Contents tagged with Syria

  • Russian airstrikes killed commanders of rebel groups supported by US.

    A monitoring group reports that several commanders of the “Free Syrian Army” have been killed by Russian air strikes in recent days.

    The commanders are reportedly from the groups which receive support of US and other coalition allies.

    The Syrian Observatory for Human rights reports that 45 people were killed by Russian airstrikes on Monday.

    Among them were both civilians and rebel fighters. The airstrikes occurred in Jabal Akrad area.

    This area is under control of the First Coastal Division …

  • Syrian conflict - latest updates, October 15

    Iran enters Syrian conflict

    Iran has openly entered the Syrian conflict sending 3000 of its elite troops of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in support of the President Bashar Assad.

    Iranian troops have been deployed to central and northern parts of Syria where they have been joined by Hezbollah fighters.

    On October 10, General Hossein Hamadani ,  one of the commanders of the  Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed in the area of  the Khanasser Highway in Southern Aleppo.

    General …

  • The latest from the Middle East

    ISIS Leader killed

    ISIS has confirmed the death of one of its prominent leaders. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in Iraq when his convoy was hit by an air strike.

    United States disclosed this information as early as August 21 but the official confirmation from ISIS appeared only now. 

    Russian air strikes

    During the last day Russian planes conducted as many as 90 air mission over Syria.  Russia says that the main targets of these missions were the fortified positions of ISIS over Latakia, …

  • Ex-Syrian astronaut becomes general in Free Syrian Army.

    A former Syrian air force general who was also the country's first astronaut is now a general in Free Syrian Army.Maj. Gen. Mohammed Fares trained as an astronaut in the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1987, and spent eight days on Russia's Mir space station. He was the first Syrian and the second Arab in space.Muhammed Faris was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union and also the Order of Lenin.Upon returning to Syria he continued his service in the Syrian Air Force, preparing pilots.In 2012 he …

  • 90% of Russian strikes target Syrian opposition.

    According to U.S. State Department, over 90% of Russia's strikes in Syria don't target ISIS.State Department accused Moscow of attacking "groups that want a better future for Syria" in attempt to save Assad regime.“Greater than 90 percent of the strikes that we’ve seen them take to date have not been against ISIL or al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists,” said State Department spokesman John Kirby. “They’ve been largely against opposition groups that want a better future for Syria and don’t want to …

  • U.S. says won't cooperate militarily with Russia in Syria.

    As reported byReuters, The United States will not cooperate militarily with Russia in Syria because Moscow's strategy is "tragically flawed", U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Wednesday in his strongest comments yet on the issue.

    However, the United States is willing to hold basic, technical discussions with the Russians to try to secure pilot safety.

    "We are not prepared to cooperate in a strategy which as we explained is flawed, tragically flawed on Russia's part," Carter said …

  • Turkey says Russian strikes weaken fight against ISIS.

    Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu criticised Russian airstrikes in Syria, insisting they weaken the fight against ISIS. He said only two of Russia's 57 air strikes in Syria had hit Islamic State militants, while the rest had been against the "moderate" opposition forces. While targeting Syrian opposition these strikes help strengthen the Islamic State group, Mr. Davutoglu said on Wednesday and warned that Turkey would not compromise on border security after Russian warplanes violated its …

  • Russian warships attack targets in Syria.

    As reported, at his meeting with President Putin Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that Russian warships of Caspian Flotilia have launched a total of 26 cruise missiles at IS facilities in Syria, destroying all targets. The strikes came from Russia’s fleet based the Caspian Sea, which borders Russia, Iran and three other littoral countries."Four of our destroyers launched 26 cruise missiles at 11 targets from the Kalibr Marine Base". Mr Shoigu insisted the operation destroyed all …

  • NATO says Russian explanation on Turkish airspace unacceptable.

    NATO rejects Moscow's explanation that its warplanes violated the air space of alliance member Turkey by mistake. 

    NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg described the incidents as "extremely dangerous" and "unacceptable". He also expressed deep concern over reports of a substantial Russian military build-up, including ground troops and ships in the eastern Mediterranean.

    At the same time, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said he was losing patience with Russian violations of his country's …