Syrian War Report – May 20, 2019: Hama Ceasefire Initiative Failed. Clashes Ongoing
On May 17 and May 18, the Syrian Air Defense Forces (SADF) intercepted several unidentified aerial objects over Damascus and the southern part of the country. In both cases, the intercepted targets came from the southern Syria border, near the contact line with Israel.
Some sources speculated that the SADF was repelling Israeli strikes. However, no explosions were reported in Damascus and its countryside as well as pro-government sources were not able to present any vestiges of intercepted missiles. The situation with the interceptions remains unclear.
At the same time, the Damascus government and Russia came with another peaceful initiative for Idlib militants. On May 18, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) introduced a temporary ceasefire halting offensive operations around Idlib, in particular in northwestern Hama.
Militants reacted to this announcement in their common manner. On the same day, unguided rockets were launched at Russia’s Hmeimim airbase and the nearby villages of Acharashir and Hwaiz. A civilian was killed and several others were injured in the shelling. There were no casualties to Russian personnel or damage to the airbase’s facilities.
Clashes between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the SAA also continued in northern Lattakia. On May 19, militants claimed that the SAA had used munitions armed with chlorine gas in the area. However, according to pro-militant sources, the gas attack caused no casualties. Multiple anti-tank guided strikes by militants were also reported in northwestern Hama.
These developments serve another confirmation that ceasefire agreements work not so well in the areas with a high presence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham members. If the SAA and its allies are set to fulfil the ceasefire, it will likely mark the end of the operation in northwestern Hama.
Meanwhile, in northeastern Syria, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the US-led coalition continue efforts to consolidate control over this part of the country. The SDF and the coalition pay a special attention to combating the remaining ISIS cells along the eastern bank of the Euphrates.
If relations between the SDF and the Damascus government remain at the current low level, the US-led coalition will use the situation to turn northeastern Syria into its de-facto protectorate.
The abominable Natalie Nougatbrain of the Guardian sewer is FURIOUS that her jihadist, head-lopping, child-raping, sex trafficking takfiri idols are being defeated in Idlib. The ‘liberal democrats’ do not come any lower in hypocrisy than the Guardian, particularly its feminazis, and Nougatbrain, of the Integrity Initiative, is, in my opinion, really the worst of all.
MM
“The ‘liberal democrats’ do not come any lower in hypocrisy than the Guardian”
The guardian brand is low, but for zionazi-gay duplicity, the guardianista is worse. These are the critters who will slam israeli war crimes in one breath, and then say it is because israel is an “american colony” in the next. Thereby excusing israeli/zionazi behaviour as that something imposed upon upon poor, sweet lil israel by outside forces.
Not knocking your view, btw.
Some of those critters seem to be either good at law or need a good lawyer, one or the other, but not both.
get Hama and Hamas mixed up – because there’s a ceasefire supposedly – that didn’t work out either – between Hamas and Israel – now –
US better not try to turn northern Syria into caliphate – or I’m coming over there to straighten them out. I’m so sick of the US – wish they’d sink into the Atlantic ocean – or Pacific – don’t mind -either.
Ann, there are a lot of souls to be saved in the U$. To drown the lot and let God sort them is the old easy way out — and it doesn’t work.
“…stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, _against the world rulers of this present darkness_, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” — St.Paul (Eph 6:10-12)
DNGM
“there are a lot of souls to be saved in the U$. To drown the lot and let God sort them is the old easy way out — and it doesn’t work.”
Not sure I want to be saved, or even if that would be possible. Don’t think I would want to be drowned, either (sounds like that current american pastime of waterboarding, which recently replaced lynching).