DUBAI: Syrian air defenses shot down on Friday two drones in the west of Damascus, state media reported, citing a military source as saying the drones came from the direction of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to the west of the capital.
The Israeli military has said it does not comment on reports in foreign media.
Syrian state media reported earlier that the air defenses were responding to “hostile targets” in the vicinity of Damascus.
Since December, Israeli strikes have killed more than half a dozen Revolutionary Guards, including a top intelligence general.
Separately, the US military launched airstrikes earlier this month in Syria and Iraq against more than 85 targets linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and the militias it backs, in retaliation for an attack in Jordan in January that killed three US troops.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have suffered one of their most bruising spells in Syria since arriving a decade ago to aid President Bashar Assad in the Syrian war, as the United States and Israel conduct strikes against Iran-backed militias in the country.
Informed sources told Reuters that the Guards had pulled out some of their senior officers as a result. Iran’s ambassador to Syria said on Thursday that Iran remained “present” in Syria. Iran’s foreign minister is due in Lebanon on Friday and then Damascus early next week for meetings with top officials.
Syrian air defenses respond to ‘hostile targets’ in vicinity of Damascus – state media
https://arab.news/yt634
Syrian air defenses respond to ‘hostile targets’ in vicinity of Damascus – state media
- Syrian state media reported earlier that the air defenses were responding to “hostile targets” in the vicinity of Damascus
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have suffered one of their most bruising spells in Syria since arriving a decade ago
Putin thanks UAE’s president for Ukraine mediation efforts
- Russian president meets Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, in Moscow for talks spanning international affairs and bilateral trade
- Another round of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine is due to take place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday
LONDON: Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked his counterpart from the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, on Thursday for his mediation efforts on the war in Ukraine.
As Russian and Ukrainian negotiators prepare for another round of peace talks, due to take place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, the Emirati president met the Russian leader at the Kremlin during an official visit to Moscow.
Putin “expressed his appreciation to the UAE for hosting the trilateral talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States,” the Emirates News Agency reported.
Sheikh Mohammed said he was proud to have helped mediate prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine, and the UAE was ready to “assist all constructive efforts” regarding important humanitarian matters.
The leaders also discussed the latest developments in the Middle East. Regarding the conflict between Israel and Palestine, they said there was an “urgent need to intensify efforts to achieve a clear path towards a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution.”
Other topics included ways in which bilateral cooperation might be strengthened in areas such as trade, investment, technology, space and energy.
Russia and the UAE have moved to deepen ties in recent years. They signed two key trade and economic partnership agreements last summer.
