Contents tagged with Syria

  • Russia appoints new commander of Syrian group

    Following Sergey Surovikin’s appointment as commander-in-chief of the aerospace forces, the position of commander of the Eastern Military District (EMD) has been given to Deputy Chief of General Staff Alexander Zhuravlev. Like Surovikin, Zhuravlev will command both the EMD and the Russian group in Syria.

    The relevant order was signed by Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu on October 31 2017. By the same order, in compliance with the president’s decree, Surovikin was appointed commander-in- …

  • Putin and Erdogan to discuss the participation of Kurdish Democratic Union Party in Syrian settlement process during Erdogan's visit to Russia

    During a visit to Moscow on November 13, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will discuss the participation of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in the Syrian National Dialogue Congress with Russian leader Vladimir Putin,  NTV news channel reported. Putin and Erdoğan will also discuss the fight against terrorism in Syria and Iraq. After the visit to Moscow, the Turkish president will leave for Kuwait on November 14.

    On November 1, Erdoğan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, said that Turkey …

  • Russian Ambassador to the US: At the next meeting Trump and Putin will discuss Syria and North Korea

    Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump will meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit where they could discuss the fight against terrorism and conflicts in Syria and North Korea, as stated by Russia's ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, RIA Novosti reports.

    According to Antonov, "You don't have to be a politician or a diplomat to understand that the main problem is the fight against international terrorism." Antonov believes that …

  • Kremlin: Russia will increase activity of its Air Force in Syria

    Deputy Chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Russian Federation Council, Frantz Klintsevich stated that the activity of the Russian Air Force in Syria would increase. According to Klintsevich this is not only because of the need to “finish off the terrorists” but also has to do with the possibility of a face-to-face meeting between the US President, Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

    "It’s likely that the activity of the Russian Air force in Syria will only …

  • Kremlin: Putin and Trump to discuss Syria at next meeting

    Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s meeting at the APEC Summit in Vietnam is necessary in order for them to discuss the Syrian problem, said Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov, as reported by Interfax.

    Peskov emphasized that in US-Russian relations many matters have accumulated which require discussion by the heads of state. It is thus in the interests of both countries “for both presidents to find an opportunity for more or less prolonged communication”, he remarked.The two presidents will …

  • Russia rejects US call to not block investigation into chemical attack in Syria

    Russia has rejected a call by the United States to not block an international investigation by the UN into the use of chemical weapons in Syria in the UN, reports Radio Liberty.

    According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, department head Sergei Lavrov “noted the inadmissibility of politicizing" the so-called joint investigation mechanism of the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, whose current mandate expires on November 17, during a telephone conversation with US …

  • Media: Russia will replace top military commander in Syria

    The Russian forces in Syria will be commanded by 51-year-old General-Colonel Alexander Zhuravlev, reported news agency RBC, citing one of its sources.

    According to the report, Zhuravlev’s task will be to prepare for the completion of the military operation. A source close to the Russian Ministry of Defense told RBC that the relevant documents have already been prepared and await signing. Another of RBC’s sources stated that the decision to appoint Zhuravlev to the post of commander of the …

  • Russian strategic bombers carry out air strikes in Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor

    Russian strategic bombers carry out air strikes in Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor

    Six Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bombers flew from their bases in Russia and carried out air strikes at the targets in the Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, strikes were carried out against ISIS facilities near the town of Abu Kamal.

    "Six Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bombers that have taken off from the Russian territory, …

  • Media: Russia may reduce its military presence in Syria

    The Russian authorities are considering the option of reducing the military contingent in Syria, reports Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing its sources.

    According to two military-diplomatic sources, the plan assumes a partial reduction in the equipment from the composite air group at the Khmeimim air base, as well as the departure of a portion of the military contingent from Syria back to their permanent duty stations in Russia.

    However, one of the newspaper's sources said that "in any case, …

  • As sand storm covers Der ez-Zor, ISIS launches offensive on Syrian forces

    According to reports, ISIS forces have approached the city of Mayadin from the south and have entered the suburbs of the city.

    While Syrian forces supported by the Russian military are fully engaged in the fight for Der ez-Zor, ISIS chose to attack in Mayadin. It’s the fighters of Hezbollah and Afghan Liwa Fatemiyoun who are trying to repel ISIS attacks in Mayadin.  

    Due to a sand storm, in conditions of poor visibility, the air support is minimal.

     The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( …