Kremlin Says Russia Has Completed Its Mission In Syria

Dmitry Peskov. (Wikimedia Commons/kremlin.ru)

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had completed its mission in Syria, with the government of President Bashar al-Assad in control of his country later.

Peskov said Russia was assisting Syria in fighting terrorists and stabilizing the situation after 2015, but further action depended on the Damascus government.

"Some time ago, Russia helped the Syrian Arab Republic in fighting terrorists and ensuring stability when the situation threatened the entire region," he explained, quoted from TASS December 11.

"We are working hard to achieve that goal. Russia has completed its mission at that time," Peskov said.

"After that, the (Bashar) Assad government, which is taking control of its own country, is trying hard to ensure development, but unfortunately, the situation has reached that point," Peskov said, adding "now, we need to continue based on reality on the pitch."

Peskov stressed "Russia continues to dialogue with all countries in the region", when asked how possible changes to government in Syria will affect Moscow's geopolitical influence in the Middle East, the presidential spokesman.

"We are committed to continuing to do so this way," Peskov said.

Syrian insurgent groups launched massive attacks on parts of Syria in late November, before taking control of the capital by the weekend, marking the collapse of President Assad's administration.

The Kremlin says Assad and his family are already in Moscow and are seeking asylum on President Vladimir Putin's decision on humanitarian grounds.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov later became the first official to confirm Assad's whereabouts in Moscow, saying Russia had taken him in the safest way.