MOSCOW, December 16. /TASS/. CIS member states should bolster their anti-terror efforts in light of the situation in Syria, a senior Russian lawmaker said.

"We know that the ranks of the victorious opposition coalition include members of radical groups and terrorist organizations and that they could escalate subversive activities in countries neighboring Russia following recent developments in Syria. Of course, we must remain vigilant about the risk of extremism spreading across borders. In this regard, we need to reinforce joint migration controls and intensify anti-terror efforts within the CIS region," Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) international committee and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), said in an interview with the National Defense magazine.

The overthrow of former Syrian President Bashar Assad and the armed opposition's assumption of power could have repercussions far beyond the region, Slutsky emphasized. "At this point, the situation is more dire than anticipated. Russia backed the UN's calls to preserve Syria's territorial integrity, advocated for inclusive inter-Syrian dialogue, and supported a peaceful transition of power. However, unrest continues in the country, and recovery efforts have yet to begin," Slutsky added.

On November 27, Syria’s armed opposition launched a large-scale offensive against government forces in the provinces of Aleppo and Idlib. By the evening of December 7, President Bashar Assad’s opponents had seized several major cities, including Aleppo, Hama, Daraa, and Homs. On December 8, they entered Damascus, forcing the army to withdraw from the capital. Assad resigned and left the country. On December 10, Mohammed al-Bashir, who had led the so-called Syrian Salvation Government in the Idlib Province since January 2024, announced his appointment as head of Syria’s interim government until March 1, 2025.