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Added on the 16/04/2018 13:08:59 - Copyright : Wochit
Plumes of smoke rise in the mountainous Jabal al-Zawiya area of Syria's Idlib province following bombings by Russian aircraft. The White Helmets volunteer emergency service said that two children were killed and five other civilians wounded when their home in the village of Kansafra was hit. Russia is the main military ally of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. IMAGES
The Damascus Opera House lights up with colours of the Russian flag on "flag day", an annual Russian holiday celebrating Russia's tricolour flag, restored following the Soviet collapse in 1991 and marked on August 22. Russia's military intervention in 2015 helped turn the war in President Bashar al-Assad's favour. Moscow remains a key regime ally and maintains military bases in Syria. IMAGES
Russian airstrikes target a rebel base for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Syria's northwest, according to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reporting casualties at the site which is located near a summer recreation area. IMAGES
Russia vetoes a nine-month extension of a key Syria aid route at the UN Security Council, a day after the vital mechanism providing life-saving support to millions of people expired. While many council members including the United States and Britain have called for a full year extension, Russia has insisted on just six months and rejected the nine-month compromise proposed by Switzerland and Brazil. SOUNDBITE
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan says crimes affecting children were his top priority when he came into the role and form the basis for the arrest warrant issued for Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Children are the most vulnerable part of our society... and the most in need of protection," Khan says. SOUNDBITE
The European Union is working towards fresh sanctions on Iran after collecting "sufficient evidence" it is supplying Russia with deadly drones for use in Ukraine, says Nabila Massrali, spokesperson for EU foreign policy. SOUNDBITE