Russia Says It Is Continuing Its Humanitarian Ops In Syria
Amid claims by a monitoring group that Russian air strikes have killed at least 3,000 people since they began in September, Russia's Defense Ministry has said that Russia is continuing with humanitarian operations in rebel-besieged areas in Syria.
Russia air dropped 50 tons of aid into besieged Deir al-Zor on January 15 and another consignment is planned, Defense Ministry official Igor Konashenkov said.
Deir al-Zor is mostly held by the IS group, whose militants are besieging the remaining government-held areas of the city. Residents there said that they fear a "massacre" if IS overruns the entire city.
No Military Solution To Syria, Iran's Foreign Minister Says
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that there is no military solution to the Syrian conflict.
Zarif called for a diplomatic solution.
Syrian peace talks are scheduled to start next week but are under increasing doubt as both sides voice serious disagreements.
Bomb Explodes Near Russian Embassy In Kabul
A suicide bomber has carried out an attack in an area near the Russian embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul, officials say.
There are differing reports of casualties.
One person has been killed and 20 more wounded, according to the BBC. Reuters is quoting police sources as saying that at least 10 people were wounded but there are no reports of fatalities.
Some reports say the explosion was the result of a car bomb.
No group has claimed responsibility. The Taliban has launched attacks on Kabul in the past. Some analysts have suggested that the IS group's Khorasan Province could be responsible.
RFE/RL's Frud Bezhan tweets this about the explosion in Kabul, noting that the Taliban warned they would attack Afghanistan's private media networks.
Russian Strikes Target Rebels In Jabal al-Akrad, Latakia: Ministry
Russia has carried out four air strikes on rebels in the Jabal al-Akrad area of Latakia province, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman has said.
The rebels are retreating from Syrian government and "patriotic opposition" forces, the spokesman, Igor Konashenkov added.
Russian Strikes 'Strengthening Hand Of President Assad'
Reuters reports that four months of Russian air strikes in Syria are strengthening the hand of President Bashar al-Assad and taking their toll on rebel forces.
The IS group is also under pressure, cutting pay to its militants as oil smuggling operations are hit by falling prices.
The most significant gain for Assad since the start of the Russian intervention in September was last week's capture of the rebel stronghold of Salma in Latakia province.
Turkey Arrests Two More Over Deadly Istanbul Bombing
Turkey has arrested two more people suspected of having links to the suicide bomber who killed 10 German tourists and injured 15 more people in an attack in Istanbul last week, the Anadolu news agency reports.
The two suspects were arrested in Saniurfa near the border with Syria.
We are now closing the live blog down for today. Join us again tomorrow for our continuing coverage tracking Islamic State.
IS Using Syria's Biggest Dam To Hide Prisoners
IS militants are using Syria's biggest dam to hide high value prisoners and senior officials, in the belief that the United States won't bomb it for fear of causing a massive flood.
The Taqba Dam is 25 miles west of IS's stronghold of Raqqa.