Russia’s deputy foreign minister and a special presidential envoy for Syria arrived in Damascus on Tuesday, according to Russian state news.

Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, was received by al-Sharaa on Friday, making his first visit since al-Assad’s overthrow.

Moscow is anxious to maintain its strategically important military assets in the country, which hosts its only bases outside the former Soviet Union.

A delegation of Russian officials arrived in Damascus on Tuesday, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported. It is the first such delegation to visit Syria since the fall of former President Bashar Assad,

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov is set to meet Syria's new rulers this week in Damascus, two Syrian sources said on Tuesday, in the first visit by Russian officials since Moscow's ally President Bashar al-Assad was toppled.