Contents tagged with Syria

  • Russia displeased the US disclosed letter sent to Washington regarding restoration of Syria

    The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that Valery Gerasimov, the head of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, sent a letter to US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford via a confidential communication channel in July, reported RBC news agency with a reference to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

    "It is disappointing that the American side is unable to comply with our agreement that stipulates that the content of communication can only be disclosed with the consent of both sides, …

  • Syria claims it shot down Israeli drone over Damascus

    The national news agency SANA reported that Syrian armed forces spotted two hostile air targets just west of the country’s capital of Damascus and shot them down. SANA did not say to whom the aircraft belonged.

    Meanwhile, RIA Novosti reported, citing a Syrian field commander, that targets were Israeli reconnaissance drones. He confirmed that the drones were shot down by Syrian Air Defense Forces.

    Al Masdar news agency reports, with a reference to a source within the Syrian army, that the …

  • Russian journalists making documentary about Wagner Private Military Company killed in Central African Republic

    Three Russian citizens were killed in the Central African Republic—journalist Orkhan Jemal, cameraman Kirill Radchenko and director Aleksander Rastorguev. They were making a documentary film about the Wagner Group private military company (PMC), reported the news outlet Dozhd, citing a source in the Russian “Investigations Management Center”.

    According to one of the sources, the death of the film crew has been confirmed by the UN mission in the Central African Republic as well as by local …

  • Russia: Iranian forces withdrew from demarcation line in Golan Heights

    The Iranian forces in Syria withdrew from the demarcation line with Israel in the Golan Heights by about 85 km, said the Special Envoy of the Russian President to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev in an interview with TASS.

    "The Iranians have moved away, and the Shia formations are not there too. Maybe there are some advisers in the Syrian army, but heavy equipment and weapons that could pose a threat to Israel, they have been moved 85 km from the separation line with Israel, " Lavrentiev said.

    " …

  • Russia: Only Syrian troops will be stationed on the border with Israel

    The border with Israel will be controlled exclusively by the Syrian army, says the Russian ambassador to Tel-Aviv Anatoly Viktorov.

    The diplomat discussed agreements reached prior to the movement of Syrian government troops into the southwest of the country. He claimed that both sides agreed that “on the other side of the border there will only be Syrian armed forces.”

    Additionally, he emphasized that Russia’s priority is “maintaining the security of the State of Israel,” adding that “no non- …

  • Russia announces return of another 200 military police servicemen from Syria

    About 200 military police serviceman have returned from Syria, stated the Russian Ministry of Defense as quoted by RBC news agency.

    According to the Ministry, the servicemen were brought to the Mozdok aerodrome in North Ossetia by Il-76 military transport aircraft from the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Russian Defense Ministry thanked the Command and personnel of the military police for their professionalism and courage in protecting civilian facilities and providing escorts for humanitarian …

  • Assad announces long term Russian military presence in Syria

    In an interview with the Russian media, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reported that the Russian military presence in Syria is long term and necessary for more than just carrying out the fight against terrorism, TASS reports.

    He stated that Moscow and Damascus have reached an agreement on the status of the Khmeimim Air Base, which will be in effect “for another 40 years”.

    “If the Russian Army came here solely for the purpose of combatting terrorism—then why would we sign an agreement to …

  • Russian Defense Ministry: Israel has destroyed ISIS positions in Syria

    An Israeli strike on July 25 in Syria has destroyed ISIS militants and missile launch sites, the Russian Defense Ministry told journalists Thursday.

    According to authorities, at around 9:30 pm Moscow time a group of ISIS militants, “in an attempt to provoke an Israeli attack on Syrian army positions, drew artillery fire from the Israeli forces stationed near the population centers of Nafakh and Al-Shajara (Quneitra province)."

    “A targeted counterattack by Israeli air forces and artillery …

  • Media: Israeli air defense failed to intercept Soviet-made missiles

    The Israeli missile defense system David’s sling could not intercept two missiles from Soviet tactical system Tochka fired from Syria on Monday, July 23, reports Ynet news outlet, without specifying a source of information.

    According to Ynet, this was the first use of David’s sling. The Ministry of Defense and the Israeli air force are investigating the incident. According to preliminary data, human error was not the cause of failure by the defense system in bringing the targets down.

    The …

  • Israel shoots down Syrian aircraft

    The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have destroyed a Syrian combat aircraft using the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system. The Israeli army reported that a Sukhoi fighter jet was intercepted and a missile was fired at it. The fact that the targeted aircraft was actually downed was not reported by Israeli forces. The Syrian Ministry of Defense has confirmed the loss of the Su-22 aircraft. According to some reports, the pilot survived but was captured by ISIL militants. Social media users indicate …