Reports by US and Iraqi officials apparently confirm Moscow's claims that Russian air strike successfully targeted ISIS leader

Back in June last year the Russian Ministry of Defence published a claim that a meeting of ISIS commanders in May, in the then besieged ISIS 'capital' of Raqqa, included no less a person than ISIS's leader - Ibrahim Abu-Bakr Al-Baghdadi - himself. The meeting was apparently called to plan the escape of ISIS's top leaders from Raqqa. Of these the most important obviously is Al-Baghdadi himself, which was presumably why he attended the meeting.

Russian intelligence apparently got wind of the meeting, and the building in Raqqa where it took place was destroyed in an air strike carried out by a Russian SU-34 fighter bomber belonging to the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The Russians subsequently claimed that Al-Baghdadi himself was killed in the air strike along with a number of other top ISIS officials.

The claim received corroboration from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, but it was refuted by US and Iraqi officials, and I myself expressed skepticism about it on the grounds that Al-Baghdadi's pivotal role in ISIS as its erstwhile "Caliph" meant his death would be expected to have a more visible effect on the organisation than appeared to be the case.

The United States and Russia are discussing steps that should be taken in order to achieve peace in Syria after the cessation of hostilities, Kathleen Kavalec, the US State Department's deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, said.

"We are also talking with Russia about the path forward, once the fighting has ended, towards peace through the Geneva process. And that is something where, it think, both Russia and the United States agree that we want to see peaceful, stable, unified Syria, and something we can work together on," Kavalec said in a video, released by the US Embassy in Russia on Tuesday.

Speaking further, Kavalec said that the US was "really" counting on Russia in the issue of preventing the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria by Damascus.

"Syria is another area where we have been talking ... to see if we can find ways to work together, to try to bring peace to Syria both in the effort to combat ISIS [Daesh, banned in Russia] and in the effort to ensure the safety of Syrian people. For instance, we have had several reports last month about the use of chemical weapons, we really count and depend on Russia to ensure that the Syrian regime stops the use of the chemical weapons," Kavalec said in a video, released by the US Embassy in Russia on Tuesday.

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman commented on Saturday's events: in response to the alleged interception and downing of an Israeli F-16 by an Iranian drone launched from Syria, the Israeli Air Force attacked targets near the Syrian Palmyra and then bombed a dozen more in the Damascus area.

"There are no restrictions, we do not accept any restrictions. We acted with determination and responded to every provocation. We will continue to defend our vital security interests. To paraphrase the well-known proverb, 'This is not the time to bark, but to bite.' We are bitten hard, I hope we do not have to do it," Avigdor Lieberman during a visit to the northern city of Kiryat Shmona.

The defense minister explained that each side of the conflict has its own version of the events.

"It is clear that each side has its own interests. Each side sees the picture differently. In the years of civil war in Syria, we were able to avoid direct friction, and that is an achievement in itself," he said. "This is an effective relationship."

The minister has for the first time commented on the events of February 10 when the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that one of their Apache attack helicopters downed an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle over the disputed Golan Heights, which has been at the center of the conflict between Syria and Israel.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has thanked Seoul for being a gracious Winter Olympics host, describing the games as a positive step towards bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula.

Kim noted the "warm climate of reconciliation" facilitated by the winter games, and "expressed thanks" for the "sincere" and "very impressive" efforts made by Seoul to welcome the North Korean delegation during their three-day visit to PyeongChang.

"It is important to continue making good results by further livening up the warm climate of reconciliation and dialogue created by the strong desire and common will of the North and the South with the Winter Olympics as a momentum,"

Kim said while meeting with members of the delegation upon their return to Pyongyang on Monday, according to North Korean state media. After receiving the delegation Kim issued "important instructions" aimed at cultivating "the improvement of North-South relations."

Heading up the delegation was Kim Yo-jong - Jong-un's sister and the first member of the North's ruling family to visit the South since the end of the Korean War - who reportedly relayed "movements of the US side" to her brother, a possible reference to her rather awkward encounter with Vice President Mike Pence.

The risk of inter-state conflict is higher now than at any time since the end of the Cold War, according to US Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats.

The most immediate threats over the next year will come from North Korea and from "Saudi-Iranian use of proxies in their rivalry," Coats said during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday.

"At the same time, the threat of state and non-state use of weapons of mass destruction will continue to grow," he added.

His statement was accompanied with a detailed assessment of worldwide threats to intelligence community.

Police are at former President Barack Obama's office in Washington DC where white powdery substance was reported.

People in hazmat suits are seen outside the building in the US capital's downtown. The incident occurred at 12:30 pm local time, according to Fox News.

Following its defeat of Islamic State forces in northeast Hama province several days ago, the Syrian Army has discovered and laid claimed to a huge stockpile of heavy weapons that until very recently belonged to the terrorist group.

On Sunday, Syrian troops clearing abandoned ISIS areas in northeast Hama discovered a large arsenal of heavy equipment and guided weapons.

Whilst not the first cache to be found in the region, it was certainly the most formidable.

Israeli police have recommended that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted over allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Netanyahu, speaking in a televised statement following the announcement, said he will continue to lead Israel "responsibly and faithfully" despite the impending charges and insisted nothing will come of the "baseless" cases against him.

Police submitted their recommendations Tuesday evening following a 14-month long investigation into the "gifts affair" in which Netanyahu is alleged to have improperly accepted expensive gifts from businessmen.


The charges stem from two separate investigations, Case 1000 and Case 2000. The former involves allegations that Netanyahu, and his wife Sara, accepted gifts worth thousands of dollars from wealthy businessmen. The other, focuses on an alleged deal with Yedioth newspaper for more positive coverage in exchange for a crackdown on its rival outlet.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned of a possible plan by the United States to continue its military presence in Syria for a long term in an attempt to create a "quasi-state" in the eastern areas of the country.

Speaking at a press conference Tuesday, Lavrov criticized the US for its "completely different" position with regard to its future military presence in Syria, adding, "We have a suspicion.... that the United States wants to stay there for a long time, if not forever."

"The Americans, in my opinion ... are trying to act by dangerous unilateral steps. And by the way, these steps look more and more like part of a line for creating a certain quasi-state on a large part of the Syrian territory - on the eastern bank of the Euphrates and up to the Iraqi border," he added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that, from Russia's point of view, the United States seems like it is planning to stay in Syria for a long time, maybe even forever.

"Now we hear completely different explanations from our US partners regarding their presence in Syria - they say that this presence should be maintained not only until military tasks are accomplished, but also until there is a stable political process that should end in a transition of power which will be acceptable for all - meaning for the United States - which is regime change. In general, we have a suspicion.... that the United States wants to stay there for a long time, if not forever,"

Lavrov told a press conference after talks with his Belgian counterpart, Didier Reynders.

As Lavrov specified, Moscow had been having a lot of questions to Washington about their recent actions in Syria.