a signal to the rest of the world about the russian navy's modern capabilities. at the main russian air base in and night. the perimeter bristling with helicopter gunships. this is the tip of the sphere of the russians tell us they've flown more than 5,000 sorties from this base, striking 10,000 targets. the massive russian commitment here and the way it's rapidly shaped the battlefield stand in sharp contrast to president obama's years of caution. even after declaring -- >> that assad needs to go. >> reporter: but the u.s., britain and others say russia is helping the assad regime a lot more than they're fighting isis and they accuse their forces of indiscriminate attacks that have killed hundreds of civilians. we saw russian troops loading so-called dumb bombs, unguided munitions, very inaccurate, lots of potential for collateral damage.

scornfully dismissed the charge. what civilian facilities are you talking about, he says? these are powerful groups of terrorists. one thing is clear, there is a new reality in the syrian war, and it speaks russian. terry moran, abc news, salma, syria. >> so fascinating, huh? >> it is. i remember the white house officials when the russians first launched this offensive about five weeks ago, as terry mentioned, saying good luck. and things have turned around 180 degrees since they launched this offensive, at least for president assad's regime there. >> there's been such talk is he going to step down, and tuesday, the russian foreign minister sergey lavrov had to fight off talk from reporters, saying, no, there was a former chief of intelligence. there was some rumors he had asked assad recently to step down. he said, no there's nothing true to that. nobody's seeking political asylum just yet.

this war over there. and it's just so heart-breaking, i think about the children all the time over there. >> can you believe it's been five years of the assault in syria? the flood of refugees continues though no matter where the tide is on that fight. >> so true. coming up, remembering a television legend. >> he's been a hollywood mainstay for more than 40 years. this morning we remember actor abe vigoda. you're watching abc "world news now." >> announcer: "world news now"

abc stations.are shut right now after a major crash.. we're hearing one of the cars may have been going over 100 okay, so among those jazzy strains of some of these '70s

miller," was likely one of the most recognizable. >> and one of its stars, abe vigoda, one of the workhorses of television, a man who became a persona larger than any of his own characters. he's died. abc's david wright looks back on his illustrious career. >> if anyone wants to arrange a meeting. he says -- >> reporter: his most famous role was sal tessio, the mobster who ends up betraying michael corleone. >> i can arrange security. >> reporter: abe vigoda was not sicilian. he was a russian jew. a theater actor who went on to stardom in abc's "barney miller," as the curmudgeonly detective fish. >> in an emergency you would be the first one i would call. >> you should call me first. i need time to put my teeth in. >> reporter: oddly, vigoda spent years fighting an urban legend he had already died. >> well, the rumors are that he died. >> abe is there in the control room? he is. >> reporter: that's him on david letterman's show in 1988. like his character in "the godfather" -- >> tell mike it was only business. >> reporter: -- he knew the end was coming. >> tom, can you get me off the

for old time's sake? >> can't do it. >> reporter: abe vigoda was 94. david wright, abc news, new york. >> quite a legend. >> he also performed on and off broadway. just a really, really incredible man. all right. coming up, the countdown to valentine's day. >> oh. so if you've been looking for love in all the wrong places, could one of those places be the workplace? >> really? >> yeah.

>> like the news room? i pinky promised my little girl a fabulous garden party for her birthday. so i mowed the lawn, put up all the decorations. i thought i got everything. almost everything! you know, 1 in 10 houses could get hit by a septic disaster, and a bill of up to $13,000. but for only $7 a month, rid-x is scientifically proven to break down waste, helping you avoid a septic disaster. rid-x. the #1 brand used by septic professionals in their own tanks. it's not always as easy for me as it is for him... it's easy for me cause look at her. aw... so we use k-y ultragel. it enhances my body's natural moisture

and when i know she's feeling like that, it makes me feel like we're both... when she enjoys it, we enjoy it even more. and i enjoy it. feel the difference with k-y ultragel. your clever moves won't stop the cold and flu. but disinfecting with lysol can. because lysol wipes and spray are approved to kill more types of germs than clorox. including those that can make you sick. for a healthy home this cold and flu season...

[cough, cough] mike? janet? cough if you can hear me. don't even think about it. i took mucinex dm for my phlegmy cough. yeah...but what about mike? he has that dry scratchy thing going on. guess what? it works on his cough too. cough! guess what? it works on his cough too. what? stop! don't pull me! spoiler alert! she doesn't make it! only mucinex dm relieves bothwet and dry coughs for 12 hours with two medicines in one pill. start the relief. ditch the misery. let's end this. all right, folks, we're now t-minus 18 days away from the most romantic holiday of the year. so the pressure's on. and if you're bound and

valentine, you've got to work. >> but is it a good idea to look inside your own workplace? >> i see nole just disappeared. >> why did the floor director just disappear afrom the workplace? >> here's abc's rebecca jarvis. >> that was nice to meet you, ben. >> reporter: office romance, even the interns can't escape it. >> see you later? >> love to. >> reporter: but not all's fair in love and work. these days many companies have policies that frown upon cubicle courtships. so, what happens when the one is the one you sit next to every day? >> we worked together for just over a year and i never told a single soul. >> reporter: 27-year-old jaclyn smith and now husband tyler mcgee were together for four years when tyler took a job at her company where she no longer works, finding his desk right next to his girlfriend's. >> eight floors of a building, you didn't expect to be eet away from her. >> reporter: the couple choosing to keep their relationship

about our reputation and what people might think or say. >> reporter: the business insider editor says there were several steps they took to keep their work and personal lives separate. >> you should always check the company policy before you start an office romance. >> we weren't showing up and leaving at the same time. and to be frank, we rarely talked to each other. >> reporter: the couple also kept their lovey-dovey messages off their business e-mails and cell phones. another important consideration, keeping their love quarrels out of the office. now, happily married for four months, jacqueline and tyler say their relationship is a testament to making an office relationship work. >> i ended up leaving the company and going to work somewhere else. and we stayed together and a few years later i proposed. >> yeah. >> the rest is history. >> reporter: rebecca jarvis, abc news, new york. so is it a good idea? >> well, you know, love is blind. >> what does that say?

anywhere. actually, i see it happen a lot in the news rooms. >> yeah. >> especially late at night around this hour. just saying. > no. >> why did our floor director leave during this conversation? we're going to investigate. >> i don't know. find love wherever you want, folks. investigate.

folks. >> right to breaking fluz, a major crash, shutting down rain -- rainbow an spring mountain, all unfolding on the police scanner, we were the first on the scene and he may have been running from police and going over 100 miles per hour. when he crashed. and it was reported and then, we heard them say the man had

>> our reporter was first at the