Russia Calls for Talks with U.S. on Syria

Russia has proposed talks with the U.S. over its recent military buildup in Syria, according to U.S. secretary of state John Kerry, who said the two sides need to “avoid misunderstandings.”

Kerry said Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov suggested “military-to-military” talks between the two countries, reports the New York Times. In recent weeks, Moscow has shipped in hundreds of soldiers it says are “military advisers” to support Syrian president Bashar al-Assad’s government as fighting spreads in Damascus and coastal areas that are traditionally Assad strongholds.

Israel, America’s closest ally in the region, has also stated concerns about Russia’s military measures in Syria. Hard-lineprime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Moscow next week to voice concerns about the possibility of Hezbollah receiving Russian arms and support in Syria.

ISIS Destroying, Looting Syrian Antiquities ‘on Industrial Scale’

ISIS is reaping profit from the looting and destruction of Syrian antiquities and historical sites “on an industrial scale,” Irina Bokova, head of UNESCO, said on Wednesday.

“Limiting the trafficking in cultural property is a top priority because it finances the actions of the extremists,” she said during a conference, reports the Guardian. “The world expects … us to undertake decisive and uncompromising actions … to stop this source of funding for the extremists.”

The Association for the Protection of Syrian Archaeology estimates that more than 900 monuments or archaeological sites “have been looted, damaged or destroyed” throughout the civil war, adds the Guardian.

‘Only 4 or 5’ U.S.-Trained Rebels Still Fighting ISIS

A mere four or five Syrian rebels trained by the U.S. are still battling ISIS in Syria, the U.S. Central Command told senators on Wednesday.

Despite the U.S. government’s investment of $500 million in the program, General Lloyd J. Austin told the lawmakers during a hearing that the goal of training 5,000 rebels to take on the militant group would not be completed “anytime soon,” reports the New York Times.

Senator John McCain, a Republican and former presidential candidate, said the U.S. should be setting up a “no-fly zone” in Syria in order to protect civilians from government airstrikes, as well.

Photo: Associated Press/Bebeto Matthews

Recommended Reads

• The New York Times: Netanyahu to Visit Moscow Over Concerns about Russian Moves in Syria
• Al Jazeera English: Syria’s Druze Reject Calls for Anti-Government Uprising
• The New York Times: Assad Calls on Syrian Rebels to Join Him in Fight Against ISIS
• Vocativ: Kurds Mock Men for Fleeing Conflict While Women Stay and Fight