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Asia
Syria
December 8, 2024 (23:02 PM) The fall of Assad's government wiped out a bastion from which Iran and Russia exercised influence across the Arab world. Moscow gave asylum to Assad and his family, Ulyanov, Russia's ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, said on his Telegram channel. His sudden overthrow, at the hands of a revolt partly backed by Turkey and with roots in jihadist Sunni Islam, limits Iran's ability to spread weapons to its allies and could cost Russia its Mediterranean naval base. It could allow millions of refugees scattered for more than a decade in camps across Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan to finally return home. For Syrians, it brought a sudden unexpected end to a war in deep freeze for years, with hundreds of thousands dead, cities pounded to dust and an economy hollowed by global sanctions. ’How many people were displaced across the world? How many people lived in tents? How many drowned in the seas?’ the top rebel commander, Golani, told a huge crowd at the medieval Umayyad Mosque in central Damascus, referring to refugees who died trying to reach Europe. A new history is being written in the entire region after this victory, he said, adding that with hard work Syria would be ’a beacon for the Islamic nation.’ The Assad police state - known since his father seized power in the 1960s as one of the harshest in the Middle East with hundreds of thousands of political prisoners - melted away overnight. Inmates poured out of jails after rebels blasted open their cells. Reunited families wept in joy. Newly freed prisoners were filmed at dawn running through the Damascus streets holding up the fingers of both hands to show how many years they had been in prison. The White Helmets rescue organization said it had dispatched five emergency teams to the notorious Sedhaya prison to search for hidden underground cells believed to hold detainees. As the sun set in Damascus without Assad for the first time, roads leading into the city were mostly empty, apart from motorcycles carrying armed men and rebel vehicles caked with mud as camouflage. Some men could be seen looting a shopping centre on the road between the capital and the Lebanese border. The myriad checkpoints lining the road to Damascus were empty. Posters of Assad were torn at his eyes. A thick column of black smoke billowed from the Mazzeh neighbourhood, where Israeli strikes earlier had targeted Syrian state security branches. Intermittent gunfire rang out in apparent celebration. Shops and restaurants closed early in line with a curfew imposed by the rebels. Earlier, the rebels said they had entered the capital with no sign of army deployments. Thousands of people in cars and on foot congregated at a main square in Damascus waving and chanting "Freedom." People were seen walking inside the Al-Rawda Presidential Palace, with some leaving carrying furniture. The Syrian rebel coalition said it was working to complete the transfer of power to a transitional governing body with executive powers. Al-Jalali, prime minister under Assad, called for free elections and said he had been in contact with Golani to discuss the transitional period. Jubilant supporters of the revolt crowded Syrian embassies around the world, lowering red, white and black Assad-era flags and replacing them with the green, white and black flag flown by his opponents. The pace of events stunned Arab capitals and raised concerns about more instability on top of the Gaza war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Assad's fall was thanks to blows Israel had dealt to Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, once the lynchpin of Assad's security forces. In recent years Turkey had backed some rebels in a small redoubt in the northwest and along its border. The biggest strategic losers were Russia and Iran, which intervened in the war's early years to rescue Assad, helping him recapture most territory and all major cities. The front lines were frozen four years ago under a deal Russia and Iran reached with Turkey. But Moscow's focus on its war in Ukraine and the blows to Iran's allies following the war in Gaza - particularly the decimation of Hezbollah by Israel over the past two months - left Assad with scant support. When the celebrations fade, Syria's new leaders face the daunting task of trying to deliver stability to a country that will need billions of dollars in aid. (Source: Reuters)
(8 December 2024) Assad's last public appearance as president was last Sunday, when he met Iran's foreign minister in Damascus. That day, he vowed to "crush" the rebels seizing territory with dizzying speed. But it was unable to stop the collapse of his government in the face of a lightning rebel offensive. Early today morning, after their fighters entered the city without resistance, the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its allies declared that Assad has fled. The head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group, reported that a plane believed to be carrying Assad left Syria via Damascus international airport before the army security forces left the facility. Rahman said the plane was meant to take off at 22:00 (20:00 GMT) yesterday. Reuters news agency cited two unnamed senior Syrian army officers as saying that Assad had boarded a Syrian Air plane at Damascus airport early today. It noted that a Syrian Air Ilyushin Il-76T cargo plane took off from the airport at 03:59 local time (01:59 GMT) with an undisclosed destination. According to data from Flightradar24, the plane initially flew towards the Mediterranean coast, which is a stronghold of Assad's Alawite sect and is also home to two key Russian military bases - Hmeimim airbase and the naval base in Tartous. But after flying over Homs, the plane made a U-turn and started flying eastwards again while also losing altitude. The plane's signal was lost at around 04:39 (02:39 GMT), when it was about 13km west of Homs and flying at an altitude of only 495m. Flightradar24 said the aircraft "was old with an older transponder generation, so some data might be bad or missing", that it was "flying in an area of GPS jamming, so some data might be bad", and that the aircraft tracker was not aware of any airports in the area where the signal was lost. There were also no reports of any plane crashes. Data from Flightradar24 also showed that a Russian military plane took off today from Latakia's international airport, next to Hmeimim, and flew to Moscow. Once again, it was not known who was on board. Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow and been granted asylum out of humanitarian considerations, Russian news agencies are quoting a Kremlin source as saying. Russian state TV also reported the news, which put an end to speculation about the whereabouts of Syria's former president. Earlier, the Russian foreign ministry had announced that Assad "decided to resign the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power". As well as reporting the arrival of Assad in Moscow, Russian state TV said Russian officials were in contact with representatives of 'the Syrian armed opposition' and that they had guaranteed the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions. Russia, which has two key military bases in Syria, is a staunch ally of Assad and had intervened in Syria's 13-year civil war in an effort to keep him in power. Russia insisted its air strikes only targeted 'terrorists' during its nine-year air campaign in support of Assad. The SOHR said in September that more than 21,000 people, including 8,700 civilians, had been killed in Russian military operations. (Source: BBC - United Kingdom)
20:00, Sun, Dec 8, 2024 Isis targets in Syria have been hit with a barrage of US airstrikes in an attempt to wipe the terror group from the earth. US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on X this evening that over 75 targets were struck in the centre of the country using multiple US Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s. 'Battle damage assessments are underway, and there are no indications of civilian casualties", the statement said. CENTCOM explained that the strikes against isis leaders, operatives, and camps were conducted as part of the ongoing mission to disrupt, degrade, and defeat isis, to prevent the terrorist group from conducting external operations and to ensure that isis does not seek to take advantage of the current situation to reconstitute in central Syria. The CENTCOM statement added: "CENTCOM, together with allies and partners in the region, will continue to carry out operations to degrade isis operational capabilities even during this dynamic period in Syria. "There should be no doubt - we will not allow isis to reconstitute and take advantage of the current situation in Syria," said General Kurilla, "All organizations in Syria should know that we will hold them accountable if they partner with or support isis in any way." (Source: Express – United Kingdom)
December 8, 2024 at 12:39 pm ET Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today celebrated the overthrow of Syrian President Assad by al-Qaeda-linked militants and confirmed that Israel has seized a buffer zone inside Syria that separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from the rest of Syria’s territory. Israel also pounded Syria with airstrikes today, targeting dozens of military and government sites to prevent weapons from ending up in the hands of hostile forces. The buffer zone Israel has seized has been patrolled by a UN peacekeeping force, known as UNDOF, since 1974. Netanyahu declared that the agreement establishing the buffer zone and UNDOF has now collapsed. There are signs that Israel had been planning to make a move on the buffer zone before the Assad government collapsed. The Associated Press reported that Israel began construction along the buffer zone, citing satellite images. (Source: Antivar – U.S.)
by DeCamp, the news editor
See also: Map showing the buffer zone between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the rest of Syria
08.12.2024 Anadolu's review of key developments in Syria in recent weeks that led to the collapse of the Assad regime (Nov. 27 - Dec 8, 2024). (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
8 December 2024 Who are the Syrian rebels and where is Assad? / Video/ (Source: BBC - United Kingdom)
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300 024 views08 December 2024 - 14:59 Iran's embassy in the Syrian capital was stormed by rebels today, Iranian state TV reported. 'It is said that the Iranian embassy was stormed alongside nearby stores by an armed group different from the group now controlling [most of] Syria,' Iranian state TV said, referring to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Footage from inside the embassy's premises was shared by Saudi Arabia's al-Arabiya channel, showing that assailants had rummaged through furniture and documents inside the building and damaged some windows. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Baghaei said today that Iranian diplomats had vacated the embassy in the early morning, before any assault. Iran's state TV said HTS had guaranteed there would be no disturbance to the Sayeda Zeinab and Sayeda Ruqqaya shrines in Damascus. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said today all Iranian servants of the shrines had returned to Iran before the capture of Damascus by rebels. Sayeda Zeinab - the granddaughter of the Prophet Mohammad - is venerated by Shi'ites and her shrine is a site of mass pilgrimage for Shi'ites from across the world. It has also been a magnet for Shiite militiamen in Syria. (Source: Times Live – South Africa / Reuters – United Kingdom)
December 8, 2024 8:07 AM EST In his first interview in 2014, Golani kept his face covered, telling a reporter for Qatari network Al-Jazeera that he rejected political talks in Geneva to end the conflict. He said his goal was to see Syria ruled under Islamic law and made clear that there was no room for the country’s Alawite, Shiite, Druze and Christian minorities. With his power consolidated, Golani set in motion a transformation, he began calling for religious tolerance and pluralism. He appealed to the Druze community in Idlib, which the Nusra Front had previously targeted, and visited the families of Kurds who were killed by Turkish-backed militias. In 2021, he had his first interview with an American journalist on PBS. The now more soft-spoken HTS leader said that his group posed no threat to the West and that sanctions imposed against it were unjust. (Source: Time - U.S.)
December 08, 2024 7:52 AM Syrians celebrate Assad's fall. /Photo/ (Source: Voice of America - U.S.)
08 December, 2024 The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Assad had fled the country via Damascus International Airport, though it remains unclear where he is exactly. HTS leader Sharaa, known as Jolani, called on fighters not to enter state institutions and buildings in Damascus. Syrian Prime Minister al-Jalali is reported to be cooperating with HTS and agreeing to a transition of power. Hundreds of Syrians are believed to have been freed from regime prisons including the notorious Sednaya Prison in Damascus, which housed thousands involved in the anti-regime uprising in 2011 that spiralled into a civil war. (12:13 PM): Assad's luxurious Damascus home was looted today, following the fall of the capital to rebel forces. Women, children and men could be seen inspecting the six-storey home and its large garden, with the rooms completely empty. (11:39 AM) Suspected Israeli strikes hit Mazzeh district of Damascus, one Lebanese and one Syrian security source said today. (11:16 AM) The Israeli military said today it had deployed forces to a demilitarised buffer zone in southwest Syria abutting the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights after Damascus fell to rebel forces, citing the possible entry of armed individuals into the buffer zone. ’Following the recent events in Syria... the IDF (army) has deployed forces in the buffer zone and in several other places necessary for its defence, to ensure the safety of the communities of the Golan Heights and the citizens of Israel,’ a military statement said. Israeli forces will continue to operate as long as necessary, it added. The statement stressed that the Israeli military is not interfering with the internal events in Syria. Israel had already said the day before, as the Islamist-led rebels swiftly advanced across Syria, that its soldiers had entered the UN-patrolled buffer zone to assist peacekeepers in repelling an attack. (1:00 PM) Jordan's King Abdullah II said today that his government "stands by its Syrian brothers and respects their will and choices". The king told his National Security Council that there was a "need to protect Syria's security, its citizens" and to work towards "stability and avoid any conflict that may lead to chaos". (11:35 AM) The Lebanese army said today it was reinforcing its presence on the northern and eastern borders with neighbouring Syria. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Foreign Minister Habib called on need for Syria to "preserve the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, as well as non-interference in its internal affairs." (11:48 AM) Turkey-backed Syrian forces entered the northern Syrian city of Manbij after taking control of most of the surrounding area from U.S.-allied Kurdish forces there, a Turkish security source said today. ’The fight against the YPG/PKK is very close to victory. Both air and land interventions are ongoing to take Manbij from the hands of the YPG/PKK,’ the source said, referring to the Kurdish militia which has long been in control of Manbij. The source subsequently said the rebel forces were in the city of Manbij itself, some 30 km south of the Turkish border and to the west of the Euphrates river. Syrian rebels earlier said they had started an attack on Manbij, according to a statement posted today but dated Dec. 7 (Saturday) on X by the Ministry of Defense of the Syrian Interim Government. The YPG has been a central element of U.S.-allied forces in a coalition against islamic state militants. Ankara says the YPG is a terrorist group, closely tied to Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants who have fought the Turkish state for 40 years (1:09 PM) Qatar, the Gulf emirate emphasised "the necessity of preserving national institutions and the unity of the state to prevent it from sliding into chaos". 12:21 PM) French President Macron today welcomed news of the fall of Syrian President Assad. ’The barbaric state has fallen. Finally. I pay tribute to the Syrian people, to their courage, to their patience. In this moment of uncertainty, I wish them peace, freedom and unity," France will remain committed to the security of all in the Middle East," Macron said. (11:53 AM) "As a result of negotiations between B. Assad and a number of participants in the armed conflict on the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic, he decided to resign from the presidency and left the country, giving instructions for a peaceful transfer of power, the Russian Foreign Ministry said today. "Russia did not participate in these negotiations, the ministry said. "We urge all parties involved to refrain from the use of violence and to resolve all issues of governance through political means, the statement said. "In that regard, the Russian Federation is in contact with all groups of the Syrian opposition." It said Russia's military bases in Syria had been put on a state of high alert, but that there was no serious threat to them at the current time. (11:01 AM) "We are fine," a Russian embassy in Syria staff member told TASS, without providing details on the diplomats' whereabouts. On Friday, the embassy had urged Russian nationals to leave the country. Russian war bloggers have raised fears about the fate of two strategically-important Russian military facilities in Syria. (10:52 AM) The United States will maintain its presence in eastern Syria and will take measures necessary to prevent a resurgence of islamic state, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Shapiro said today, speaking hours after Syrian rebels announced they had toppled Assad's government. Shapiro called on all parties to protect civilians, particularly minorities, and to respect international norms. "We are aware that the chaotic and dynamic circumstances on the ground in Syria could give isis space to find the ability to become active, to plan external operations, and we're determined to work with those partners to continue to degrade their capabilities," he told the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain's capital. We're determined to ensure islamic state's enduring defeat, to ensure the secure detention of isis fighters and the repatriation of displaced persons, Shapiro added. (Source: The New Arab – based in London, United Kingdom, owned by a Qatari company / Reuters – United Kingdom)
Sun, 08 Dec, 2024 - 13:00 Celebratory gunfire was heard across Syria. Only 12 hours earlier the key external powers – Russia and Iran along with Turkey – had met in Doha five Arab states on the sidelines of a major dialogue forum to issue a joint statement appealing for an end to military operations, preservation of Syria’s territorial integrity and consultations on a political solution between Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the opposition. The diplomats also anxiously discussed the fate of Syrian president at the meeting, and whether there would be fighting on the streets of Damascus soon. Russian representatives reported to the meeting that Assad was inflexible, refusing to accept reality or the necessity of dialogue with Turkey, the country sponsoring the military forces threatening the capital. Iran’s foreign minister, Araghchi looked pained and distracted. Six hours after the weary diplomats left the meeting Assad had fallen. Earlier at the summit yesterday, the Russian foreign minister, Lavrov, had been questioned onstage about Syria’s future, asked to explain Russia’s role in the country over the past decade. At one point his interlocutor, Bays from Al Jazeera, was blurting out: ’If you want me to say, yes we lost in Syria, we are so desperate, if this is what you need, let’s continue’. But he continued to hold the line that jihadist groups could not take hold in Syria, and Assad was the bulwark to prevent this. “It’s inadmissible to allow the terrorist groups to take control of the lands in violation of agreements which exist,” he said, a reference to insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). He was referring to the need to implement UN security council resolution 2254 passed in December 2015, with a call for a democratic transition in Syria with which Assad had refused to engage. Russia 17 times had vetoed UN security council resolutions to protect Assad. He was asked about the future of Russia’s naval base at Tartus and it airbase at Hmeimim. All he knew was that Moscow was doing all it could to prevent terrorists from prevailing, adding that he was sorry for the Syrian people if they followed the fate of Libya and Iraq, two countries that suffered prolonged civil wars after strongmen were toppled by chaotic revolutions. Asked if he truly thought Assad would win free and fair elections called for in resolution 2254, Lavrov changed the subject to the US presence in eastern Syria “supporting Kurdish separatists, including on the lands which historically belonged to Arab tribes, exploiting oil and food resources, selling them in the world market and financing the quasi-state they are building there”. Araghchi had also been doing the rounds in Doha, insisting it was possible for Assad to survive and clinging to the point that all external powers had agreed that Syria’s territorial integrity must be protected. In previous days every effort to persuade Iraq, Tehran’s last bastion in the Arab world, to come to Assad’s rescue had failed. Iran’s 12-year engagement in Syria was coming to an end, marking the closure of its land corridor into Lebanon and Hezbollah. Iran’s whole security strategy of forward defence had collapsed, and now the government may need to rethink how it survives. By contrast the Turkish foreign minister, Fidan, a former head of Turkish intelligence, surrounded by a vast entourage, said little in public, sensing his country may be the biggest external beneficiary of Assad’s fall. Turkey has at its disposal the umbrella group of Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army and a relationship of sorts with HTS. But with power comes responsibility. More than any other country in the region it has the power to help Syrians form the independent consensus government their long struggle for liberation deserves. (Source: Irish Examiner - Ireland / The Guardian – United Kingdom)
December 08, 2024 12:43 Jolani’s 'transformation' from militant leader to aspiring politician reflects both pragmatism and ambition. As he seeks to consolidate power in Syria, his rebranding may win him local support but remains met with international scepticism. Despite his efforts to moderate his image, HTS’s history of extremism and human rights abuses continues to cast a long shadow. 'Whether Jolani can truly reinvent himself - or if his transformation is merely a calculated survival strategy - remains an open question in the ever-evolving dynamics of Syria’s civil war'. (Source: Gulf News - United Arab Emirates)
20:37, 08-Dec-2024 Today, opposition fighters in Syria seized control of the capital, Damascus. They appeared on state television channels. A man in military fatigues, flanked by armed fighters, read a statement on air, calling it "Statement No. 1." He said that rebel units had captured Damascus. The rebel fighters entered the city at dawn. Earlier yesterday, opposition fighters secured full control of Homs, a pivotal city and strategic crossroads, after a brief but intense battle. The victory severed connections between Damascus and the coastal strongholds of Assad's Alawite community. Thousands of prisoners in the city were freed as security forces fled, reportedly setting fire to government documents before departing. Hundreds of government soldiers were ordered to withdraw from Damascus International Airport and were seen removing their military uniforms and donning civilian clothing. Xinhua reporters in Damascus witnessed intense gunshots reverberating through the streets with heavy traffic caused by cars leaving the capital. Civilians took to the streets, waving the revolution flag, an older flag used in Syria before the rule of Hafez, the late father of Assad. Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Al-Jallali called for free elections and announced his readiness to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the Syrian people. Opposition military leader Sharaa, also known as Julani, said that Al-Jallali would oversee public institutions until an official transfer of authority is completed. "We extend our hands to every Syrian citizen committed to safeguarding the country's resources," Al-Jallali said in a televised address. "Syria belongs to all Syrians, and I urge everyone to think rationally about the nation's best interests." Julani instructed opposition forces in Damascus to refrain from approaching public institutions and banned celebratory gunfire. These facilities will remain under the supervision of the former prime minister until they are handed over formally, he said in a statement. The opposition celebrated the release of prisoners from Sednaya Prison near Damascus. The prison was emptied as security forces withdrew. Flight data from the tracking platform FlightRadar24 showed a Syrian Air jet departing Damascus amid reports of opposition control of the capital. Initially heading toward the Alawite-dominated coastal region, the aircraft abruptly changed course before disappearing from radar, raising speculation about a possible evacuation of senior government figures. Multiple media outlets have reported that Assad has left the country, citing rebel forces. (Source: CGTN, „With input from Xinhua” = China)
(Sunday), 20:04 UTC+8, 2024-12-08 The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced today that its troops have entered the buffer zone between Israel and Syria ’and other areas deemed necessary for defense’, after the collapse of Assad's government. The military added that it aims to establish a defensive line in the Golan Heights and prevent movement from Syria toward the border. School studies in four Druze communities in the northern Golan Heights, including Buq'ata, Ein Qiniye, Mas'ade, and Majdal Shams, were canceled, and the students were called to carry on with educational activity online. Agricultural areas of Merom Golan-Ein Zivan and Buq'ata-Khirbet Ein Hura in the Golan Heights were declared a closed military zone, the IDF said. On Friday, the IDF announced that it was reinforcing its ground and air forces along the border and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. The buffer zone, a UN-monitored demilitarized area established under the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria, is intended to remain free of military presence. (Source: Shine / Xinhua = China)
Turkey
08.12.2024 Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan held talks today on the latest developments in Syria with his counterparts. He spoke by phone with Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Lipavsky; Fidan spoke by phone with French Foreign Minister Barrot about the situation in Syria and Lebanon. The call emphasized the need for an orderly transition in Syria, urging the international community to assist the Syrian people in preventing further chaos and terrorist organizations from gaining power. The importance of not reflecting negatively on Syrian developments in Lebanon was emphasized; During a phone call with Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tajani, the two highlighted the importance of Syria's territorial integrity and political unity, stressed the need to protect religious minorities during Syria's transition. "I reiterated my request that Türkiye do everything in its power to ensure the safety of Italian citizens and the protection of Christians and other minorities,” Tajani said. He also noted that Ankara is ready to cooperate diplomatically with Rome to ensure stability in the Middle East; In another phone call, Fidan and Latvian Foreign Minister Braze addressed the recent developments in Syria and potential regional impact; Fidan also held talks with Spanish Foreign Minister Albares on the need for efforts to establish peace and stability in Syria. It was underlined that stability and peace must be established within the framework of Syria's territorial integrity and political unity; Fidan also held a phone call with his British counterpart Lammy on recent developments in Syria. The two also discussed steps to prevent the situation in the country from having negative consequences at the global and regional levels; Fidan and EU foreign policy chief Kallas spoke by phone about Syria's future. Fidan also held a phone call with Pakistani Foreign Minister Dar on Syria. The fight against terrorist organizations for a stable and prosperous Syria was underlined. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
North America
United States
December 8, 2024 (23:02 PM) U.S. President Biden, in a televised address, cheered Assad's fall but acknowledged that it was also a moment of risk and uncertainty. ’As we all turn to the question of what comes next, the United States will work with our partners and the stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risk,’ Biden said. The United States, which still has 900 soldiers on the ground, backed a Kurdish-led alliance that fought islamic state jihadists from 2014-2017. The U.S. Central Command said its forces conducted dozens of airstrikes targeting known Islamic State camps and operatives in central Syria today. Later in the day Secretary of Defense Austin said he spoke with Turkish Minister of National Defense Guler, emphasizing that the United States is watching closely. (Source: Reuters - United Kingdom)
2024-12-08 14:11 Speaking at the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, Shapiro called on all parties to protect civilians, particularly minorities, and to respect international norms. We are aware that the chaotic and dynamic circumstances on the ground in Syria could give isis space to find the ability to become active, to plan external operations, and we're determined to work with partners to continue to degrade their capabilities, Shapiro said. He expressed the US's firm stance to ensure the secure detention of ISIS fighters and the repatriation of displaced persons. Opposition forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), launched a rapid offensive, ’capturing several key cities in Syria’, including Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus. HTS, originally known as the Nusra Front (Jabhat Al-Nusra) and once an al-Qaeda affiliate, remains a designated terrorist group. US top officials emphasized that Washington would not intervene militarily in Syria's civil war. "This is not our fight," President Trump wrote on X. Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser, reiterated the US stance, stating, “The United States is not going to militarily dive into the middle of a Syrian civil war,” while underscoring the priority of containing isis. The US has about 900 troops stationed in northeastern Syria. (Source: Shafaq News – Iraq)
SUN, 08 DEC, 2024 - 12:29 Shortly after a meeting in Paris with French and Ukrainian leaders, US President-elect Trump on his Truth Social platform has called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, claiming Kyiv ’would like to make a deal”. ’Too many lives are being needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed.’ In a separate social media update today, Mr Zelenskyy asserted that Kyiv has so far lost 43,000 soldiers since Moscow’s all-out invasion on February 24, 2022, while a further 370,000 have been injured. Western officials have said the past few months of grinding positional warfare in eastern Ukraine have meant record losses for both sides, with tens of thousands killed and injured each month. (Source: Irish Examiner - Ireland / Associated Press - U.S.)
December 08, 2024 3:08 AM Trump was in Paris yesterday for the reopening of the 861-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral, five years after it was badly damaged by a devastating fire. Before the ceremony, the president-elect met with Zelensky and French President Macron at the Élysée Palace, where he said it ’seems like the world is going a little crazy right now.’ In a lengthy social media post on his Truth Social website early on today morning, Trump has called for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, while referencing the apparent collapse of the Assad regime in Syria. Yesterday evening and today morning, Syrian rebels streamed into their country's capital Damascus. The armed uprising in Syria has lasted more than 13 years. Over this time, many of Syria's neighbors, including Turkey, Israel and Iran, were drawn into the conflict to varying degrees, along with outside powers such as Russia and the United States. The Syrian civil war has been one of the bloodiest of the 21st century, resulting in the deaths of more than 507,000 people, including 164,000 civilians, as of March 2024, according to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In his post Trump commented: ’Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, Russia, led by Putin, was not interested in protecting him any longer. There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place. They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine, where close to 600,000 Russian soldiers lay wounded or dead, in a war that should never have started, and could go on forever. Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now, one because of Ukraine and a bad economy, the other because of Israel and its fighting success. Likewise, Zelensky and Ukraine would like to make a deal and stop the madness. They have ridiculously lost 400,000 soldiers, and many more civilians.’ The president-elect concluded: "There should be an immediate ceasefire and negotiations should begin. Too many lives are being so needlessly wasted, too many families destroyed, and if it keeps going, it can turn into something much bigger, and far worse. I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!" Shapiro, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, said that a U.S. presence would remain in eastern Syria to ensure the enduring defeat of isis [islamic state]. The Syria conflict was also a factor in the rise of the so-called islamic state, a militant group that at its height controlled around 30 percent of Syria and 40 percent of Iraq after a string of military victories in 2014 and early 2015. Islamic state went on to claim responsibility for terrorist attacks across the West. Isis leader Baghdadi was killed by an American airstrike in October 2019, and by the end of that year the group had lost nearly all its territory to a combination of local forces that were backed by a U.S.-led international coalition. The former leader of Syria's Al-Qaeda branch the al-Nusra Front, Julani, who now leds a 'Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)' rebel force, insists he has moderated his views, and vowed to safeguard Syria's minority communities. (Source: The Bellingham Herald / Newsweek = U:S)
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