Syria news/Archive/2016-09

29 Sept. City fighting near ancient Citadel video, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=729VrCANQ3o 'Old Aleppo. Fight in Azazi'], ANNA news; (English captions).

Hacker News: 37-Year-Old &#39;Syrian Electronic Army&#39; Hacker Pleads Guilty in US court

28 Sept. The Intercept: U.S. and EU Sanctions Are Punishing Ordinary Syrians and Crippling Aid Work, U.N. Report Reveals

19 Sept. 2016 After the ceasefire lapsed at 7 p.m., Syrian jets pound Aleppo as Syrian Army prepares to attack, Almasdar News.

Aid trucks said to be hit.
 * Reuters: Aleppo aid trucks were "hit by air strikes", quoting SOHR and interviews given to them over the phone.
 * According to Russian reconciliation centre, al Nusra started massive attacks west of Aleppo, attacking SAA positions and residential areas west of Aleppo with massive artillery and MLRS fire from 19:30 to 20:00.
 * BBC version
 * Footage by the Syrian Civil Defence aka White Helmets at the warehouse in Aleppo, Syria, where a UN-RC aid convoy was targeted by airstrikes; video.
 * Talks about 'regime helicopters' hitting warehouse, with 20 trucks outside; 'regime' striking again when rescuers arrived. (Not a trustworthy source with no independent info at this point..)
 * Moved here: Attack on Red Crescent convoy in Urm al-Kubra.

17 Sept. 2016 US airstrike on SAA in Deir ez-Zor (separate page and talk page).

15 Sept. 2016. Online video feed from Aleppo. First Deputy Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff Russian Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Viktor Poznihir, RT report and video: On Castello road  "checkpoint was set and transferred to Syrian Red Crescent, guarded by 'people militia'. (Some earlier reports suggested Russian guards, but this report does not mention this). Syrian government forces  ceased fire and began to redeploy tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and artillery on the set distance, to satisfy conditions for the creation of a demilitarized zone. Air and space forces of Russia and the Syrian Air Force suspended air strikes on the areas where there may be opposition forces.    "There is no information on  analogous actions by opposition forces controlled by USA". Also separation of rebel forces, into moderate and otherwise, is not seen on the ground. Follow-up video reports by Russian military located in Khmeimim reconciliation center and in Aleppo make certain that withdrawal refers to Castello Road, and that the rebels do not follow the suit. They ask to stop the withdrawal if this remains to be the case. Contacts with USA said to be made.

13 Sept. "Firefight wrecks Russian army Syria vid-link, commanders stand ground until dismissed", Russian  reconciliation centre video feed from Castello Road- RT. Same event, another video cut

8 Sept. 2016. It is reported that SAA established full control over Al-Ramouseh District in southern Aleppo- Almasdar News.

4 Sept. First reports of southern rebel's corridor into Aleppo re-sealed. At night and early morning, SAA and Liva al Quds broke Al Nusra defences in the southern part of artillery base Ramuseh and captured the artillery college building and buildings nearby (Cassad). Rebels still control the central part of artillery vase where artillery academy is located. SAA assault continued in the evening. ANNA news video from the ground with English captions from the area. Fighting continued for several more days.