DefenceTalkThe Russian military said its warplanes suspended all sorties over Syria on Saturday in line with a ceasefire deal brokered by Russia and the United States, to avoid any “bombing mistakes”. The Russian and American militaries also exchanged maps of Syria, while fighting stopped in 34 Syrian settlements, the military said. “Russia’s air force fully […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-halts-all-syria-bombing-sorties-to-avoid-mistakes-66877/

DefenceTalkIntense Russian air strikes battered rebel bastions across Syria on Friday, a monitor said, just hours before a midnight deadline for a landmark ceasefire in the country’s five-year civil war. With the ceasefire due to take effect at 2200 GMT on Friday, US President Barack Obama has warned Damascus and key ally Moscow that the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-strikes-batter-rebels-ahead-of-syria-ceasefire-deadline-66859/

DefenceTalkThe Pentagon has asked Russia to stay away from parts of northern Syria to protect U.S. Special Operations Forces there, according to military officials. The acknowledgment shows a level of cooperation with Russia despite the Pentagon’s repeated insistence that it is not coordinating with Moscow. Both have been managing air campaigns over Syria for months. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-asks-russia-to-avoid-parts-of-syria-to-protect-us-forces-66802/

DefenceTalkRussia on Tuesday denied bombing hospitals in northern Syria, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling such accusations “unsubstantiated.” “Once again, we categorically reject and do not accept such statements,” he said when asked whether Russian planes bombed hospitals in Syria, including one supported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF). “Especially since every time, those who make […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-denies-air-strikes-on-syria-hospitals-66773/

DefenceTalkRussia’s defence ministry on Thursday accused the United States of bombing the Syrian city of Aleppo after the Pentagon said Moscow’s air strikes had destroyed two hospitals in the city. Moscow furiously denied the US claim, charging in return that Washington had sent ground-attack planes to bombard Aleppo, an allegation the US said was a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-claims-us-planes-bombed-syrias-aleppo-66706/

DefenceTalkRussia on Thursday accused Turkey of actively preparing to invade Syria, saying it had spotted troops and military equipment on the border with the war-torn country. “We have serious grounds to suspect Turkey is in intensive preparations for an armed invasion of the territory of a sovereign state — the Syrian Arab Republic,” the defence […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-accuses-turkey-of-preparing-to-invade-syria-66666/

DefenceTalkTurkey is trying to conceal its illegal military activity on the border with Syria and has canceled an agreed Russian observation flight over its territory because of that, Russia’s Defense Ministry said. “Such steps carried out by a country, which is a NATO member state, in no way contribute to the strengthening of trust and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkey-conceal-illegal-military-activity-on-syrian-russian-military-66664/

DefenceTalkBowing to US demands, the Dutch government announced Friday it will take part in US-led air strikes in Syria against the Islamic State group, extending its current air support mission over Iraq. “In order to make the fight against ISIS in Iraq more efficient, it has been decided to carry out air strikes against ISIS […]https://www.defencetalk.com/netherlands-to-join-us-led-air-strikes-in-syria-66636/

DefenceTalkFrance said Sunday its stretched military would pull out of the troubled Central African Republic as it fights on multiple foreign fronts and is increasingly called on for anti-terror operations at home. Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told French media on Sunday that the government was aiming to wind down Operation Sangaris, the military operation […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-wants-to-end-central-african-military-operation-this-year-66625/

DefenceTalkThe United States has not decided whether to launch military action in Libya, where the Islamic State group is exploiting political instability to expand its operations, Pentagon chief Ashton Carter said Thursday. Washington is “developing options for what we might do in the future,” Carter told reporters. But he added: “We’re watching the situation very […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-no-plans-attack-isis-forces-libya-pentagon-66605/