Syria

Russia to hold Mediterranean drills involving 25 warships and 30 aircraft

MOSCOW, August 30. /TASS/. Russia will hold drills in the Mediterranean Sea on September 1-8 with the involvement of 25 warships and 30 aircraft, the Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.

In accordance with the training plan of the Russian Armed Forces, large-scale drills of the grouping of forces (troops) of the Russian Navy and the Aerospace Force will be conducted on September 1-8, 2018 in the Mediterranean Sea under the direction of Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Vladimir Korolyov," the ministry said.

Syria's top diplomat reiterates Damascus does not posess chemical weapons

MOSCOW, August 30. /TASS/. Damascus does not have chemical weapons, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem reiterated at talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Thursday.

"As for accusations concerning the use of chemical weapons, we don’t have them. We do not use chemical weapons," Muallem said, adding that "we don’t need it because we have been achieving victories on the battlefields."

Russia's top diplomat comments on US actions east of Euphrates river

MOSCOW, August 30. /TASS/. The creation of quasi-state local government bodies in eastern Syria by the Americans can result in attempts to split the country and contravenes the UN Security Council’s decisions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters at a news conference on Thursday following meeting with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem.

Syria’s air defense on ‘highest alert’ in case of sudden strike by US — media

MOSCOW, August 27. /TASS/. The Syrian air defenses have been placed on high alert in case of a sudden missile strike by the US, news portal Al-Masdar reported on Monday, citing a source in the republic’s military command. According to the source, the Mezzeh Airbase has received an order to prepare for a possible attack on Damascus.

Number of forcibly displaced Syrians reaches 11 mln people

MOSCOW, August 15. /TASS/. About 11 mln Syrians are currently considered forcibly displaced persons, 6 mln of those have become refugees within the country, Russian Foreign Ministry representative Nikolai Burtsev informed on Wednesday.

"According to the data we received, currently 11 mln Syrians are "forcibly displaced persons". Out of them, 6 mln are internally displaced," Burtsev said.

The representative added that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees provided this data.

Russian military police to create eight outposts near Syrian-Israeli border

AL-WASIT /Syria/, August 10. /TASS/. The Russian military police will create eight outposts near the demilitarized zone at the Golan Heights on the Syrian-Israeli border, a deputy commander of the Russian forces in Syria in charge of of military police, Viktor Zaytsev, said.

According to the official, the first permanent observation post of the Russian military police has already been set up.

"Seven more will be created in the future. They will serve as a security guarantee for civilians of the Quneitra governorate," he said.

Russia ready to ensure return of refugees from Syrian Rukban camp

MOSCOW, August 4. /TASS/. Russia is ready to negotiate the issue of safely returning refugees from the Rukban camp located in the US-controlled Al-Tanf zone to their homes, with the Syrian authorities, the Defense Ministry told journalists on Saturday.

"The point at issue was that the Russian side is ready to negotiate the issue of ensuring safety for refugees from the Rukban camp located in the US-controlled Al-Tanf zone and creating required conditions for their return home, with the Syrian authorities," the ministry said.

UN Resident Coordinator in Syria denounces terrorist attacks in Sweida

Damascus, SANA- The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Syria Ali al-Zaatari denounced the terrorist attacks that took place in Sweida province and caused dozens of civilian causalities.

In a statement on Wednesday, al-Zaatari reaffirmed the UN firm stance and its demands to protect civilians, infrastructure and keep civilians away from the impacts of war wherever they were.

Syrian pilot killed in Israel's attack on warplane

DAMASCUS, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Israel targeted a Syrian warplane on Tuesday, leaving a pilot killed and another missing, a monitor group reported.

The Israeli air defenses fired two missiles toward the warplane, which was striking rebel positions in southern Syria, and destroyed it, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The search for the second pilot is underway, the London-based watchdog added.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli army said its air defenses intercepted a Syrian Sukhoi plane penetrating into the Golan Heights.

Syrian army showcases Western-made weapons seized from rebels in Daraa

DARAA, Syria, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Wednesday showcased Western-made weapons confiscated from the rebels during the nearly two-week-long battles in the southern province of Daraa.

In the town of Izra'a in the countryside of Daraa, the confiscated weapons were put on the ground, where soldiers showed reporters various types of ammunition.

Among the weapons were U.S.-made TOW missile launchers and other Western-made military gear, including anti-tank launchers, anti-aircraft launchers and mine-sweepers.

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