Russia, the United States and the United Nations will hold three-way talks on the Syria crisis in Geneva on Friday (December 11), the U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said today, Reuters reports.
Russia has halted work at Turkey's first nuclear power plant, Turkish energy officials told Reuters today.
Russia's state-owned Rosatom has not terminated the contract for building the $20 billion plant, however.
The move comes amid ongoing tensions between Turkey and Russia following the downing by the Turkish air force of a Russian Su-24 jet near the Syrian border on November 24.
Russia's Defense Ministry has tweeted about the munitions used in recent strikes in Syria.
The ministry says that during a "massive strike" Russia used its Kalibr sea-based cruise missiles as well as KAB-500 bombs, laser-guided bombs used by Russia's air force.
RIA Novosti has more from today's news briefing with Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov, who told reporters that the U.S.-led coalition should "put its cards on the table" when it comes to the fight against IS.
"Right from the start of [Russia's] operation [in Syria] we repeatedly offered to the Americans to organize an exchange of available information on the location of terrorist targets in Syria. Maybe it's time for our colleagues from the so-called 'coalition' to put their cards on the table?" Konashenkov said.
It was not clear exactly what Konashenkov was responding to when he made his comments. But Russia's ally Damascus has accused the U.S.-led coalition of carrying out a December 6 air strike against a Syrian army base in Deir al-Zor. The coalition denied the allegations.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said today that only Russia is "operating legitimately in the skies above Syria."
Russia's Defense Ministry has now tweeted an image of its Kalibr cruise missiles, which it has made efforts to laud today in a news briefing about their use in a strike against targets in Syria yesterday and now on social media.
The missiles were fired from Russia's Rostov-on-Don submarine off the coast of Syria.
The Ministry said in its tweet that the missile has a range of 2,000 kilometers and is practically invisible to all air defense systems.
Russia's emphasis on the power and range of its cruise missiles comes amid a spat with Turkey after the downing of a Russian Su-24 jet near the Syrian border on November 24.
Turkey's Energy Ministry is reportedly now refuting reports that Russia has halted construction on the Akkuyu nuclear power plant amid a spat following the downing by Turkey of a Russian jet near the Syrian border last month.
The U.S.-led anti-IS coalition says it has destroyed or damaged 399 IS targets from December 1 through December 7, and has included an infographic.
While Iraqi forces make gains against IS in Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's Anbar province, civilians trapped in the city say conditions there have deteriorated as IS militants become increasingly paranoid.
IS want to use them as human shields, civilians told Reuters.
“Daesh [IS] fighters are becoming more hostile and suspicious. They prevent us from leaving houses. Everyone who goes out against orders is caught and investigated," said Abu Ahmed.
"We feel we’re living inside a sealed casket."
There are reports that Abu Mohammed al-Julani, the leader of Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate the Al-Nusra Front, is to appear in a press conference soon.
Iraqi forces have "cemented their hold on newly gained territory in Ramadi" today, AFP reports, after taking a large part of the city from IS militants yesterday.
Elite Iraqi troops backed by close air cover from the U.S.-led coalition, retook the southwestern Ramadi neighborhood of Al-Tameem yesterday.