Russia - Syria relations

Russia uses its influence in the United Nations Security Council, even as Washington and Moscow hail coordinated effort.

BEHIND THE LINES: Parallel to the campaign of harassment, the Russians are seeking to slowly and incrementally draw the Kurdish ruling authorities in this area back under their political patronage.

Rebels say the Syrian army and its allied militias were amassing troops on front lines.

The Kremlin was commenting as Russia-backed Syrian forces deployed deep inside Kurdish-held territory south of the Turkish frontier, less than 24 hours after Washington announced a full withdrawal.

Cabinet told trilateral meeting in the works, perhaps to take place before September 17 elections; event would highlight PM Netanyahu's diplomatic credibility.

In the last month, four mysterious airstrikes have occurred in the Muslim country between Jordan and Iran.