Airstrike Kills Several Pro-Iran Fighters in Eastern Syria

Syrians walk past buildings heavily damaged during Syria's war, in the central city of Homs, April 28, 2020. (AFP)
Syrians walk past buildings heavily damaged during Syria's war, in the central city of Homs, April 28, 2020. (AFP)
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Airstrike Kills Several Pro-Iran Fighters in Eastern Syria

Syrians walk past buildings heavily damaged during Syria's war, in the central city of Homs, April 28, 2020. (AFP)
Syrians walk past buildings heavily damaged during Syria's war, in the central city of Homs, April 28, 2020. (AFP)

An airstrike on a vehicle in eastern Syria near the porous border with Iraq killed at least five fighters from pro-Iran units, two security sources in the region told Reuters.

One of the sources said the strike was carried out by a drone, but could not specify which military the drone belonged to. The second source said it targeted fighters as they changed shifts at a checkpoint.

Swathes of Syria's eastern border with Iraq are controlled by armed groups aligned with Iran and who fought on behalf of Syria's armed forces throughout the country's civil war.

They include Iraqi armed groups that also control the Iraqi side of the frontier.

The border is now a smuggling hub, with weapons brought across from Iraq into Syria and other goods flowing into Iraq.

The US and Israel have both carried out strikes in Syria against Iran-aligned factions.



Palestinian President to Visit Russia on Monday

File - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting in Bethlehem, January 23, 2020. (Alexander Nemenov, Pool via AP)
File - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting in Bethlehem, January 23, 2020. (Alexander Nemenov, Pool via AP)
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Palestinian President to Visit Russia on Monday

File - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting in Bethlehem, January 23, 2020. (Alexander Nemenov, Pool via AP)
File - Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting in Bethlehem, January 23, 2020. (Alexander Nemenov, Pool via AP)

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Moscow next week to discuss the Gaza war with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a Palestinian envoy said.

Russia's state-run TASS news agency cited the Palestinian ambassador in Moscow as saying Abbas will arrive on Monday and meet Putin on Tuesday.

Ambassador Abdel Hafiz Nofal said the two leaders would discuss events in Gaza since the October 7 attacks on Israel. "They will talk about Russia's role, what can be done."

According to AFP, he said: "We have a very difficult situation, and Russia is a country that is close to us. We need to consult each other."

Moscow for years tried to balance relations with all major players in the Middle East -- including Israel and the Palestinians.

But since the Israel-Hamas war and Russia's own offensive on Ukraine, Putin has moved closer to Israel's foes, Hamas and Iran.

The Kremlin has repeatedly criticized Israel's response to the October 7 attacks and called for restraint.