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U.S. to put more pressure on ISIS in Syria.
According to U.S. military and administration officials, the U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS has begun preparing to open a major front in northeastern Syria, aiming to put pressure on Raqqa, the terrorist group’s de facto capital.Two important steps were approved last week by President Obama to set the offensive in motion, officials said. Mr. Obama ordered the Pentagon, for the first time, to directly provide ammunition and perhaps some weapons to Syrian opposition forces on the ground.He also …
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Russian jet violates Turkish airspace.
According to Turkish foreign ministry, Turkish F-16 fighter jets intercepted a Russian warplane that violated Turkey's air space.The incident occurred Saturday in the Yayladagi region of Turkey's southern Hatay province.
Turkish authorities called in the Russian ambassador and lodged a strong condemnation of the violation. "The Russian Federation will be responsible for any undesired incident that may occur," the foreign ministry warned.
Russia said the incident was a "navigational error" and …
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Turkey concerned over Russian strikes in Syria.
Turkish President Erdogan said that Russian air strikes against the anti-Assad forces in Syria are “unacceptable” and warned that these air strikes may alienate Moscow in the region.Erdoğan said he expressed his views on Russia's air strikes during his visit to Moscow at the end of September, as well as in a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “It saddens us that Moscow is taking such steps despite Turkey. We have a 911km border with Syria. Russia doesn’t have a border. In …
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Normandy Quartet Leaders meet in Paris over Ukraine.
The leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine are meeting in Paris today to consolidate a fragile peace in Ukraine, as the conflict is overshadowed by President Vladimir Putin's dramatic intervention in Syria's war.
The summit’s main objective is to overcome existing obstacles to the Minsk ceasefire deal and to discuss additional measures to ensure adherence to it.Fighting has all but stopped in eastern Ukraine and with peace closer than ever leaders are seeking a lasting political …
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Russian strikes in Syria: day 2.
For a second day in a row now Russia has been launching air strikes in Syria.Reportedly, the strikes targeted sites in the north-west held by the Army of Conquest rebel alliance, as well as areas in Homs and Hama provinces.Russia claims that with some 20 missions carried out on Wednesday it struck 12 Islamic State (IS) positions in 24 hours, destroying a command centre and two arms depots.Although the US fears it was the positions of the opponents of Russia's ally, Syrian President Bashar al- …