In order to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members of civil aircraft of the Russian Federation, the Federal Air Transport Agency sent a directive to ban the use of airspace Syrian Arab Republic. Territorial authorities Rosaviation was instructed to strictly control execution of the directive until further notice. The Federal Air Transport Agency believes that the security of its citizens using the services of Russian airlines must outweigh commercial interests. 

“In this regard, there was a statement about the alleged threat of infringement of the rights of passengers in connection with the introduction of the ban, it is appropriate to recall that, in 2001, during the exercise air defense anti-aircraft missile over the Black Sea was hit by a Tu-154 plane of one of the Russian airlines. So talking about the possible implications for the safety of civil aircraft in the duration of the actual combat is not necessary”. 

The U.S. and the world continue to watch as the events unfold in Syria with allegations of chemical weapons use and an uptick in bombings. In the capital, Damascus there is less shelling and fewer fighter jets flybys and the streets are relatively calm. 

Syria has blamed the rebels, "terrorists" for trying to overthrow the government and bring down President Bashar al-Assad. The rebels lay blame on the government for the bombings in the capital. It’s frustrating for the Syrians as they are hopeful for international intervention. President Obama has indicated that the United States will wait until it has more information on the evidence of chemical weapons use.