ABU DHABI, March 19 (MENA) - UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan

ABU DHABI, March 19 (MENA) - UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan sent a condolences cable to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over the victims of the FlyDubai plane crash which took place early morning while it was attempting to land at Rostov-on-Don Airport in Russia, according to the UAE WAM News Agency.

In the cable, Sheikh Khalifa expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to the Russian president, the friendly people of Russia and the families of the victims.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, sent two similar cables to President Putin.

A Boeing 737-800 from Dubai with 61 people aboard crashed early Saturday during a landing attempt at the airport in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. (MENA)

BAGHDAD, March 19 (MENA) - Backed by Iraqi Air Force and US-led coalition

warplanes, Iraqi joint forces started on Saturday the liberation of Daesh-controlled Hīt city and western districts of Anbar province.

In a press statement, spokesman for the Joint Operation Command Yahya al-Zubaidi said the Iraqi army started the liberation process near Daesh-held district of Kabisa in the city of Hīt.

Meanwhile, the Jazeera and Badia Operations Command (JBOC) said the military operation in Kabisa was supervised by Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al Obeidi from the military airbase of Ain al-Asad. (MENA)

TUNIS, March 19 (MENA) - A Tunisian soldier was injured on Saturday during clashes

TUNIS, March 19 (MENA) - A Tunisian soldier was injured on Saturday during clashes between the army and a terrorist group in the western Kasserine governorate.

The solider, who was rushed to the hospital after the attack, is in stable condition.

Saturday's clashes erupted when the army clamped down on outposts of the terrorist group. (MENA)

Russian and Iranian Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Javad Zarif discussed Friday over

Russian and Iranian Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Javad Zarif discussed Friday over phone the issues of ceasefire observance in Syria, TASS news agency reported.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said: "The sides discussed the situation in the Middle East with a focus on the implementation of ceasefire regime in Syria."

"The two foreign ministers agree to continue to coordinate efforts in the interests of observing ceasefire in Syria in line with the provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2268."

"The two top diplomats stressed the necessity to establish a sustainable political process involving representatives of the Syrian government and a wide spectrum of opposition forces on the basis of the principles reiterated in the resolutions of the International Syria Support Group and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254."

A ceasefire regime brokered by Russia and the United States on February 22 officially came into effect in Syria at midnight Damascus time on February 27. (MENA)