Russian diplomat warns US seeks regime change in Syria

Russia is concerned by U.S. plans "to stay behind" in Syria, as this proves Washington will not give up the idea of supplanting the government in Damascus, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday.

Macron says Assad’s removal no longer priority in solving Syrian crisis

The removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is no longer a priority in finding a solution to the Syrian crisis, as it is necessary to focus on the fight against terrorism, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with a number of European newspapers.

Turkey complains of a lack of international coalition aerial support in Syria

Turkey complained on Monday about an alleged lack of air support from the international coalition in its operation against the Islamic State, which has been concentrated for several weeks in the Syrian city of al-Bab.

Kremlin asks Erdogan to clarify ‘anti-Assad’ goals in Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement that his goal in Syria was to end the rule of Bashar Assad has caused consternation in the Kremlin, with officials saying it contradicted previous assurances and was out of sync with Moscow’s take on the situation.

ISIS expels Syria regime forces from Raqqa province. Kerry: Cable urging Syria strikes ‘very good’

ISIS expelled Syrian regime troops Monday from the northern province of Raqqa in a lightning counter-offensive that killed 40 regime forces, a monitoring group said.

Russian Foreign Ministry: Complete withdrawal of Russian air force from Syria out of question

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that a complete withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria is completely out of question, stressing the continued targeting of terrorist organizations such as ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra.

Opposition says Assad must bear responsibility for Syrian situation

Syrian President Bashar Assad must bear responsibility for the current situation in the country, the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces' vice-president Mouaffaq Nyrabia told TASS on Wednesday.

Putin orders withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the defence ministry to begin the withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria.

Syrian opposition to respect provisional ceasefire

Syria's main opposition grouping has said it would respect a provisional ceasefire in the country "for two weeks".

Progress reached on Syria, meeting to be held in 15 days — (Fabius)

The participants of the Vienna meeting on Syria have reached progress on some issues, but there is no complete accord between them; the next meeting will take place in 15 days and the participants of talks will be the same, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Friday after discussions that lasted some eight hours.

‘No common position’ on Assad after meeting

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on Friday after attending a meeting in Vienna on Syria that he and his fellow participants had not reached consensus on the political fate of President Bashar al-Assad, Russian news agencies reported.

Assad meets Putin in ‘first foreign visit since 2011’. White House slams Russia 'red carpet' treatment for Syria's Assad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad flew into Moscow on Tuesday for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during which the two men discussed their joint military campaign against Islamist militants in Syria, a Kremlin spokesman said.

Russia confirms first airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria

Russia said it launched air strikes against Islamic State group in Syria on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin secured his parliament’s unanimous backing to intervene to prop up the Kremlin’s closest Middle East ally.