Leaders Of Turkey, Russia And Iran To Meet On Monday For Syrian Talks

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walk during their meeting in the Black sea resort of Sochi, Russia, 14 February 2019. Sergei Chirikov/Pool via REUTERS

Al Jazeera: Erdogan hosts Putin and Rouhani for new round of Syria talks

Trilateral summit to focus on ensuring required conditions for voluntary return of refugees, Turkish presidency says.

Turkey's president is set to host his Russian and Iranian counterparts in Ankara to discuss developments in war-torn Syria, where Moscow-backed government forces push on with an offensive to retake Idlib, the rebels' last major stronghold.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin and Hassan Rouhani are expected to hold one-on-one meetings before Monday's summit on the Syrian conflict, their fifth since 2017. Later, they will speak to reporters at a closing news conference with a view to presenting a joint declaration.

Read more ....

Update: Leaders of Turkey, Russia, Iran set to tackle Syria turmoil (Reuters)

WNU Editor: Turkish President Erdogan wants to get rid of his Syrian refugees, and both Russia and Iran are focused on ending and winning the Syrian war. I do expect an understanding between all sides to come out of this summit.

Russia And Syrian Military Forces Prepare To Seize The Last Cities Controlled By Rebel Forces

The rebel stronghold of northwest Syria has come under deadly regime bombardment in recent weeks [File: Anas AL-dyab/AFP]

Washington Examiner: Russia prepares ‘crushing’ offensive in Syria

Russian forces are preparing a military operation to help Syrian dictator Bashar Assad reclaim the last major cities held by rebel forces and terrorists, according to Moscow’s top diplomat.

"Terrorists systematically stage provocations and attack the positions of the Syrian army and communities and also the Russian air base Hmeymim with multiple rocket systems and drones,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters Monday, per state-run media. "Neither the Syrian army nor Russia will leave such outrages without crushing retaliation.”

Read more ....

More News On The Syrian War

Russian jets carry out deadly bombings in Syria's Idlib -- Al Jazeera
Russian jets kill at least 25 in north-western Syria -- The National
Russian jets kill at least 25 in north-western Syria -- Jerusalem/Reuters
300,000 Syrians take refuge near Turkish border: UN body-- Hurriyet Daily News
Iran focuses on political solution while keeping military option open in Syria -- Al-Monitor
Syria escalation hampers food delivery to affected areas: WFP -- Al Jazeera
As Syria's 'disappeared' numbers rise, UN backs new measures -- The National
Assad demolishes refugee homes to tighten grip on rebel strongholds -- The Guardian
Syria’s New Assad Statues Send a Sinister Message: ‘We Are Back’ -- The Atlantic

Report: 2018 Syrian Death Toll Is Under 20,000

Among those killed in 2018 were 6,349 civilians, 1,437 of them children, Observatory chief Abdel Rahman said. (AFP)

TRT World: Syria war leaves nearly 20,000 dead this year – monitor

According to figures released by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights this year's annual death toll is the lowest in the country's close to eight-year civil war but the misery persists for its people as the conflict continues.

Syria sees another deadly year with 19,666 people killed including 6,349 civilians, 1,437 of them children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said on Monday.

"2018 was the lowest annual toll since the start of the conflict," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

The death toll for 2017 stood at more than 33,000 and the highest annual figure was reached in 2014 – the year that Daesh proclaimed a so-called "caliphate" over large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq – when 76,000 people were killed.

Read more ....

Update #1: Syria deaths at wartime low in 2018 as Assad made gains (AP)
Update #2: 2018 death toll Syria war's lowest at under 20,000: monitor (AFP)

WNU Editor:  The total number killed after almost 8 years of war stands at around 400,000.

Russia Accuses The U.S. Of Training Former ISIS Fighters At Their Bases In Syira

Reuters: Russia accuses U.S. of training former Islamic State fighters in Syria

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The chief of the Russian General Staff has accused the United States of training former Islamic State fighters in Syria to try to destabilize the country.

General Valery Gerasimov’s allegations, made in a newspaper interview, center on a U.S. military base at Tanf, a strategic Syrian highway border crossing with Iraq in the south of the country.

Russia says the U.S. base is illegal and that it and the area around it have become “a black hole” where militants operate unhindered.

Read more ....

More News On Russia Accusing The U.S. Of Training Former ISIS Fighters At Their Bases In Syira

Terrorists undergo training at US Al-Tanf base in Syria - Russian General Staff -- TASS
US lets militants train, mount attacks from its Syrian bases – chief of Russian General Staff -- RT
US Base in al-Tanf Fully Blocked by Syrian Troops -- Sputnik
Russia Claims U.S. Is Training Hundreds of Terrorists in Syria -- Moscow Times
Russia claims U.S. training former ISIS fighters in Syria -- Washington Times

Death Toll From Aleppo Refugee Bus Convoy Bomb Attack Now At 126

BBC: Syria war: 'At least 68 children among 126 killed' in bus bombing

At least 68 children were among 126 people killed in Saturday's bomb attack on buses carrying evacuees from besieged Syrian towns, activists say.

A vehicle filled with explosives hit the convoy near Aleppo.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said at least 109 evacuees from government-held towns were killed, along with aid workers and rebel soldiers.

Many more were injured in the attack, the group said.

Read more ....

More News On Yesterday's Bomb Attack On An Aleppo Refugee Bus Convoy

Death toll from Aleppo bus convoy bomb attack at least 126: Observatory -- Reuters
Mass evacuation in Syria postponed after blast kills 80 kids -- AP
Aleppo blast: Syrian evacuation convoy targeted -- Al Jazeera
Syrian bus convoy hit by blast, at least 112 reported killed or injured -- ABC News Online
Blast hits bus convoy near Aleppo, women & children among dozens killed (GRAPHIC IMAGES) -- RT
Syrian bus bombing: The deal that saw residents stranded after mass evacuations -- ABC News Online

Russia, Iran, And Hezbollah Are Warning The U.S. That They Will 'Respond With Force' If Red Lines Are Crossed Again In Syria

The Independent: Russia and Iran warn US they will 'respond with force' if red lines crossed in Syria again

Threat comes after UK Defence Secretary demands Vladimir Putin rein in President Bashar al-Assad

Russia and Iran have warned the US they will "respond with force" if their own "red lines" are crossed in Syria.

Following Friday's cruise missile strike on a Syrian air base, in retaliation for the chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun earlier in the week, the alliance supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made a joint statement threatening action in response to "any breach of red lines from whoever it is".

"What America waged in an aggression on Syria is a crossing of red lines. From now on we will respond with force to any aggressor or any breach of red lines from whoever it is and America knows our ability to respond well," the group's joint command centre said.

US President Donald Trump said the strike on al Shayrat air base, near Homs, with some 60 Tomahawk missiles was "representing the world". The base was allegedly used by Syrian forces to conduct the attack, which killed more than 70 people.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I think they mean it this time.

More News On Russia And Iran Warning The U.S. That They Will 'Respond With Force' If Red Lines Are Crossed Again In Syria

Russia, Iran and Hezbollah military leaders release joint statement, threatens the U.S. -- AMN Al Masdar News
Iran and Russia up anti-US rhetoric -- The Australian/WSJ
Russia and Iran say they will respond to American aggression following air strike in Syria -- The SUN
Top Russian, Iranian Generals Condemn U.S. Missile Strike -- RFE
Russia, Iran Warn U.S. They Will "Respond With Force" If Syria "Red Lines" Crossed Again -- Zero Hedge
Russia, Iran vow continued military support for Assad -- Al Jazeera
Iranian, Russian Security Heads Discuss US Missile Attack in Syria in Phone Talk -- Sputnik

UNICEF: 2016 Was The Worst Year For Syria's Children Caught In Syria's War

VOA: UNICEF: 2016 Was Worst Year Yet for Syria's Children

In Syria, last year was the worst yet for the country's rising generation, with at least 652 children killed in 2016, the United Nations' child relief agency said Monday.

There was no letup to attacks on schools, hospitals, playgrounds, parks and homes as the Syrian government, its opponents and the allies of both sides showed callous disregard for the laws of war.

UNICEF said at least 255 children were killed in or near schools last year and 1.7 million youngsters are out of school. One of every three schools in Syria is unusable, some because armed groups occupy them. An additional 2.3 million Syrian children are refugees elsewhere in the Middle East.

Read more ....

More News On The UNICEF Report Declaring 2016 Being The Worst Year For Syria's Children

Hitting rock bottom: Children's suffering in Syria at its worst -- UNICEF
'Unprecedented suffering' for Syrian children in 2016 – UNICEF -- UN News Centre
Syrian children 'pushed to the brink' after worst atrocities since war began -- The Guardian
UNICEF: 2016 was deadliest yet for children in Syria -- UPI
2016 was 'rock bottom' for children in Syria, says UNICEF -- CNN
2016 Was Worst Year Yet For Children Caught In Syria's War, UNICEF Says -- NPR
Syria war: 2016 deadliest year yet for children, says Unicef -- BBC
Record number of children killed in Syria last year: U.N. -- Reuters
Syrian children suffering trauma from war -- DW
UNICEF: 2016 was the worst year yet for Syrian children -- Al Jazeera

Al Qaeda Linked Groups Claims Two Suicide Bomb Attacks In Damascus That Killed 74

Reuters: Death toll from Damascus bombing climbs to 74: Observatory

The death toll from a double bomb attack targeting Shi'ites visiting a pilgrimage site in Damascus has climbed to 74, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Sunday.

Most of the dead in Saturday's attack were Iraqi Shi'ites who were going to visit a cemetery near the Old City of Damascus.

There has been no claim of responsibility. The Hezbollah-run al-Manar TV station said it was carried out by two suicide bombers.

Read more ....

More News On An Al Qaeda Linked Groups Claiming Two Suicide Bomb Attacks In Damascus That Killed 74

Al-Qaida-linked group claims deadly attack in Syrian capital-- AP
Ex-Qaeda affiliate in Syria claims Damascus bombings -- AFP
Al Qaeda front group claims responsibility for suicide attacks in Damascus -- Long War Journal
Death toll from Damascus blasts climbs to 74 -- CNN
Syrian Al-Qaeda affiliate claims twin bombing in Damascus -- BBC
Al-Qaida-Linked Group Claims Deadly Damascus Blasts -- VOA
Hardline group in Syria claims deadly Damascus bombings -- Al Jazeera
Militants claim responsibility for deadly Damascus bombings -- DW
Dozens dead in twin Damascus bombings, says rights monitor -- The Guardian

In The Battle For Aleppo The Syrian Government Is Relying On Foreign Forces To Retake The City

WNU Editor: While there are many foreign fighters in the rebel ranks, the media has not focused on the role that foreign fighters have played in bolstering the Syrian army's military campaigns. This AP story examines the role that they are playing in the battle for Aleppo .... Assad relies on foreign fighters in push to retake Aleppo (AP). If this report is true .... even if the Assad regime is successful in retaking the city .... using foreign military forces to police a different sectarian population will be a difficult (if not impossible) task.

Syrian Truce On The Verge Of Collapse

Reuters: Syria truce 'will not hold out' says senior rebel source

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday he remained "more positive than negative" over a shaky ceasefire in Syria, but a senior rebel in Aleppo warned the truce "will not hold out" as some fighting persisted and aid failed to come through.

The ceasefire is the result of an agreement between Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with air power, and the United States, which supports some rebel groups, and has cooled fighting since coming into effect last Monday.

But in comments delivered in Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, Putin cast doubt over Washington's commitment to the deal, saying it was "deviating" from its own call for openness, and had been unable to split moderate from "semi-criminal" rebels.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: This is not a good sign of what is happening .... UN Syria talks cancelled amid US-Russia tensions (France 24). The UN was suppose to "rubber-stamp" a continuation of the ceasefire .... but they did not even meet.

More News On The Syrian Truce Being On The Verge Of Collapse

Syria war: Rebels 'regrouping' under ceasefire - Putin -- BBC
Putin: Terrorists use Syria ceasefire to try & regroup -- RT
Putin says Syria rebels using truce to regroup -- AFP
Russia's Putin says hopes U.S. sticks to its commitments on Syria -- Reuters
Syria's civil war: Ceasefire strained by fresh fighting -- Al Jazeera
US, Russia trade accusations as Syria truce looks increasingly shaky -- DW
Russia accuses US of refusing to share Syria deal documents with UN -- The Telegraph

Jihadists Have Been Reinforcing Other Rebel Groups In Aleppo Since January

An Al Nusrah Front convoy streams into Aleppo province in late January.

Long War Journal: Jihadists reinforce other rebels during key battle in Aleppo province

Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda’s official branch in Syria, sent a massive convoy of fighters to the Aleppo province in late January. The jihadists’ redeployment was promoted in a short video posted on Twitter. More than 100 vehicles filled with fighters streamed into the province.

It was a harbinger of the heavy fighting to come.

Bashar al Assad’s regime, backed by Russian airstrikes, Iranian-sponsored Shiite militias and Hezbollah, launched a major offensive in Aleppo earlier this month. The fight for the province is likely the most important battle in Syria since early last year, when the Jaysh al Fateh coalition, led by Al Nusrah and Ahrar al Sham (an al Qaeda-linked jihadist group) swept through the neighboring Idlib province.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: It looks like the rebel groups knew only a few weeks ago that the battle for Aleppo was going to intensify

Syrian War News Updates -- January 3, 2016

New Zealand Herald: Heavy toll as Syria's war grinds on

More than 55,000 people were killed in Syria in 2015, the country's fifth year of war, including more than 2500 children, a monitor said yesterday.

The total number of dead since the beginning of the conflict had reached more than 260,000, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, though the number of those killed last year was lower than the 76,021 people who died in 2014.

In 2015 alone, the monitor documented the deaths of 55,219 people, including 13,249 civilians. Among them were 2574 children, it said.

Syrian War News Updates -- January 3, 2016

Syrian army leads offensive in key southern Daraa province - RT’s Murad Gazdiev reports -- RT
Arab-Kurd fighters kill 16 ISIS jihadists near Syria ‘capital’ -- AFP
War in Syria: Up to 40,000 civilians are starving in besieged Madaya, say campaigners -- The Independent
Syrian army launches assault against rebels near border with Israel -- Reuters
Syria: Islamic State suicide bombers target Christian restaurants -- Christian Today
Syria conflict: 'At least 16 dead' in three restaurants blasts -- BBC
UK Conducts Four Airstrikes in a Month During Syria Campaign -- Sputnik
Are UK bombs making a difference in Syria? -- Jonathan Beale, BBC
Republican: US has ‘no plan at all’ in Syria -- The Hill
Healing on the Syria-Turkey border -- Al Jazeera
Syrian refugees in Turkey are facing the same terror they once fled -- Quartz
Syria's seemingly endless fight (Video) -- Reuters
Syria bloodshed: Will it only get worse in 2016? -- Brooklyn Middleton, Al Arabiya
Unexpected Ally: Russia Might Get New Partner in Syria, But Who Will It Be? -- Sputnik
The Lost Generation of Syrian Youth -- Zvi Bar'el, Haaretz
Hard roads across Iraq, Syria and beyond: Freedom and safety are scarce five years after the Arab Spring -- Patrick Cockburn, The Independent
Russia is clearing the decks for Assad -- Dr. Azeem Ibrahim, Al Arabiya
2015: a year of territorial gains for Syrian Kurds, losses for regime -- RUDAW

A Video Report From The Front-Lines At Palmyra, Syria

RT: RT EXCLUSIVE: ISIS position in Palmyra up-close, RT 1st intl TV crew to follow Syrian Army assault

RT's Lizzie Phelan and her crew report from Palmyra in direct sight of Islamic State militants, who are holding positions among the ruins of the world heritage site. With the terrorists weakened by Russian airstrikes, the Syrian Army is preparing for an offensive to retake Palmyra.

The important UNESCO world heritage site has been under the control of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) since May. RT’s crew are the first among international TV journalists to report from the area, with IS fighters visible on a nearby hill.

Syrian War News Updates -- October 19, 2015

Reuters: Syrian rebels say receive more weapons for Aleppo battle

Rebels battling the Syrian army and its allies near Aleppo said on Monday they had received new supplies of U.S.-made anti-tank missiles from states opposed to President Bashar al-Assad since the start of a major government offensive last week.

The rebels from three groups contacted by Reuters said new supplies had arrived in response to the attack by the army, which is backed up by Russian air strikes and on the ground by Iranian fighters and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

The delivery of the U.S.-made TOW missiles to rebels in Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria appears to be an initial response to the new Russian-Iranian intervention. Foreign states supporting the rebels include Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar.

Syrian War News Updates -- October 19, 2015

Syria conflict: 'Thousands flee Aleppo offensive' -- BBC
Syrian Regime, Backed by Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, Expands Ground Offensive to Aleppo -- WSJ
Syrian troops advance toward air base besieged by IS -- Washington Post/AP
Syrian military advances on rebel forces in Aleppo province -- UPI
Iran backs battle for Syria's Aleppo with proxies, ground troops -- Washington Post
Syrian War Update: Aleppo Hospitals Close Following Airstrikes As Medical Organizations Blame Russian Campaign For Targeting Civilians -- IBTimes
The Strategic Importance Of The Battle For Syria's Aleppo (Audio) -- NPR
Russian planes make 33 sorties, hit 49 targets in Syria: Ifax -- Reuters
Russian Jets Destroy 49 Terrorist Targets in Syria -- Sputnik
Russia says 49 targets hit in latest Syria strikes -- AFP
Russian aircraft make 33 sorties over past 24 hours targeting 49 IS facilities in Syria -- TASS
Syria conflict: Air strikes 'kill 40 IS militants' -- BBC
Airstrikes in Syria kill 'dozens of ISIL fighters' -- Al Jazeera
Syria conflict: Air strikes 'kill 40 IS militants' -- BBC
Syrian troops advance toward air base besieged by IS -- AP
Russian Warplanes Make More Sorties Over Syria -- REF
Russian Airstrikes Help Syrian Army Liberate New Areas Near Aleppo -- Sputnik
Syria: Russia building new airstrip in Latakia for more air raids against Isis -- IBTimes
Fanning Flames of War: Syrian Opposition Receives New Batch of US-Made Arms -- Sputnik
Battle-weary Syrian forces struggle despite Russian air war -- AFP
Russian airstrikes in Syria 'redrawing battlefield lines', sending ISIS fleeing (VIDEO) -- RT
Russia, Iran Changing ‘Equation of Syrian Battle Against ISIL’ -- Sputnik
US wants to avoid 'total destruction' of Syria: Kerry -- AFP
Kerry to Meet Russia, Others to Discuss 'Tangible' Syria Solution -- NBC
Kerry Plans Multilateral Talks on Syria Political Transition -- VOA