People enjoy New Year's Eve celebrations in Umayyad Square in Damascus on December 31, 2024 in Damascus, Syria. (Photo by Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images) 
The delegation, which is expected to hold talks with Syria's new rulers, includes Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Alexander Lavrentiev, the Kremlin's special envoy for Syria.
Russia, which granted Assad refuge, is hoping to retain its two bases in Syria, a naval base in Tartous and the Hmeimim air base near the port city of Latakia.
(Reporting by ReutersEditing by Andrew Osborn)