Syria War News Updates -- February 23, 2017

BBC: Syria peace talks: Sides fail to meet on first day in Geneva

The first day of Syrian peace talks at the United Nations have failed to bring the two sides together in direct negotiations.

Expectations were low as government and opposition groups arrived in Geneva for the first time in almost a year.

Staffan de Mistura, the UN's special Syria envoy, met separately with both delegations, but they did not speak with one another.
If talks proceed, they are expected to last several rounds.

The first day ended with a welcoming ceremony in the UN's grand assembly hall, which seated the opposing delegations together in the same room - but no discussion or negotiation took place.

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Syria War News Updates -- February 23, 2017

Syria's warring sides meet at U.N. talks for first time in three years -- Reuters
UN-sponsored Syria Talks Resume in Geneva After 10 Months -- Bloomberg/AP
Syria peace talks resume, but Assad is in the driver’s seat -- Washington Post
Low expectations as Syria talks resume once again -- France 24
Turkey-backed rebels seize Islamic State’s al-Bab stronghold in Syria -- Washington Post
Turkish forces, rebels in 'near full control' of Syria's al-Bab: Ankara -- UPI
Turkish-backed forces seize center of Syria's al-Bab from IS -- Reuters
Turkey-backed rebels in 'near full control' of Al Bab -- Al Jazeera
Syria conflict: Turkey says capture of IS stronghold of al-Bab nearly complete -- BBC
4,000 Russian nationals fight among militants in Syria - Putin -- TASS
Putin: Thousands of Russians fighting with extremists in Syria -- RUDAW
Russian defense minister happy with results of Syria mission -- AP
Putin Praises Russian Military Courage, Determination in Helping People of Syria -- Sputnik
Russia open to US plan for Syria 'safe zones' but only with Bashar al-Assad's approval -- The Independent
McCain secretly travels to Syria to meet with troops, leaders, opposition -- RT
McCain makes secret trip to Syria to meet US military, Kurds -- ABC News
McCain meets with U.S. troops in secret trip to Syria -- AP
New anti-Islamic State plan could change U.S. strategy in Syria -- Washington Post
Women liberated from Isis in Syria take off face veils and burn them -- The Independent