Syria War News Updates -- January 12, 2016

Reuters: Syria pro-government forces push into rebel-held town in Latakia province

Syrian pro-government troops battled insurgents in and around a rebel-held town in Latakia province on Tuesday, a monitoring group and state media said, in a push by President Bashar al-Assad's forces to retake lost territory in the west.

Fighting on the government side was supported by dozens of air strikes, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Army troops and fighters from Lebanese Hezbollah had entered Salma, it said, which is located northeast of Latakia's coastal capital and is a frontline between rebels and government forces.

Syria's state news agency SANA said its troops had taken control of Salma's southeastern outskirts.

Syria War News Updates -- January 12, 2016

Syria: Army Seizes 'Full Control' of Rebel-Held Town -- AP
Syria army 'seizes' key rebel stronghold in Latakia -- AFP
Syria says it seized key rebel redoubt in Latakia -- Arutz Sheva
Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq -- US Department of Defense
'Heartbreaking scenes' witnessed in starving Syrian town -- Reuters
U.N. official: 400 starving Syrians must be evacuated now or face death -- CNN
Evacuation talks under way for besieged Syria town -- AFP
Besieged Madaya, Syria, Residents Describe Starvation, 'Heartbreaking' Conditions -- ABC News
'No life:' Suffering in cut off Madaya is worst seen in Syria war, UN says -- Al Jazeera
Syria needs new constitution, says Russia's Putin -- Reuters
Putin Blames 'Insurgents' for Civilian Casualties in Syria -- VOA
Russia supports both Assad troops and rebels in battle against ISIS – Putin -- RT
Putin: Russia Coordinates Moves in Syria With Both Assad's Army, Opposition -- Sputnik
Syrian civil war: Russian warplanes carry out airstrike on school near Aleppo, killing at least eight children -- The Independent
France demands Russia end Syrian operations -- Reuters
Key Syria negotiator says no talks while 'foreign forces' bombing -- AFP
Syrian opposition wants end of bombing before talks -- Reuters
Syrian opposition casts doubt on peace talks after Russian bombing -- Reuters
Syrian opposition coordinator says U.S. clearly backtracked over Syria -- Reuters
Assad: Syrian war brings stronger relations with Iran -- TASS
Iran equips and trains Syrian forces, says Iranian interior minister -- AFP
Crippled by War, Syrian City of Homs Attempts Comeback -- VOA