Buildings damaged during battles between Syrian troops and rebels stand along an empty street in Mleiha, some 10 kilometers (6 miles) southeast of downtown Damascus, Syria, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014.

Syrian airstrikes target Islamic State group

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIRUT - Syrian government warplanes pounded an Islamic State group stronghold as well as other towns controlled by the jihadis Sunday, conducting more than a dozen airstrikes and killing at least 11 people, activists said. For more than a year, President Bashar Assad's air force rarely targeted territory controlled by the Islamic State group in northern Syria, instead focusing...

Damascus

Russia says Syrian vote was legitimate, democratic

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MOSCOW -- The recent presidential elections in Syria took place in a democratic atmosphere and were consistent with international standards, said Igor Morozov, Member of the Russian Federation Council.Morozov was member of the Russian mission, among others from friendly countries, that oversaw the electoral process.Elections for president took place on June 3 with parliamentary delegations from friendly countries...