Syria news/Current

1 Jan. In a new round of the inter-"rebel" war inside Idlib pocket, al Qaeda captures several towns and villages from the Turkey-backed Nouredine al-Zinki group after the latter had killed a couple of fighters of the former.

31 Dec. The Iraqi airforce flies attacks on al-Susah village in Hajin pocket and reportedly kills 30 ISIS commanders at a meeting.

US anti-ISIS envoy Brett McGurk leaves office.

30 Dec. Syria and Iran sign a long-term strategic agreement focusing on "comprehensive cooperation at the financial and banking levels".

Syria and Iraq sign an agreement on security cooperation.

According to Iraqi media reported by Al Masdar, Assad has given green light to Iraqi forces to enter the country to fight ISIS without his specific approval. This would mean that the PMU forces amassed at the border can cross over and get active in the Hajin pocket whenever they see fit.

Military sources talking to Al Masdar say that the SAA has taken control over the Tishren Dam connecting Aleppo and Raqqa provinces over the Euphrates.

29 Dec. After the meeting of a high-level Turkish delegation with its Russian counterparts in Moscow to discuss Syria, both sides praise the cooperation between the countries.

First on-the-ground reports of actual US troops withdrawing come through Turkish loyalist media.

28 Dec. The YPG issues a statement inviting the SAA to take over Manbij. The SAA enters the town immediately after. Erdogan tells reporters that Turkey "will have nothing left to do in Manbij once the YPG leaves the area".

27 Dec. The United Arab Emirates reopen their embassy in Damascus. Bahrain follows later in the day. Reportedly core members of the Arab League including Saudi Arabia and Egypt want Syria back in the club.

26 Dec. In the early morning, six Israeli F-16 fighter jets attack targets in and around Damascus from the Lebanese airspace. To the great anger of the Russians, they again use a trick hiding behind other aircrafts to confuse the air defense systems. This time two civilian planes landing in Beirut and Damascus airports are used as cover, unlike last time without causing harm to the passengers.

Turkish proxy forces deny statements of lower proxies the day before that an attack on Manbij or in the East has begun.

The main minorities in Rojava - Assyrians, Syriacs and Armenians, publish Christmas messages in full support of the SDF and against any Turkish invasion.

25 Dec. Syrian and Russian troops enter a formerly SDF-controlled village west of Manbij and erect a checkpoint.

Turkey's foreign minister says that the Turkish army would enter Syria "as soon as possible" to prevent a power vacuum created by the US withdrawal.

The SDF makes further progress against ISIS in the Hajin pocket and cuts several supply lines between the remaining villages.

24 Dec. Russia's deputy foreign minister essentially doubts that the US military will follow Trump's orders to withdraw, and states that so far no change in their activities has been observed.

Trump tweets "Saudi Arabia has now agreed to spend the necessary money needed to help rebuild Syria, instead of the United States. See? Isn’t it nice when immensely wealthy countries help rebuild their neighbors rather than a Great Country, the U.S., that is 5000 miles away. Thanks to Saudi A!".

22 Dec. Brett McGurk, Obama-appointed US "envoy" to the coalition against ISIS, joins "Defense" Minister "Mad Dog" Mattis in resigning in protest over Trump's decision to withdraw the troops from Syria.

21 Dec. Erdogan says that the planned military operation is now "put on hold" but may come "in the next months". He also says that "regional security" will be ensured in cooperation with Russia and Iran.

According to al Masdar sources, the SAA Tiger Forces move to eastern Deir ez-Zor province to finish off ISIS in the Hajin pocket.

20 Dec. US approves $3.5bn "Patriot" missile sale to Turkey as Turkey's defence minister said that Kurdish fighters east of the Euphrates in Syria "will be buried in their ditches when the time comes". Reportedly, Turkey had floated the idea of offering U.S. technical experts the chance to study any S-400s that it purchased from Russia.

Trump tweets "After historic victories against ISIS, it’s time to bring our great young people home!" and includes a 79 seconds long video saying that they are coming home "now".

According to Yeni Safak, Trump's special representative to Syria Jim Jeffrey, who opposed the withdrawal, has cancelled all his scheduled meetings at the UN for today.

19 Dec. According to WSJ and other US media, the US is preparing to withdraw their troops in Northern Syria "immediately" (MoA summary). Meanwhile Trump tweets "We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency."

17 Dec. Erdogan claims that after "a positive response" from Trump, the east of Euphrates operation can launch "any moment now" "without harming the US soldiers".

16 Dec. In a German language interview, a member of a Syrian Kurdish youth organization calls the anticipated Turkish attack on Rojava "likely the biggest war that has ever been forced on the Kurdish people". He mentions that mobilization has taken place across the region over the weekend.

15 Dec. WaPo Claims American "Tortured Then Executed" in Syria - Admits No Evidence

13 Dec. After a new offensive lasting several days, the SDF stands in the center of Hajin city, the last urban stronghold of ISIS in Syria.

12 Dec. Turkey 'primed to start' offensive against US-backed Kurds in Syria (The Guardian), (Cassad Rus, robo-Eng).

11 Dec. Andre Vltchek publishes a travel report from Syria.

30 Nov. Another Israeli attack on targets in southern Syria is claimed to have been a success by Israel and a failure by Syria.

According to Kurdish sources, in a special operation the SDF rescues 100 civilians from the ISIS capital Hajin.

26 Nov. In an offensive over the weekend, ISIS was able to overtake a town bordering the Hajin pocket from the SDF. The town is now back in SDF hands.

25 Nov. SANA: rebels target neighborhoods in Aleppo city with shells containing toxic gas, causing asphyxiation among civilians, 50 said to be affected, with different numbers reported elsewhere. Washington Post denies. It is said that Russian military chemists arrived on the scene. Preliminary reports (based on symptoms) suggest chlorine.

Russian MoD published a brief video of the chemical attack aftermath (RT), again accusing the White Helmets of staging the attack.

Russian Air Force performed strikes on rebel positions said to be involved in the chemical attack (RIA)

21 Nov. Local sources cited by SANA claim that the US-led "coalition" today used white phosphorus ammunition in their bombing of Hajin again. 20 Nov. US Treasury announced sanctions on Russian-Iranian network shipping oil to Syria

19 Nov. The latest episode of the "Around The Empire" podcast features an interview with Joshua Landis about the latest Syria developments.

A new, 11th meeting in the Astana format is planned to take place in the Kazakh capital on November 28-29.

According to Iranian media, Iraq's Hashd al-Sha'abi (PMU) have blocked US troops from taking over a military base in Anbar province close to the Syrian border.

18 Nov. According to Kurdish sources, Turkish special forces in Afrin canton have taken up operations against some mercenary gangs supposedly aligned to themselves.

17 Nov. The SAA takes over a strategic hilltop and now controls 80 percent of the former ISIS pocket at al Safa volcanic fields. 16 Nov. According to Russian numbers, among the 50,000 people in Rukban refugee camp are 6,000 militants of the US-nurtured Maghawir al-Thawra group.

Despite support through heavy bombardments by the US-led "coalition", the SDF has a hard time making any progress against ISIS in the Hajin pocket.

15 Nov. The Rojava administration calls again on Western countries to take back the ISIS fighters that came from them to Syria and are now in prison. These calls are routinely met with silence for example by Germany from where 10 men, 10 women and 15 minors are in SDF hands.

14 Nov. Southfront publishes a collection of recent reports about "mysterious helicopters" evacuating ISIS fighters from Middle East battle fields.

12 Nov. Reinforced, the SAA starts a new offensive against ISIS at the al Safa volcanic fields.

Fights between SAA and al Qaeda "rebels" along the Idlib demarcation line continue.

ANHA publishes a report about what they call the "systematic Turkification policy" in Turkish-occupied Afrin canton.

Pro-Erdogan Turkish newspaperYeni Safak claims that the US "is monitoring Turkey from military bases located near border". It claims that the US has three bases in Manbij, 22 over the whole Syrian north, three military runways, a radar system and seven resupply lines from the south(ern oil fields) to the north(ern border region).

11 Nov. An SDF statement announces the resumption of the suspended offensive against ISIS in the Hajin pocket. It also announces that a high-ranking leader of the terror cult was arrested during a special operation in Raqqa.

10 Nov. Arab clan elders in Hasakah province issue a statement of support for the SDF in case of any Turkish cross-border aggression.

The military chief of the 6,000 fighters strong FSA "Hamza division" tells Daily Sabah that they completed training by the Turkish military and are ready to fight the US-supported YPG east of the Euphrates now. As Joshua Landis points out, the Hamza Divison was originally vetted and armed by the US to fight Assad.

9 Nov. According to SOHR, coalition airstrikes on the Hajin pocket have again caused many civilian deaths, at one target today "twenty-six IS family members including 14 children and 9 women".

A captured ISIS member tells his interrogators that the ISIS cell in the al Safa volcanic fields gets supply directly and indirectly from the US Army base at al Tanf to the north-east of it.

SANA publishes details on the liberated ISIS hostages.

8 Nov. Based on the controversial so-called Caesar Report, France indicts and issues arrest warrants against three Syrians including Assad intimus Ali Mamlouk for complicity in torture, disappearances and crimes against humanity.

The SAA liberates 19 women abducted months ago in as-Sweida by ISIS in an operation in Homs desert.

A SANA correspondent is sentenced to four years in prison in Turkey for "insulting the state and the Turkish government". According to SANA, his real "crime" is that he exposed Turkish aid to terrorist groups through its border policies.

The Turkish army again shells border villages in Kobane and Tal Abyad countryside.

7 Nov. At a film screening at the European Parliament, the protagonist of the film, a YPJ commander during the defense of Kobane, is present through a video call and urges the EU to "stop the Turkish state" from destroying the progress made in Rojava.

The SAA at Al Safa volcanic fields receives reinforcements from Syrian and Russian special forces after the recent attacks by the surrounded ISIS forces there.

6 Nov. After having arrived there recently with the UN convoy, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent is carrying out a vaccination campaign for the children of Rukban camp.

5 Nov. According to Turkish state news agency Anadolu, YPG and ISIS made a deal earlier this year to hand over seven US soldiers captured by ISIS in exchange for the YPG leaving some oil wells for the terror cult to take over. The US denies the allegations.

According to Novaya Gazeta, six Russian mercenaries of the "Wagner" company are among 11 victims of an explosion in a former police station between Damascus and Deir ez-Zor.

4 Nov. Iraqi PMU forces stand at the border willing to take up the fight against ISIS in the Hajin pocket after the SDF halted its efforts. They are waiting for the Syrian and Iraqi governments to make an agreement.

According to its chief pharmacist, Syria is exporting medicine to 16 countries, down from a pre-crisis number of 56 countries.

The US continues to be accused of using banned white phosphorus ammunition in their air attacks on Hajin pocket.

3 Nov. After several attempts failed due to security reasons, a Russian-escorted UN humanitarian aid convoy finally reaches Al Rukban camp in the illegally US-occupied Al Tanf pocket.

2 Nov. There are continuous skirmishes happening between SAA and Al Qaeda across the Idlib buffer zone.

According to SOHR, Turkish intelligence is mobilizing its proxy forces west of the Euphrates for the expected operation to the east of it.

Turkish military expands its cross-border artillery attacks further east from the previous targets Kobane and Tal Abyad to Ras al-Ayn.

Two young reporters of ANHA agency are attacked and injured by Turkish military while covering the attacks on the Syrian border towns. The agency directs a statement at international human rights organizations.

1 Nov. The surrounded ISIS gangs in Al Safa volcanic fields conduct a number of attacks with considerable SAA casualties.

31 Oct. In a wide ranging press briefing, Konashenkov shares details about new chemical weapon provocations planned in Idlib by the Turkistan Islamic Party gang, and blames ISIS' recent gains in the Euphrates valley on the US' "inability to efficiently fight terrorism" and the fact that the terror cult is still supplied with weapons and equipment through channels the Russians don't name but claim to monitor.

The SDF announces that it will halt the operation in the Hajin pocket because of the need of defense against the Turkish attacks on Rojava in the northern border regions.

30 Oct. Erdogan announces that Turkey has finished preparations for a large scale operation against the YPG east of the Euphrates.

Reuters reports that Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen will replace Staffan de Mistura as United Nations Syria envoy at the end of November, with the approval of all five permanent members of the Security Council and Syria.

29 Oct. Putin appoints a new Russian ambassador to Syria.

After ISIS' recent gains towards the Iraqi border, the PMU sends reinforcements to safeguard their side of the border.

Mark Ames exposes how Bellingcat collaborated with ShamiWitness, the most influential ISIS propagandist on Twitter.

28 Oct. The Turkish army uses the first anniversary of the liberation of Raqqa from ISIS for attacks across the border east of the Euphrates on villages in Kobane countryside. Meanwhile ISIS uses sandstorms as cover for further counterattacks in the Hajin pocket, taking back several villages from the SDF. Sandstorms also hit Rukhban camp in the illegal US protectorate around al Tanf and kill over 20 refugees.

27 Oct. On initiative of Erdogan, a four-way summit about Syria with the leaders of Turkey, Russia, Germany and France is taking place in Istanbul. It is meant as addition to the ongoing Geneva and Astana processes and, judged by the Turkish foreign minister's words, apparently to lure France and Germany away from the "Syria small group" around UKUS and the Arab Kingdoms. (Hürriyet)(TASS)

Firat News Agency interviews a member of the MSD presidential council about the developments in Rojava and why he thinks that all governments of the region are afraid of their model.

26 Oct. Joshua Landis' blog publishes an interview with Lebanon's minister for refugee affairs about the situation of the around 1.5 million Syrians living in the country.

ISIS continues to fiercely resist and even counter the SDF's attempt to progress in the Hajin pocket.

25 Oct. An exchange of bodies and prisoners between ISIS and SAA takes place at the al Safa volcanic fields, which according to reports is part of a larger deal with the goal that the terror cult leaves the south-eastern desert spot and withdraws to the Hajin pocket or to the Hama desert.

24 Oct. Another alleged massacre by US-led "coalition" bombardments of al-Susah is reported by loyalist sources, while Kurdish sources report that almost all of the village has been conquered today after several days of intense fighting.

23 Oct. A mixed US-SDF patrol near Manbij, including US special forces, gets under fire from "unknown" forces, likely Turkish-backed.

22 Oct. As part of a nation-wide campaign for early detection of breast cancer, a march takes place in Qamishli. Syria's first lady has recently been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and pictured with a headscarf, which she doesn't usually wear.

21 Oct. Russian media of unknown reliability report "some US successes in electronic warfare against Russian installations in Syria".
 * Al-Monitor: ...DARPA program aims to defend against a so-called kill chain ...
 * DARPA: Adapting Cross-Domain Kill-Webs (ACK)

Shoigu says around 88,000 militants were killed by the Russian military during their three years long operation.

20 Oct. According to several sources, the US-led "coalition" has bombed several non-military targets including a mosque in al-Susah village in the Hajin ISIS pocket and killed a total of 62 civilians in recent days. The US command comments that those were legitimate targets used by ISIS. The SDF reports intense fighting over the village.

19 Oct. According to SANA, a large explosion in a plant near the Turkish border in Idlib province was an accident caused by experimentation on the manufacturing of conventional and chemical weapons, with foreign "experts" present.

There are ceasefire violations at several places along the Idlib de-escalation zone, including the western border of Aleppo city.

18 Oct. At Valdai, Putin picks up the remarks of the Reconciliation Center about ISIS taking 700 hostages and moving them to the Hajin pocket last weekend. According to him, the terror cult threatens to kill 10 people a day if demands not specified are not followed, and has started to put their threats into practice the day before yesterday. US officials "rebut" the claims.

A Legal Status Settling Center for returning citizens to use the general amnesty is installed at the freshly-opened Nassib border crossing with Jordan.

17 Oct. At a PYD meeting, the co-chair asks the Syrian government to stop the language of threats and look into ways of implementing the system of Democratic Confederalism envisioned by Öcalan, calling it the only solution for the whole region.

Kurdish sources report that the Manbij defense lines got attacked by Turkish forces and their proxies.

16 Oct. Erdogan again accuses the US of failing to make the YPG leave Manbij and threatens to take military steps if the situation isn't resolved soon.

The Turkish military reinforces its observation points in the Idlib buffer zone on the first day after the deadline to demilitarize it, which al Qaeda/Nusra/HTS refused to do.

15 Oct. The Nassib border crossing to Jordan is re-opened for the first time in over three years. Also, the Quneitra crossing to the occupied Golan Heights is re-opened for the first time in four years.

al Qaeda releases a statement reaffirming that they will not comply with the Russian-Turkish Idlib agreement that asked them to leave the to-be buffer zone until today. It is Turkey's agreed duty to make them leave, and some of the groups they control have done so in recent days.

The Syrian foreign minister and the political wing of the SDF have an indirect exchange of words over their ideas on how to move on with the situation west and east of the Euphrates.

According to the Russian Reconciliation center, on October 13 ISIS has attacked a refugee camp in Deir ez-Zor province, abducted 700 people and taken them back to the Hajin pocket to be used as human shields.

14 Oct. Syria takes the white phosphorus issue to the UN.

13 Oct. There are reports that the US-led "coalition" has used banned white phosphorus weapons in their attacks of the ISIS stronghold Hajin. Russia calls for an investigation.

The public radio and TV infrastructure in Deir ez-Zor province is completely working for the first time in seven years.

Amnesty International's new Secretary General Kuma Naidoo visits Raqqa and shows himself "shocked" by the devastation left by the US-led "coalition"'s bombs. It "defies logic" that anybody is still able to live there, he added.

11 Oct. Ursula Behr is buried in the Latin cemetery of Damascus' al-Tabbaleh neighbourhood.

9 Oct. Terminally ill friend of ACLOS "Urs" dies on her last wish journey to Syria at age 58, after opening an exhibition of her art in Damascus. (German language report by her husband about their last trip to Maaloula). Condolences and may she rest in peace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRK9a2r6M48 Assad issues Decree 18 which grants "general amnesty for military deserters inside and outside the country and the crimes included in the Military Penalties Law", including fugitives from justice if they turn themselves in in four months inside and six months outside the country.

Trump announces that UN ambassador Nikki Haley will leave her post at the end of the year.

An al Watan report finds that Turkey is responsible for deploying up to 7,000 Turkistani Jihadis to Syria over the years.

7 Oct. Assad speaks in front of the Baath party's central committee on latest developments.

6 Oct. Moscow calls on the UNHCR to help to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees to their homes.

5 Oct. After complaining for some time about the US' delay to implement the Manbij agreement, Turkey now through state-owned Anadolu Agency claims that against the US' wishes, the YPG instead of leaving is digging trenches and preparing for the defense of the town.

4 Oct. ISIS executes another of the Druze women they kidnapped in the villages of as-Sweida in August, threatening to kill them all if the SAA doesn't stop their advance in the al Safa volcanic fields where the cult's gangs are surrounded without access to fresh water.

According to IDF sources, Israel plans to commit its future war crimes against Syria with the F-35i fighter jet to counter the S-300 defense system.
 * Israel and Syria are in a state of war since the establishment of Israel, 1948, with an armistice agreement. War conventions ban attacking civilians, grossly disproportionate response, etc. Israel is a signatory of Hague convention. Both Israel and Syria are signatories of Geneva conventions, but not all its protocols.

3 Oct. Friend of ACLOS "Urs", terminally ill with cancer, has fulfilled her last wish and seen Syria with her own eyes.

The series of assassinations of high-ranking Nusra leaders in Idlib continues with several victims in recent days, all foreigners from the Caucasus and Central Asia.

The EU parliament withholds 70 million € aid to Turkey because of "violations of human rights and the freedom of the press".

2 Oct. According to ANNA News, a first S-300 system has come into service with the SAA. According to Shoigu, 49 pieces of military equipment have been delivered, including four S-300 launchers. (videos of unloading)

The 4th "Re-Build Syria" expo starts in Damascus.

Both Israel and Syria have expressed their readyness to re-open the Quinetra crossing into the occupied Golan heights.

1 Oct. Peter Korzun takes a look at three years of direct Russian involvement in Syria which started on September 30, 2015.

Iran hits targets in the ISIS pocket at the very east of the Syrian Euphrates with ballistic missiles, claiming that it was in retaliation for the terrorist attack in Ahvaz and killed several ringleaders.

On the International Day for the elderly, 6% of Syria’s population are above 60 years old. For comparison, the global number of people over 60 is 13%, in the US 22%, in Germany 28% and in Japan 33%.