The announcement comes as the fighting between pro-Assad militias and members of the security forces killed more than 1,000 ...

More than 1,300 people have been killed since Assad loyalists attacked the new regime forces, leading to massacres reported and an investigation ordered into the incidents ...

Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on reports that some residents of Latakia remained on the territory of Russian military ...

The days-long conflict has been among Syria's deadliest in a decade. Nearly 1,000 civilians have been killed, including women and children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Defence Ministry spokesman says security threats have been neutralised in al-Assad strongholds of Latakia and Tartous.