Criticising the presence of foreign troops in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said they are there against the will of the Syrian government. They are also blocking the consolidation of the war-torn country, the Kremlin said on Tuesday. &nbsp;

The president was talking about to numerous US troops in eastern Syria, who are working with Kurdish-led fighters, in battling the Islamic State group, as well as Turkish forces stationed in northern Syria. &nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Russia is building its military influence in Africa

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In a rare meeting in Moscow on Monday, the president met his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad. Putin said the presence of the foreigners is illegal as they don't have permission to be there from the United Nations or Syria's government. &nbsp;

In September 2015, Russia joined Syria's 10-year-old conflict when the Syrian military appeared close to collapse. The country has since helped in tipping the balance of power in favour of Assad, whose forces now control much of the country.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-president-putin-to-self-isolate-over-virus-cases-in-inner-circle-kremlin-412973" hreflang="en">Russian President Putin to self-isolate over virus cases in 'inner circle': Kremlin</a> &nbsp;

Across Syria, hundreds of Russian troops are deployed and they also have a military air base along Syria's Mediterranean coast. &nbsp;

The state media in Damascus reported that Assad and Putin discussed cooperation between their armies and ways to continue operations to gain control of the last rebel-held areas in Syria. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Criticising the presence of foreign troops in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said they are there against the will of the Syrian government. They are also blocking the consolidation of the war-torn country, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.

Criticising the presence of foreign troops in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said they are there against the will of the Syrian government. They are also blocking the consolidation of the war-torn country, the Kremlin said on Tuesday. The president was talking about to numerous US troops in eastern Syria, who are working with Kurdish-led fighters, in battling the Islamic State group, as well as Turkish forces stationed in northern Syria. Watch: Russia is building its military influence in Africa × In a rare meeting in Moscow on Monday, the president met his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad. Putin said the presence of the foreigners is illegal as they don't have permission to be there from the United Nations or Syria's government. In September 2015, Russia joined Syria's 10-year-old conflict when the Syrian military appeared close to collapse. The country has since helped in tipping the balance of power in favour of Assad, whose forces now control much of the country. Also Read | Russian President Putin to self-isolate over virus cases in 'inner circle': Kremlin Across Syria, hundreds of Russian troops are deployed and they also have a military air base along Syria's Mediterranean coast. The state media in Damascus reported that Assad and Putin discussed cooperation between their armies and ways to continue operations to gain control of the last rebel-held areas in Syria. (With inputs from agencies)

In meeting with Assad, Putin slams foreign troops’ presence in Syria   

The Iraqi parliament on Sunday passed a motion calling for the expulsion of US troops, in the aftermath of the assassination of Iranian general and the leader of Iraq’s Hezbollah militia by the US outside Baghdad airport on Friday.

The Iraqi parliament on Sunday passed a motion calling for the expulsion of US troops, in the aftermath of the assassination of Iranian general and the leader of Iraq’s Hezbollah militia by the US outside Baghdad airport on Friday. The US-led international coalition fighting the Islamic State has suspended operations against the terrorist group following Iraqi parliament motion. There are an estimated 6,000 US troops based in Iraq, whose primary function had been helping train the Iraqi military in anti-Isis operations, but their presence has become controversial. There is considerable unhappiness in Iraq that Donald Trump authorised the unannounced drone strike on Suleimani and others on Iraqi soil. But few believe the US will be forced to remove its forces. A resolution passed by a special session of parliament said the government should cancel its request for assistance from a US-led coalition, reported news agency Reuters. Parliament resolutions, unlike laws, are non-binding to the government. But this one is likely to be heeded: Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi had earlier called on parliament to end foreign troop presence as soon as possible, the Reuters report stated. "Despite the internal and external difficulties that we might face, it remains best for Iraq on principle and practically," Abdul Mahdi said.

Iraqi parliament passes motion for expulsion of US troops from its soil 

Taliban officials said US negotiators on Saturday agreed a draft peace deal stipulating the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan within 18 months of the agreement being signed.

The details were provided to Reuters by Taliban sources at the end of six days of talks with US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar aimed at ending the United States' longest war.

They have yet to be confirmed by US officials nor has either side released an official statement. Officials at the US embassy in Kabul were not immediately available for comment.

Khalilzad is heading to the Afghan capital Kabul to brief President Ashraf Ghani after the longer-than-expected talks, the sources and a diplomat said.

According to the Taliban sources, the hardline Islamic group offered assurances that Afghanistan will not be allowed to be used by al-Qaeda and Islamic State militants to attack the United States and its allies - a key early demand of Washington.

It is not known if a draft is acceptable to both sides has been completed, or when it might take effect.

The Taliban sources said a key provision to the deal included a ceasefire but they had yet to confirm a timeline and will only open talks with Afghan representatives once the ceasefire is implemented.

"In 18 months if the foreign forces are withdrawn and ceasefire is implemented then other aspects of the peace process can be put into action," a Taliban source said, quoting from a portion of the draft.

Almost daily attacks

Other clauses include a deal over the exchange and release of prisoners from the warring sides, the removal of an international travel ban on several Taliban leaders by the United States and the prospect of an interim Afghan government after the ceasefire is struck, the Taliban sources said.

The offer to appoint an interim government in Afghanistan comes at a time when top politicians including Ghani have filed their nominations for the presidential polls in July this year. Ghani has repeatedly rejected the offer to agree to the formation of an interim government.

News of progress on a deal comes as the Taliban continue to stage nearly daily attacks against the Western-backed Afghan government and its security forces.

Despite the presence of US-led foreign forces training, advising and assisting their Afghan counterparts 17 years after the US led an invasion to drive them from power, the Taliban controls nearly half of Afghanistan.

The United States has some 14,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led mission, known as Resolute Support, as well as a US counter-terrorism mission directed at groups such as Islamic State and al Qaeda.

Despite reports in December last year that the United States was considering pulling out almost half of its forces, a White House spokesman said that US President Donald Trump had not issued orders to withdraw the troops. However, the administration has not denied the reports, which have also prompted fears of a fresh refugee crisis.

Taliban officials said US negotiators on Saturday agreed a draft peace deal stipulating the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan within 18 months of the agreement being signed.

Taliban officials said US negotiators on Saturday agreed a draft peace deal stipulating the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan within 18 months of the agreement being signed. The details were provided to Reuters by Taliban sources at the end of six days of talks with US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in Qatar aimed at ending the United States' longest war. They have yet to be confirmed by US officials nor has either side released an official statement. Officials at the US embassy in Kabul were not immediately available for comment. Khalilzad is heading to the Afghan capital Kabul to brief President Ashraf Ghani after the longer-than-expected talks, the sources and a diplomat said. According to the Taliban sources, the hardline Islamic group offered assurances that Afghanistan will not be allowed to be used by al-Qaeda and Islamic State militants to attack the United States and its allies - a key early demand of Washington. It is not known if a draft is acceptable to both sides has been completed, or when it might take effect. The Taliban sources said a key provision to the deal included a ceasefire but they had yet to confirm a timeline and will only open talks with Afghan representatives once the ceasefire is implemented. "In 18 months if the foreign forces are withdrawn and ceasefire is implemented then other aspects of the peace process can be put into action," a Taliban source said, quoting from a portion of the draft. Almost daily attacks Other clauses include a deal over the exchange and release of prisoners from the warring sides, the removal of an international travel ban on several Taliban leaders by the United States and the prospect of an interim Afghan government after the ceasefire is struck, the Taliban sources said. The offer to appoint an interim government in Afghanistan comes at a time when top politicians including Ghani have filed their nominations for the presidential polls in July this year. Ghani has repeatedly rejected the offer to agree to the formation of an interim government. News of progress on a deal comes as the Taliban continue to stage nearly daily attacks against the Western-backed Afghan government and its security forces. Despite the presence of US-led foreign forces training, advising and assisting their Afghan counterparts 17 years after the US led an invasion to drive them from power, the Taliban controls nearly half of Afghanistan. The United States has some 14,000 troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led mission, known as Resolute Support, as well as a US counter-terrorism mission directed at groups such as Islamic State and al Qaeda. Despite reports in December last year that the United States was considering pulling out almost half of its forces, a White House spokesman said that US President Donald Trump had not issued orders to withdraw the troops. However, the administration has not denied the reports, which have also prompted fears of a fresh refugee crisis.

Foreign troops to quit Afghanistan in 18 months under draft deal: Taliban officials

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