SYRIA’S DEFENCE MINISTER HUMILIATED BY RUSSIAN MILITARY IN CEREMONY AT TARTOUS

Image shows a Russian military personnel preventing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from following Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria’s coastal province of Latakia. (FILE PHOTO – December, 2017).

Thu 04 August 2022:

Syria’s Defence Minister was seemingly insulted by the Russian military last week, which prevented him from accompanying the Commander of Russian forces in Syria at a ceremony.

On Sunday, the Syrian Defence Minister, Ali Mahmoud Abbas, and the Commander of Russian forces in Syria, Alexander Cheko, participated in a ceremony commemorating the Russian Navy Day at the Syrian port of Tartous.

“Embarrassing! A Russian soldier prevents the Minister of Defense of the Syrian regime from accompanying the commander of the Russian forces in Syria, at the Tartus naval base occupied by Russia.” pic.twitter.com/E2v0Ah2Ero

— Fared Al Mahlool (@FARED_ALHOR) August 1, 2022

In a video clip published by the Russian newspaper Izvestia, Abbas was seen to be prevented by a Russian soldier from following Cheko on to the main deck of a vessel, where a parade was being held. Ali Abbas was then left to stand amongst soldiers in the background.

The incident is not the first time an official of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime has been humiliated by its Russian ally and patron, with even President Assad himself having famously been prevented by a Russian officer from walking with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2017, following Putin’s arrival at the Hmeimim airbase in the Syrian province of Lattakia.

Video shows awkward moment Russian soldier stops #Assad from following #Putin https://t.co/mpeJPyLm8q pic.twitter.com/0wJb2odWyd

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) December 11, 2017