Russia. U.S. military to discuss Syria ceasefire on Feb. 19: Interfax
The Russian and U.S. militaries will meet on Feb. 19 as part of a working group to discuss the implementation of a ceasefire in Syria, Interfax has reported, citing Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov.
Other countries from the International Syria Support Group will also attend the meeting, Gatilov said.
Gatilov also said that decisions on a no-fly zone over a part of northern Syria could not be made without agreement from the United Nations and the Syrian government.
Turkey's President Erdogan has made several comments on the Syrian crisis and on Russia's intervention:
Turkey won't stop shelling Syrian YPG: Erdogan
Aid trucks have begun leaving Damascus: Red Cross
A spokesman for the International Federation of the Red Cross has told the BBC that aid trucks have begun leaving Damascus, heading for a number of besieged villages and towns.
The trucks are heading to rebel-held Madaya, Zabadani and Moadamiya al-Sham near Damascus -- all besieged by the Syrian government.
Aid trucks are also traveling to the Shi'ite villages of Fua and Kefraya, which are blockaded by rebel forces including Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate the Al-Nusra Front.
Aid arrives in besieged Syrian town of Moadamiya al-Sham
The first of several convoys carrying aid to besieged areas of Syria has arrived at its destination, the BBC reports.
Thirty-five trucks have entered the town of Moadamiya al-Sham, near the Syrian capital Damascus, the Syrian Red Crescent told the BBC.
Syria humanitarian situation 'intolerable': Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Feb. 17 described the humanitarian situation in Syria as "intolerable" and reiterated her call for a no-fly zone to protect civilians, AFP reports.
"It would be helpful if there were an area in Syria where none of the parties to the conflict launched aerial attacks," Merkel told German parliament.
"We can't negotiate with the terrorists of the Islamic State, but if we were able to reach an agreement between anti- and pro-Assad forces on a kind of no-fly zone, in the sense of a sanctuary for the many refugees, then this would save many lives and aid the political process about Syria's future," she said.
Russia calls for pressure on Syrian opposition to implement agreement on humanitarian aid
Russia's Foreign Ministry has urged "anyone who has influence on the armed opposition groups in Syria to use their influence to implement the International Syria Support Group decision on humanitarian track, which needs movement from both sides of the conflict."
Moscow's call comes amid sharp international criticism over Russian and Syrian government airstrikes against hospitals and schools in northern Syria, which have cast doubt on the viability of plans for a ceasefire scheduled to start on Feb. 19.
Merkel repeats call for 'some kind of no fly zone' in northern Syria
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has repeated a call for a "kind of no fly zone" up to the Turkish border.
Merkel criticized attacks by Russia and Syrian government forces, saying they were "not in the spirit of the resolution that was passed by the UN Security Council in December."
50,000 homeless in southern Syria amid intensified fighting
Fighting between pro-government and rebel forces in southern Syria has left almost 50,000 civilians homeless in the middle of winter, the UN has said.
There has been heavy fighting in Syria's Daraa province, where the provincial capital Daraa city remains in rebel hands.