Up until a few weeks ago, most Russians didn't know much about Syria, where a civil war has raged for four years. The conflict in Ukraine has dominated the state-controlled airwaves. But a few weeks ago, the Kremlin launched a bombing campaign in its Soviet-era ally Syria. And then Moscow's mighty propaganda machine swung into action.

When Lynne Al-Nahhas landed in Saudi Arabia in September, she thought she was embarking on her latest assignment of covering the hajj. She never imagined she'd end up covering the worst tragedy to strike the sacred Muslim ritual in years.