Russia: Syrian government must take over eastern Syria
Russia’s Foreign Ministry says Moscow expects the Syrian government to take over the areas where the U.S. troops are currently deployed following their withdrawal.
Russia
Turkey vows no slowdown in fight against IS after U.S. pullout from Syria
Turkey vowed on Monday that the fight against Islamic State would not be slowed by the U.S. withdrawal from Syria, where Ankara-backed rebels reinforced their positions around the potential flashpoint town of Manbij.
Israeli army chief: US exit from Syria significant, but mustn’t overreact
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot said Sunday that US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from Syria shouldn’t be ‘exaggerated’ as it has little bearing on Israel’s activity in the region since the Israeli military has been operating independently in the war-torn country for years.
Nation of Islam defends federal funding for prison lectures as a ‘blessing’ to prisoners
he Nation of Islam defiantly defended its government-funded work teaching religion to federal prisoners on Thursday, calling the program ‘a great benefit and blessing to the American Penal System.’
Mattis quits at Pentagon over policy clashes with Trump
Jim Mattis has resigned on principle as Pentagon chief after President Trump decided to slash U.S. troop presence in Syria and Afghanistan, citing in a letter the need for ‘a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned’ with the president’s.
Powerful earthquake strikes off Russia’s far east, no tsunami threat
A major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck off Russia’s sparsely populated far east on Thursday, but officials said the threat of a tsunami had passed and no damage was reported.
Russia again successfully tests ship-based hypersonic missile — which will likely be ready for combat by 2022
Russia has conducted another successful test of its ship-based hypersonic missile, a weapon the United States is currently unable to defend against, according to two people with direct knowledge of a U.S. intelligence report.
Trump slaps new sanctions on 15 Russian agents, firms for election meddling and ‘malign’ activities
The Treasury Department imposed fresh sanctions Wednesday against 15 Russian agents and companies for interfering in the U.S. presidential election in 2016 and carrying out a nerve-agent attack in England.
‘Thousands’ of EU diplomatic cables hacked, says report
Hackers allegedly linked to China were able to access thousands of sensitive EU diplomatic cables for more than three years, according to a New York Times report.
US proposes sale of Patriot missile system to Turkey
The State Department says the U.S. has proposed the sale of a $3.5 billion Patriot missile system to Turkey.
Iran, Turkey, Russia seek deal on Syria constitutional body
Russia, Iran and Turkey are close to agreement on composition of a Syrian constitutional committee that could pave the way for drafting a new charter followed by elections, diplomats said on Monday.
FBI misses deadline to provide docs to Judiciary Committee probing whistleblower raid
The Justice Department and FBI have missed a Wednesday deadline to provide information about the government’s mysterious raid on a former FBI contractor-turned-whistleblower’s home last month.
‘Hezbollah evades Israeli bombs in Syria by flying Russian flag’
Moscow is allowing fighters from Hezbollah and other pro-Iranian Shiite groups operating in Syria to carry Russian flags in order to protect them from Israeli airstrikes, Russia’s Kommersant newspaper reported Wednesday.
EU extends sanctions on Russia over Ukraine
European Council President Donald Tusk announced Thursday that EU leaders had agreed to extend comprehensive sanctions against Russia.
Pentagon’s new strategy means balancing act in Africa for U.S. special ops
The Pentagon’s decision to draw down 10 percent of its counterterrorism operations in Africa comes as Russia and China are aggressively ramping up efforts to expand their influence on the continent.
Israel fills vacuum in terror fight as U.S. reduces troop levels
Israel is moving quickly to fill a security vacuum in Africa as the United States reassigns forces from the terror-plagued continent to focus on rivals such as China and Russia.
Trump Admin. Declares War on Russian, Chinese, Iranian Propaganda
The State Department has launched a new effort to counter propaganda and disinformation campaigns launched across the globe by a host of rogue nations, including Russia, China, and Iran, according to senior U.S. officials who briefed the Washington Free Beacon on the new undertaking, which they say will put the United States ‘on the offense’ against these countries.
Russia building up forces near Crimea amid tensions with Ukraine, satellite photos show
Two weeks after Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian vessels in the contested Kerch Strait, satellite images obtained exclusively by Fox News on Sunday show that additional forces may be headed to the region.
Putin threatens arms race if US walks away from nuclear weapons treaty
Vladimir Putin has said Moscow will develop new mid-range nuclear weapons in response to Donald Trump’s planned withdrawal from a key arms control treaty with Russia.
U.S. warns Russia with ‘extraordinary flight’ over Ukraine
Blasting Russia’s ‘dangerous escalation’ in the region, U.S. planes on Thursday conducted an ‘extraordinary flight’ over Ukraine in what Pentagon officials cast as a blunt warning to Moscow.