Contents tagged with Syrian Conflict

  • Media: Russia deploys special forces to southern Syria to support Assad’s offensive

    The Syrian agency Al Masdar News, citing sources in the country’s army, reported on the transfer to the southern regions of groupings from the Airborne Forces (VDV) and the Special Operations Forces of the Russian Federation. The agency reports that the Russian military will support the offensive by Bashar al-Assad in the province of As-Suwayda.According to the agency, these Russian forces "will perform the functions of military advisers, and will also help the Syrian government troops to …

  • Russian Foreign Minister: The US didn’t warn Russia about the airstrike on Assad’s forces

    The United States did not warn Russia about the attack on the Syrian government forces in the south of the country which took place on May 18. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in his interview with the journalists following the session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

    "We are still confirming all the details of this strike, but according to some reports, several dozen civilians have died as a result of it", said Lavrov.

    The Minister said that …

  • Media: Russia proposes to deploy foreign military contingents in 'security zones' in Syria

    Foreign military contingents may be deployed in the “security zones” that Russia has proposed to establish in Syria, reports Kommersant newspaper, referring to a draft memorandum submitted by Moscow to negotiators in Astana.

    In this memorandum, Russia, Turkey and Iran are called “guarantors of the ceasefire in Syria”.

    Four "de-escalation zones" have been proposed - in the province of Idlib, north of Homs, in eastern Ghouta, as well as in southern Syria.

    The exact location of these zones …

  • US Embassy in Moscow urged Americans living in Russia to be alert

    The US Embassy in Moscow urged Americans living in Russia to be alert because of the political situation.

    “U.S. Embassy Moscow reminds all U.S. citizens that the current political climate in Russia requires them to exercise the highest levels of vigilance and situational awareness.  Given recent events, the possibility for large-scale demonstrations, personal harassment, and increased anti-U.S. sentiment is elevated.  U.S. citizens are reminded that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful …

  • Kremlin: We do not unconditionally support Assad

    Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary for Russian President, has said that Kremlin support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is not unconditional, reports AP.

    The previous day, the U.S. State Department said that it is time for Russia to reconsider its support of Assad, due to the chemical attack in Syria. It was reported today that U.S. President Donald Trump has set sights on war against Assad.

    "Unconditional support is impossible in this world," he said.

    The Kremlin added that it “is …

  • Iran allows Russia to use its military bases

    Iranian authorities have decided to allow Russia to use Iranian military bases to make air strikes on militants of the Islamic State in Syria “in specific cases.”

    This was told to Reuters by Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif.

    “Russia does not have a military base in Iran, we have a good relationship, and in specific instances when Russia needs to use Iranian facilities to fight terrorism, we will consider the matter,” Zarif said.

    According to the minister, regional …

  • Media: Russian helicopter shot in Syria

    A Russian helicopter was shot down in the east of the Syrian Latakia province by members of the Ahrar al-Sham group, the Arab news outlet Al Masdar reports.

    According to the publication, the helicopter was shot down by heavy machine gun fire from the region on the border with Turkey.

    There is currently no information on the number of casualties or wounded. The Russian military is reportedly conducting an active search for the downed helicopter.

    The Russian center for reconciliation of the …

  • Media: Turkish Army attacked Assad’s troops

    Turkish armed forces, with the support of the Free Syrian Army, shelled the Syrian border guards at the western part of the city of Manbij, reported the Arabic edition of Al-Masdar.

    The media reported that eight Syrian servicemen were killed, and dozens more were injured.

    The news source reported that the Turkish Army attacked the Syrian military near the border villages, which the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-Syrian alliance, handed over to Assad’s government.

    Earlier, Turkish …

  • Iranian media: Russia deployed Vodnik armored vehicles to Syria

    The Russian Defense Ministry has sent a large number of Vodnik armored vehicles to the Syrian port of Tartus. These vehicles are intended for the army of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad which is assisted by Moscow, as reported by the Iranian agency Fars.

    It also states that Russia is allegedly planning to send additional equipment to the Khmeimim Air Base where the Russian Aerospace Forces’ aircraft are based.

    On 29 December the ceasefire agreement established through mediation with Iran, …

  • Lavrov: Prospects of a Syrian settlement are 'fairly good'

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the prospects of a Syrian settlement after the Astana peace talks were “fairly good”, TASS reported.

    Replying to a question about what steps have to be taken for a peace deal to stick, Lavrov replied, "it is necessary to work, work and again work."

    Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, announced that representatives of the Syrian opposition have been invited to meet with Lavrov in Moscow on Friday.