Russia in Syria

Russia briefly withdraws from bases in north Aleppo, leaving SDF to face Turkey by itself

Russia briefly withdrew its forces and its military equipment from two bases in Tal Rifaat, only to return to them in the wake of understandings with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces that control the area and fear the advances of the Turkish-backed opposition.

Mohammed Hardan | Syria | Apr 21, 2021

Russian armored vehicles drive as part of a joint Turkish-Russian military patrol along the M4 highway, which links the northern provinces of Aleppo and Latakia, near Ariha in the rebel-held northwestern Idlib province, Syria, June 10, 2020.

Taliban, Assad continue to unite Russia, Iran

While Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed ways to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal in his visit to Tehran this week, the topics of Syria and Afghanistan also featured prominently on the agenda.

Kirill Semenov | Russia | Apr 16, 2021

House panel considers US policy options in Syria

Members of the subcommittee also pressed witnesses on whether regime change in Syria is an option.

Adam Lucente | U.S. | Apr 15, 2021

Jennifer-Cafarella-Linda-Khatib-Omar-Alshogre

Intel: US endorses watchdog report blaming Syria for chemical attack

The report from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons found "reasonable grounds" to believe that the Syrian air force dropped chlorine on a rebel-held town in northwestern Syria in 2018.

Elizabeth Hagedorn | Syria | Apr 14, 2021

The Takeaway: Nile Dam talks fail, crisis escalates

Sisi warns that "all options open" if diplomacy not resumed; Israel: "Knives drawn" as Bibi gets first shot at forming government; Hotel shuttle diplomacy at Iran talks in Vienna; Mummies on parade in Egypt; more!

Andrew Parasiliti, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Joe Snell | Egypt | Apr 7, 2021

A worker walks with a piece of wood on his shoulder at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), near Guba in Ethiopia, on Dec. 26, 2019.

War over economic routes heats up in Syria

Syria’s economic collapse is stoking the struggle over commercial routes between government-held areas and US- and Turkish-backed enclaves, fueling also disagreements on humanitarian aid.

Fehim Tastekin | Turkey | Apr 5, 2021

Syrians drive in the town of Saraqeb along the main Damascus-Aleppo (M5) highway in Syria's northwestern Idlib province on March 7, 2020, following a Russian-Turkish cease-fire deal.

What’s Moscow's game plan for Lebanon?

With the worsening of the Lebanese crisis, Russia will have to take a closer look at Lebanese affairs to protect its assets in Syria.

Mona Alami | Lebanon | Apr 3, 2021

In rebuke to Russia, Blinken presses UN to quit politicizing Syria aid

Blinken called on the UN Security Council to reauthorize a cross-border aid operation into Syria despite Russian and Chinese opposition.

Elizabeth Hagedorn | Syria | Mar 29, 2021

Turkish-Russian partnership under fresh stress test in Syria

Turkey’s appeal for Western backing in Syria has cast a pall on its partnership with Russia, whose toughening attitude on the ground is a reminder to Ankara of what could happen down the road.

Fehim Tastekin | Turkey | Mar 25, 2021

A member of the Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, searches through the rubble and debris in a building at the site of reported airstrikes on the rebel-held town of Ariha in the northern countryside of Idlib province, Syria, Jan. 30, 2020.

What's next for Russia’s relations with Hezbollah?

A Hezbollah delegation visits Moscow, with Lebanese politics and stability and Syria's political future atop the agenda.

Anton Mardasov | Russia | Mar 18, 2021

Russia launches air campaign against Islamic State in Syrian desert

Russian forces intensified their airstrikes against IS sites in Syria’s Badia with the aim of supporting the ground forces that failed to eliminate the organization or curb its spread.

Khaled al-Khateb | Syria | Mar 18, 2021

A Russian army helicopter, part of a patrol, flies over an oil field in the countryside of al-Qahtaniyah town in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province near the Turkish border, on Oct. 11, 2020.

Israel's foreign minister continues anti-ICC campaign in Russia

In his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi presented his stand against the International Criminal Court probe, a renewed Iran deal and the Iranian presence in Syria.

Rina Bassist | Israel | Mar 17, 2021

NGOs file Syria torture complaint against Russia’s Wagner Group

The rights organizations allege that the shadowy paramilitary group is behind the 2017 torture and killing of a Syrian military defector.

Al-Monitor Staff | Syria | Mar 15, 2021

Why is Syrian military deploying in Kurdish-held areas?

The Syrian government seeks to strengthen its military presence in Ain Issa and the area overlooking the M4 international highway, which are under control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.

Khaled al-Khateb | Syria | Mar 10, 2021

The Israel-Russia-Syria deal: Cost, beneficiaries and future deals

As Israel and Syria conclude a deal on the return of an Israeli woman from Syria, questions arise regarding the cost and what the future of such transactions with Russian mediation should be.

Micky Aharonson | Israel | Feb 25, 2021

Russia in Syria

Russia briefly withdraws from bases in north Aleppo, leaving SDF to face Turkey by itself

Russia briefly withdrew its forces and its military equipment from two bases in Tal Rifaat, only to return to them in the wake of understandings with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces that control the area and fear the advances of the Turkish-backed opposition.

Taliban, Assad continue to unite Russia, Iran

House panel considers US policy options in Syria

Intel: US endorses watchdog report blaming Syria for chemical attack

The Takeaway: Nile Dam talks fail, crisis escalates

War over economic routes heats up in Syria

What’s Moscow's game plan for Lebanon?

In rebuke to Russia, Blinken presses UN to quit politicizing Syria aid

Turkish-Russian partnership under fresh stress test in Syria

What's next for Russia’s relations with Hezbollah?

Russia launches air campaign against Islamic State in Syrian desert

Israel's foreign minister continues anti-ICC campaign in Russia

NGOs file Syria torture complaint against Russia’s Wagner Group

Why is Syrian military deploying in Kurdish-held areas?

The Israel-Russia-Syria deal: Cost, beneficiaries and future deals

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