Assad issued his first official statement since being ousted by rebels. Assad left Syria after a request from Moscow.

"My departure from Syria was not planned and did not occur in the final hours of fighting," Assad said in a statement posted to the presidential Telegram's official channel.

"When terrorist forces infiltrated Damascus, I moved to Latakia in coordination with our Russian allies to oversee combat operations," Assad said.

"Arriving at the Khmeimim airbase that morning, it became clear that our troops had withdrawn completely from all lines of combat and the army's final position had fallen," he added.

Menrut Assad, the situation on the ground in the region continues to worsen, the Russian military base itself was attacked intensively by a drone strike.

"Because there is no feasible way to leave the base, Moscow asks the command of the base to arrange an immediate evacuation to Russia," Assad said.