After the recent US military operations against suspected drug runners off the coast of Venezuela, Russia is siding with the ruler Nicolas Maduro in Caracas. Russia strongly condemns the use of excessive military force in conducting anti-narcotics operations, the Russian Foreign Ministry website said on Saturday. Such actions would violate U.S. laws and the norms of international law. Russia also reiterated its support for the government of Venezuela in defending its national sovereignty.
According to a media report, US President Donald Trump will receive Syria’s interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa in the White House in just over a week. Al-Sharaa will travel to Washington on November 10th, the news portal “Axios” reported. The US special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, confirmed the planned meeting. In Syria, the pro-government television station Syria TV also reported on the planned trip. According to “Axios”, al-Sharaa is expected to sign a declaration at the White House with which Syria will officially join the US-led coalition to fight the terrorist militia “Islamic State” (IS).
There was initially no official confirmation of the trip from either Washington or Damascus. In 2014, IS overran large areas in Syria and neighboring Iraq. At times he controlled about a third of Syria and 40 percent of Iraq. The US began an operation to fight IS, in which the US military and allies carried out thousands of airstrikes in both countries. IS is considered to have been defeated militarily – but it is estimated that around 2,500 IS fighters are still active in both countries and are also carrying out attacks.
