Syrian Opposition Waiting For UN Response Before Decision On Talks
A Saudi-backed Syrian opposition council is waiting for a response from the United Nations on key issues regarding the implementation of steps outlined in a UN Security Council resolution before deciding whether it will attend talks.
The issues include the lifting of sieges and a release of arbitrarily detained people.
Iran Admits Training Volunteer 'Advisers' To 'Guard Shrines' In Syria
General Mohsen Kazemeini, a senior commander in Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has said that Iran is training "advisers" to serve alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
Iran feels an "obligation" to send "military advisers" to Syria to protect Shi'ite shrines, Kazemeini said in comments published on an official IRGC website today, according to AP.
Iran has denied that it has sent combat troops to Syria.
Independent Syrian Dissident Jihad Makdissi Says He Won't Attend Peace Talks
Independent Syrian dissident Jihad Makdissi has said in a post on his Facebook account that he has received an invitation to the Syria peace talks in Geneva but will not attend the first round.
Makdissi posted an open letter to UN Syria Envoy Staffan de Mistura thanking him for the invitation but saying that he will not be attending.
He wrote that the "process of the formation of the Syrian opposition delegations has been marred by problems between various Syrian opposition groups as well as bickering at the level of the countries involved in the Syrian crisis, which eventually led to the rapid formation of delegations that are not in harmony."
Makdissi, a member of Syria's Christian minority, was the Foreign Ministry spokesman for the Syrian government from 1998 until 2013 when he defected to one Dubai.
Bomb Causes Damage, No Casualties In Syria's Homs
Syrian state news agency SANA has more on the earlier reports that a bomb had gone off this morning in the city of Homs.
SANA reports that the bomb near the Um al-Banin school in the al-Hamra neighborhood caused material damage but no casualties.
This morning's explosion followed two suicide bombing attacks in Homs on Jan. 26 that left 24 people killed and over 100 injured, according to SANA.
FSB In Krasnodar Krai Seeking North Caucasians Suspected Of Helping IS
The Federal Security Service (FSB) in Russia's Krasnodar Krai are seeking a group of individuals from the North Caucasus suspected of helping people join the IS group in Syria, according to Russian media reports.
The number of suspects has not been disclosed, nor has the specific North Caucasian republics the suspects are from.
The FSB's press service said in a statement that the wanted individuals are suspected of providing information to help others travel to IS-controlled territory in Syria.
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Germany Says Growing Number Of Militants Heading to Syria, Iraq: AP
Germany's domestic intelligence agency has said that the number of extremists traveling to Syria and Iraq is continuing to grow.
Agency head Hans-Georg Maassen said that the latest evidence shows that 790 people have traveled from Germany to join militant groups in the Middle East, an increase of 40 people since October.
Russian deputy FM discusses Syria with U.S. ambassador: TASS
TASS reports that Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, has spoke with U.S. Ambassador to Moscow John Tefft about finding a political settlement to the Syria crisis.
Syria peace talks are set to begin in Geneva on Jan. 29, though there is doubt as to who will actually attend.
British Teacher Struck Off For Plans To Commit Terror With IS
A British chemistry teacher found guilty of plotting to commit mass murder with the IS group in Syria has been banned from teaching for life.
Jamshed Javeed, 31, from the northern town of Bolton, was one of a group of men who became radicalized and wanted to join IS. Javeed quit his teaching job but was stopped from traveling by his wife, who hid his passport.
Javeed was jailed for six years last March.
Syrian Opposition Sets New Preconditions For Syria Talks: AP
The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition has said that it will only attend the upcoming Syria peace talks in Geneva if sieges in the country are lifted and other conditions are met, AP reports.
In a statement released at the end of daylong meetings in Saudi Arabia late Tuesday, the Higher Negotiating Committee referred to the "necessity of realizing genuine improvements on the ground before starting in the negotiating process."
The group said that it is waiting for a reply from the United Nations regarding its preconditions.
Kurdish PYD Not Invited To Geneva 'To Keep Turkey At Talks': Today's Zaman
Turkish daily Today's Zaman opines that the Syrian Kurdish PYD has not been invited to the Syria peace talks in Geneva in order to avoid a Turkish boycott of the talks.