ISIS training militants from Russia in Afghanistan, 'US and UK citizens among ... - RT
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Russia's Vladimir Putin plays ice hockey on his birthday amid Syrian airstrikes - Daily Mail | 'Czar Putin': as secure as he seems?
 RT |
ISIS training militants from Russia in Afghanistan, 'US and UK citizens among ...
RT “There are several camps operated by [Islamic State, previously ISIS/ISIL, in Afghanistan] that train people from Central Asia and some regions of Russia. They speak Russian there,” said Zamir Kabulov, President Putin's special representative for ... and more » |
Russian President Vladimir Putin, ignoring Washington, escalated his war in Syria against Islamist armies Wednesday by launching a sea bombardment along with air and land attacks.
NATO allies said the Russians are overwhelmingly targeting pro-Western rebels, rejecting Moscow's public relations line that it is going after a common enemy: the ...
BEIRUT (AP) - The militants brought the two men into a square in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, then announced their punishment for failing to attend Friday prayers: 25 lashes delivered by a hose-wielding militant that left their backs covered in welts and dark bruises.
The whipping, captured on ...
NATO chief: Alliance faces 'conflict, instability'by JOHN-THOR DAHLBURG
BRUSSELS (AP) - NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said alliance defense ministers on Thursday will consider the implications for NATO's own security of the "troubling escalation of Russian military activities" in Syria.
He said NATO is ready to deploy forces, if needed, to defend alliance member Turkey.
On Wednesday, Russian warships ...
Crowded Skies by therearenosunglasses
U.S. aircraft diverted to avoid Russian fighter in Syria Russian jets ‘intercept’ US predator drones over Syria, officials say Russian Cruise Missiles Launched From Caspian Sea Hit Terrorist Targets In Syria Russian Navy firing cruise missiles from Caspian The 26 cruise missiles fired are reported to have struck Idlib, Aleppo and Raqqa. Notice the “near […]
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Alarmed by the country’s intervention in Syria, military officials on Thursday said they were deploying some logistics personnel in Central and Eastern Europe.
FBI director calls lack of data on police shootings 'ridiculous,' 'embarrassing'
Washington Post The lack of accurate information about police-involved shootings is roiling the nation's law enforcement community, leaving officials unable to say whether high-profile killings are isolated events or part of an alarming trend, FBI Director James B ... and more » |
A study released this week said the Islamic State (ISIS) is going to great lengths to prove itself as a viable and functional transnational state.
The post Study Examines ISIS Propaganda Strategy appeared first on In Homeland Security.
WASHINGTON — Coalition aircraft have been re-routed on at least one occasion to avoid a close encounter with Russian warplanes over Syria, a Pentagon spokesman said Wednesday.
WASHINGTON — Obama administration officials on Wednesday said the longstanding issue of a no-fly zone in war-torn Syria has been discussed but no decision made.
Russia has militarily challenged Turkey’s threats to retaliate for airspace violation over its border with Syria.
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October 8, 2015, 11:07 AM (IDT)
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Thursday that it launched cruise missiles at ISIS targets in Syria overnight, targeting command centers, ammunition dumps, training camps and facilities for production of explosives and artillery shells. It said the missiles were launched from four warships in the Caspian Sea.
October 8, 2015, 12:48 PM (IDT)
Senior US lawmakers have begun probing possible intelligence lapses over Moscow’s intervention in Syria, concerned that American spy agencies were slow to grasp the scope and intention of Russia’s military offensive there, congressional sources report and other officials told Reuters. Findings of major blind spots would mark the latest of several US intelligence misses in recent years, including Moscow’s surprise takeover of Ukraine’s Crimea region last year and China’s rapid expansion of island-building activities in the South China Sea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his 63rd birthday by playing ice hockey alongside NHL stars, government officials and tycoons. . Report by Cara Legg.
Belarusian Svetlana Alexievich wins the 2015 Nobel Prize for literature.
An Associated Press count shows that at least 1,254 pilgrims were killed in a crush and stampede during the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
Defence ministers discuss Russia's intervention in Syria after Moscow confirmed it fired rockets at Islamic State targets.
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Hillary Clinton has come out against President Obama's flagship trade deal, distancing herself from a White House policy which is disliked by many Democrats
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Frustrated by US, Some Iraqis Look to Russia to Defeat ISby webdesk@voanews.com (Sharon Behn, Ali Javanmardi)
Russia on Wednesday shot 26 long range cruise missiles from its navy ships in the Caspian Sea across Iraqi airspace to hit both anti-government and Islamic State targets in Syria, further ramping up its fierce bombing campaign there. Already taken aback by Russian planes crossing into Turkish airspace and Moscow’s unapologetic bombing of U.S.-backed rebels fighting Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, U.S. officials on Wednesday said Moscow’s strategy is misguided. “The kind of military...
The U.S.-led coalition battling Islamic State changed the route of at least one U.S. aircraft over Syria to avoid a close encounter with Russian warplanes. A Pentagon spokesman confirmed the maneuver Wednesday, the same day that Russia revealed an expansion of its military tactics in Syria. VOA State Department correspondent Pam Dockins reports.
Originally published at - http://www.voanews.com/media/video/united-states-reroutes-aircraft-avoid-encounter-russian-warplane/2996459.html
Originally published at - http://www.voanews.com/media/video/united-states-reroutes-aircraft-avoid-encounter-russian-warplane/2996459.html
 NBCNews.com |
Russia's Syria intervention may force choice on Obama: Act or yield
Washington Post Russia's military moves in Syria are fundamentally changing the face of the country's civil war, putting President Bashar al-Assad back on his feet, and may complicate the Obama administration's plans to expand its air operations against the Islamic State. Russian Cruise Missiles Help Syrians Go on the OffensiveNew York Times Russia launches naval bombardment of targets in SyriaCNN Obama Official Says Putins New War Is a Sign of American SuccessDaily Beast Voice of America-ABC News -Washington Times all 2,633 news articles » |
 CBS News |
Russia's Syria intervention may force choice on Obama: Act or yield
Washington Post Russia's military moves in Syria are fundamentally changing the face of the country's civil war, putting President Bashar al-Assad back on his feet, and may complicate the Obama administration's plans to expand its air operations against the Islamic State. Putin is using his Syria gambit to disparage ObamaLos Angeles Times Russian Cruise Missiles Help Syrians Go on the OffensiveNew York Times Obama Official Says Putins New War Is a Sign of American SuccessDaily Beast The Seattle Times -Dallas Morning News -ABC News all 2,839 news articles » |
 Los Angeles Times |
Putin is using his Syria gambit to disparage Obama
Los Angeles Times This image provided by the Syrian Revolutionary Command Council in Hama shows smoke rising after a Russian airstrike in the town of Latamna near Hama on Oct. 7, 2015. This image provided by the Syrian Revolutionary Command Council in Hama shows ... Russian Cruise Missiles Help Syrians Go on the OffensiveNew York Times Russia backs Syrian forces in major assault on insurgentsReuters Russian Troops Fire Artillery and Rockets in SyriaABC News Voice of America -Washington Post all 2,002 news articles » |
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 RT |
Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power
Washington Post MOSCOW — Russia's Caspian Sea fleet on Wednesday launched a complex cruise missile strike against Syrian rebels from nearly 1,000 miles away, a potent exhibition of Moscow's firepower as it backs a government offensive in Syria's multi-faction civil ... Exclusive: Congress probing US spy agencies' possible lapses on RussiaReuters Russian Cruise Missiles Help Syrians Go on the OffensiveNew York Times Russian ships join alliance in 3-prong attack on Syria rebelsThe Seattle Times Dallas Morning News -ABC News all 2,121 news articles » |
 The Nation |
Syrian forces begin ground offensive backed by Russia air and sea power
Washington Post MOSCOW — Russia's Caspian Sea fleet on Wednesday launched a complex cruise missile strike against Syrian rebels from nearly 1,000 miles away, a potent exhibition of Moscow's firepower as it backs a government offensive in Syria's multi-faction civil ... Putin is using his Syria gambit to disparage ObamaLos Angeles Times Russias Giving ISIS An Air ForceDaily Beast Russian ships join alliance in 3-prong attack on Syria rebels The Seattle Times Dallas Morning News-The Boston Globe-Washington Times all 2,606 news articles » |
 Reuters |
Syrian troops, Russian jets launch attack in Ghab Plain
Reuters BEIRUT Syrian troops and allied militia backed by Russian air strikes attacked rebels in the Ghab Plain in western Syria on Thursday, and the army chief said a major offensive was underway to recapture territory from insurgents. The rebel advance into ... Russia's Syria intervention may force choice on Obama: Act or yieldWashington Post Russia launches naval bombardment of targets in SyriaCNN Russian Cruise Missiles Help Syrians Go on the OffensiveNew York Times Wall Street Journal -Huffington Post -Daily Beast all 2,428 news articles » |
STOCKHOLM — Belarusian writer Svetlana Alexievich won the Nobel Prize in literature Thursday for works that the prize judges called “a monument to suffering and courage.”
Alexievich, 67, used the skills of a journalist to create literature chronicling the great tragedies of the Soviet Union and its collapse: World War II, the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and the suicides that ensued from the death of Communism.
Her first novel, “The Unwomanly Face of the War,” published in 1985 and based on the previously untold stories of women who had fought against the Nazi Germans, sold more than 2 million copies.
Her books have been published in 19 countries. She also has written three plays and the screenplays for 21 documentary films. In its brief citation the Swedish Academy, cited Alexievich “for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time.”
Last year’s literature award went to French writer Patrick Modiano.
This year’s Nobel announcements continue with the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday and the economics award on Monday. All awards will be handed out on Dec. 10, the anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian troops and militia backed by Russian warplanes mounted what appeared to be their first major coordinated assault on Syrian insurgents on Wednesday and Moscow said its warships fired a barrage of missiles at them from the Caspian Sea, a sign of its new military reach.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senior U.S. lawmakers have begun probing possible intelligence lapses over Moscow’s intervention in Syria, concerned that American spy agencies were slow to grasp the scope and intention of Russia’s dramatic military offensive there, U.S. congressional sources and other officials told Reuters.
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BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian troops and allied militia backed by Russian air strikes attacked rebels in the Ghab Plain in western Syria on Thursday, and the army chief said a major offensive was underway to recapture territory from insurgents.
PARIS (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin turned 63 this week with his now traditional display of sporting prowess, and an announcement that Russian naval vessels had launched a wave of missiles against Islamic State in Syria.
The Pentagon dropped “deconfliction” from its lexicon, and rejected the notion that the United States and Russia were coordinating their side-by-side military efforts in Syria.
From left, Defense Secretary Michael Fallon of Britain, Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels on Thursday.
Russia’s interference will make things worse for everyone.
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) -- Syria's chief-of-staff has declared a wide-ranging ground offensive by Syrian troops, a day after government forces advanced in a multipronged attack backed by Russian airstrikes and cruise missiles launched from the Caspian Sea....
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‘There Will Be a Russian Base in Belarus,’ Russian Analysts Say by paul goble (noreply@blogger.com)
Paul Goble
Staunton, October 8 – Despite Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s statement that there is no need today for a Russian base in Belarus, one will be built, Russian analysts say. The only questions are where it will be located and how much Moscow will have to pay– and the Belarusian leader’s remark is likely part of a game to extract more money from the Russian side.
Lukashenka’s denial of an agreement, political scientist Igor Mintusov says, likely is about the lack of an agreement concerning where the base will be and the amount of money Moscow will give Mensk for it. But there is no doubt that there is an accord in principle about having a Russian base in Belarus, he says (belaruspartisan.org/politic/320211/).
In support of that, he adds that “geopolitics and all recent geopolitical and international trends suggest that it is very logical and natural for Russia to create a new airbase on the territory of Russia.”
Aleksandr Sobyanin, the head of strategic planning for the Russian Association of Border Cooperation, says that he believes Lukashenka’s remark is less about how much money he hopes to get than about where the base should be. Moscow would like it in Lida while many in Belarus would prefer it to be in Bobruisk.
But “without any doubt, the base will be opened. There are no reasons and no signals tha the base cannot appear. None,” he says.
Natalya Burlinova, another Russian political analyst agrees. She says that what remains to be agreed are “technical and legal aspects” of a Russian base in Belarus. “This is not a question of political disagreements between our countries or about a new conflict. This is a purely technical issue” on which the two sides will find agreement, she argues.
Mensk’s recent moves with regard to the West do not change the fact, Burlinova says, that “strategically, Belarus is defined by its choice – union with Russia” politically, economically and militarily. Those things will not change, and the appearance of a Russian base in Belarus is thus entirely natural.
And she says that “any issue of a military nature is the exclusive province of Russia and Belarus. Who, where and what will be put in place. In the framework of these bilateral relations, this will be agreed. As far as the relations of Belarus with the West,” she says that she “does not think that this has any direct impact on the level of ties between Belarus and Russia.
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 Daily Mail |
Russia's Vladimir Putin plays ice hockey on his birthday amid Syrian airstrikes
Daily Mail Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his 63rd birthday by playing ice hockey alongside NHL stars, government officials and tycoons, while continuing its military campaign in Syria. Putin scored seven goals as his star-studded team, which ... Vladimir Putin: Russian president takes to ice hockey rink on 63rd birthdayABC Online all 287 news articles » |
Private palaces: Russia moves to hide property data
Reuters The government proposal to restrict Russia's Unified State Register of Property Rights follows a spate of revelations about the extravagant lifestyles of some top officials at a time when manyRussians are suffering from a grueling economic crisis. and more » |
 U.S. News & World Report |
Russia fires cruise missiles from warships into Syria
U.S. News & World Report In this photo made from the footage taken from Russian Defense Ministry official web site, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015, a Russian navy ship launches a cruise missile in the Caspian Sea.Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said four Russian navy ships ... Russian airstrikes, Syrian army target rebels in SyriaAl Jazeera America Russia denies ground troops involved in Syria, amid confusion over 'volunteers'CBC.ca all 2,294 news articles » |
 Los Angeles Times |
Russian warships in Caspian sea fire dozens of missiles at targets in Syria
Los Angeles Times Russian warships have fired dozens of missiles at militants in Syria, a Russian official said Wednesday, marking an escalation in Moscow's eight-day air campaign that the U.S. says is attempting to prop up Syrian President Bashar Assad's government. Russia denies ground troops involved in Syria, amid confusion over 'volunteers'CBC.ca all 2,350 news articles » |
 The Guardian |
'More than 90%' of Russian airstrikes in Syria have not targeted Isis, US says
The Guardian A large majority of Russia's military strikes in Syria have not been aimed at the Islamic State group or jihadists tied to al-Qaida, and have instead targeted the moderate Syrian opposition, the US State Department said on Wednesday. “Greater than 90 ... Russia targets Syrian rebels with cruise missilesFinancial Times Russia Fires Rockets At IS From Caspian SeaSky News Iraqi Official Wants Russia To Have A Bigger Role Than U.S.Huffington Post all 2,187 news articles » |
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 BBC News |
Russia's Syria intervention may force choice on Obama: Act or yield
Washington Post Russia's military moves in Syria are fundamentally changing the face of the country's civil war, putting President Bashar al-Assad back on his feet, and may complicate the Obama administration's plans to expand its air operations against the Islamic State. Syria crisis: Nato to discuss Russia air campaignBBC News Russia targets Syrian rebels with cruise missilesFinancial Times Russia Fires Missiles as Syria Launches Ground OffensiveNBCNews.com Vox -CBC.ca all 7,142 news articles » |
Russian Cruise Missiles Help Syrians Go on the Offensiveby By ANNE BARNARD and ANDREW E. KRAMER
The Russian-backed ground offensive followed a missile assault, reflecting what one official called a new phase of the Syria alliance.Putin’s Birthday Gift: N.H.L. Teammates and a Victoryby By ANDREW E. KRAMER
The Russian president celebrated his 63rd birthday by scoring seven goals during a hockey match that was broadcast live on national TV.
The Pentagon dropped “deconfliction” from its lexicon, and rejected the notion that the United States and Russia were coordinating their side-by-side military efforts in Syria.Khamenei Forbids Iran Negotiating With U.S. After Nuclear Talks by support@pangea-cms.com (RFE/RL)
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei banned any further negotiations between Iran and the United States October 7, in a blow to moderates hoping to end the two nations' decades-long estrangement.
Suspected Saudi-led Airstrikes Target Yemen Wedding, 15 Dead by webdesk@voanews.com (VOA News)
Suspected airstrikes by a Saudi Arabia-led coalition have hit a wedding in war-torn Yemen, according to witnesses and officials, killing at least 15 people and wounding at least 25 others. The attacks hit a home late Wednesday in the Sanban region of Dhamar province, which is held by Shi'ite Houthi rebels being targeted by the months-long coalition bombing campaign. The Riyadh-based alliance had no immediate comment on the incident. The coalition has been repeatedly accused of carrying out deadly attacks in Yemen. The U.N. says as many as 1,100 civilians have been killed in six months of airstrikes. It is the second time in 10 days the coalition has been accused of targeting a wedding. The coalition denied responsibility for a September 28 attack that killed more than 130 people at a wedding near the Red Sea coast, in what was the single deadliest incident since the conflict began. The Saudi coalition, which includes nine other Arab nations and is supported by the U.S., began fighting the rebels in March, two months after the Houthis drove the government from power and took control of the capital, Sana'a. Backed by the airstrikes, pro-government forces have since retaken several areas of southern Yemen, and also have driven the rebels out of the country's second-largest city, Aden. Earlier Wednesday, the Houthis announced they have accepted a U.N.-brokered peace plan and are ready to join peace talks aimed at ending the bloody conflict. President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi has insisted Houthi fighters pull back from territory seized over the past year before his government will participate in the talks. The United Nations and aid agencies have raised alarm about the human cost of the war. On Wednesday, the rights group Amnesty International said the Saudi-led coalition is guilty of war crimes and urged countries to stop supplying arms to the coalition. "Damning evidence of war crimes by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, which is armed by states including the U.S.A., highlights the urgent need for independent, effective investigation of violations and for the suspension of transfers of certain arms," Amnesty said. The fighting and Saudi-led airstrikes on the Houthis have killed about 5,000 people and created a humanitarian disaster. Many Yemenis are in desperate need of food and medicine, and the country is said to be in a near state of famine.
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BBC News |
Syria crisis: Nato to discuss Russia air campaign
BBC News Russia's growing military involvement in the Syria conflict is expected to be high on the agenda of Nato defence ministers meeting in Brussels. It comes after Nato member Turkey saidRussian jets had violated its airspace. Russia has fired missiles ... Russia targets Syrian rebels with cruise missilesFinancial Times Russia Fires Missiles as Syria Launches Ground OffensiveNBCNews.com Canada should align with Russia to fight ISIS in Syria, ambassador saysCBC.ca Vox -The Guardian all 6,588 news articles » |
RT |
Bellingcat accuses Russia of faking videos showing jets dropping bombs on ISIS
RT British online investigative group Bellingcat is accusing Russia's Defense Ministry of faking videos of airstrikes on Islamic State targets. The group claims that geolocation tags show the videos were actually shot hundreds of kilometers away, where ... |
 BBC News |
Syria crisis: Nato assesses Russia's 'troubling escalation'
BBC News Nato defence ministers will assess the "troubling escalation of Russian military activities" in Syria, the alliance's secretary-general says, ahead of talks in Brussels. Jens Stoltenberg says he is concerned about Russia's use of cruise missiles as ... Russia targets Syrian rebels with cruise missilesFinancial Times Russia Fires Missiles as Syria Launches Ground OffensiveNBCNews.com Russia says it's bombing ISIS in Syria. This map shows it's lying.Vox The Guardian -CBC.ca all 7,185 news articles » |
Nato ready to deploy forces to defend Turkey 'against any threats' by Kareem Shaheen in Beirut and agencies
Alliance’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, makes comment after violations of Turkish airspace by Russian jets conducting airstrikes in Syria
Nato is ready to send troops to Turkey to defend against threats on its southern flank, the head of the alliance said on Thursday after violations of Turkish airspace by Russian jets conducting airstrikes in Syria.
Moscow’s growing military involvement in the Syria conflict – which on Wednesday involved its jets backing an offensive by ground troops loyal to Bashar al-Assad – is expected to be high on the agenda of a meeting of the alliance’s defence ministers.
Continue reading... The Guardian |
Britain to station troops in Baltic region 'to deter Russian aggression'
The Guardian “We will be calling on Russia specifically to stop propping up the Assad regime, to use their influence constructively to stop Assad bombing his own civilians and themselves to avoid the use of unguided munitions in areas that are not being controlled ... Russia 'making Syria more dangerous', Michael Fallon saysBBC News British troops to bolster Baltic buffer against RussiaFinancial Times Russia crisis: Now British troops are being sent to Baltic – despite NUKE threatDaily Star Sky News all 70 news articles » |
Dirty bomb? Nuclear missile? After reports of Russian criminals trying to sell to Islamic State, we ask what the jihadists could actually do with nuclear material
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Defence secretary says ‘small number’ will be sent to Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, as tensions rise between west and Russia following Syria airstrikes
Britain is to station troops in the Baltic states to shore up Nato’s eastern borders and deter Russian aggression, the UK defence secretary, Michael Fallon, has said.
Fallon announced the commitment upon arrival at the quarterly meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels. The deployment is intended to reassure former Soviet bloc members in light of increased tension between Russia and Ukraine.
Continue reading...NATO Slams Russia's 'Troubling Escalation' in Syriaby webdesk@voanews.com (VOA News)
The head of NATO slammed Russia's "troubling escalation" of military activities in Syria, a day after Moscow launched cruise missiles as part of an intensified air campaign against Syrian rebels. Jens Stoltenberg made the comments Thursday as he arrived for a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, where Russia's intervention in the Syrian civil war is expected to be high on the agenda. The issue took on more importance after reports this week that Russian jets involved in the Syrian air raids violated the airspace of Turkey, a member of the United States-backed military alliance. "NATO is ready and able to defend all allies, including Turkey, against any threats," Stoltenberg said. "NATO has already responded by increasing our capacity, our ability, to deploy forces including to the south, including in Turkey." Syria 'much more dangerous' NATO ministers will use Thursday's meeting to try to come up with ways to de-escalate the crisis, British Defense Minister Michael Fallon said, adding that Moscow is "making a serious situation in Syria much more dangerous." "The single most helpful thing Russia could do is use its influence to stop [Syrian President] Assad from barrel-bombing its own civilians," Fallon told reporters before heading into the meeting. U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, who also is participating in the talks, on Wednesday offered a harsh critique of the Russian military campaign, and vowed Washington will not coordinate with Moscow on the matter. "Russia has the wrong strategy – they continue to hit targets that are not ISIL," Carter said, referring to an acronym for the Islamic State group, which controls large parts of Syria. "We believe this is a fundamental mistake." Fears of US-Russia clash Russia insists its air bombardments primarily target the Islamist extremist group and its allies. But the U.S. has said many of the strikes have targeted other rebel groups, including some supported by Washington. The U.S. is also carrying out its own airstrikes against certain Syrian rebel groups, and there are concerns that the two countries' warplanes could cross paths as a result of miscommunication. "What we will do is continue basic, technical discussions on the professional safety procedures for our pilots flying about Syria," said Carter, who ruled out any more extensive cooperation. Russia on Wednesday ramped up its air campaign in Syria with heavy aerial bombardments and, for the first time, cruise missile strikes, in support of a major ground operation by the Syrian military. It is unclear how much, if any, progress the ground offensive had made by Thursday. Weakened IS Syrian Army General Ali Abdullah Ayoub said Thursday the Russian airstrikes have weakened the Islamic State group. He announced the beginning of a large-scale attack aimed at "liberating areas and towns which have been suffering the woes and crimes of terrorism." "Following the Russian airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and other terrorist organizations, which have reduced their fighting capacity, the Syrian armed forces have kept the reins of military initiative," Ayoub told state media. Activists have reported increased fighting in Hama and Idlib provinces, and said government troops are trying to push into Latakia province. Russia is a staunch ally of Assad. U.S. President Barack Obama has called on Assad to step down, but has been reluctant to sufficiently arm rebel groups trying to overthrow him, partly because of fears the weapons could end up in the hands of extremists.
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Milan's Holocaust memorial houses refugees, turning its back on the indifference that kills.
Svetlana Alexievich of Belarus has won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature. More to follow...
The Belarussian journalist and prose writer was honored by the Swedish Academy.
Russia has been aiming at moderate Syrian opposition who are anti-Assad, said State Department in first statement on specific figures of recent Russian strikes
A large majority of Russia’s military strikes in Syria have not been aimed at the Islamic State group or jihadists tied to al-Qaida, and have instead targeted the moderate Syrian opposition, the US State Department said on Wednesday.
“Greater than 90% of the strikes that we’ve seen them take to date have not been against Isil or al-Qaida-affiliated terrorists,” said spokesman John Kirby.
Continue reading...
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Russia Complicates US Pivot to Asiaby webdesk@voanews.com (Li Bao)
With Monday’s signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership [TPP], the United States reached a milestone in its push for rebalancing toward the Asia Pacific region. A new hurdle may be emerging, however, and this time it is not China. In the last few months, Russia has been steadily increasing its military presence in the Western Pacific region, threatening to complicate the U.S. strategy in the region. Growing military presence At a recent discussion at the Stimson Center in...
Syrian Journalist Wins Award for Courageous Reporting Despite Dangers by webdesk@voanews.com (Reuters)
Despite living in hiding and fearing for her life, Syrian journalist Kholoud Waleed persists in reporting on the suffering and atrocities inflicted on her fellow countrymen in the long-running civil war. The 31-year-old, who has been targeted by both government and militant forces, set up an underground newspaper in 2012 with a group of female friends, to report on what was happening in Syria. On Wednesday she was awarded the annual Reach All Women in WAR (RAW in WAR) Anna...
LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - European Union governments are set to agree on Thursday to step up deportations of illegal immigrants among the hundreds of thousands who have failed to win asylum as they try to cope with a surge in refugees from war-torn Syria.
The U.S. defense policy bill for 2016 passed Congress on Wednesday and is headed to President Barack Obama, setting up what will likely be a protracted political battle over the military and federal spending.
As in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin is keeping the West guessing about his plans in Syria by employing the military art of deception.
Angela Merkel Calls for United Europe to Address Migrant Crisis by ALISON SMALE and BARBARA SURK
Speaking before the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany urged other leaders to meet “a test of historic dimensions.”
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