Red line: Israel tells Putin it won’t allow Iran on Israel-Syria border

Red line: Israel tells Putin it won’t allow Iran on Israel-Syria border

Special to WorldTribune.com Israeli President Reuven Rivlin told Russian counterpart Valdimir Putin that Israel will not allow Iran and Hizbullah to operate on the Israel-Syria border. The two met in Moscow on March 16 after Putin announced Russia’s withdrawal from Syria. Rivlin laid out Israel’s “red lines” in Syria, telling Putin the presence of any […]

Syrian jihadists’ morale ‘sky high’ as Russia withdraws

Syrian jihadists’ morale ‘sky high’ as Russia withdraws

Special to WorldTribune.com Anti-Assad regime rebels, jihadists and activists received a huge morale boost with the surprise withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria. Moscow’s move is also seen by the opposition as a major blow for the Damascus regime. “Our morale is sky high. The regime will not be able to survive alone,” said Raed al-Elewi, […]

Russia reassures Israel over implications of Syria pullout

Russia reassures Israel over implications of Syria pullout

Special to WorldTribune.com After the surprise announcement of its intent to withdraw from Syria, Russia on March 15 sought to reassure Israel that the two countries’ coordination on Syria would remain intact. Israel wants assurances that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s anti-Israel allies Iran and Hizbullah would continue to be restrained after Moscow’s pullout. “We will […]

Egypt, in nod to Russia, raising airport security to highest level

Egypt, in nod to Russia, raising airport security to highest level

Special to WorldTribune.com Egypt, in an effort to bring back Russian tourists, has agreed to raise airport security to its highest level. The highest level of security checks will be put in place at airports in Cairo, Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. Russia has indicated it may resume flights to Egypt next month, “Intourist” Deputy General […]

Iran welcomes U.S. firms, rejects Russia-Saudi oil freeze plan

Iran welcomes U.S. firms, rejects Russia-Saudi oil freeze plan

Special to WorldTribune.com Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Iran has said it has no plans to freeze its oil production, in a blow to a deal reached last month between Russia and Saudi Arabia to curb falling global oil prices. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh told Iran’s Press TV on March 13 that […]

Russia claims Turkish troops are on Syrian soil

Russia claims Turkish troops are on Syrian soil

Special to WorldTribune.com Turkish troops have entered Syrian territory, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Lavrov, in comments to Ren-TV on March 13, said Moscow has evidence that Ankara has sent troops to Syria and is conducing a “creeping expansion” on the border with Syria. Related: Erdogan denies reports Turkey is secretly collaborating with […]

Payback: ISIL branch calls on Muslims to kill Russian ‘apostates’

Payback: ISIL branch calls on Muslims to kill Russian ‘apostates’

Special to WorldTribune.com A terror group based in Russia’s Northern Caucuses region has called on Muslims in the country to kill Russian “apostates.” Caucasus Province, which pledged allegiance to Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in June 2015, has also vowed to attack President Vladimir Putin and implement Sharia law […]

The Clintons, uranium and the Oregon shootout: Report addresses unasked questions

The Clintons, uranium and the Oregon shootout: Report addresses unasked questions

Special to WorldTribune.com An investigative report has posited a connection between Bill and Hillary Clinton, uranium and the recent shootout between federal agents and protesting ranchers in Oregon. The standoff between Oregon residents and the feds at the Mahleur National Wildlife Refuge, which left one protester dead, was widely-reported but the uranium-Clinton connection was overlooked […]

Following talks with Israel, Putin freezes S-300 sale to Iran

Following talks with Israel, Putin freezes S-300 sale to Iran

Special to WorldTribune.com Russia has halted Iran’s order of the S-300 surface-to-air missile system, a report said. The move was made after Russian President Vladimir Putin consulted with Israeli officials who protested the sale, according to the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida. In discussions with Putin, Israel said it feared that at least some of the S-300 […]

NATO commander: Russia ‘weaponizing’ Syrian immigrants

NATO commander: Russia ‘weaponizing’ Syrian immigrants

Special to WorldTribune.com Russia and the Assad regime are bombing civilian areas in order to create a mass exodus of refugees in what amounts to the “weaponizing” of Syrian citizens, NATO’s top general charged. “Together, Russia and the Assad regime are deliberately weaponizing migration in an attempt to overwhelm European structures and break European resolve,” […]