Russia scraps Spain fuel stop for Syria-bound warships

Russia scrapped plans Wednesday to refuel Syria-bound warships in a Spanish port after Madrid came under pressure to refuse access to a flotilla that may be used to help attacks on Aleppo. Spain's foreign ministry said three Russian ships had been due to take on fuel and supplies at the port of Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the north coast of Africa across the sea from Gibraltar. There has been concern that the ships could take part in air strikes in Syria, where Russia has been conducting a bombing campaign for the past year in support of President Bashar al-Assad and has deployed a naval contingent to back up its operation.