US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief, General Michael Kurilla, said on 16 March that the Russian air force has increased the frequency of “unprofessional” and “unsafe” flyovers of US occupation bases in Syria.

“They fly over our bases with ground attack aircraft with weapons on them in an attempt to try to be provocative,” Kurilla said, calling the flyovers “unsafe, unprofessional, and not what we expect of a professional air force.”

On March 19, Syrian President Bashar al Assad arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on an official visit, accompanied by his wife Asma al Assad.

Assad was greeted by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on arrival in Abu Dhabi and received a canon salute as his convoy entered the royal palace, Qasr Al Watan. Assad’s plane was greeted by fighter jets from the Emirate air force.

"What we are seeing, though, is an increase recently in the unprofessional and unsafe behavior of the Russian Air Force in the region," Kurilla stated.

The general explained that Russian aircraft have become emboldened to act aggressively toward U.S. bases in a way not typical of an organized military force.

Arab leaders are offering Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a deal that includes billions of dollars for reconstruction efforts and a pledge to lobby the west to lift sanctions in exchange for "[asking] Iran to stop expanding its footprint in the nation," according to Arab and European officials that spoke with the Wall Street Journal.

On March 18, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky imposed sanctions against Syrian President Bashar Assad, a close ally of Russia.

In addition to President Assad, the sanctions targeted Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous and Foreign Minister Faisal Miqdad. A document released by the Ukrainian Presidency clarifies that Assad and the two senior Syrian officials are now subject to the blocking of assets and a number of other measures.

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Arab countries are offering a deal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that would restore ties between Damascus and most countries in the region.

The report, which cited unnamed Arab and European officials, said in talks initially led by Jordan, the Arab nations have proposed billions worth in aid to help the country rebuild after 12 years of war and to lobby the US and European governments to lift sanctions.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said that he would welcome any Russian proposals to set up new military bases and boost troop numbers in the Middle Eastern country, suggesting Moscow’s military presence there should become permanent.

March 15 marks the 12th anniversary of the Syrian conflict which started with unrest that later translated into a multinational standoff fanned by the collective West. Russia's involvement turned the table on the war, disrupting the attempts to isolate Damascus.

Syrian President Bashar Assad on Wednesday reiterated his support to Russia in the fight with "old and new Nazis."

"I want to take advantage of the moment, as this is my first visit since the [start of the] special operation in Ukraine, and reiterate the Syrian position in support of the special operation against the old and new Nazis. I’m saying they are old and new Nazis because the West accepted old Nazis on its soil, and now it supports them again," the Syrian leader said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

The rocket attack on the U.S. Green Village base was widely seen by observers as a response to the Israeli strikes on Tartus and Hama.

The attack came around a week after General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, paid an unannounced visit to an undisclosed base in northeastern Syria. One of the main goals of the visit was to assess safeguards for American troops against attacks.