Russia

Assad Denies 'Planned' Exit From Syria, Calls New Leaders 'Terrorists'

In his first remarks since he was deposed, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday said he fled Syria only after Damascus had fallen and denounced the country's new leaders as "terrorists". An Islamist-led rebel alliance launched a lightning offensive from its northwest Syria bastion on November 27, swiftly capturing major cities from ...

Moscow Says ‘Part’ of Its Diplomatic Personnel in Syria Evacuated by Plane

Russia's foreign ministry said it has evacuated some of its diplomatic staff from Syria Sunday, a week after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. "On December 15, the withdrawal of part of the personnel of the Russian (diplomatic) representation in Damascus was carried out by a special flight of the Russian Air Force from the Hmeimim airbase" in Syria, ...

Turkey Says Told Russia, Iran not to Intervene Militarily in Syria Rebel Push

Turkey said Friday it had urged Russia and Iran not to intervene militarily to support Bashar al-Assad's forces as Islamist-led rebels mounted their lightning advance on Damascus that ended with the Syrian strongman's ouster. "The most important thing was to talk to the Russians and Iranians to ensure that they didn't enter the equation ...

Ukraine: Massive Russian Strikes Target Energy Facilities

Ukrainian energy facilities were targeted on Friday morning in a "massive" missile attack by Russia, Ukrainian authorities announced, as Moscow continues its regular bombardment of such infrastructure, causing power outages across the country during the harsh winter season. Ukraine is also struggling on the front line, retreating for months in ...

NATO Chief Calls for Defense Surge to Avoid 'Big War' with Russia

NATO chief Mark Rutte issued a stark warning Thursday to "turbo-charge" defense spending, saying European nations were not prepared for the threat of future war with Russia. "We are not ready for what is coming our way in four to five years," Rutte said in a keynote address in Brussels, his first major speech since taking office as NATO ...

EU Targets Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet’ with New Sanctions

EU countries agreed on Wednesday to blacklist around 50 additional oil tankers from Russia's "shadow fleet," which have been used to circumvent Western sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine, officials said. The move, which is set to be formally approved by foreign ministers on Monday, is part of the EU's 15th sanctions package since Russia's ...

Russia Calls for Rapid Syria Stabilization, Criticizes Israel

The Kremlin said Wednesday that it wanted to see rapid stabilization in Syria, criticizing Israeli strikes and its creation of a "buffer zone" along the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. Russia also said its military offensive on Ukraine remained its "absolute priority" amid questions over whether Moscow's almost three-year campaign there meant it ...

Syrian Rescuers Urge Russia to Push Assad for Secret Prison Maps

Syria's White Helmet rescuers on Tuesday called on Russia to pressure former president Bashar al-Assad into providing maps of secret jails and lists of detainees as they race against time to release prisoners. The rescuers said they "sent a request to the United Nations through an international mediator to demand that Russia pressure... Assad ...

Three Dead in Russian Attacks on East, South Ukraine

Three people were killed and more than a dozen wounded in Russian attacks on southern and eastern Ukraine over the past 24 hours, authorities said Tuesday. Tensions over the three-year war have escalated in recent weeks, with Moscow pummelling Ukrainian energy infrastructure and threatening to strike Kyiv with its new hypersonic missile. In the ...

War in Syria: 13 Years of Conflict

2011: The winds of the Arab Spring reach Syria. Peaceful protests erupt in Deraa, as the people call for reforms and justice. Bashar al-Assad's regime responds swiftly and brutally. The crackdown is bloody, and anger becomes the driving force of the protesters. The demonstrations spread across the country like wildfire. This marks the beginning of ...

Debunked: Where Is Bashar al-Assad?

Viral claims of a plane crash, a secretive escape and surprising images have fueled speculation about the whereabouts of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. What is really happening, and where is Assad? Let’s debunk the fake claims.

What Political Governance for Post-Assad Syria? (2/2)

Now that Bashar al-Assad's dictatorial regime has been overthrown, imagining what the “day after” might look like remains a challenge. Even more uncertain is the model of governance that could take shape in a post-Assad Syria. The rebel factions, collectively referred to as the “opposition forces,” form a disparate, profoundly ...