Turkey 'Closely Watching' Russian Troop Movements Near Its Border
Turkey is "closely watching" Russian troop movements in Syria near its border, a government source in Ankara told AFP this morning.
The comment follows reports by the Britain-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that Russia has sent engineers to the Syrian town of Qamishli to strengthen a runway and increase the capacity of an airport.
Syrian Kurds Say They Must Be Represented At Peace Talks
Syrian Kurds have said that they must be represented at peace talks in Geneva or the talks will fail, Saleh Muslim, the co-chairman of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) has said.
Muslim also said that one of the opposition groups involved in the talks, the Islam Army, has the "same mentality" as Al-Qaeda and the IS group.
No Indirect Talks Before Goodwill Steps Taken: Syrian Opposition
George Sabra, the deputy head of the Syrian opposition delegation, has said that there will be no indirect peace talks with the Syrian government before Russian air strikes have been halted and government blockades on populated areas lifted.
Russian Warships In 'Soviet-Era' Display Near Syria
AP describes Russia's publicizing of its Vice Admiral Kulakov destroyed and flagship Varyag missile cruiser -- both stationed off the coast of Syria -- as a "Soviet-era display of might."
By establishing a long-term presence in the eastern Mediterranean, the Russian military has revived a Soviet-era capability to project naval power far from its borders.
Syrian government forces are claiming to have captured another four villages from rebels in Latakia province, the pro-Kremlin RIA Novosti is reporting, citing a "military source."
The villages are north of Salma, a rebel stronghold recaptured by government forces, and are named as Bayt Miru, Al-Hawr, 'Ara and Ghunaymiyah.
Syrian government forces have been making gains in Latakia province with the help of Russian air strikes.
The U.S.-led coalition against the IS group in Iraq and Syria posted a video to its Facebook account, showing the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman providing air cover to the coalition air mission.
Russia's Defense Ministry has posted these photos to its Facebook account showing Russian warships off the Syrian coast, which it says are protecting Russian warplanes in the Hmeymim air base in Syria.
Aid Airdrops To Syria's Besieged Deemed Too Dangerous
Aid airdrops to besieged communities in Syria are possible to do but too dangerous, and face "deep complications, both political and logistical," according to a report by AP.
"If we fly aircraft over Syria without the permission of the Syrian government, then there is a real danger that they will take action against them. And that is not going to help anybody," one Security Council diplomat said.
Valerie Szybala, executive director of The Syria Institute and the author of a report last year on besieged communities, was more blunt: "Anyone who enters Damascus airspace without the consent of the Syrian military and Russia runs a very real risk of being shot down."
AFP has shared this image showing Libyan workers trying to control fires in oil storage tanks in Ras Lanuf after they were attacked by the IS group yesterday.
Kerry: IS Will Be 'Seriously Dented' In 2016
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on January 21 that he believed the IS group's military capabilities in Iraq and Syria would be seriously weakened by the end of 2016.