Syrian War News Updates -- July 24, 2017

Ahrar Al Sham fighters are seen taking positions in Jabal Al Arbaeen, Idlib province, on November 12, 2016. Khalil Ashawi / Reuters

The Independent: Secret Russian-Kurdish-Syrian military cooperation is happening in Syria’s eastern desert

This is the first of a series from Robert Fisk in Syria: However tenuous the new YPG-Russian-Syrian connections may be, they demonstrate that all sides are determined to avoid any military confrontation between Moscow and Washington.

After a sweeping Syrian military advance to the edge of the besieged Isis ‘capital’ of Raqqa, the Russians, the Syrian Army and Kurds of the YPG militia – theoretically allied to the US – have set up a secret ‘coordination’ centre in the desert of eastern Syria to prevent “mistakes” between the Russian-backed and American-supported forces now facing each other across the Euphrates river. The proof could be found this week in a desert village of mud-walled huts and stifling heat – it was 48 degrees – where I sat on the floor of an ill-painted villa with a Russian air force colonel in camouflage uniform, a young officer of the Kurdish militia – with a ‘YPG’ (Kurdish People’s Militia) patch on his sleeve – and a group of Syrian officers and local Syrian tribal militiamen.

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Syrian War News Updates -- July 24, 2017

Jihadist group cements control of Syria's Idlib province: rebels -- Reuters
Jihadists take control of major Syrian city -- AFP
Hay'et Tahrir al-Sham take control of Syria's Idlib -- Al Jazeera
Some 50 People Killed in Car Blast in Syrian City of Idlib – Reports -- Sputnik
Hezbollah claims gains against Nusra Front in Western Syria -- Jerusalem Post
Hezbollah Says Battle With Nusra Front Almost Won at Syria-Lebanon Border -- US News and World Report/Reuters
Lebanon's Hezbollah says Syria border assault 'nearing end' -- AFP
Rebel Factions' Fighting Near Turkish Border Calls on Mediation Efforts -- Asharq Al-awsat
Islamists surround rivals at Syria-Turkey crossing, truce agreed -- Reuters
Syria war: Russia sends police to southern 'safe zones' -- BBC
Russia Deploys Military Police at 'Safe Zone' in Syria -- US News and World Report/AP
Syrian army, allies advance against Islamic State east of Raqqa -- Reuters
Car bomb blast in Raqqa leaves casualties among SDF ranks -- Iraqi News
SDF forces making 'excellent progress' in Raqqa push, Coalition says -- NRT
US official: IS putting up stiff resistance in Syria's Raqqa -- Air Force Times
British General Says Victory In Raqqa Would Not Be End Of Fight Against Islamic State -- RFE
Conflict among Syrian forces may draw U.S. into proxy fight -- L.A. Times