Russia

Russia hands Syria its first major defeat of ISIS

Despite pullout, Russian ground and air forces heavily involved in helping regime conquer ancient city of Palmyra from ISIS.

Syrian regime: Russia cannot pressure us

Regime chief negotiator says thinking Russian pullout weakens regime position is a 'misreading,' US-Russia meetings have no impact on talks.

Most Russian warplanes have left Syria, says American military

Spokesman for American military confirms that most if not all Russian warplanes have been withdrawn from Syria.

ISIS claims killing 5 Russian troops near Palmyra

Days after Putin announces pullout, ISIS announces it killed Russians near ancient city. Russian death toll previously had been at 4.

'We felt Putin is loyal to Israel's security'

Rivlin meets Russian PM about expanding ties, as his director reveals details of meeting with Putin the day before.

Arab League: Russia withdrawal helps Syria peace

Arab League chief lauds 'positive step' of Russia pulling out most of its forces, says it may help bring success in peace talks.

Kerry to visit Putin as Syria peace hopes run high

West cautiously applauds Russian pullout as negotiations advance. Kerry to stop in Moscow to 'take advantage of this moment.'

Syria rebels declare 'victory' as Russia withdraws

Morale of rebels and activists 'sky high' with Russia pullout, as they estimate Assad 'cannot survive alone.'

After 'pullout,' Russia bombs Syria

Day after Putin orders out 'main part' of forces, Russian airstrikes help Syrian regime advance on ancient Palmyra, held by ISIS.

Russian media declares 'victory' as Syria withdrawal begins

First group of Russian military planes leave base in Syria after Vladimir Putin's surprise withdrawal announcement.

Syria: Russia will continue to support fight against 'terror'

Syrian presidency says Russia will keep up its support for the regime's "anti-terrorist" battle, following its pullout of forces from Syria.

Putin orders withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin orders Defense Ministry to begin withdrawing troops from Syria. No explanation has been given.

Russia 'has evidence' Turkey invaded Syria

Foreign Minister Lavrov says Turkish troops have entered Syrian territory as part of a 'creeping expansion' on the border.

Russian slanders the Bible, faces jail time

Russian atheist may spend a year in jail for saying, 'there is no God, the Bible is a collection of Jewish legends.'

Muslim nanny beheaded girl 'in revenge for Russia bombing Syria'

Cover up? Russian authorities play down claims by 'bloody nanny' that she killed to avenge Syria campaign, insist she is mentally ill.

Moscow nanny claims 'Allah ordered' her to behead child

Gulchekhra Bobokulova admits to murdering four-year-old child under her care, parading around with her head.

Moscow: Muslim woman arrested holding child's severed head

Russian police nab suspect, heard shouting 'I am a terrorist!', outside metro station in Moscow.

Syrian ceasefire breached numerous times

Just one day into truce, Saudis and opposition accuse Russia and Assad of at least 15 violations, Russia blames rebels for 9 breaches.

Russia pummels Syrian rebels hours before ceasefire

Monitor warns Russia conducting 'more intense than usual' wave of strikes, including on moderate opposition targets, to 'score points.'

World War III?

EU warns Russia and Turkey are headed for open war

EU foreign policy chief warns a 'hot war' between Russia and Turkey may be imminent as Syrian war spins into 'something bigger.'

Russia and Assad heading to a crisis?

After Assad vows to retake all of Syria, Moscow tells him to tone it down, warning he may find himself in 'a very difficult situation.'

Russia accuses Turkey of helping ISIS recruit

Russian letter to UN Security Council alleges Ankara is helping jihadists recruit from Caucasus and Central Asia, in network led by Russian.

Russian bombers approach UK

UK Ministry of Defense confirms that two Russian bombers are approaching UK airspace. Royal Air Force sends Typhoons to intercept.

Iran to receive advanced Russian jets, submarines

Russia, Iran likely to sign massive arms deal for jet fighters, submarines, and missile systems.

Blame game: Syria claims US bombed hospital

After US and observer say Russia struck MSF hospital, Syrian ambassador to Moscow defends ally, says 'America did it.'

Syria peace deal is 'Ukraine 2.0'

McCain slams ceasefire agreement for letting Russia keep bombing at will, Ya'alon skeptical: 'we can't make an egg from an omelette.'

The end of Israeli air superiority over Lebanon?

Hezbollah gets 'game changing' anti-air weapons, threatens to end Israel's air advantage and shoot down fighter jets.

Kerry vs Russia: Stop bombing Syrian opposition

Kerry reports most Russian airstrikes have hit legitimate opposition groups, demand it change its targeting posthaste.

Germany says Syria peace deal hangs on Russia

Germany says Russia must stop airstrikes in order to implement deal, accusing Moscow of 'seriously compromising political process.'

Tatarstan Jewish leader: Jews won't take up Putin's offer

After Putin proposed the Jews of Europe take refuge in Russia, head of the Jewish Autonomy of Tatarstan expresses doubts.

Russian PM: Foreign offensive in Syria could spark 'world war'

After Saudis say their decision to deploy troops in Syria is 'final,' Medvedev issues a dire warning.

Russian engineers working with ISIS in Syria to produce gas

While Russia says it is fighting terror group, new evidence shows it is cutting economic deals amid the bloodshed in Syria.

Kurds turn to 'great power' Russia as Turkey fumes

'Russia not just an actor, it writes the script'; Kurds turn to increasingly assertive Russia - which is happy to oblige in swipe at Turkey.

US: Russian bombing 'directly enabling ISIS' in Syria

Harsh words from Obama envoy, as Russian bombing campaign continues targeting rebels opposed to ISIS and regime.

Russian special forces 'embedded in ISIS,' top official says

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov claims Russian intelligence has successfully infiltrated Islamic State terror group.

Abbas 'firmly' backs Russian airstrikes for Assad

Russian Federation Council head meets with Abbas, says he finally showed hand in supporting Assad's regime in civil war.

Russia rejects accusations it sabotaged Syria talks

Russia blasts the West for saying it sabotaged Syria peace talks by militarily backing the Damascus regime.

NATO accuses Russia of 'undermining' Syrian peace

After peace talks crumble amid new offensive backed by Russian airstrikes on opposition, NATO head takes shots at Moscow.

Russia says Turkey is about to invade Syria

Russian defense ministry warns it has 'serious grounds' to think Turkey is making 'intensive preparations for an armed invasion.'

US demands Russia cease bombing in Syria as talks collapse

Kerry lays blame for suspension of peace talks on Russia, asserts it has 'a responsibility' to stop bombing the Syrian opposition.

Russia assures Israel: We're not passing weapons to Hezbollah

Following internal probe of its military, Russia tells Israel that it is not passing weapons on to Hezbollah.

Russia accused of creating 'new Hitler' in Syria

Syrian opposition likens Assad to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, in attack on Russia's interference in Syrian civil war at start of peace talks.

Iran hails ally Russia for pushing nuclear deal through

Iranian nuclear chief reveals if it wasn't for Moscow, controversial nuclear deal never would have been completed.

Suspected Russian air raids kill 10 Syrian civilians

Air strikes in ISIS-held village kill 10 civilians, including three children.

NATO warns Russia to 'fully respect' Turkish airspace

Erdogan: 'Russia will have to face consequences if it keeps on such violations against Turkey's sovereignty rights.'

Russia 'safer for Jews than parts of Western Europe'

'Refuge' offer to Jews may not have been serious, but Putin's record on anti-Semitism puts European critics to shame.

Russian strikes have helped 'turn around' situation in Syria

Russian FM: Air strikes helped beat back terrorists, prop up Bashar al-Assad.

Russian raids kill 33 civilians ahead of peace talks

Suspected Russian airstrikes wreak damage, killing 9 children 2 women, and US outfits new airfield, days before talks to end Syrian war.

Turkish border on brink of becoming a Russian warfront?

Russian troops deploy to Syrian border town, with Turkey 'closely watching' and reinforcing amid fears of all out war.

Over 1,000 civilians dead in Russia's Syria strikes

Russian lead airstrikes have killed over 1,000 civilians in Syria since the beginning of their involvement in September of 2015.

Jewish Congress urges Putin's cooperation against terror

Stressing the need for united effort, EJC President tells Russian leader that terror has spread from targeting Jews to 'us all.'

Syria: Dozens dead in battles between regime, ISIS

Islamic State jihadists advance in blistering assault on Deir Ezzor, while regime capitalizes on Russian airstrikes near Aleppo.

Danger in the north?

Russia is giving Hezbollah advanced weapons

Hezbollah commanders reveal Moscow is handing out laser guided rockets, tactical missiles with no restrictions on attacking Israel.

Russian airstrike kills eight schoolchildren and teacher

Russian airstrike hits school on Monday in city of Anjara in the Aleppo Province. Nine people are dead and over 20 wounded.

Russia bombs Al Qaeda prison, kills 21 civilians

Airstrikes on Syrian jail leave 21 civilians, 29 terrorists and 7 detainees dead, with 30 wounded and many in critical condition.

Russian Orthodox cleric justifies Syria campaign for Christmas

As Orthodox Church marks Christmas, Russian Patriarch Kirill says Moscow's strikes in Syria are protecting Russia from 'terrorism.'

Russia asks Hezbollah to calm tensions with Israel

Following yesterday's bombing attempt against IDF soldiers near Har Dov, Russia asks Hezbollah to calm tensions.

Will Japan and Russia finally sign WW2 peace treaty?

70 years since the end of the Second World War, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe approaches Putin to end 'abnormal' ongoing dispute.

Russia considers US a threat to its national security

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed off on a document listing US, NATO as threats to national security.

Russia blasts claims it is causing civilian deaths in Syria

Russia slams as "absurd" accusations by the United States that Russian air strikes in Syria are killing hundreds of civilians.