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Conflict in Syria

Tomb of Bashar Assad’s father set on fire in Syria, report says

Beside Hafez Assad, who ruled the country from 1971 to 2000, the mausoleum in the town of Qardaha in the Latakia region also holds the tombs of his wife and elder son

BEIRUT, December 11. /TASS/. Unidentified persons broke into the mausoleum of former Syrian President Bashar Assad’s father, Hafez, and set fire to his tomb, the Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar reported.

The arsonists hid their faces behind masks, according to the report.

Beside Hafez Assad, who ruled the country from 1971 to 2000, the mausoleum in the town of Qardaha in the Latakia region also holds the tombs of his wife and elder son.

Syria’s armed opposition units started a large-scale offensive on government troops at the end of November. On December 8, they entered Damascus while government troops withdrew from the city. Bashar Assad resigned as president and fled the country. A Kremlin source told TASS that Assad and his family are in Moscow and have been granted asylum in Russia out of humanitarian reasons.

Mohammed Bashir announced on December 10 that he will lead a transitional cabinet in Syria. He had previously headed the opposition’s cabinet in Idlib since January 2024.

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Syrian conflict

Agreement with US turns Armenia into tool against Russia, Iran — political scientist

According to Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan, "the Armenian authorities are consistently deteriorating relations with Russia and Iran"

US, Armenia ink document on strategic partnership commission

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Russian MFA says Biden knew his support of Ukraine nudged world toward nuclear conflict

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Russia and Vietnam advocated that an inclusive and sustainable architecture of interstate relations be established in Asia based on the principles of equality, sovereignty, independence, and non-bloc international law norms

Kremlin aide points to possible collapse of Moldova due to its anti-Russia line

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About 6,500 civilians killed in Ukrainian attacks since 2014 — Investigative Committee

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Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky said the strikes targeted gas infrastructure and power facilities

Senior Russian MP points to EU’s nervous reaction to Trump’s comeback

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Press review: Kiev hopes Trump supports its proposals and Russia backs Panama's neutrality

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Russian Foreign Ministry notes US hypocrisy in regard to California wildfires

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Lavrov tells reporters about Biden’s last moves, Trump and security guarantees for Ukraine

TASS has put together the Russian foreign minister’s key statement

US could cut off support to Ukraine to achieve peace — Sullivan

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President of Central African Republic arrives in Russia

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Cuban president lauds US’ plans to lift his country’s designation as sponsor of terrorism

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass area over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted roughly 600 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy electronic warfare stations in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported

Armenia, US kick off talks on cooperation on nuclear energy

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West questioning foreign election results show of arrogance — Lavrov

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Taiwan records approach of 24 Chinese PLA warplanes, six vessels

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Deal on Russia’s Tartus naval base in Syria 'at final stage' — senator

Russia currently has a ship maintenance center at Tartus

Hegseth says Trump to seek best settlement for Ukraine

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Nikolay Patrushev believes it is important for the world to recognize the incorporation of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol into the Russian Federation

Scholz remained silent when Nord Stream pipelines were destroyed — Lavrov

Germany, the Russian top diplomat stated, has meekly accepted the undermining of its national interests by Washington

US intends to disrupt TurkStream operations — Lavrov

The minister pointed out that the abandonment of fair competition and the use of unscrupulous and aggressive methods of suppressing it can be seen in the sanction policy

Head of Crimea says 1,269 participants of free economic zone implement investment projects

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South Korean president says his detention illegal

Yoon Suk Yeol said he believes the investigation is illegal

Ukraine must negotiate from position of strength — White House

White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby stressed that Washington is not going to force negotiations on Volodymyr Zelensky

FACTBOX: International status of the Arctic

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Additionally, the Krasnoarmeysk - Pavlograd road is also under Russian control

Russia vows retaliation to Kiev’s attack with Western-made missiles on Bryansk Region

Last night, Ukraine delivered a missile strike at facilities in the Bryansk Region by six US-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, six British-made Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles and 31 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, the ministry specified

Russian PM to continue visit to Vietnam, meet with president, business circles

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Hanoi holds welcoming ceremony for Russian PM, who arrived on visit to Vietnam

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Vietnamese leader lauds Russia’s successes in economy, politics

Luong Cuong described Moscow as one of Hanoi’s "primary partners"

Ukrainian drone strike leaves three civilians injured in Novaya Kakhovka

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Transnistrian leader discusses ways out of energy crisis at talks in Moscow

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Only technical level of communication between US, Russia — Kremlin

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Black box data from crashed Azerbaijani airliner contradicts earlier media reports

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Russia concerned about people, not lands in terms of Ukraine issue — Lavrov

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FACTBOX: What we know about South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s arrest

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Elite units of the Ukrainian armed forces were deployed, indicating that the Ukrainian intelligence agency was confident it had successfully bribed Russian troops

Syrian forces secure release of police officers captured near Latakia — Interior Ministry

According to the report, the Syrian authorities intend to put an end to attacks on patrols and barracks in coastal areas

Armenian Foreign Ministry summons Russian ambassador over remarks in TV newscasts

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Russia ready for steps to restore dialogue with Slovakia — upper house committee chief

Grigory Karasin sees a great potential for the development of bilateral economic ties, including the fuel and energy complex, as well as projects in the sphere of cultural and humanitarian cooperation

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Sergey Ryabkov stressed that the relations between Russia and the United States still carry significant conflict potential

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One home destroyed, 42 damaged by debris from downed Ukrainian missiles near Bryansk

Governor Alexander Bogomaz promised that all necessary material assistance will be provided

Russia bans entry to Estonian foreign ministry’s undersecretary for global affairs

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Baba Yaga drones attack their own troops, says Ukrainian army captive

Alexander Shevchenko noted that he did not undergo any special training

Scholz reiterated his public statements on Ukraine in phone talks with Putin, Lavrov says

The German Chancellor did not say a word about root causes of the conflict, the Russian language and the rights of Russians

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Russia, Vietnam plan to reach $15 bln trade turnover by 2030 — PM Mishustin

The Russian Prime Minister arrived in Vietnam on an official visit the day before and has already held talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with the participation of delegations from both countries

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"This is an attempt to influence the position of Russia, Turkey and the positions of parties that receive gas through Turkey," Abdullah Agar noted

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Russian forces straighten 6 km frontline near Kremennaya in LPR, expert says

Near Kremennaya, Russian forces also captured one of enemy positions, Andrey Marochko said

South Korean law enforcement agents place president under arrest

Yoon is suspected of plotting a rebellion to overthrow the constitutional order

Kremlin aide admits Ukraine will cease to exist in 2025

According to Nikolay Patrushev, the fact that the forced coercion to neo-Nazi ideology and fervent Russophobia eliminate Ukrainian cities that used to flourish is particularly alarming

Expert points finger at US, EU in TurkStream sabotage attempt

Necdet Pamir noted that if the gas supplies were stopped, "the Russian Federation, Turkey, the Balkan and Central European countries, especially Hungary, would have been affected the most"

Syria's crisis stems from authorities' refusal to change in recent years — Lavrov

According to the foreign minister, Russia urged the Syrian leadership in every possible way to ensure that the Constitutional Committee, established on Russia's initiative, resumed its work

'German scenario' implausible for Ukraine settlement — Medvedev

In the historical sense, the "Germanic scenario" of settlement is only feasible in terms of integrating the territories of Malorossiya into Russia, the politician noted

Kremlin aide believes talks on Ukraine should be held between Russia, US

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Germany allocates another package of military assistance to Ukraine

According to the list released on the government’s website, the package includes 20 MRAP armored vehicles, 600 HF-1 combat drones, rounds for Leopard 1 tanks, 139 reconnaissance drones

Western authorities censor any information critical of them — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat recalled that the principles of free access to information were recorded at the OSCE conference in Paris in the fall of 1990, and the corresponding document "was pushed through primarily by the French and other members of the European Union, Western countries"

US to remove Cuba from list of state sponsors of terrorism — news agency

According to them, the administration may make a relevant announcement soon

Putin to hold meeting of Pobeda organizing committee

In addition, the discussion will focus on ways to perpetuate the memory of those who died defending the Motherland

Russia cannot advise sovereign countries on their actions — Lavrov

Sergey Lavrov made this comment after an Italian reporter asked what role could Italy play if US President-elect Donald Trump starts working toward dialogue with Russia

Russia requests consultations with Serbia over US demands to remove Russian capital

According to Sergey Lavrov, in its relations with Serbia the West states that it wants to punish its partner Russia

Some $6.5 bln worth of private investment attracted into Crimean economy since 2021

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US sanctions to postpone implementation of several Arctic projects — Rosatom CEO

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Pentagon acknowledges Russia’s 'incremental gains' in combat operations in Ukraine

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on January 6 that Russian forces had liberated the city of Kurakhovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic

By acquiring Greenland Trump intends to establish control over the Arctic — Turkish expert

It is reported that Trump, being a businessman, looks at all problems as a business

Lavrov calls for assessing Trump’s methods of making America great again

The news conference is dedicated to reviewing Moscow’s main foreign policy achievements in 2024

Trump stepping in to difficult situation, particularly with LA wildfires — Lavrov

The Russian Foreign Minister also called Donald Trump’s pre-inauguration chatter, where he is essentially just "thinking aloud," inconsequential

US seeks Greenland to boost military pressure on Russia, China, Europe — experts

Russian experts also highlighted the "enormous interest" the US has in Greenland’s mineral resources

Houthis say they attacked power plant in Israel’s Eilat

Spokesperson Yahya Sarea also said that the Houthis had delivered drone strikes on several targets near Tel Aviv

FACTBOX: Aftermath of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian regions this night

Air defenses downed 16 UAVs over the Tula Region, the area’s head Dmitry Milyayev said on his Telegram channel

Trump acknowledged that NATO signed security pacts in bad faith — Lavrov

NATO was expanding closer to Russia’s borders, the foreign minister recalled

Trump to intensify economic deglobalization — Chinese expert

Airplanes assembled in the US cannot be used by the whole world, Yan Xuetong said

Biden boasts of mobilizing 50 nations to fight in proxy war against Russia — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat drew some historical parallels

Trump declares desire to meet with Putin 'very quickly'

The US President-elect noted that he had to get into the office first

Iran does not aspire to develop nuclear weapons — president

Iran’s adversaries were accusing Tehran of trying to build the bomb

Ukrainian army recognizes it failed in attempts to counterattack Kursk Region — media

The sources reported incessant attacks by Russian drones, noting that the country's army has started using new fiber-optic controlled FPV drones with a range of over 16 kilometers

Russian forces dislodge Ukrainian troops from Chasov Yar refractory plant in Donbass area

Battles are now raging outside the refractory plant and Russian forces are now primarily mopping up the area of multistory buildings, following which the town’s full liberation can be considered, Igor Kimakovsky said

Russia’s international reserves down $1.8 bln in one week to $609.5 bln — Central Bank

Russia’s international reserves are highly liquid foreign assets available with the Bank of Russia and the Russian government

US to send customs, border patrol team to Armenia as part of security cooperation

Antony Blinken made the comment at a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan at the State Department

EU to adopt 16th package of anti-Russia sanctions in February, to ban aluminium imports

The European Commission held informal meetings with EU countries on Tuesday

Blinken says Hamas replenished its losses

"Each time Israel completes its military operations and pulls back, Hamas militants regroup and re-emerge because there's nothing else to fill the void," the US secretary of state said

Press review: Lavrov signals Russia’s readiness for talks as Kiev seeks stronger position

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, January 15th

UAE may host Putin-Trump meeting, Russian expert says

Oleg Karpovich dismissed Switzerland as a possible location for the meeting

Russia open to talks on security guarantees for Ukraine — Lavrov

"We are ready to engage in discussions about security guarantees for the country now called Ukraine, or for the part of the country that has yet to self-determine, unlike Crimea, Donbass, and Novorossiya," the Russian foreign minister specified

Lavrov, visiting senior Slovak MP discuss bilateral trade, economic cooperation

"The sides exchanged views on pressing issues on the international agenda, including the situation in Ukraine," the Russian Foreign Ministry noted