MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin sent a message to Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa backing efforts to ensure Syria's territorial integrity and offering Russia's "practical cooperation" on a whole range of issues, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
The fall in December of President Bashar al-Assad to rebels led by Sharaa after 13 years of civil war has forced Russia to scramble to secure its bases in the country. Moscow is also concerned by a wave of sectarian killings in Syria.
