Syria news/Current

3 Jan. Iraqi State television said Qasem Soleimani was among a number of people killed in a strike near Baghdad's airport ( AP, Mil. Times; BBC; Cassad).
 * PressTV carries Iraqi media report, then updates to confirm.
 * BBC: The Revolutionary Guards confirmed Soleimani's death, Iran state television reported. Pentagon confirmed.

2 Jan. Turkey’s parliament has approved sending troops to Libya

1 Jan. On New Year's Eve, the Russian military base Hmeimim in Syrian Latakia was bombarded by rocket launchers from pro-Turkish militants. All 6 rockets were intercepted by "Pantsir-C1", and launch positions (said to be near Turkish observation posts) were bombed by Russian airforce; the latter may start before all the launches, according to "a military source" of Rusvesna

Protests at the US embassy in Baghdad continued for the second day, followed by a report that protesters retreat: ''The retreat was instigated by the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella body for dozens of militia groups including factions aligned with Iran. The PMF said protesters demanding the expulsion of American troops from Iraq had delivered their message to the U.S.'' (WSJ). Many photos, including aerial, here

Cassad: "Turkey built a runway right in Tripoli...It is assumed that it will be used for take-off attack and reconnaissance drones, and light attack aircraft. Regular Turkish troops expected to arrive in Libya in the coming month"

31 Dec. @realDonaldTrump: "Iran is orchestrating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq"; see also: CNN; BBC; Rus.Vesna.

PressTV/Iran carries BisimchiMedia-signed video.

It is claimed on Cassad that: ''the advance was stopped by a man in the form of Shiite militia, who convinced the crowd not to continue, saying that: "The message was delivered." Bloodshed has not yet occurred, although there were people with weapons on both sides. So far, 3 people have suffered from breathing tear gas" '' (unsourced); see also: Rybar' 1, 2.

The US sends the 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East. 750 soldiers were flown to Kuwait immediately, 4000 more will follow.

Videos appeared showing choppers, marines deploying at the US embassy in Baghdad, and troops om Kuwait -Fox; PressTV (followed by some footage and comments at the embassy).

29 Dec. After a US contractor is killed (1, 2) at K1 military base near Kirkuk, Iraq, US conducted air strikes on a pro-Iran militant group Kata'ib Hizbollah in Iraq and Syria; soon after, 4 rockets exploded near a base housing US troops near Baghdad, without wounding anyone.
 * US strike video images released.

The Turkish Minster of Defense states that Turkey doesn't intend to leave its observation points in Idlib that are now surrounded by the SAA after their offensive.

28 Dec. Four planeloads of "Asian mercenaries" are transferred from Turkish-controlled Syria to Libya. Videos show the first Syrian National Army fighters on the frontlines in Tripoli.

Following some counter-attacks by HTS-led militants and a pause due to bad weather conditions, the SAA resumes its Idlib offensive. ANNA News has published a half-an-hour documentary with war footage about the first week of the offensive.

27 Dec. Wikileaks publishes its fourth batch of leaked OPCW documents indicating that the OPCW leadership conspired to produce a fabricated report of the 2018 Douma hostage massacre and to destroy dissenting evidence. Western media is still silent on the story.

Presidential adviser Shaaban says that Russian and Syrian companies have started to explore oil and gas in the Mediterranean together.

25 Dec. Saudi Aramco involvement in oil projects at Al-Omar oil field/Deir-ez-zor/eastern Syria, SDF/Kurdish/US controlled, is alleged 1,2, 3, denied 4.

24 Dec. Spokesman for the Turkish President Ibrahim Kalin is quoted saying, as translated to Russian and quoted by patriotic Russian social media: “We see that the number of attacks in Idlib is growing. We sent our tough message to the Russian side. Our delegation (in the framework of the negotiations in Moscow - Ed.) was informed that they will make efforts to stop the attacks from the regime within 24 hours, ” Rus. Probably more accurate, softer-sounding wording is in Turkish here. Eng. versions are reported in mass media, eg here.

It is said that SAA 'takes a pause'. ANNA news correspondent explains this by low clouds and expected heavy rain, noting that the rebels took advantage of the pause to retake several settlements. Pro -government media broadcasts to the rebels instructions to surrender to save life.

23 Dec. The SAA has captured several towns and villages in their restarted Idlib offensive and it is reported that negotiations over the surrender of Ma'arat al Numan have begun.

22 Dec. At about 11 pm it is reported that Syrian air defenses in Damascus responded to guided missiles attack said to come from the Holland Heights or Lebanon and blamed on Israel. Also, DIY drone attacks on the Russia's Kmeimim airbase and "Hama army airbase" (aka Hama military airport?) are said to be repelled (1,2, 3).

It is reported quoting 'a military source' that as a result of suicide vehicle bomber attack near Raffa in Idlib, about 30 SAA special forces 25th division (former 'Tiger force') soldiers are killed, including colonel Basel Ali Khadur, and over 80 are wounded- report, photos, explosion video. The source is quoted to express SAA determination to continue the advance.

IS claimed (1, 2) that 2 Russian soldiers are killed in ambush near Nava, Daraa, showing 'Kalashnikovs' for proof. Report is 'not confirmed' on t-channels.

21 Dec. ANNA news report on SAA advances in Idlib, Eng. subs (videos, maps, 25th division mentions).

SANA: "synchronous attacks" on Homs refinery and Rayan Gas station cause damage

20 Dec. weltnetz.tv publishes an interview with Karin Leukefeld, the only German correspondent permanently accredited in Syria, about "Western" media's coverage of Syria in recent years and their dealing with her reporting from government-controlled parts of the country (German language video).

It seems like the SAA has started the next step of the Idlib offensive successfully.

19 Dec. According to Al Masdar citing Al Watan, the SAA is about to start the next phase of their Idlib offensive focusing on Ma'arat al-Nu'man.

The Rojava Information Center releases a report about "The Political System of North and East Syria".

16 Dec. SANA publishes the English-language transcript of an interview Assad gave to Chinese Phoenix TV. (video)

10 Dec. The 14th round of the Astana talks is taking place in Kazakhstan's capital city Nur-Sultan (formerly Astana).

9 Dec. SANA publishes the transcript of an interview Assad gave to Italian RAI at the end of November which wasn't broadcasted by the Italian TV station as scheduled on December 2nd. (video)

27 Nov. GasChamberGate finally reaches mainstream media. The Guardian finally publishes a story on the OPCW leaks after OPCW defend their hoax Syria report. Peter Hitchens calls Trump’s missile strike a scandal.

26 Nov. It is said (with some photo and video backing) that pro-government airplanes destroyed Kurdish-run oil smuggling facilities and tanker trucks in the vicinity of Tarhin settlement near the city of Al-Bab in Aleppo province, northern Syria. It is claimed that oil was smuggled through Jarablus and Erbil region in northern Iraq to Turkey. "Major" Yusuf al-Hamoud, representative of the "Syrian National Army" (TFSA) is quoted claiming that Russian airplanes have been involved (SANA, Rusvesna).

15 Nov. SANA publishes the English translation of an extensive interview Assad gave to Russian media (video in Arabic).

13 Nov. Turkey has started to send imprisoned ISIS fighters back to their European countries of origin and thanks Germany and the Netherlands for cooperation.

The initial examination of Mesurier's body and the testimony of his wife suggest suicide.

11 Nov. Turkish media reports that White Helmets-founder James Le Mesurier was found dead near his home in Istanbul after "he may have fallen from the balcony of his apartment". (Follow-up article)

30 Oct. SANA: SAA in "fierce clashes" with Turkish forces

27 Oct. President Trump makes an announcement that US special forces kill the ISIS leader al-Baghdadi in a raid to Idlib, Syria. (It is said that part of the raid was through the Russian airspace; yet RU MoD says it 'does not have reliable information' and does not expect any 'operational effect.' Peskov later stated that Russian military saw some planes and drones in the area. Reaction by the other side so far is covered here; no word on a new caliph). Photos said to show bodies of others killed in the raid, some videos from the scene, + questions raised here. The news is said to favor Trump while Ukrainegate and impeachment dominate US headlines.

26 Oct. Russian MoD accuses US of smuggling Syrian oil; publishes some photos of fuel trucks in Deir-iz-Zor dated Aug-Sep. 2019

18 Oct. Russian servicemen from the reconciliation center visited a school in es-Salykhia on the western bank of Euphrates south of Deir ez-Zor. (Wikipedia; map). A center to facilitate Russian contacts with tribes on the eastern bank was established/announced here back in 2017.

Assad receives a high-ranking Russian delegation.

17 Oct. Following a visit of Pence and Pompeo in Turkey, the two countries release a statement which other than weasel words contains a point 11 that says that Operation Peace Spring is paused and the YPG has 120 hours to retreat from the borders. If that happens, the operation will be over and the US promises in point 12 that no further sanctions will be imposed on Turkey. Turkey, as stated in point 10, will "primarily" enforce the security in a not further specified "safe zone".

16 Oct. Two coalition fighter jets destroy the infamous Lafarge cement factory.

13 Oct. SDF and the Syrian government reach an agreement: the SAA will take control of the whole Turkish border. At the same time, US occupation forces are said to be withdrawing from all of "north" Syria.

The Iraqi foreign minister announces that his country will demand Syria's return to the Arab League.

12 Oct. SDF General Mazloum Kobani Abdi tells US envoy William Roebuck to either protect the Kurds or leave and let Russia and the SAA move in to offer protection.

Trump releases "$50 million in stabilization assistance for Syria to protect persecuted ethnic and religious minorities, and advance human rights."

11 Oct. The Iranian tanker Sabiti on its way to Syria is hit by two missiles in the Red Sea. This is the third Iranian tanker in 6 months to be attacked in this part of the Red Sea. The attack follows the Fujairah oil tanker explosions, the Gulf of Oman tanker attacks, and the seizure of the of Grace 1 in the Mediterranean, bringing the total number of tankers sized or attacked in the tanker war to at least 14.

US (or NATO) troops in the vicinity of Kobani came under artillery fire from Turkish positions. According to US Navy Capt. Brook DeWalt "All U.S. troops are accounted for with no injuries. U.S. Forces have not withdrawn from Kobani," after earlier reports that US forces departed the targeted outpost. Prior social media reports claimed that 2 French soldiers were injured; those reports are not confirmed. (Apparently US and French troops presence near Kobani is known since at least 2017).

9 Oct. According to Erdogan, the invasion of Syria named Operation Peace Spring started in the afternoon. Live updates by SyriaInfo. This follows a phone conversation between Erdogan and Putin where, according to the Kremlin, "both sides reaffirmed the importance of ensuring the unity and territorial integrity of Syria and respect for its sovereignty". Earlier, the "Autonomous Administration" of the regions east of the Euphrates declared a three day mobilization state. There will be a UNSC meeting tomorrow morning on request of several European countries.

Firat News Agency publishes an article outlining the chronology leading up to Trump's latest withdrawal claim and the allegedly imminent Turkish invasion.

8 Oct. Surfacing videos seem to show the US army withdrawing from several border posts while the Turkish army is deploying forces to their side of the border.

7 Oct. The White House announces that US troops will withdraw from northern Syria, allowing Turkey to start its operation. Trump tweets that captured ISIS fighters are now the responsibility of Turkey. The SDF releases a statement accusing the US of "abandoning of its responsibilities in the war on terror". Vladimir Putin turns 67 years old.

5 Oct. Erdogan once again threatens to invade Syria east of the Euphrates "maybe today or tomorrow" while his spokesperson is in discussion with US National Security Adviser O'Brien about "accelerating safe zone establishment".

4 Oct. The Turkish-backed "Syrian National Army" and "National Liberation Front" collections of gangs from mercenary to jihadi merge under the "Syrian National Army" umbrella at the request of the Turkish government. Wikipedia has the combined man-power under the lemma "Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army" at 80-100 thousand.