Russia and Turkey

Iran Deputy FM flies to Kazakhstan for Syria talks

Tehran - Arab Today

An Iranian delegation, headed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab-African Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari, left Tehran for Astana Monday to attend the third round of talks on Syrian crises, Mehr News reported. Astana has already hosted two rounds of negotiations between Damascus and representatives of armed opposition groups on January 23-24 and on February 15-16, aiming to maintain the ceasefireRead more

Clashes continue in Darra despite ceasefire

London - Arab Today

Clashes continue in Darra despite the ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday. A child died affected by wounds he sustained in the shelling that targeted areas in Daraa al-Balad in the city of Daraa, SOHR said. Violent clashes are taking place between the rebel and Islamic factions and Turkish forces againstRead more

US-led action in Syria ineffective

Moscow - Arab Today

Russian military officials on Tuesday slammed US-led coalition action against Daesh militants in Syria as having had “less than zero” impact, and claimed that a US air strike killed 20 Syrian civilians this month. Russia’s involvement in the war-torn country since September 2015 had “changed the course of fighting terrorism in Syria,” said chief of general staff Valery Gerasimov. HeRead more

Syrians call for deploying observers to monitor ceasefire

Damascus - Arab Today

The local council of al Marg district in Damascus countryside has called for deploying international observers to monitor the ceasefire deal. It asked nations sponsoring the ceasefire to press the Syrian regime to halt frequent violations and guarantee the protection of civilians. The Syrian regime and pro-Assad forces bombarded Damascus countryside as they continue making advances, the council added inRead more

World powers at United Nations unite for Syria

Beirut - Arab Today

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Saturday supporting efforts by Russia and Turkey to end the nearly six-year conflict in Syria and jump-start peace negotiations, as a fragile country-wide cease-fire wavered. The resolution also calls for the “rapid, safe and unhindered” delivery of humanitarian aid throughout Syria. And it anticipates a meeting of the Syrian regime and oppositionRead more

US calls Syria ceasefire deal

Washington - Arab Today

The United States on Thursday welcomed a nationwide ceasefire deal in Syria brokered by Russia and Turkey as a "positive development," saying it hoped it would lead to fresh talks on the war-wracked country's political future, the CNN reported. "News of a ceasefire in the Syrian civil war is a positive development," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in aRead more

Clashes reported after 2 hours of Syrian ceasefire

London - Arab Today

Clashes have been reported after two hours of a nationwide ceasefire in Syria, coming into force, The Daily Telegraph reported. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said rebels had violated the truce deal and taken over a position in Hama province. Mohammed Rasheed, a spokesman for the Jaish al-Nasr rebel group, said government forces had violated the truce,Read more

Putin, Assad discuss Syrian ceasefire, Astana talks in phone call

Moscow - Arab Today

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad discussed in a phone call on Thursday recent agreements on nationwide truce and transition to peace process in war-torn Syria, the Kremlin said in a statement. According to the statement, the Russian and Syrian leaders "praised agreements on nationwide ceasefire and the transition to the political process, which have been mediatedRead more

Ceasefire Agreed in Syria, Backed by Russia and Turkey

Moscow - Arab Today

The Syrian government and the opposition have agreed to a nationwide ceasefire from midnight local time on Thursday, followed by peace talks where Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the bitter conflict, will act as guarantors. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the peace talks would be held in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, and attended by theRead more

liberation of Aleppo strategically important

Moscow - Arab Today

Eastern Aleppo has been, de facto, liberated, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with the Mir TV channel. "The militants’ exit from eastern Aleppo is almost over. The defense ministries and the general staff of Russia and Turkey have been closely cooperating. A series of negotiations has produced results as the liberation of Aleppo is strategically important, itRead more