https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-november-16-2017-fierce-fighting-erupts-in-eastern-ghouta/
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On November 15, Ahrar al-Sham officially declared a start of the operation to capture the Armored Vehicle Base and the nearby area from the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in Eastern Ghouta near Damascus.
Ahrar al-Sham, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and Faylaq al-Rahman launched their advance on November 14. Since then, an intense fighting has been ongoing in the area.
However, the official Ahrar al-Sham offensive declaration means that this is not a limited effort. The ceasefire region in Eastern Ghouta collapsed.
On November 15, the SAA and its allies captured the villages of Hazm, Kikiyah, al-Arfa and Rabdah from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in northern Hama.
Meanwhile, the HTS-linked news agency Iba’a announced that HTS recaptured Sarha village and Sarha hill in the nearby area. According to Iba’a, the SAA lost at least 3 soldiers and a battle tank in the clashes.
On the same day, six Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers carried out a massive strike on ISIS targets near the border city of al-Bukamal.
According to the Russian and Syrian defense ministries, al-Bukamal should be in hands of pro-government forces and only few ISIS members remained in the city. However, according to photos and videos from the area, clashes are still ongoing there.
The Hezbollah media wing in Syria claimed that the US-led coalition is hindering the SAA efforts to establish control over al-Bukamal. The coalition is reportedly jamming the SAA communications and even blocking some part of the airspace over al-Bukamal.
The ISIS-linked news agency Amaq, claimed that ISIS members killed 7 SAA members, destroyed a bulldozer, a battle tank and damaged another battle tank in the al-Bukamal area.
Fresh terrorist attacks kill seven, injure 46 in Damascus and Homs
http://sana.sy/en/?p=118287
SAA kills more terrotists in Hama and Deir Ezzor
http://sana.sy/en/?p=118271
President al-Assad’s speech during meeting with participants in Arab Forum
for confronting Zionist-US reactionary Alliance
http://sana.sy/en/?p=118170
Russia vetoes a US draft resolution on extending the mission of OPCW-UN probing
the use of chemical weapons in Syria
http://sana.sy/en/?p=118370
(Now for me an investigation is fully senseless. And I am sure that the so called inde-
pendent experts wlll any toxic gas find to justify the US missile attack on the Syrian
airbase Shayrat.)
New batch of Military Academy student graduated
http://sana.sy/en/?p=118361
Governmental delegation inspects sevice and developmental situation in Qalamoun area
http://sana.sy/en/?p=118098
Project of reviving Aleppo old markets launched
http://sana.sy/en/?p=118317
Prime minister launches work plan to rehabilitate al-Assad Sport city, inaugurates exhibition
in Lattakia
http://sana.sy/en/?p=118348
Garrie has an interesting piece about the Russian veto:
BREAKING: Russia vetoes US resolution on investigating “Syrian chemical weapons” at UN Security Council
http://theduran.com/breaking-russia-vetoes-us-resolution-investing-syrian-chemical-weapons-un-security-council/
“The move at the UN comes after a week which has been filled with Russia taking a stronger line against US actions in Syria than at any previous time.
Key statements and actions from Russia this week include:
1. Russia debunking rumours of US origin that Russia intends to force Iran to forego its legal presence in Syria as an ally of Damascus.
2. Russia debunking a statement from US Defense Secretary James “Mad Dog” Mattis who said that the UN authorised US military action in Syria, a statement which is categorically untrue. Russia affirmed that the US presence in Syria was and remains illegal according to international law.
3. Russia produced evidence showing that the US helps evacuate ISIS terrorists from the lines of fire in Syria.
4. Russia affirmed Syria’s stance that the US does not fire upon ISIS targets when it has a clear chance to do so.
5. Russia stated that the US presence in Syria is an obstacle to peace and to the territorial unity of the Syrian Arab Republic. Adding to this, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov effectively told the US that even according to their own previous statements regarding vacating Syria once ISIS is destroyed, that the US should leave Syria in an orderly fashion.
6. Russia stated that the US is an obstacle to Syrian and allied air traffic in the country.
7. Finally, Russia vetoed the US resolution to extend the UN’s mandate on investigating chemical weapons.”
An informative article about modern Syrian history and especially the Muslim brotherhood in Syria.
How Pseudo-leftists Explain the Failure of the ‘Syrian Revolution’
https://www.globalresearch.ca/how-pseudo-leftists-explain-the-failure-of-the-syrian-revolution/5618559
“With popular forces in Syria and Iraq destroying the globalised sectarian jihadist mercenaries – sponsored principally by Washington and the Saudis – some ideologues in colonial cultures still keep alive the romantic idea of a ‘Syrian Revolution’, that somehow tragically failed. This is also a myth propagated by the Muslim Brotherhood and their western sponsors, to cover an otherwise naked aggression against Syria.
It is a myth that matters much less now, as such propaganda no longer has the capacity to fuel deeper NATO intervention in Syria. Yet it seems important for the self-image of small groups of western pseudo-leftists, who committed themselves to the cause of ‘red-washing’ Washington’s latest war of aggression, backed by the most reactionary forces in the region.
By pseudo-leftist I mean those fanatic ideologues who cling to their fantasies, showing little interest in what the masses of ordinary people want. Those ‘Syrian Revolution’ fans betrayed the Syrian people, just as they betrayed the people of Libya, Cuba and many other small countries, when under attack from the big powers.”
Seen on Twitter:
“Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy scorecard:
1) Outmaneuver Iran? Fail.
2) Eliminate Houthis in Yemen? Fail.
3) Regime change in Syria? Fail.
4) Undermine govt in Iraq? Fail.
5) Blockade Qatar? Fail.
6) Destabilize Lebanon? Fail.
7) Play Trump like a fiddle? Success!”
Bernhard, as usual, sums up the latest events in Syria very nicely.
http://www.moonofalabama.org/2017/11/syria-summary-the-idleb-battle-comes-into-sight.html#more