Russia’s top defense official—Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov—plans to observe the Russia-China military maneuvers up close and personal beginning Wednesday, according to the Russian News & Information Agency. Ivanov is scheduled to meet up with his Chinese counterpart, Col. Gen. Cao Gangchuan, as well as ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
