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Intel: Why Russia is getting involved in Mideast COVID-19 fight

Syria has requested assisted from Moscow to fight the coronavirus outbreak, as Russia implements a campaign to cultivate its image as a "caring power," approaching Middle East leaders to work together against the spread of the virus.
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Syria has made an official request for Russian assistance to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak. On April 8, Syria’s ambassador to Moscow, Riyad Haddad, told Russian reporters that he had approached the Russian Health Ministry to request aid to clamp down on the spread of COVID-19 in his country.

According to Haddad, Damascus has asked Moscow for testing kits and detection equipment, personal protection gear, and medical devices.

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