in aleppo's north and southern countryside and latakia as well as the province of idlib. the government is fighting al-nusra and i.s.i.l. neither group is included in the ceasefire deal. many fear the government's move is a plan to be siege the city of aleppo. russian air strikes and government forces were targeting rebel defenses on the main highway between the province of latakia and idlib. it is not far from the rebel-held town which is the government's target. on the humanitarian front the truce has not made any huge difference. the u.n. wants unrestricted access to half a million people in besieged areas. so far, eight convoys have reached areas as part of a plan agreed on before the truce started. the world health organisation says it delivered a truck of medicine to the towns of azzas and antonio mora north of aleppo. it is too early to access what impact the delivery has had. the syrian opposition say the syrian army and its allies are continuing with their military campaigns while other groups are accusing government forces of mobilizing troops to seize more oppo

in aleppo's northern and sowrnt countrsouthern country sides, ad latakia. neither group is included in the ceasefire, el nusra or i.s.i.l. plans to besiege the city of aleppo. russian air strikes and government forces were targeting rebel forces on the highway between latakia and idlib. not far from the rebel held town which is the government's target. on the humanitarian front the truce hasn't made any huge differential. the u.n. wants unrestricted access to half a million people in besieged areas. so far eight convoice have reace reached areas, as part of a plan agreed on before the truce started. the world health organization said it delivered a struck of medicine to the town of azaz north of aleppo. u.n. says it's too early to say what impact it has had on the delivery urgent aid. the syrian army and its allies are continuing with their military campaigns while rebel groups are accusing rebel forces of mobilizing groups. the truce is fragile and success is not guaranteed but so far it has led to a drop of violence and that is good news for many syrians.

in the northern and southern countrysides, latakia's countryside as well as the province of idlib. government is fighting al-nusra front and isil, neither group is included in the ceasefire deal. opposition fighters feel the government's recent move is part of a plan to besiege the city of aleppo. russia air strikes and rebel forces were targeting the main highway between the province of latakia and idlib. it is not far from a rebel-held town which is the government's target. on the humanitarian front the trust hasn't made a huge difference. the u.n. wantings unrestricted access to half a million people in besieged areas. so far eight convoys have reached areas as part o as part agreed on before the truce started. the world health organization said it delivered a truck of medicine to two towns north of aleppo. u.n. officials in damascus say it's too early to assess what impact the truce has had on the delivery of urgent aid. the syrian opposition says the syrian army and its allies are continuing with their military campaigns while rebel groups are accusing the government of mobili

in aleppo's northern and southern country side, latakia's country side as well as the province of idlib, the government is fighting el nusra front and i.s.i.l. neither is included in the ceasefire. opposition fighters fear the government's plan is to besiege the city of aleppo. russian forces were stackin wern the main road. on the humanitarian front the truce hasn't made any huge difference. the u.n. wants unrestricted access to half a million people in besieged areas. so far aid convoice have reached the users of moabamie. the world health organization says it dlifortd th delivered af medicines. too early to assess the impact the ceasefire has had. allies are continualing with their military campaigns while rebel groups are accusing government forces of mobilizing troops, the truce is fragile and success is not guaranteed but so far it has lead to a drom of voyagedrop inviolence. >>> rally led by the prominent shia cleric muqtada al-sadr. javier reports from baghdad. >> it was a challenge and a warning. iraqi forces had banned this a few meters from the green zone where iraqi diplomat

government air strikes and russian air force were targeting rebel defenses on the highway of latakia and idlib. it is not far from the government's target. on the humanitarian front, the truce has not made any huge difference. the u.n. wants unrestricted access to half a million people in besieged areas. so far, eight convoys have reached the areas as part of a plan agreed on before the truce started. the world health organisation says it delivered a truck of medicine to the towns of azzaz and afreen north of aleppo. officials say it is too early to assess what impact the truce has had on the delivery of urgent aid. the syrian opposition says the syrian army and its allies are continuing with their military campaigns while other groups are accusing government forces of mobilizing troops to seize more opposition-held territories. the truce is fragile and success is not guaranteed, but so far it has led to a drop of violence and that is good news for many syrians >>> the humanitarian crisis along the greek mass don't i don't know borrow are-- macedonian border is expect to get worse. p

presence at a long of time naval base, as well as holding on to newly established air base in syria's latakia province. that was no surprise to the pentagon, noting that improvements to the syrian base, including the installation of runways and underground fuel tanks indicated a long-term stay. also no surprise, with the oil-dependent economy in decline, the kremlin would need to end the air war. the pace was unsustainable considering russia was not rotating in fresh aircraft nor performing routine maintenance. administrative critics, such as vladimir putin said critics had achieved their goal. of the russians, mccain said: privately the millings accomplished statement by the vladimir putin is an administration that it was never about isil. the only mission was the regime of bashar al-assad is deniably in a stronger position, while isil is nowhere near defeated >>> jamie mcintyre at the pentagon. kurdish forces in iraq say they have captured a palestinian american man that fought with i.s.i.l. 27-year-old turned himself in. at the time of his surrender he had a large amount of cash, three cel

there are reports of violence between the army and opposition in latakia. the first convoy carrying medical supplies after government forces capture part of the city. the huties have been obstructing humanitarian supplies to the area. it area includes south of sanaa under houthi control, but government forces have managed to take control of key years south and west of the area. hashem ahelbarra reports now. >> troops loyal to president abd rabbuh mansur hadi break through houthi lines on yemen's third largest city. now they can send humanitarian aid and weapons to the port of aden. it is the latest push for taiz. >> this is a big issue. the wheels have started to roll. it might seem slow but efforts are huge. >> but the fight to patrol taiz is far--to control taiz is far from over. thdespite the heavy fighting and gain made by government forces, the houthies remain defiant. >> the invaders will be defeated. they will destroy them. >> this is a funeral of houthi fighters killed ting to defend taiz. ththe houthies are backed by those loyal to former president

being announced by the kremlin that russia will retain its bases in syria including the air base near latakia. if you have an air base you can always deploy combat aircraft or withdraw them. planes can fly back to russia, right now that would make practical military sense because after the ceasefire has begun the number of sorties, have been decreasing. they can fly back to russia or back again. >> this statement doesn't necessarily mean an end of russian air strikes in syria? >> well, they have been cut down but not -- since we are going to retain the air base, and that is absolutely sure, that's official, we retain the air base. and that means some aircraft are going to stay. but the number of aircraft will be cut down. that's obvious. maybe something else will be cut down. but the entire airborne, this is the russian air force that is really in connection. so the main force of it is the air force. the air force is very flexible, you can move it in, move it out, just takes several hours to do so. so this does not mean that russia is withdrawing from syria or abandoning the assad regime but

sources say that russian warplanes and syrian government forces have shelled parts of latakia.he areas where the attack took place reportedly under opposition control. all sides have been accused of violations. still ahead on al jazeera, the fbi and apple make their cases for and against attacking iphones. and a new party launched in a battle to succeed president robert mugabe. v >> welcome back. here's a reminder of the top stories on al jazeera. it's super tuesday and u.s. presidential hopeful hillary clinton is expected to pull ahead in the race for the democrat nomination for president. on the republican front donald trump is expected an u unassailable momentum against four other competitors. macedonia has deployed more soldiers and police to its border with greece to try to control thousands of refugees trying to get through. and in south africa's opposition with historica history corruption charges reinstated against president zuma connected to an arms deal. >>> let's get more on our top stories. the super tuesday elect going on in the united states. from dallas in texas,

there are reports of violence between the army and syrian opposition in latakia. it's the observatory for human rights say that government plays have hit areas in hama province. this was posted on a social media website set to show the aftermath of those strikes. they say they've shot done a government jet. >>> the town of kilis on the turkey-syrian border, has been nominated for the nobel peace prize. there are more syrian refugees living there than there are actual residents. from kilis, laurence lee sent this report. >> on the hillsover looking the tuish border you can see refugee camps inside syria glimpsing in the sun. just a few kilometers to the north is kilis, a town that can show what can be done to help outside of syria if the will is there. the 95,000 who live here have been joined by 120,000 syrians. they have set up businesses and work with their hosts. just outside of the center these women were making firewood with their children. they've been here for four years. not an easy life, but, said this woman, they've been welcomed. she said she had no int

in syria, for example, the people coming from damascus, people coming from latakia and people coming from baghdad, from the south and north, so there is a sort of gee grafkal selection happening. what happens to those who are here it is the big question none has nowhere to go back to. most will tell you they want to go to turkey specifically the syrian kurds, a large number of them, being in this camp. the greeks are making preparations. they announced that by mid march they will be several hot spots open, places for 17,500 refugees and then the u.n.h.c.r. says it is making preparation to give shelter to another 20,000. so that would cover the people who are here. what happened next to them is really the big issue for greece and the european union >>> as you speak we're watching aerial pictures of this camp at the border there. quite surprising to see how many tents there. tell us about the conditions that the refugees there are facing. >> reporter: the conditions are very basic, if not actually quite bad. in those pictures you probably see the big white tents. that was the original

. >> reporter: moscow will keep control of an air base in latakia and they still have control of another area >> the air strikes have already declined, so pulling out the air force is not a major - it won't have much effect on the battle. plus they made clear - vladimir putin made clear that russia will keep access to the space so they can easily come back in, in the future. >> reporter: russia's air strikes were expensive, but they might have bought moscow something bsh shall priceless. they used military force but they did as part of creating a diplomatic political process where now russia co chairs the political process with the u.s., which is a dramatic increase in russian power and influence over this process. >> reporter: but a military pull back from russia does not mean there will be progress in talks on syria. there are many other players in the war and many of them are still on the ground willing to fight >>> or senior correspondent joins us live. she has reported extensively on the war in syria. 166/167 days of bombing. what has it achieved? >> undoubtedly the syrian governmen

white house says that there have been reports of syrian government tank and artillery fire near latakiashoms anddespite the cessation of hostilities. the aid has continue, since the pause came into effect on saturday. at least two civilians and a policeman have died on an attack on an indian consulate in afghanistan. a suicide-bomber blew himself up at the entrance to the building in jalalabad. four gunmen entered the compound but was killed by afghan security forces. 19 people were wounded in the attack. >>> macedonia has briefly opened its border with greece to let in about 200 refugees. ten thousand more are still stranded. they're stuck in greece as balkan countries restrict the number of people they let in each day. the e.u. has send in money t. >> they escape the violence in their homeland but they still struggle to find a stable existence as they find their way into europe. now a potential lifeline as the e.u. announce an financial package to deal with the largest influx of refugees since the second world war. >> this is to provide basic necessities, including food, emergency care

against terrorists there is going to continue >> reporter: moscow will keep control of an air base in latakia and they still have control of a port. >> it is a good time because of the talks. the air strikes have already declined, so pulling out the air force is not a major, it won't have much affect on the battle. plus they made clear, vladimir putin made clear that russia will keep access to its base so they can easily come back in, in the future. >> reporter: the air strikes were expensive but they might have bought them something priceless. global prevention. >> reporter: they used military force but they did the as part of creating a diplomatic political process. russia has the process with the u.s. which is a dramatic increase in russian power >> reporter: a military pull back from russia does not mean there will be real progress in talks on syria. there are many other players in the war and many of them are still on the ground willing to fight >>> tracking this evolving story for us is our senior correspondent. if you're the hnc looking in on this, what is your thinking today? >> we he

. >> reporter: moscow will keep control of an air base in latakia and still have control in kartouse.od timing because of the talks and air strikes have already declined so pulling out the airforce won't have much effect on the battle plus they made clear, putin made clear russia will keep access to its bases so they can easily come back in the future. >>> air strikes expensive but may have bought them something pri priceless with dealing with the u.s. >> use military force and did this part of creating a diplomatic political process where now russia cochairs the political process with the united states which is a dramatic increase in russian power and influence over this process. >> reporter: but a military pull back from russia means there will be real progress on talks in syria. there are many other players in the war and many of them are still on the ground willing to fight. carolyn malone, al jazeera. >>> the iranian foreign minister zarif says the russian pull out is a sign that the ceasefire in syria is working. >> the fact that russia announced that it's withdrawing part of it

kremlin said it will continue some airstrikes and keep air defense some, russia will keep control of latakia over the mediterranean and moscow is playing it cautious. so also is the british government. they're worried about the timing of russia's military push out. >> we don't know if that is the case. we need to see if this is a substantive move. >> the decision to pull it's military out of syria was made jointly with an allied president assad. they have created the continues of peace. and many have forgotten what peace looks like. naive barker, al jazeera. >> let's get more on this. we speak with a senior scholar in washington. he joins us live no. we have a situation where russia has perhaps slightly shifted its direction on syria. meanwhile the civil war on the grouped continues albeit a lull, what is your overall attempt of where we stand now and a prospect of some sort of agreement, a beginning to the end. i think where we are now is as much as a few days ago and i think we'll look much like today. i don't see anything that really rearranges the strategic equation, either on the ground

continue to have a presence at its long time naval base at tartus, newly established air base at latakia province. and the extension of runways and the installation of underground fuel tanks indicated a long term stay. also no surprise, the fact that with russia's oil dependent economy in decline the kremlin would need to end the expensive air war. the pentagon said the pace of the air campaign was unsustainable considering russia was not rotating in fresh aircraft nor performing routine maintenance on its war planes. still, administration critics such as senator john mccain said putin attained his goal and lock in the spoils of war. in a staple, mccain said of the russians they have changed the military facts on the ground and created terms for a political statement more favorable to their interests. privately pentagon officials say aatacit missiona tacit mission,t i.s.i.l. while i.s.i.l. is nowhere near defeated. antonio. >> jamie mcintire at the pentagon.3 >>> new round of talks aimed at ending the conflict in syria. al jazeera's diplomatic editor james bays is in mosk. geneva. >> the

fighting is also being reported between government forces and the rebels in latakia province and in otherreas. turkey's president is also warning kurdish fighters, the ypg who are fighting isil in northern syria that the turkish army will stop them from creating a free corridor on turkey's southern border, and that could worsen the fragile trust. >>> a clash has erupted in calais, france today as authorities started clearing out sections of the camp. officials say the camp needs to be cleared out for humanitarian reasons. they say only a thousand refugees will be affected, and they will be moved to better conditions in a different section of the camp. >>> and on the greek border, soldiers fired tear gas at refugees. al jazeera's hoda abdel hamid has more on the border tensions from greece. [ shouting ] >> reporter: impatient and exhausted. they first marched towards the railway gate along the border, demanding once again to be let through. but soon, things got out of control. some refugees managed to tear down part of the fence. others hurled stones at macedonian forces on the other side

. >> the white house said there have been reports of artillery fire on civilians their latakia and homsdespite the hostilities. but theish humanitarian aid has continued since the cease-fire came in effect on saturday. they have been distributing supplies south of damascus. thousands of palestinian averages have been under government siege there for more than three years. macedonia has briefly opened its border with greece to let in hundred refugees but more than 10,000 are still stranded. the e.u. has now set aside $767 million to deal with the refugee crisis within its borders and amid warnings of humanitarian disasters. >> they've escaped the violence in their homeland but they're still struggling to find a stable existence that they tried to make their way into central europe. now a potential lifeline as the e.u. announces an emergency financial passage to deal with the largest influx of refugees since the second world war. >> this is to provide basic necessity including food, shelter, clean water, etc. >> a significant portion will go to greece. it's the main industry point. more t

russia's military entered in september, setting up an air base near latakia. russian war planes staged hundreds of bombing missions near isil. putin said the news in a phone call. russia has been the strongest ally of syrian president bashar al-assad, in the country's 5-year civil war. in the last half hour, bashar al-assad denied there was differences twine himself and his russian counterpart. the development comes as talks take place to end the 5-year conflict. the special envoy stefan de mistura says all parties are facing a moment of truth. >> translation: i believe the goal set out by the military and armed force, that's why i order the minister of defence, as of tomorrow to start the pull out of the main part of our military grouping from the syrian arab republic >>> reaction from the russian announcement coming in. it's been said that russia's withdrawal can influence the conflict. >> whatever russia decides, this will affect the side and the other side will affect the regime. hopefully we, you know, see this on the ground. that russians are not in syri

including parts of hama, homs, latakia, and damascus. >> woodruff: at the same time, amnesty international charged russian and syrian government forces are deliberately targeting hospitals in and around aleppo. it said that amounts to war crimes. north korea has answered a new round of u.n. sanctions by firing half a dozen short-ranged projectiles into the sea. south korea's military says they were fired today near the eastern town of wonsan and flew less than 100 miles. later, the north announced its leader-- kim jong un-- has ordered the military to be ready to fire nuclear weapons, at any time. european leaders sounded increasingly desperate today, to deal with the mounting migrant crisis in greece. nearly 32,000 people are stranded, and largely blocked from moving deeper into the continent. james mates of "independent television news," is there on the ground. >> reporter: don't come to greece, they've been told. don't believe the smugglers, you won't get any further. but still they come. 600 more pouring onto the keys in the port of pireaus this morning. but for these new arrivals, thi

the naval base at tarius and the air baas at latakia.rikes and resupplying the assad regime. the syrian president now in a much stronger position after months of bombing opposition and civilian targets by moscow to shore up his once teetering regime. the regime able to participate in peace talks in geneva now from a position of strength. since the temporary cease-fire agreement two weeks ago, russian air strikes have diminished, but certainly not stopped. numbering now about 30 a day instead of 100. >> mathematically it is beyond dispute that they have made an effort to abide by the cessation of hostilities. >> reporter: the regime continues to drop bombs on civilcivil civilians and opposition groups. tonight is the real message from assad to moscow is, okay, we're done. time to go. what is not affected right now is isis, which controls a large piece of territory inside syria. >> a large development. we'll see how this works out in the coming days. remember, you can always follow us on twitter. please tweet me at wolf blitzer. thanks ver