Instead of zipping past each other, convoys backing opposing sides of Syrian civil war stop to chat, pose for pictures and exchange uniform patches as momentos of the interaction

With invasion appearing to slow to a crawl, some worry Putin will increasingly turn to indiscriminate artillery and missile strikes against civilians, as he has done in past

Strikes are first since Russia carried out public joint air-defense patrols with Syrian airforce; State TV says some incoming missiles intercepted, but 'material damage' caused

Moscow reportedly announces joint jet patrols with Damascus will become regular occurrence; report claims Israeli officials struggling to understand reason for sudden policy change

As tensions mount between Putin and world powers over Ukraine, Moscow appears to make a statement over its presence in the Middle East

Under Netanyahu's leadership, the Jewish state survived the difficult early years to come out on top as Iran and jihadists are on the defensive

Agreement sees end to hostilities beginning at midnight along existing battle lines, as well as joint patrols to stem bloodshed in war-torn Idlib province

Russian leader on first trip to Syrian capital since start of 2011 civil war, which comes amid soaring US-Iran tensions and fears of war

In rare display of Moscow's military operations in war-torn country, regime troops show off new weapons skills, perform mine clearing exercises and carry out mock assaults

No details given on how or why interference to planes' navigation systems came to an end; Russian military in Syria blamed