Obama Thanks Australia For 'Steadfast' Alliance In Fight Against IS
U.S. President Barack Obama has thanked Australia for its "steadfast" alliance and key contributions in the fight against the IS group, as he we welcomed Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the White House for the new leader's first visit to Washington, AP reports.
Lavrov, Kerry To Meet In Zurich Tomorrow To Discuss Syria
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is set to meet U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Zurich on January 20 to discuss Syria.
According to Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, the meeting could be another step that will help the Syrian peace talks go ahead as planned on January 25.
"Yesterday, [UN envoy to Syria] Staffan de Mistura made it clear, as did other UN Security Council members who are taking part in the talks, they made it clear that in this regard many are waiting for the meeting in Zurich between Sergei Lavrov and John Kerry. It is hoped that this Russo-American meeting at the political level will be another step that will allow the implementation of that plan starting with the talks on January 25," Churkin told the Rossiya 24 TV channel.
Tomorrow's meeting between Lavrov and Kerry was announced by Russia on January 14.
Syrian Government Forces Using Motorbikes In Fight Against Rebels
As well as relying on Russian air strikes, Syrian government forces adapted a tactic used by their allies in Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and by rebel forces to help them recapture the rebel stronghold of Salma in Latakia province last week -- motorbikes.
AFP cites Syrian army soldiers as saying motorbikes had been key to the retaking of Salma because bikes are faster, more agile, harder to track and are too light to set off landmines.
Canada Not Invited To Anti-IS Coalition Meeting
AP reports that Canada has been excluded from a meeting of defense ministers in Paris to discuss the fight against the IS group.
Ministers from the Netherlands, France, Australia, Germany, Italy and the UK will take part in the talks. Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has said that he will remove Canada's six fighter jets from the U.S.-led coalition.
Russia's Defense Ministry has shared this video of a Russian Su-24M jet carrying out an air strike against "terrorist targets" in Syria.
The text accompanying the video says that the jet takes off from the Hmeymim air base in Latakia province but does not say where the air strike took place or which group was targeted.
A second video purports to show an air strike destroying "terrorist" armored vehicles in Syria, though again no location is given.
IS Imposing Stricter Conditions In Raqqa, Activist Says
The IS group is imposing even stricter conditions inside its Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, Hani a-Rawi of the pro-opposition activist group Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently has told Syria Direct.
A-Rawi said that civilians in Raqqa are facing "persistent violations," that travel from the city has been banned, including for people who are sick, and there has been an increase in execution-style killings and stonings.
IS Militant's Sister Says She Doesn't Know Why He 'Changed,' Joined IS
The sister of Siddhartha Dhar, a British man who left the UK to join the IS group in Syria, has said that she does not know why her brother "changed" and joined the IS group.
Dhar is believed to be the masked IS militant who appeared in IS's recent killing video released earlier this month.
Dhar's transformation into an IS militant was "tragic," Konika Dhar said.
Kurdish YPG To Try Fighters Accused Of Damaging Property In Syrian Village
The Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) says it has arrested and intends to prosecute four of its fighters who are accused of damaging property in a Syrian village recaptured from IS militants.
Amnesty International accused YPG fighters of committing abuses in Arab villages retaken from IS in northern Syria.
Riyadh Says Its Up To Syria Who Represents It At Peace Talks
Saudi Arabia has said that no one should dictate to the Syrian opposition who represents them at peace talks.
The UN Security Council said yesterday that it will not issue invitations for a proposed January 25 meeting until major powers reached agreement over which rebel groups should attend.
Russia Parachuted Over 40 Tons Of Aid To Besieged Syrian Areas: Defense Ministry
Russia has parachuted over 40 tons of humanitarian aid to areas in Syria blockaded by "terrorists," Defense Ministry official Igor Konashenkov has said.
The aid included dry rations and other non-perishable foodstuffs provided by the Syrian government, according to Konashenkov.
Konashenkov said that the aid was brought to the Hmeymim air base in Latakia and loaded onto P-7 heavy-drop platforms before being transported by the Syrian air force. The aid was delivered to Deir al-Zor, which is blockaded by the IS group, he said.