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Conflict in Syria

Iran never had imperial aims in Syria, but defended it from terrorists — Foreign Ministry

"Until the very end, we helped in maintaining the security and territorial integrity of Syria," Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said

DUBAI, December 17. /TASS/. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC, elite units of the Iranian Armed Forces) was in Syria legally in order to fight international terrorism, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has said.

"In Syria, we did not aim to conquer, dominate, or resurrect the empires of the past. We deemed it crucial to ensure the safety of the Syrian people and shield them from violence, extremism, and terrorism. The presence [of IRGC troops] was advisory. They were not there to support or defend any specific faction or political party. Until the very end, we helped in maintaining the security and territorial integrity of Syria," Baghaei told a weekly briefing.

In late November, armed opposition groups launched a large-scale offensive against Syrian army positions. On December 8, they entered Damascus. President Bashar al-Assad resigned and left the country. On December 10, Mohammed al-Bashir, who led the so-called Salvation Government in Idlib province, announced his appointment as interim prime minister. The transitional period will last until March 1, 2025.

The commander of Iran's military advisory corps in Syria, IRGC Major-General Kioumars Pourhashemi, was killed in an attack by the militias that took control of Syria in late November.

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Iran Syrian conflict

Europe wants to arm itself but doesn't know where to look for funds — newspaper

The daily believes that the money can be raised by redistributing the existing state budget: cutting social spending, borrowing more in violation of the current fiscal rules, or misusing the existing funds. In reality, however, all of these "options have certain pitfalls"

BRICS countries actively put forward ideas on Ukrainian settlement — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov pointed out that the influence of the global majority on events in the world goes beyond the Ukrainian conflict

BRICS to review Syria’s membership application if new authorities confirm it — diplomat

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov noted that the association does not "pressure anyone towards anything," treating any choice with respect

Ukrainian army forced to switch to defensive, tap reserves — Russian defense chief

"The staffing level of its frontline units does not exceed 45-50%," Andrey Belousov said

Germany’s Chancellor Scholz asks President Steinmeier to dissolve Bundestag — DPA

Support for the current head of the Cabinet was expressed by 207 members of the Bundestag out of the 717 present, while 116 abstained

Russian troops liberate Yelizavetovka community in Donbass area over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 500 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy howitzers in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported

Kiev rejects Minsk’s initiative for Belarus to take part in peace talks

On Monday, Belarusian Deputy Foreign Minister Yury Ambrazevich said that Minsk was eager to take part in future peace talks on Ukraine, and final agreements should take Belarus’ interests into account

Next year unlikely to be easy, Russia hopes for victory — Medvedev

Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said it at the 22nd United Russia party congress.

West seeks to open 'second front' against Russia in Central Asia — Russian diplomat

According to Mikhail Galuzin, this policy from the West is marked by "attempts to get Central Asian nations join sanctions and isolate Russia once and for all," and "restore their military and intelligence presence in the region"

Rutube sees prospects in BRICS countries — Gazprom Media

Rutube has already evolved into an international platform, Alexander Zharov emphasized

EU won’t talk to Damascus unless Russian bases scrapped — Kallas

The EU High Representative for foreign affairs promised to convey this viewpoint to the new Syrian authorities during upcoming diplomatic meetings

New authorities in Syria to avoid escalating tensions with Russia — expert

Vitaly Naumkin underscored that the new Syrian authorities are not "friends of the collective West, or the United States or Israel"

Russian Armed Forces to receive advanced systems, including those using AI — Putin

According to the Russian leader, these include reconnaissance and attack vehicles, unmanned boats, and multipurpose robotic platforms

Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

Fall of Damascus and hopes for free Syria: Assad makes first statement after stepping down

Bashar Assad insists that he remained in Damascus until the early hours of December 8 and did not leave the country until late on that day

China firm in its objective position on Ukraine — Chinese MFA

According to Wang Yi, Beijing have always actively promoted peace talks

Putin orders Russian forces pullout from Syria

Russia is ready to deal a new blow to terrorists if they again try to break peace in Syria, the president said

Explosive device at site of Kirillov's death triggered remotely

The power of the explosion amounted to about 300 grams in TNT equivalent

Too soon to discuss deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine — Kremlin spokesman

According to Dmitry Peskov, talks on Ukraine could resume based on the Istanbul accords

List of BRICS partner states to be published in coming two weeks — Russian diplomat

After that, Brazil will take over the BRICS chairmanship in 2025

Russia to continue its military operation, as West only offers fake peace plans — UN envoy

The permanent representative added that Russia would respond to actions taken by the Ukrainian authorities appropriately

Trump blasts Biden’s permission to use US weapons for strikes inside Russia as 'stupid'

The US President-elect said that nobody asked him to weigh in on the decision

Bomb that killed senior Russian general had capacity of 300 grams in TNT equivalent

Bomb experts and detector dog handlers have inspected the surrounding area

Strategic Missile Forces’ mobile group’s missile systems fully modernized — commander

The planned rearmament of the Strategic Missile Forces' military compounds and units has led to an 88% share of modern missile weapons, Colonel General Sergey Karakayev, the commander of the Russian Armed Forces’ branch said

Trump once again refuses to say if he spoke with Putin after elections

On December 11, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow is ready for contacts with Washington on the Ukrainian settlement

Houthis say they attacked target NEAR Tel Aviv with hypersonic missile

The Israel Defense Forces said earlier in the day that sirens sounded in a number of areas in the central part of the country following missile launches from Yemen

Ukrainian troops often get surrounded in Kurakhovo area — report

On December 15, the Ukrainian General Staff described the Kurakhovo area as one of the hottest spots in the entire battlefield

West should not link support for Syria with Russian bases — Turkey's ruling party

Spokesman Omer Celik added that it was the kind of stance that other countries eager to help Syria rebuild itself should demonstrate

Syria’s new leader seeks to 'gain voice' in UN Security Council

Ahmad al-Sharaa didn’t say exactly what role the new Syrian government sees for itself in the UNSC

Conditions for Ukrainian forces in Kursk Region continue to deteriorate — The Economist

Every Ukrainian unit in Kursk has switched to defense, the magazine said

Putin highlights need for more innovation in defense sector

The President specifically highlighted information exchanges between the units directly involved in Russia’s special military operation and defense companies

Seoul Korea slaps more sanctions on Russia, North Korea

The sanctions affected two North Korean generals as well as several entrepreneurs and their businesses in the DPRK

Special op's 'pivotal' year, nuclear deterrence: what Putin said at Defense Ministry

The Russian president stressed that the military and political situation in the world remains "uneasy and unstable"

AfG leader says supplying Kiev with Taurus to turn FRG into target in case of nuclear war

"The historical experience of the 20th century should be a warning that Germany and Europe should never again get involved in a war," Alice Weidel said

West turns Ukraine into impoverished, war-torn country — politician

Ukraine is a clear example of such actions of the West, Viktor Medvedchuk noted

Court sentences Jehovah’s Witness to five years behind bars for funding organization

During the searches, foreign passports, electronic devices, flash drives, hard disks, laptops and other material evidence relevant to the preliminary investigation were seized

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

It is planned to launch it in general circulation in early 2025

Iranian supreme leader threatens Israel with destruction for incursion into Syria

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stressed that "Israel has invaded Syria to surround and destroy the Hezbollah forces"

Russia’s Medvedev threatens punishment over attack on senior general Kirillov

The politician condemned the attack by what he called the collapsing Kiev regime

Drafting 14-year-olds won't help Kiev, Putin asserts

The Russian leader said that he has no doubt that the draft age in Ukraine will ultimately be lowered

UNSC meeting on Western weapons supplies to Ukraine to be held on December 20

It is requested by the West

Putin congratulates large Russian companies on good results

Therefore, he continued, all of Russia is interested in the success of local companies

Trump announces ‘a little progress’ in efforts to settle Ukraine conflict

He didn’t elaborate

Execution of civilians in Selidovo a display of genocide — Human Rights Commissioner

Tatiana Moskalkova noted that, earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "military justice must document the evidence of war crimes and take all possible measures to bring the perpetrators to court"

ZNPP says plant safe thanks to activities of Russia’s nuclear protection troops

"Specialists of Russia's Armed Forces ensure radiation safety measures at the Zaporozhye NPP and conduct round-the-clock monitoring of the territory, so their professionalism guarantees that the safety of the ZNPP is maintained at a high level," the statement reads

Russia’s nuclear defense chief Kirillov spent years exposing Anglo-Saxon crimes — diplomat

Maria Zakharova highlighted NATO-led chemical weapons in Syria, British manipulation of prohibited chemicals, incidents in Salisbury and Amesbury, and the deadly activities of US biolabs in Ukraine among the crimes Igor Kirillov exposed

West continues to try to rule the world — Putin

According to the Russian leader, Washington and its allies "continue imposing on the world their so-called rules, which they change time and again as it suits them"

Nearly 100% of wounded Russian troops good for service after treatment — defense chief

"This is one of the best indicators in the world," Andrey Belousov stressed

FACTBOX: EU’s 15th package of sanctions against Russia

The EU Council also imposed separate restrictions on 52 tankers from third countries carrying Russian oil, despite the so-called "price caps" that the G7 tried to introduce

At least 7 people injured in Israeli shelling of Syria’s Tartus province — report

One residential building burned down and some infrastructure was crippled

South Korean president rejects insurrection charges — agency

The president’s lawyers could not say if he will appear for questioning by prosecutors on December 21

New regions may join Russia, Medvedev says

"This is quite possible," Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman said

Nicaragua offers Russia to build new canal together — special envoy

The construction of a new Carribean port is already underway, Laureano Ortega Murillo said

Russia to display battle-tested Supercam drone at Vietnam show

The fixed-wing drone with protected communication channels and high jam-resistance confirmed effectiveness in Syria and Ukraine

Russia, Ukraine negotiating 'big exchange' of prisoners of war — human rights commissioner

According to Tatyana Moskalkova, the human rights commissioners of the two countries are trying to accommodate the prisoners of war in every way possible, including by making sure that letters written by the POWs reach their families

Electoral College to hold voting to elect US president

Authorities in all states and the capital have already verified the results of the November 5 election, which saw Republican Donald Trump garner the support of 312 electors

Iran never had imperial aims in Syria, but defended it from terrorists — Foreign Ministry

"Until the very end, we helped in maintaining the security and territorial integrity of Syria," Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said

Trump says Zelensky should be ready to agree to end Ukraine conflict

Trump said Moscow should be the other side of the deal

US strikes Houthi government's Defense Ministry building — TV channel

The large-scale attack hit the movement's military facilities

Erdogan maintained dialogue with Putin from first moments Syrian crisis — ruling party

The spokesman for Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party noted that Ankara will continue consultations on the Syrian issue with all countries in the region

FACTBOX: Key details about the attack on Russia’s nuclear defense chief in Moscow

Senior officials from the Russian Interior Ministry’s Moscow department have arrived, along with investigators, medical personnel, and emergency services

EU Council adopts 15th package of sanctions against Russia — statement

The EU Council also extended the deadlines for sale of assets and divestments by European companies from Russia

At least four people killed in US school shooting, police say

CNN reported that the police declined to say whether the victims were teachers or students

Press review: EU imposes new anti-Russian sanctions and Russia braces for NATO conflict

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 17th

Vega missions to Venus mark triumph of space science — Roscosmos

Vega 1 spacecraft and its twin Vega 2 were launched on December 15 and 21, 1984, respectively

Loss of Krasnoarmeysk to mark 'largest setback' for Ukraine in months — TV channel

Krasnoarmeysk is a key logistical hub for the Ukrainian group in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Some 700 Ukrainian troops trapped near Kurakhovo, Russian official reveals

According to the Russian official, the remaining Ukrainian troops in Kurakhovo itself can find themselves trapped, and very soon, too

EU’s blacklist for Russia expands to 2,386 entries

The 15th package of anti-Russian sanctions also includes businessmen, officials, and companies from China, Iran, North Korea, Serbia, Georgia, the United Arab Emirates, and several other countries

Top Ukrainian diplomat rejects Christmas Day truce at EU meeting in Brussels

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that "warlike rhetoric" prevailed during the meeting, with "desperate attempts" being made to "give an impetus" to continue the armed conflict in Ukraine

IN BRIEF: Russian defense minister speaks out on confrontation with West, Ukrainian losses

According to the minister, Ukrainian losses exceeded 560,000 servicemen killed and wounded in 2024

BRICS ready to explain to Trump it doesn’t seek to undercut dollar — Russian diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov also commented on Donald Trump's threat by saying that Russia is used to the situation when the US, regardless of whose party’s representative sits in the White House, "uses nothing but threats"

Massacre staged by retreating Ukrainian troops in Selidovo — report

According to Maxim Grigoryev, videos of interviews with witnesses and preliminary forensic examination of the bodies indicate that most of the victims are elderly women

Ukraine largely loses ability to produce weapons, ammunition — defense chief

Andrey Belousov added that this year, more than 58,000 pieces of various enemy weapons and equipment have been destroyed in the special military operation zone

Hungary vetoes 6.5 bln euro in EU military funding for Ukraine — Szijjarto

This is not the first time that Hungary has blocked the allocation of funds from the European Peace Facility that are meant to fund arms supplies to Ukraine

Russian troops advance toward Storozhevoye village in Donbass region — official

On December 13, the Russian Defense Ministry reported the liberation of the village of Blagodatnoye in the DPR

Use of several Oreshnik missiles comparable to nuclear weapons — Putin

It is reported that the Oreshnik system, which has already proven itself well, is very powerful

Ukrainian forces have no chance to stop Russian offensive on Kurakhovo — Polish general

According to Waldemar Skrzypczak, "it is clear that the Russians have the potential to break through the Ukrainian defenses in several areas simultaneously"

Investigators open criminal case into Moscow blast that kills two

Investigators and criminalists are currently working at the scene

Normalization in Syria can be achieved via inclusive intra-Syrian dialogue — ministry

Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that that Muslims and Christians have been living side by side in Syria for centuries

Russia-China relations unaffected by external forces — Chinese MFA

Wang Yi stated that relations are grounded in the principles of non-affiliation to blocs

Russian stock market closed with leading indices down

The MOEX index fell by 2.61% to 2,420.3 points, while the RTS index fell by 2.12% to 740.87 points

Ukraine’s judiciary 'paralyzed' as Supreme, Constitutional courts face repression — Putin

The Russian president noted that "the Supreme Court’s powers include the annulment of illegitimate presidential decisions"

Assad says he did not consider resignation, evacuation at any point during recent events

"As terrorist forces infiltrated Damascus, I moved to Latakia in coordination with our Russian allies to oversee combat operations," Bashar Assad stressed

Captured Ukrainian soldier tells about orders to shoot civilians in Russia’s Kursk Region

Artur Plombirus was conscripted from prison, where he was serving a sentence under Article 186 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code (robbery)

Survival rate of wounded in Russian army up significantly — defense minister

Andrey Belousov thanked all medical workers who were saving soldiers’ lives on the frontline and in district and central military-medical and civilian hospitals

Ukraine's losses, compensations to residents: situation in Russia's Kursk Region

Over the period of fighting in the Kursk frontline area, the Ukrainian army has lost over 41,400 troops, 242 tanks, 182 infantry fighting vehicles, 126 armored personnel carriers and 1,276 armored combat vehicles

Press review: South Korean president impeached as Ukraine turns to foreign mercenaries

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, December 16th

Russia, China will support each other amid global changes, top Chinese diplomat says

Wang Yi said that countries will maintain a high level of strategic planning

Lessons learned in military op should be integrated into training of new troops — Putin

The Russian leader stressed that the special military operation "should be taken into account while outlining priorities for the development of domestic weapons and hardware, as well as the tactics of their use"

Putin backs Orban’s peace initiatives rejected by Zelensky, Kremlin says

Commenting on reports that Viktor Orban’s proposals were endorsed by the team of US President-elect Donald Trump, Dmitry Peskov noted that at present, another president is in charge in the US

Russian forces clear some seven hectares of forest near Kremennaya of Ukrainian troops

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov announced on Monday that 99.3% of the LPR territory had been liberated

Rosatom gets Akkuyu project back on track after delivery failures by Siemens — CEO

The turbine that the Siemens company was supposed to deliver, was produced in Europe, Alexey Likhachev said

Special military operation in Syria does not affect BRICS plans, senior diplomat says

According to Sergey Ryabkov, the situation in Syria "mobilizes and consolidates the organization’s will"

Foreign organizations conclude 27 agreements with Russian firms at Eastern Economic Forum

According to the Roscongress Foundation, "the sheer scale of the agreements concluded at EEF 2024 - over 5.5 trillion rubles"

Russia calls Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights unacceptable — MFA

"Israel must return to the full compliance with the well-known 1974 agreement with Syria," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stressed

US plans for medium-range high accuracy weapons cause concern — Putin

The Russian leader noted that "the relocation and deployment of these missile systems in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region is already being practiced"

Serial production of Oreshnik missiles to begin shortly — Putin

The head of state recalled that Russia’s newest powerful weapon "was successfully used in November in response to the strikes on our country’s territory"

Trump will never provide US security guarantees to Ukraine — The New York Times

It is reported that the US military will shift its priorities to the Asia Pacific Region in order to counter the growing influence of China under the Trump Administration

No place out of Russia’s ICBMs’ reach — Strategic Missile Forces commander

Colonel General Sergey Karakayev, the commander of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces also announced that missile launches at maximum range are planned as part of state flight tests of advanced missile systems

Senior Russian general, his aide killed in Moscow blast — investigators

According to Svetlana Petrenko, the Committee’s Moscow department has launched a criminal probe into the attack

Patriarch Kirill, Russian UN envoy avoid EU sanctions thanks to Hungary

According to the top Hungarian diplomat, the proposals put forward in connection with this package were nothing short of "insane"