Russian airbase in Syria

A top Russian diplomat says Moscow won’t stop its air strikes on Islamic State positions in Syria if and when a cease-fire there is announced.

A man walks past damaged buildings after what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in Idlib city, Syria December 20, 2015.

“Syrian lands are not, and will not be, a part of Russia’s imperialist goals”, Davutoglu told members of his ruling AK Party in parliament.

Russian Federation has for months been pushing the idea of a unity transitional government, including both government and rebel parties, uniting to fight ISIS and reform the constitution before holding free elections.

Twenty-four civilians were killed Wednesday – and dozens were injured – when Russian warplanes pounded the Turkmendagi and Jabal al-Akrad areas of Syria’s northwestern Latakia province, local sources told Anadolu Agency.

According to Hersh’s source, the Joint Chiefs knew their intel would end up reaching the Syrian military and would help Syrian forces more effectively target Islamist rebel groups … but “Obama didn’t know” what they were up to because “Obama doesn’t know what the JCS does in every circumstance and that’s true of all presidents”.

The observatory has an extensive network of informants inside Syria.

The Obama administration pursued secret communications with elements of Syria’s regime over several years in a failed attempt to limit violence and get President Bashar al-Assad to relinquish power, the Wall Street Journal reports citing US and Arab officials. It bases its tallies on Russian-caused casualties by the type of aircraft flown and munitions used.

The arms were handed to any group opposing Assad’s military, including Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic State. Ankara has said its airspace was violated and warnings ignored.

Israel’s once-strong ties to Turkey soured in 2010 when Israeli commandoes killed 10 Turkish activists when they stormed a ship in a convoy seeking to break an Israeli naval blockade of the Palestinian territory of Gaza.