“The GUR expressed gratitude to the authorities of Moldova for carrying out the evacuation mission”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
The HUR said that the operation was carried out on the instructions of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi. People were evacuated from Syria through Lebanon. Among them, 31 people are citizens of Ukraine, and three more are relatives of Ukrainian citizens “who have the legal right to enter the territory of our country.”
“We thank the Lebanese side for their help in carrying out the mission, in particular the general manager of sports and youth facilities in Lebanon – Dr. Naji Hammoud, as well as the Sky Up airline for their constant support,” the message reads.
The GUR also expressed gratitude to the authorities of Moldova for carrying out the evacuation mission. It is known that currently the evacuated citizens have already landed at Chisinau airport, from where they will go to Ukraine.
“The important operation carried out to save Ukrainians from Syria is yet another proof that Ukraine helps its citizens – everywhere, everywhere and always. Military intelligence officers, together with their colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, are doing everything possible to protect the rights of our people, to help everyone who is in trouble,” said Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Department of Internal Affairs and Communications of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
In addition, the intelligence service recalled that “starting in August 2024, the GUR and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the instructions of Volodymyr Zelenskyi, carried out four stages of evacuation from the territory of Lebanon and rescued 302 people, including 217 Ukrainians and 85 citizens of other states.”
On December 8, US forces carried out “dozens of precision strikes” on the camps and fighters of the Islamic State group in central Syria. During the operation, more than 75 targets were hit and numerous US Air Force assets were used, including B-52, F-15 and A-10 aircraft.
Syrian rebels said early in the morning of December 8 that they had taken control of the capital Damascus after a lightning offensive that took place in recent days and quickly advanced across the country.
President Bashar Assad left the country and arrived in Moscow with members of his family, Russia granted them asylum.
Bashar al-Assad has relied on Iran and Russia to stay in power since the conflict began in 2011.