Dozens of civilians were wounded and killed as a result of air and ground strikes carried out by the Syrian army and its allies, who have begun the offensive against the strategically important ISIS-captured city of Abu Kamal, on the border with Iraq, reported DW with reference to the London-based opposition organization Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

As reported, on November 12 the Syrian state forces intensified the attack on Abu Kamal several hours after Islamic State militants had  …

According to Iranian news agency Fars, citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights as a source, troops loyal to Bashar al-Assad’s regime were forced to retreat from the city of Abu Kamal because of strong pressure from ISIS militants.

The news agency indicates that fighting continues in the vicinity of Abu Kamal, where the government army and military groups from Hezbollah are attempting to organize a counteroffensive.

The Russian media reported that Abu Kamal, which was considered the …

The Crimean Ministry of Resorts and Tourism reports on the preparation of a list of local tour operators which will be able to accept tourists from China as part of "visa-free travel regime”,  reported the Ministry’s press service.

The Ministry noted that Crimean tour companies"willing to carry out activities on travel-related services and reception of Chinese tourists in 2018" have until December 15, 2017 to submit their applications.

The Crimean Ministry of Resorts said that this is their …

Russian hackers worked to exacerbate relations between Spain and Catalonia by spreading messages on social networks, as stated by two Ministers from the Spanish government, DW reports.

Spain's Minister of Defense, María Dolores de Cospedal, noted that many messages on social networks on the topic of Catalonia came from the Russian segment of the Internet, however it is unknown whether the Russian government is involved.

The presence of evidence of an intervention by hackers from "Russian …

In an interview with LB.ua, Head of the Verkohvna Rada Committee on matters of National Security and Defense Serhiy Pashynsky believes that breaking off diplomatic relations with Russia would not be beneficial for Ukraine at this stage. 

“Such [an amendment to sever diplomatic ties with Russia] cannot be included. In order to do this, the law on the Cabinet of Ministers needs to be revoked. An executive organ can be created in the Verkhovna Rada. Do you know that we have masses of MPs who don’ …

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, called actions by United States authorities against RT and Sputnik Russian TV-channels “an attack on freedom of speech” and threatened retaliatory measures from Moscow, at a press conference following the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, RIA reports.

“Without a freedom of speech there is no democracy. Clamping down on our mass media in the United States without any doubt is an attack on freedom of speech,” Putin said.

Currently, members …

The Romanian government approved a bill on the purchase of seven Patriot anti-missile systems, as announced by the Minister of National Defense of Romania, Mihai Fifor.

The Minister of National Defense noted that the Romanian Armed Forces are in urgent need of new weapons.

"The bill approved by the government on the purchase of Patriot anti-missile systems will soon be submitted to the parliament for approval, and if all parliamentary procedures are successful, we hope that anti-aircraft …

Russia began to deploy military forces to the Ukrainian border, which it is going to "disguise" as UN peacekeepers, as stated on Saturday by the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksandr Turchynov.

According to him, negotiations on the introduction of peacekeeping forces in the Donbas are very serious.

"However all of Russia's attempts to "disguise" its forces as peacekeepers, which it has already begun to build up near the borders with Ukraine, will be in vain," …