Iranian president holds rare meeting with Assad in Syria

The Iranian and Syrian leaders (Syrian Presidency via Facebook via AP)

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has met his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad in Damascus in a bid to boost cooperation between the two allies, state media reported.

Tehran has been a main backer of Mr Assad’s government since an uprising turned into a full-blown war in March 2011, and has played an instrumental role in turning the tide in his favour.