MOSCOW/DAMASCUS/UNITED NATIONS - Russia hopes to keep its military bases in Syria as they are important in the fight against terrorism, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said on Thursday.

"I think there is general agreement that the fight against terrorism and the IS is not over, it requires collective efforts. In this regard, our presence played an important role in the fight against international terrorism," state-run RIA news agency reported, citing Bogdanov.

The Russian diplomat added that Moscow has established contacts with the political committee of Syria's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group and discussed issues of ensuring the security of the Russian diplomatic mission and citizens in the country.

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Russia is ready to provide assistance to those Russian citizens who want to leave Syria, he said.

Bogdanov also noted that Russia is in contact with Israel regarding the Syrian situation.

Also on Thursday, senior officials from Türkiye and Qatar arrived in Damascus to engage in discussions with militant coalition leaders that overthrew the government of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, Syria's interim information ministry announced.

The Turkish delegation included Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, while Qatar was represented by Khalfan bin Ali bin Khalfan Al-Batty Al-Kaabi, head of the State Security Service. Both delegations were joined by "expanded advisory teams", according to a statement by the ministry.

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The officials are scheduled to meet Abu Mohammed al-Golani, leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which played a pivotal role in toppling al-Assad. They are also set to hold talks with Mohammed al-Bashir, a former regional militant leader now serving as the interim prime minister appointed by the militant coalition.

The discussions are expected to focus on advancing internal political dialogue among militant factions, the ministry said.

There has been no official confirmation of the visit from either the Turkish or Qatari governments. Fidan stated earlier that Ankara intends to reopen its embassy in Damascus "once conditions permit".

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Türkiye closed its embassy in the Syrian capital on March 26, 2012, citing escalating violence and its call for Assad to step down amid Syria's civil war that began in 2011.  

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "deeply concerned" by the recent and extensive violations of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, urging parties to deescalate violence throughout the country, according to his spokesperson.

"The Secretary-General is particularly concerned over the hundreds of Israeli airstrikes on several locations in Syria, and stresses the urgent need to deescalate violence on all fronts, throughout the country," Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN chief, said at a daily press briefing on Thursday.

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Guterres emphasizes that the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement remains in force, condemning all actions that would be inconsistent with the agreement, and calling on the parties to the agreement to uphold their obligations under this instrument, including by ending all unauthorized presence in the area of separation and refraining from any action that would undermine the ceasefire and stability in Golan.

In this period of rapid change, Guterres underscores that, while maintaining public order, it is imperative to support credible, orderly and inclusive transitional arrangements in Syria, the spokesperson said.