On February 22, units of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) entered into and established a full control of the YPG-held neighborhoods of Aleppo city, according to pro-government sources. A representative of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) confirmed the SAA deployment to the Kurdish HAWAR news agency. According to the released statement, YPG units from the city of Aleppo had moved to the Afrin area to combat Turkish forces. However, some sources say that some YPG units will remain in the neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsuud.
On the same day in the morning, a third group of pro-government fighters entered the Afrin area. In the evening, the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) struck another convoy, which was entering Afrin. According to the Turkish General Staff, the TAF attacked a convoy of 30-40 vehicles belonging to the People’s Protection Units (YPG), the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and even to ISIS.
The claim that the convoy was in any way belonging to ISIS is nonsense. However, claims about some ISIS presence is common to almost all TAF statements on its Operation Olive Branch.
Separately, Kurdish sources released info that it was an aid convoy, which had been about to enter the Afrin area through the Ziyarah crossing. Some sources say that an unknown number of pro-government fighters had been embedded with the convoy.
Meanwhile, the Russian state-run news agency Sputnik, citing a YPG security source, reported that the YPG is going to hand over the town of Tell Rifaat to the SAA under a deal allegedly reached by the sides over Afrin. However, this report has not been yet confirmed.
The TAF and its proxies from the Free Syrian Army have captured the villages of Rahmanli, Sari Ushagi, Kurke Jerin, Kurke Jorin, Ali Raju and Miqdad from the YPG in Afrin. So far, a limited implementation of the SAA-YPG deal has no effect on the Turkish actions in the area.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra) and the so-called Syrian Liberation Front (SLF), a coalition of Ahrar al-Sham and Nour al-Din al-Zenki, continued clashing with each other in what the mainstream media would call a democratic competition for southern Idlib and western Aleppo. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants have reportedly seized the villages of Kafr Nabl, Urum al-Jawz, Kafrshlaya and Kafrnaha. Meanwhile, the SLF has reported entered the villages of Ihsim, Iblin, Balyun, Bara, Jouzef, Marata, Arnaba, Ein Laruz, Mozra and Kansafra. Both sides claim that the so-called enemies of revolution have suffered major casualties.
Turkey dictator is pounding bullets and bombs on afrin and Kurds to control their lands and drawing Syria towards war by helping jihadists forces. Thousands of Syrian civilians have been killed by the western supported forces
I honestly don’t understand Turkey – no wonder Assad hates Erdogan like he does –
pretty simple. Turkey doesn’t like Syrian Kurd (or any Kurd) as they fear they would support separatism.
In the same time Erdogan try to expand his border with some controlled area. (or some puppet).
So it’s just an opportunity for them.
USA : back them cause it bring more trouble to Syrian, altough they would prefer a Kurdistan.
Iran/Irak/Syria : They also not so fan of Kurd for that matter.
Russia : They let them be as fighting Kurd and Isis is somewhat good for now. They don’t care as much as Syria unity which is normal.
So the real question is while it’s a good opportunity to increase your power in place of your southern neighbor. It could also backfire so how could you play it ?
Plus no one is stupid. everyone (except perhaps some of those Syrian rebels) know what Turkey did.
Erdogan is a duplicitous Turk politician, in the old mould.
For Russia to stand aside and let Erdogan into N. Syria was confusing, until you read some of Vot Tak’s updates below.
It would seem that the waring factions in Syria would rather a deal with Assad than to hand over to Turkey. It maybe that this intervention by Turkey will speed up the re-unification of Syria against a common enemy.
Erdogan may be a vain, self serving, dangerous autocrat, but one look confirms he is also a fool. Have Russia and Syria played him?
Wael Al Hussaini reports that 2 additional Russian Su-57 have landed at the RuAF Airbase in Khmemeim.
Another Two Russian Fifth Gen. Su-57 Jets Reportedly Land in Syria’s Hmeymim
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802241061947970-syria-su-57-fighters-arrival-reports/
“Two more Russian fifth generation Su-57 stealth fighters have arrived at Syria’s Hmeymim Airbase, Sputnik Arabic reported, referring to local media outlets.
Wael Al Hussaini tweeted that the Su-57s were escorted by Russian 4+ generation Sui-30SM multi-role fighter jets before landing at Hmeymim Airbase.
Russian lawmaker Vladimir Gutenov told Sputnik that while he could not independently confirm the Su-57s’ deployment to Syria, he “whole-heartedly welcomed” the reports.
According to him, the presence of the Su-57s will doubtlessly send a political message, serving as a deterrent “for aircraft from neighboring states which periodically fly into” Syrian airspace uninvited.”
That makes a full flight now. Which means the Su-57s can be used twice as often. :-)
From Leith Fadel on AMN midday: While the Syrian Army is absent from Afrin, the pro-government National Defense Forces (NDF) have entered this region to aid the Kurdish-led YPG.
The NDF coordinates with the Syrian Army, but they are not an actual branch of the military, which means they can operate autonomously if need be.
[“Wheels within wheels” like the brass computer found in ancient Graeco-Roman Egypt; needed to calculate trajectories of the planets]
Tehran: US Regularly Gives Daesh a Lift, It is Still a Threat
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802241061953490-daesh-iran-zarif-us-relocate/
“The US-led coalition has been repeatedly accused of supporting Daesh, as numerous reports allege that the US has been rescuing terrorists from encirclements and hot zones as well as relocating them from Syria and Iraq, where the jihadists have been losing ground.
The US has been transferring Daesh militants from Syrian cities to outside of the region on a regular basis, which undermines the fight against terrorists, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif noted, speaking at Tehran University during an event called “the Patterns of Regional Order in the Post-ISIS (Daesh) Era” on Saturday.
“The terrorist communication network remains in place, their leaders remain primed, and they still receive financial support; so we must expect the re-emergence of the threat any day,” the minister added.
The top Iranian diplomat also stressed that it is not enough to destroy Daesh territorially, as its sources of financial and ideological support still remain in place.
Zarif’s speech comes after earlier this month, Chief of Iranian General Staff Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri accused the US of transferring Daesh terrorists to Afghanistan after the jihadist group’s defeats in Syria and Iraq.
On Wednesday, the source from the Syrian town of al-Hasakah told Sputnik that local people had witnessed US helicopters allegedly taking away some of the Daesh terrorists, detained in town’s prison.
In mid-December, the Russian Ministry of Defense accused the US-led coalition of using the al-Hasakah-based camp to train jihadist militants who had been reorganized into the so-called “New Syrian Army.”
Damascus stated that US air power had been used on numerous occasions to rescue terrorist leaders from their imminent destruction at the hands of the Syrian army and even to stage “accidental” attacks on Syrian forces as they advanced against the militants.”
Syrian Media Expose White Helmets’ Lies’ – Information Minister
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802241061947215-syria-white-helmets-propaganda/
“The ongoing hideous information war against Syria is not going to end with the victory over terrorists on the battlefield, the country’s Information Minister Imad Sarah told Sputnik.
The minister said it was essential to counter those distorting facts and playing with concepts, for they are leaving the international community confused about who should be called a terrorist and what the word “terrorist” means, apparently implying Western media referring to groups such as Nusra and Jaysh al-Islam, the latter of which is the dominant Salafi-jihadi faction in opposition-held Eastern Ghouta, as ‘rebels’.
“What we really need to do is to counter Wahhabism, the ideology that is becoming more and more widespread. Big money is being poured into its promotion”, Imad Sarah said.
“Syrian media will have to work double tides to refute endless fake reports that mangle the actual state of affairs in the country and play with terms. We are going to face more attacks on every level: informational, ideological, economic”, the minister said.
As for the reports by the White Helmets group, which claims to be an impartial humanitarian NGO saving lives in Syria, Imad Sarah said that members of this organization have been awarded for their exceptional acting, and that says a lot about the scale of conspiracy against Syria and its people.”
Regime Change Propaganda on Syria Now in Overdrive
https://sputniknews.com/columnists/201802221061908039-eastern-ghouta-syria-us-nusra/
“As the Syrian Arab Army, Russia, and Iran move closer to liberating the last remaining parts of Syria still occupied by Salafi-jihadi groups of various stripe, the regime change propaganda in the Western media has gone into overdrive, painting a picture of an upside-down world with a savage assault on reality.
In the process groups such as Nusra and Jaysh al-Islam, the latter of which is the dominant Salafi-jihadi faction in opposition-held Eastern Ghouta, is being referred to as ‘rebels’ — rehabilitated as Partisans of Second World War repute, holding out against a brutal fascistic regime and its evil Russian backers.
Indeed going by the raft of articles that have appeared in particular in the UK Guardian newspaper of late, you would think the Syrian Arab Army, which by way of a reminder is a conscript army that draws its soldiers from every part of the multicultural and multi-religious mosaic that constitutes Syrian society, are not fighting to liberate their country and its people from these murderous sectarian fanatics, but instead have invaded it and are occupying as in an Arab Waffen SS.
What we have now, it bears emphasizing — in the context of the Syrian army’s operation to liberate Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of Damascus — are people who adhere to the same ideology responsible for 9/11, along with a litany of terrorist attacks in Europe and the US in more recent times, being depicted as rebels, while those fighting to defeat them are decried and vilified as butchers. The words of Winston Churchill, a man whose belief in the virtues of colonialism and imperialism was on a par with Julius Caesar’s, spring to mind: “In wartime truth is so precious, she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.”
Wheels within wheels. From Penny 6hr ago: “Coming hot on the heels of the agreed upon resolution– Sputnik is reporting (unnamed sources) that SDF is handing Manbij to SAA
We shall see……”
UN Security Council Unanimously Adopts Resolution on 30-Day Ceasefire in Syria
https://sputniknews.com/world/201802241061964273-unsc-resolution-adopts-ceasefire-syria/
“The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution introducing a 30-day truce on Syrian territory to allow the medical evacuation of those injured and provide access to number of regions for humanitarian convoys.
The resolution urges all parties to conflict to immediately stop all clashes and adhere to a long-term humanitarian pause on the whole territory of Syria in order to ensure the safe and unhindered humanitarian deliverers as well as medical evacuation.
The ceasefire regime does not cover military operations against Daesh, al-Qaeda, and Jabhat Fatah al Sham (formerly known as al-Nusra Front) terrorist groups.”
US Coalition Should Stop ‘Occupation Attitude’ in Syria – Russian Envoy to UN
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802241061964747-russia-envoy-urges-usa-syria-occupation/
“Russian envoy to the United Nations called on the United States to stop the “occupation” actions, to let the Syrian government recover peaceful life on the territories, freed of terrorists.
Russia has urged the US-led anti-terrorist coalition to cease its “occupation attitude” in Syria, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said at the UN Security Council’s session on Saturday.
“We insist on the immediate cessation of the occupation attitude of the so-called coalition, which will have, among other things, a distinct humanitarian effect. It would allow the Syrian government to engage in the restoration of a normal life on all territories, liberated from the terrorists,” Nebenzia said.
The envoy has also stressed that the new UN Security Council’s resolution should not be interpreted freely.
“I would like to express my deep concern over the public statements of certain US officials who are threatening aggression against sovereign Syria. We immediately warn that we will not allow an arbitrary interpretation of the newly adopted resolution,” Nebenzia said after the adoption of the document.
The US-led anti-terrorist coalition is acting in Syria without UN approval or coordination with the Syrian government. Syrian permanent representative to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari told the UN Security Council earlier, that the coalition had intentionally destroyed 90 percent of Syria’s town of Raqqa.”
US and Russia exchange jabs after UN Security Council adopts Syria ceasefire resolution
https://www.rt.com/news/419753-syria-unsc-resolution-ceasefire/
““It would be naïve to think that internal Syrian questions can be solved by a resolution,” said Russia’s Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia following the vote, adding that Moscow had “supported the intentions” behind the document, but that no ceasefire was possible “without agreement from warring parties.”
Nebenzia criticized the “occupying ambitions” of the US-backed coalition, and said that foreign-backed militias bore responsibility for the humanitarian crisis that the resolution, adopted by 15 votes to none, was written to address.
He also reiterated earlier accusations that the West was conducting a “propaganda campaign” against the government forces in Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, where fighting has intensified over the past week.
Nebenzia called for the world to pay equal attention to humanitarian suffering in other flashpoints around the country, and pointedly mentioned that the ceasefire does not preclude forces inside Syria from targeting “Islamic State, Al Nusrah and other extremist organizations.” Both Moscow and Damascus earlier said that Eastern Ghouta, which is besieged by government forces, and is under bombardment, is a stronghold for several terrorist groups.”
As for the israeli quisling, war criminal and all round traitor, harpy haley’s response, who gives a rat’s behind. She is young enough that there will be a gallows awaiting her.
Terrorists Purposely Escalate Situation in Eastern Ghouta – Russian Military
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802251061965272-terrorists-escalate-syria-ghouta/
“The leaders of the Jaysh al-Islam, Failak al-Rahman and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups (banned in Russia) deliberately escalate the situation in Eastern Ghouta, all attempts by Damascus to help civilians in this area are hindered by militants, the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation said Saturday.
“The humanitarian, social and economic situation in Eastern Ghouta is deliberately exacerbated by the leaders of the al-Islam, Failak Ar-Rahman and Jabhat al-Nusra illegal armed groups. All attempts by the government of the Syrian Arab Republic to provide assistance to civilians in the Eastern Ghouta region are blocked by militants,” spokesman Maj. Gen. Yuri Yevtushenko told a briefing.
“Over 24 hours, 27 mines and two rockets were fired from areas controlled by illegal armed groups in Eastern Ghouta at Damascus’ suburbs and settlements in the province. One of rockets hit a house in Rukn ad-Din district of Damascus. There are significant destruction and casualties among civilians. Over 24 hours, a total of four civilians were killed and 51 more were injured,” Defence Ministry’s spokesman said.
Earlier, Russian military reported that humanitarian crisis in the region deteriorated, saying that appeals to illegal armed groups to cease resistance and surrender arms were unsuccessful and that the peace negotiations in the region were derailed.”
“Mines” is a poor translation for mortar shells in this instance.
UN Security Council Decides 30 Day Countrywide Conditional Ceasefire.
“After intense negotiations, the UN Security Council has voted unanimously in favour of Resolution 2401, which imposes a 30-day countrywide ceasefire upon all parties to the conflict. Certain terrorist groups including Daesh, Al-Qaeda and all other groups classified as terrorists by the United Nations, will continue to be legitimate targets of military strikes during this period.”
http://www.eurasiafuture.com/2018/02/24/breaking-security-council-votes-unanimously-east-ghouta-ceasefire/
Comments:
“Won’t hold, the resolution is the same as Aleppo, jihadists won’t follow it, they will continue to bomb civilians and the SAA and allies will finally liberate East Ghouta.
The nbrs of soldiers build up near and around East Ghouta is unprecedented, even higher than Aleppo. East Ghouta will be liberated, it must be liberated so the terrorists and their supporters lose their “bargain power” against the Syrian Government. The decision has been made, it will be liberated.”
Sadly it will prove Russia right and UN wrong…that Syria has a right to remove terrorists attacking Syrian peoples including civilians military and government.
The Kurds and north-east Syria. Elijah Magnier sets the record straight (10:53 PM – 24 Feb 2018 :
Kurds in al-Hasaka/Deir-ezzour never “took control of north Syria”: USA is occupying north-east Syria, using Kurds as their shield, covering up American military bases and airports.
Kurdish SDF to hand over Manbij in northern Aleppo to Syrian Army.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/kurdish-sdf-hand-manbij-northern-aleppo-syrian-army-report/
Another commenter has highlighted above an article in Sputnik about this too:
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802251061966101-sdf-pass-territory-syrian-army/
Mod.
I will wait for the first UN aid convoy to come under attack by the rats,then the Empire will say the Russians and Assad did it.
Putin to Macron, Merkel: Syrian Truce Doesn’t Apply to Anti-Terror Ops
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802251061977973-putin-macron-merkel-syria-truce/
“Special attention was given to the fact that the cessation of military actions does not apply to the operations against terrorist groups,” the Kremlin said.
Earlier in the day, Iran echoed Russia’s stance and supported the provision of the resolution, which says that the truce in Syria does not cover terrorists in Eastern Ghouta, adding that militants would continue to be targeted by the Syrian army.”
UNSC Resolution on Syria Won’t Affect Turkish Operation in Afrin – Ankara
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802251061980616-turkey-olive-branch-afrin/
“It is out of the question that the decision of the UN Security Council will affect the Olive Branch operation as it is being conducted against terrorists,” Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag told reporters on Sunday commenting on a new UN resolution.”
Yes, but. Already news reports are fingering the Syrian Government/Assad for violating the cease fire. Whether this will be done with Turkey or not, we’ll see. It’s either a cease fire or it’s not a cease fire. The detail that the U.N. Resolution contained exceptions may well get lost in an onslaught of Regime change reportage.
And so Heather Nauert, State Department spokesperson, says on 2/24/18:
“United States wants to see the ceasefire . . . implemented immediately.
Assad regime and its allies must stop the assault on Eastern Ghouta, and allow food and medicine to reach innocent civilians who desperately need it.”
http://theduran.com/syria-turkey-russia-kurds-struggle-afrin/
Interesting analysis from Alexander Mercouris….particularly “alliances” and intentions of Turkey….
“America has given warmth to the Cold War with Russia through the Eastern Ghouta. It is indifferent to United Nations’ calls to stop destroying Raqqah, and it has struck down international resolutions that have not been necessary since the establishment of the United Nations. So it is not a question of “saving al Ghouta”, it is a “cold war” declaration on Russia.
US forces control today a vast territory in Syria that it could not dream of controlling for more than 50 years. Washington has initially used the pretext of its presence to “block the Tehran-Baghdad-Damascus-Beirut corridor”. This corridor is open despite the US presence in al-Tanf, Hasaka and Deir al-Zour. Today, the US and its allies consider – throwing ashes in all our eyes – Iran is “the greatest and only danger to the Middle East and perhaps the world” solely to deflect the attention from its occupation of Syria.”
It is Not a War Against Ghouta but a “Cold” War Between the USA and Russia, Dividing Syria
https://syria360.wordpress.com/2018/02/25/it-is-not-a-war-against-ghouta-but-a-cold-war-between-the-usa-and-russia-dividing-syria/
Recent analysis of East Ghouta region.
“While a ago, we shared at Syrper East Ghouta divided in 3 main parts, the east (NE/SE,east), the north(NW) and the south(SW), these are very well defined battlefields and the allied forces high command placed their troops based on what they can deliver in each one of the quadrant.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=pt&lat=33.540250&lon=36.396332&z=12&m=b&gz=0;363789939;335046159;643730;791192;463485;0;549316;400694;0;415001
1) The east favours mostly armoured vehicles in blitzkrieg type of attacks, many more farms and mobility is key to surround, encircle and annihilate the enemy, usually this is fast movements after days of shelling & precision bombing.
What we saw today, about a week ago, we shared that the some storm troopers and scouts where deep into Hawsh al-Zariqiyah and Hawsh al-Khanim and that though Nashabiyah would be liberated by being isolated, the key target was Autaya, the very village that Alloush was departed to hell on a Christmas day.
Autaya commands the inner plains of East Ghouta, no defenses after that, the terrorists’ first and second lines of defenses are made of long trenches, once those are bombed to hell the advance happens at easy.
Today, the so called Nashabiyah pocket was neutralized, fight continues inside the village since some terrorists could not flee, soon it will be over.
Watch Hawsh al-Khanim and Autaya, these are important ares, well defended by the terrorists, after these 2 towns it is clear open are until the unprotected side of the urban part of East Ghouta.
2) North/NW quadrant is key for all East Ghouta, it has Douma, a very large city where most of the civilians left inside the pocket live, this is the heart of JAI where most of UK/US/France/Israel operatives have their bases. The plan here is most likely to cut if of from the rest of the pocket. This is why the army base in Harasta was fought to the death, it is a very strategic area to build the advance toward Madyara and Mesraba, but for that an advance must happen from the other side toward Al-Shifuniyah.
This frontline will see micro cauldrons being formed in Harasta, al Ajami and Al-Zahle neighbourhoods are prime target at the moment.
3) South/SW is the toughest quadrant for the battle of East Ghouta, most likely this will endure more than the other areas.Very dense urban areas, incredible amount of tunnels and underground bases, this is the core of the hardcore rats, 100% wahhabeasts here, and it will be bloody. A heads on at this quadrant from where the terrorists’s defenses are posted will cause severe losses on the SAA, this is why villages such Muhammadiyah plays an important role, once the SAA advances in that frontline, it will be able to approach the terrorists from behind, increasing its chance to disrupt their defenses, just like Aleppo.
People where concerned about the 30 days truce yesterday ? The SAA responded, they are annihilating the wahhabeasts.”
&
“Silent battle at the moment toward a vital area inside East Ghouta, the most important air
defense base that command a high ground around the large farming area and Autaya.
The first objective seems to be accomplished by the liberation of Hawsh ad Dawahirah, north of it.”
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=pt&lat=33.535814&lon=36.458302&z=14&m=b&gz=0;364547395;335420027;76389;112307;10299;715;0;27899;40340;12161
Source is Canthama.
Five Terrorist Groups Create Joint Command Center in East Ghouta – Russian MoD
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802251061985153-five-terrorist-groups-leadership-center-ghouta/
“The situation in East Ghouta is worsening. In the enclave, militant groups Jayish al Islam, Jabhat An-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham, Failak Ar-Rahman and Fajr Al-Umma have created a joint center for coordinating the actions of the groups,” the ministry said.
The ministry added that despite the adoption of a UN resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria, militant groups targeted Syrian forces along the contact line on the morning of February 25.
The Jayish al Islam group that had formerly pledged to adhere to the truce regime nonetheless continued to shell Damascus from areas it controls, the ministry pointed out. A total of 31 mortar shells have been fired at Damascus in the past 24 hours.
The Syrian armed forces also foiled a car bomb attack near the town of Qaboun. The car had arrived from areas under the control of Failak Ar-Rahman and al-Nusra militants, the ministry noted.
Militant group leaders are preparing a provocation with the use of chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta and intend to accuse Damascus of targeting civilians as a means to discredit the Syrian government’s ongoing anti-terrorist operations in the area, the ministry stated.”
Same zionazi playbook.
Syria’s East Ghouta militants hold civilians hostage, plan ‘chemical’ provocations – Russian MoD
https://www.rt.com/news/419805-ghouta-militants-shelling-provocations/
“The leaders of militant units controlling the East Ghouta suburb of Damascus might be “preparing a provocation that will involve the use of chemical weapons,” Maj. Gen. Yury Yevtushenko said in a briefing on Sunday, citing intelligence obtained by the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria.
Just hours after the warning, reports emerged that several people in East Ghouta suffered symptoms consistent with exposure to chlorine gas, conveniently supported by images from the White Helmets group, known for its unique ability to appear at the right place just in time to film civilian suffering, which is later pinned on the Syrian government forces. For their virtuoso work, the controversial UK-backed NGO, also known as the Syria Civil Defense, were even awarded a Hollywood Oscar, despite being plagued by allegations of having ties with terrorists.”
Well, hollywood, is about as israeli as it gets, outside of israel.
“The allegations of Damascus’ involvement in yet another chemical attack on civilians coincide with the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution to impose a 30-day ceasefire in Syria, which does not apply to members of the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), al-Nusra or any other terrorist organization. Following prolonged and heated debates at the UN, in which Russia insisted that the resolution’s text be altered so that Damascus is not painted as the sole party to blame for the violence, the resolution was unanimously adopted on Saturday.
However, the militants in control of East Ghouta have completely disregarded the humanitarian pause, having unified their command to continue harassing the local population and shelling Damascus. “The situation continues to deteriorate in East Ghouta where Jaysh al-Islam, Jabhat al-Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham, Faylaq al-Rahman, and Fajr al-Ummah Brigade set up a united coordination center,” Yevtushenko said.
The Russian Reconciliation Center noted that the militant groups impede provision of humanitarian aid to East Ghouta and block civilians from leaving the suburb, basically keeping hundreds hostage, including women and children.”
WATCH New Footage of Alleged Israeli-Made Weapons Found in Syria’s Deir Ez-Zor
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802261062002880-israeli-made-weapons-syria-deir-ez-zor/
“Warehouses filled with weapons and ammunition, including those manufactured in Israel, have been discovered by Syrian servicemen in the Al Boukamal and Al Mayadin areas of the Deir ez-Zor province following its liberation from Daesh militants.
The Syrian state-run news agency SANA has released new footage showing the cache of rockets, mortars, tank shells and other munitions that the extremists left behind while fleeing the area. A bundle of documents can also be seen in the video.
According to the agency, Syrian government troops discovered a plant for the production of shells and explosives and barrels containing an unspecified liquid that could possibly be used for manufacturing toxic substances.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3B_Cs24ZJQ
Syria to Bar States Aiding Extremists in Country From Economic Projects – Envoy
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802261062001618-syria-states-extremists-economic-projects-envoy/
“All those who fought along with us, who supported [Syria in the fight against extremists], have the right to participate in the economy’s restoration except for the countries, which supported terrorists,” Haddad told journalists on the sidelines of the Russian-Syrian business forum in the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Haddad indicated that Syria above all welcomed the support of the Chinese, Iranian and Russian companies, adding that the exact amount of assistance remained unknown.
“There is no exact statistics on the scope of the damage caused by the war, but we can state that it is really enormous, that is why, I believe, we are interested in almost any assistance that would help to restore our economy,” the ambassador stressed.
“The Syrian government and all the relevant bodies have received the necessary instructions from our president Bashar Assad so that our Russian colleagues that will take part in the Syrian economic recovery can receive maximum advantages in order to return our country to the position that it used to hold before the war,” Haddad pointed out, highlighting that the Syrian embassy was ready to cooperate with Russian partners and provide various advantages to them.”
Russia Proposes Creation of Int’l Commission on Syria’s Raqqa – Minister
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802261062006176-russia-raqqa-situation-commission-shoigu/
“That is why we propose to create as quickly as possible on the basis of the United Nations and under its leadership, an international assessment humanitarian commission that could look at and assess what is really happening in Raqqa, where, unfortunately, no one is allowed to — neither the media, nor the humanitarian organizations,” Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting of the board of the Russian Defense Ministry.
He noted that, according to the Russian military department, there was a “severe epidemiological situation” in Raqqa.
A daily humanitarian pause will be introduced in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta on the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a humanitarian corridor will be established soon, Sergei Shoigu said Monday.
“A humanitarian corridor will be opened to evacuate civilians. Location will be prepared and announced shortly,” he added.
Russia proposes to establish humanitarian corridors in Syria’s At-Tanf area where the Rukban refugee camp is located, Shoigu said.
“We propose to establish similar humanitarian corridors, humanitarian pauses in the At-Tanf and Rukban, so that the civilians can freely return to their homes and begin to restore peaceful life,” Shoigu said.
Al-Rukban refugee camp is situated in Syria’s Homs province around 11 miles south of the at-Tanf settlement and inside the US-controlled zone of the Syrian-Jordanian border. In November, the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria accused the United States of creating a training camp near al-Rukban refugee camp to forge a new “moderate opposition” out of various militia groups.”
Additional information:
Daily 5-hour humanitarian pause introduced in E. Ghouta starting Feb 27 – Russian MoD
https://www.rt.com/news/419844-humanitarian-pause-corridor-ghouta-syria/
“As ordered by the Russian president, a daily humanitarian pause from 09:00 to 14:00 (local time) is being introduced starting February 27 to avoid civilian casualties in East Ghouta,” the ministry said in a statement. It also said that a special humanitarian corridor would be established for the civilians to leave the area. Coordinates for the corridor have already been prepared, the ministry added.
Raqqa is still in ruins and is full of dead bodies, the ministry said, adding that some districts of the city are filled with unexploded ordnance. Yet, the relief and reconstruction work in the city has not started as no humanitarian organizations are apparently allowed into the city, it added.”