Contents tagged with Syrian Conflict

  • Russia to supply Iran with S-300 surface-to-air missile systems

    According to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Deputy of the Second Department on Asia, Zamir Kabulov, Russia will begin to supply Iran with S-300 surface-to-air missiles (SAM), as resported by RIA Novosti. Tehran is also interested in purchasing improved S-400 SAMs; however, the parties haven’t begun negotiations on this issue yet.

    Russia and Iran signed a contract for the supply of S-300’s, worth approximately $900 million in 2007. The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, signed a decree in …

  • 10 civilians killed by airstrikes in Aleppo

    In Syria, 10 civilians were killed as a result of air strikes in opposition-controlled areas of Aleppo, as reported by the Turkish Anadolu news agency, referencing representatives of the local civil defense forces.

    The strikes targeted the residential quarter of Katranji.  Many buildings were damaged or destroyed, and rescue teams are still searching through the rubble for the deceased and wounded.

    A representative of the Media Center of Aleppo, Magic Najjar, has reported that Russian combat …

  • Diplomat denies allegations that Russian ground forces are active in Syria

    A member of Russia’s Federation Council, Konstantin Kosachev, stated that no Russian ground forces are active in Syria. Kosachev told this to a Deutsche Welle reporter on Friday at the International Conference on Security Policy in Munich. The diplomat also rejected the possibility of a future Russian-led ground operation in the war-torn country.

    Kosachev specifically denied allegations of the presence of Russian soldiers and artillery units in the Syrian province of Latakia.

    Der Spiegel has …

  • Syrian Opposition Regains Territory from Government Forces with Counteroffensive

    According to the Anadolu Agency, the Syrian opposition went on the counter-offensive in order to regain control over villages that were lost two weeks ago. The press service cited Turkmen oppositional sources that indicated that the Syrian opposition has regained control over some settlements near Turkmandagy in northern Syria.

    In particular, the Syrian opposition moved towards the villages of Kurudzh, Sarraf, Kuldzhuk and Karaman in the province of Lazkiye. According to the press service, 14 …

  • Merkel 'shocked' by Russian air strikes in Syria

    German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, has reminded all that the UN Security Council resolution on Syria calls for an end to indiscriminate attacks and in particular, attacks from the air.

    Merkel also condemned the Russian bombings in Syria which have forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee.

    She went on to say that she was “terrified” by the results of the air strikes and suggested that they violated the UN Security Council resolution that was signed by Moscow in December.

    Speaking in …

  • Kadyrov: Chechen Special Forces are in Syria Fighting against Islamic State

    The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, said that the Chechen Special Forces are fighting against members of the so-called Islamic State in Syria.  He also announced the creation of an extensive intelligence network within the so-called Islamic State, where "the best soldiers of the Republic" were sent to infiltrate the extremist group.

    "It is time to talk about those who contribute to the success of the Russian Air Force globally and are paying the price of their own lives," as stated in a …

  • Russian Foreign Ministry: UN Secretary General is biased against Russia in its role in Syria

    The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, has accused the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, of being biased and of having a lack of objectivity with regard to his assessment of Moscow’s role in the resolution of the Syrian conflict.  Zakharova’s comments were published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

    According to Zakharova, “a campaign has been launched through a number of foreign media platforms discussing the role of Russia in the Syrian …

  • Erdoğan: Moscow and Damascus are responsible for the deaths of 400,000 Syrians

    According to the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Russia and the Syrian leadership are responsible for the deaths of 400 000 people in Syria.

    Erdoğan stated that the responsibility for these deaths lies with Moscow and Damascus.  “Russia should be held responsible for the people it killed inside the Syrian border.  Due to Moscow’s cooperation with the regime in Damascus, the death toll has reached 400 000 people,” Erdoğan said this at a conference held in Senegal on the 5th of …

  • French MFA: Russia's support for Assad regime is 'torpedoing' peace talks

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Loran Fabius, has stated that Russian and Iranian support for Syrian President Bashar-al-Assad is detrimental to the Syrian peace process.

    “This is completely torpedoing peace talks in Geneva,” Fabius stated.  He said this upon his arrival to an informal meeting of ministers of foreign affairs of the EU.

    “It requires a political decision.  Political discussions cannot be conducted when one of the parties destroys another.  Both parties have to return …

  • Erdogan: Syrian Negotiations are Meaningless unless Russia and Syria Cease Attacks

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that inter-Syrian negotiations in Geveva are meaningless as long as the troops of the Syrian President, Bashar Al-Assad, and Russia continue hostilities in Syria. “Russia continues to kill people in Syria. How is it then possible to hold peace negotiations?” he rhetorically asked, speaking during his visit to Peru on the 4th of February. “In a climate when people are killed, such efforts make no sense. They just ease the conditions for the tyrant,” …