Days after Metrojet’s Airbus A321 crashed in Egypt over the Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 people on board, officials from the airline are now saying the plane was taken down by an “external influence.” The plane, which carried mostly Russian passengers, was flying from a Red Sea resort to St. Petersburg, Russia.
President Obama mocked Republican candidates who suggested they’ll be tough with Vladimir Putin but “can’t handle a bunch of CNBC moderators at a debate” during a speech on Monday. Obama stated, “Have you noticed that every one of these candidates say, ‘You
Less than one month from now the nations of the world will meet in Paris for the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21).
ISIS is a fear merchant. It depends heavily upon using fear to intimidate those opposed to it.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appears ready to cooperate with the European Union to remove economic sanctions–after having gained enormous international leverage through his surprise military intervention in Syria.
One of the factors spurring Russia to action in Syria was the success of ISIS recruitment in certain parts of Russia. A notable example of this is the province of Dagestan, which has a large and impoverished Muslim population, a history of unrest, some hot spots of radical Salafist Islam, and lingering resentment against heavy-handed police tactics.
The Russian government is claiming 19-year-old Vadim Kostenko, a contract serviceman, committed suicide in Syria on Saturday over problems with a woman. His family is adamantly rejecting this version of events.
Contents: Iran’s Rafsanjani admits to nuclear development since 1980s; Khamenei’s nuclear fatwa and the Iraq war; Rafsanjani and Khamenei publicly disagree on the nuclear deal
Contents: US Navy to challenge China in the South China Sea today; What was the purpose of Russia’s Caspian Sea cruise missile attack on Syria?; Insurers taking increasingly risky investment bets
The Russian Orthodox Church declared eating unhealthy foods such as potato chips sinful this week. The statement follows a greater effort to encourage Russians not to consume Western foods.
The Russian government wants Syria to hold presidential and parliamentary elections. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has allegedly stated he would rather wait until “terrorism” is eradicated from the country to hold elections again.
Russian lawmakers meeting with Syrian head of state Bashar al-Assad on Sunday claim he is open to holding elections that may result in his removal from power, but only after “terrorists”–a word Assad has often used as a blanket term for any Syrian opposition–are defeated.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) praised Hillary Clinton’s performance at the House Select Committee on Benghazi last week as “presidential,” saying: “I could see her across the table from [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, reacted “positively” to the idea of working with some rebel groups in the region against the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL), particularly the Kurds.
The Turkish government made it known on Wednesday they could accept a transition period for Syria where President Bashar al-Assad stays in power for six months before another person takes over.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday he has concerns that the U.S. ballistic missile defense system threatens Russia’s nuclear capability.
Almost four out of every five declared targets of Russian airstrikes in Syria are located in areas not held by the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL), according to an analysis of Russian Defense Ministry data by Reuters.
The White House has condemned Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s surprise visit to Moscow, chiding Vladimir Putin for rolling out a “red carpet welcome” for a leader “who has used chemical weapons against his own people.”
South Ossetia President Leonid Tibilov announced he is ready to unify the Georgian breakaway region with Russia.
The United States and Russia have agreed on new rules to avoid any confusion or conflict in Syria as both countries lead different coalitions. The Iraqi government also agreed not to ask Russia for help in its airspace.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Russian head of state Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in a surprise visit to Moscow to personally thank Putin for airstrikes that have significantly weakened the Syrian opposition.
A round of Russian air strikes on the ISIS-free province of Latakia reportedly killed Basil Zimmo, a brigade commander in the U.S.-aligned “moderate” Free Syrian Army, along with a number of civilians.
Sources close to the Russian military reported the government plans to expand their missions in Syria to 300 a day.
On Friday, Turkey shot down a drone aircraft that violated its airspace. U.S. officials believe it was a Russian drone, although the Russians deny losing any of their equipment. Saturday brought a warning from Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that his country is prepared to fire on manned aircraft, as well.
The Cuban government has denied multiple independent reports that Cuban military officials have traveled to Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad organize a military offensive against the Islamic State and other Sunni forces working to overthrow him.
