Syrian government delegation presents demands to de Mistura
The Syrian government's delegation to the peace talks in Geneva has presented a "three point demand" to UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, Syrian state news agency SANA reports.
According to SANA one of the demands was that the Saudi-backed opposition delegation issue a "clear statement of condemnation" against suicide attacks that took place near the Sayyida Zeinab shrine in Damascus on Feb. 1 in which 71 people died. The attack was claimed by the IS group.
The government delegation also said that it wanted a list of the opposition figures who would be included in the opposition delegation at the indirect talks.
U.S.-led coalition aims to recapture IS-held Mosul this year
The U.S.-led coalition against the IS group aims to recapture the IS stronghold of Mosul in Iraq this year, and to drive the militants out of their Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, Reuters reports, citing Arab and Western officials.
“The plan is to hit them in Raqqa in Syria and in Iraq at Mosul, to crush their capitals,” said an Iraqi official with knowledge of the strategy. “I think there is some speed and urgency by the coalition, by the U.S. administration and by us to end this year with the regaining of control over all territory.”
IS has lost territory in Iraq, having been driven out of Sinjar and Tikrit in the north as well as the oil refinery town of Baiji in central Iraq -- where the group suffered heavy losses.
More recently, IS has been driven out of Ramadi in western Iraq.
IS has also lost territory in Syria to the U.S.-allied Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) including in Kobani and Tel Abyad.
IS claims 85 suicide ops in Iraq, Syria in January
U.S. air strikes hit IS radio station in Afghanistan: BBC
U.S. air strikes have hit and destroyed a radio station used by the IS group in eastern Afghanistan, U.S. and Afghan officials say, according to the BBC.
The drone strikes hit the IS-operated "Voice of the Caliphate" FM radio station on Feb. 1 in Nangarhar's remote Achin district.
No, Syria talks haven't properly begun, government says
The Syrian government has rejected reports that the Syrian peace talks have properly begun, AFP reports. Instead, the head of the Syrian government delegation, Bashar al-Jaafari, said that the negotiations were in a "preparatory phase" and the opposition was "not serious."
"We still don't know who the opposition delegation is," al-Jaafari told reporters after a meeting with UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura.
U.S. to increase anti-IS funds by 50 percent: Pentagon
AFP has reported the breaking news that the United States is to increase funding for the campaign against the IS group by 50 percent, to $7.5 billion.
International community needs to intervene to stop Russian bombings:HNC
The main Syrian opposition delegation to the Syria peace talks in Geneva has said that the international community needs to intervene to stop Russian air strikes in Syria.
Russia's air strikes have helped the Syrian government make gains against rebels in various parts of Syria, although Russia has said that it is targeting the IS group and Al-Qaeda. Opposition groups say that the Russian strikes have caused high civilian casualties.
In case you missed it yesterday, here is the full briefing by Operation Inherent Resolve (the U.S.-led campaign against IS) Commanding General Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland on the anti-IS operations in Syria and Iraq.