If Russia can’t curb Iran in Syria, the Saudis ask: How can Israel?

Feb 16, 2020 @ 13:04 The Saudi paper Sharq al-Awsat reported on Feb. 15 that the Russians had given up on curbing Iran’s military presence in Syria. It cited Saudi intelligence sources in eastern Syria where the Saudis took control of Syria’s eastern oil region in December under the US aegis. Those sources wonder how […]

Erdogan Demands Syrian Forces Immediately Leave Idlib, Refuses to Wait Until End of Month

ANKARA (Sputnik) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded on Saturday that Syrian government forces immediately withdrew from areas close to Turkish observation posts in Idlib, backtracking from his previous pledge to wait for the move until the end of February. “Until the regime’s [Syrian government] forces pull out beyond the borders [of the Idlib […]

Turkey delivered tanks and anti-aircraft missiles to jihadists: Russian media

2020-02-15     /* custom css */ .td_uid_6_5e47f1023d048_rand.td-a-rec-img { text-align: left; } .td_uid_6_5e47f1023d048_rand.td-a-rec-img img { margin: 0 auto 0 0; } BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:00 P.M.) – Russian agencies quoted a government source as saying on Saturday that Turkey had delivered to Idlib more than 70 tanks, about 200 armored vehicles and 80 cannons, indicating that […]

Syrian Air Defenses Down Several Missiles From Israel, State TV Claims

by Reuters and Algemeiner Staff Syrian air defenses intercepted several Israeli missiles before they hit their targets in the capital Damascus, Syrian state television claimed on Thursday. “The hostile missiles came from the occupied Golan … and they were downed before they reached their targets,” a Syrian army statement said. Damascus earlier this month accused Israel of […]

Erdogan blames Russia for bloodbath in Syria

Erdogan blames Russia for bloodbath in Syria  Thursday, February 13, 2020 8:00:00 AM     On February 12, Turkish President Recep Erdogan blamed Russia for the “bloodbaths” occurring while it supports the Assad regime, Radio Liberty reports. The Turkish leader is threatening to destroy the forces of the Syrian regime “everywhere”, if Turkish soldiers are […]

Too little, too late in Syria, where Turkey undermined the rebellion

By Seth J. Frantzman, opinion contributor — 02/13/20 04:00 PM EST Turkey began sending troops and armored vehicles into Syria’s northern Idlib province in early February in response to a Russian-backed Syrian regime offensive that has killed hundreds and displaced half a million people. Turkey’s moves were sparked by the deaths of eight Turkish soldiers […]

Syria says airstrikes hit targets near Damascus

State media says country’s air defenses respond to attack, which appears to target weapons shipment flown in from Iran By TOI staff Today, 12:50 am   Airstrikes targeted sites around the Syrian capital of Damascus late Thursday, according to Syrian state media. “Our air defenses are responding to hostile targets in the sky over Damascus,” […]

Report in Syria: Israel carried out air strike in Damascus

s Syrian media says country’s anti-aircraft systems were activated against “hostile targets” over the capital.   Elad Benari, 14/02/20 00:02   Missile seen over Damascus Reuters [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQK-hSuNLZY?autohide=1&rel=0] Syrian media reported on Thursday evening that Israeli aircraft carried out an air strike in the Damascus area. The reports said the country’s anti-aircraft systems had been […]

Russia-Turkey Syria talks end without result

 Wednesday, February 12, 2020 8:00:42 AM The Russian delegation which traveled to Ankara to discuss Turkey’s request to stop the Syrian government forces’ offensive against Idlib has now left Turkey, a source in diplomatic circles told Reuters. Apparently the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on how to put an end to the […]

Israeli defense minister: ‘We won’t stop until Iran has been driven from Syria’

“For years on end, we have fought against the Iranian tentacles in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip, but we have not focused enough on weakening Iran itself. Now we are changing the paradigm,” affirms Israeli Defense Minister Naftali Bennett. Ariel Kahana (February 12, 2020 / Israel Hayom) Israel’s defense minister issued a stern warning […]

US seeks to pivot to Turkey-first policy on Syria

The US hopes to push Turkey to greater action against the Syrian regime and Russia in Syria’s northern Idlib province SETH J. FRANTZMAN FEBRUARY 12, 2020 09:57 The US has come with strong words in support of Turkey’s policies in northern Syria, hoping to push Turkey to greater action against the Syrian regime and Russia […]

Russian ambassador slams latest Israeli strikes on Syria

2020-02-10 BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:30 P.M.) – Russian Ambassador to Syria Alexander Yevimov said on Monday that the Israeli raids are dangerous and increase the possibility of conflict in Syria. Yevimov said in an interview with Sputnik Arabic that “the Israeli raids are, of course, provocative and very dangerous for the situation in Syria. The rockets […]

US agreed to fight Iran in Iraq while Israel fights it in Syria — Bennett

Defense minister expresses opposition to reliance on mainly bombing Iranian arms shipments to Hezbollah, saying most convoys will get through anyway Nati YefetJudah Ari GrossToday, 11:08 am Defense Minister Naftali Bennett, left, meets with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper in Washington, DC, on February 4, 2020. (US Department of Defense) Jerusalem and Washington have divided […]

Explosion rocks Syria’s Aleppo as residents return

By Associated Press December 24 at 6:14 AM BEIRUT — Syrian state TV says an explosion rocked eastern Aleppo as some residents were returning to their homes after the government assumed full control of the city earlier this week. It says the explosion on Saturday was caused by a device left inside a school by Syrian rebels, who withdrew from their last remaining enclave under a cease-fire deal after more than four years of fighting. A correspondent for Lebanon’s Hezbollah-run Al-Manar TV was reporting live from the area when the blast sounded in the background, sending a huge cloud of …

Read more