Contents tagged with Syria

  • Lavrov: Russia will oppose regime change in Syria

    Russia will resist the attempts of the United States-led coalition to implement plans to change the regime in Syria, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

    The minister drew attention to the fact that some Western countries are trying to inflate the “scandalous atmosphere” of the situation in Eastern Ghouta and Idlib, ignoring the concentration of militants and groups of the Al-Nusra Front.

    “The U.S. and the coalition led by them are eager to spare the Al-Nusra Front, saving the group …

  • Erdogan: Turkey has an agreement with Russia concerning Kurdish-held Canton of Afrin

    Turkey does not intend to desist from carrying out operation “Olive Branch” in the Syrian region of Afrin, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as reported by the local newspaper Yeni Safak. According to Erdogan, Turkey also has a certain agreement with Russia in this regard.

    “Turkey does not intend to back down from the operation in Afrin, and has an agreement with Russia,” Erdogan said during a speech in Ankara.

    However, he emphasized that Turkey does lay claim to Afrin territory.

    “ …

  • Syrian Kurds say they forced Turks to retreat from Afrin

    During the course of persistent fighting, Syrian Kurds forced Turkish troops and pro-Turkish militant groups to retreat from their territory, said spokesman for Syrian Kurdistan in Moscow, Rodi Osman, RIA Novosti reports.

    “Turkish forces and groups associated with them attempted to cross over to the territory of the Syrian city of Afrin, accompanied by aircraft and missile strikes. However, the Syrian Democratic Forces struck at five positions [Turkish soldiers and Syrian armed opposition]. In …

  • Turkish Prime Minister: Russia did not object to our operation in Syria

    Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim confirmed the beginning of the ground operation in Syria. Ankara said the goal is the creation of a security zone on the Turkish-Syrian border.

    The politician promised that “anyone who provides military support to Kurdish forces in Afrin, including the United States, will be targeted by the Turkish armed forces.”

    He also said that the operation will include four stages, as reported by NTV television channel. First, a 30-kilometer “safe zone” will be …

  • Kremlin: Russia will not interfere in inevitable conflict between Turkey and Syria

    In the event of a military conflict between Turkey and Syria, the Russian military deployed in the territory will not take part in it, as stated by Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the Council of Federation on Defense and Security Frants Klintsevich.

    According to him, Russia’s participation in a potential conflict between Damascus and Ankara is not stipulated in the current international treaties.

    Klintsevich noted that he considers a military conflict between Turkey and Syria almost …

  • Russian Defense Minister calls long-range drones 'a serious threat' for military targets in Syria

    At a meeting with the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu has said that long-range drones being used by militants in Syria are "a serious threat," reports Interfax.

    "A new type of terrorist threat has appeared in Syria - unmanned aerial vehicles, the range of which is more than 100 kilometers. They are a very serious threat," Shoygu said. He expressed his willingness to share his experience fighting drones with …

  • Kurds: Russia must share equal responsibility for Turkish military operation in Afrin

    The Kurdish militia, People’s Protection Units (YPG), that are in control of Afrin, has stated that Turkish military operations in the region were only possible under Russia’s endorsement, as reported by Rudaw TV.

    “We know that the Turkish military would not dare attack without approval from the international community, and primarily from Russia, which has pulled its troops from Afrin just before the attack. We, therefore, consider Russia equally responsible for the attack,” a statement from …

  • Turkey deploys electronic warfare system in Syria

    A Turkish Koral electronic warfare system (EWS) was spotted in the border regions close to the city of Afrin in the north of the Aleppo province. The photograph showing the EWS was published by Telegram channel 338 on Friday, January 19.

    The EWS will most likely be activated during the Turkish military’s offensive on the YPG, an armed group of Syrian Kurds, affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which is banned in Turkey.

    Development of the Koral EWS was begun by the Turkish company …

  • Syria declares its readiness to shoot down Turkish military aircraft

    Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told reporters that the Syrian Air Defense Forces have been restored, and are capable of shooting down any Turkish aircraft in the airspace of the Syrian Arab Republic.

    "We warn that Syria’s air force has completely resumed its former capability, and is ready to destroy Turkish air targets in the skies above the Syrian Arab Republic; this means that, in case of aggression against Syria, [it would be] no picnic," said Mekdad.

    On Wednesday, Turkish …

  • Washington: Russia interfering with Syria chemical attack investigation

    At a session on the highest level of the UN Security Council on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the US criticized Russia concerning the chemical attacks in Syria.

    Only Russia is obstructing the UN’s work to investigate the chemical attacks, said US Permanent Representative to the UN Nikki Haley. She remarked that Russia has already used its veto right three times on the extension of the corresponding resolution.

    “One nation stands in the way of the Security Council …