Heavy Clashes Occurring Between US-Backed Forces And Arab Tribes In Eastern Syria

🇸🇾 #Syria - #Rojava: Clashes have allegedly broken out between the SDF and tribal groups in Deir ez-Zor after the SDF arrested Deir ez-Zor Military Council (DeZMC) leader Abu Khawla.

Tribes affiliated with Abu Khawla have since given the SDF a 12-hour ultimatum to release the… pic.twitter.com/3GHbIqHtM2

— POPULAR FRONT (@PopularFront_) August 29, 2023

Al Jazeera: Several killed in fighting between SDF and tribesmen in eastern Syria  

The clashes that took place between Arab clans and the Syrian Democratic Forces in Deir Az Zor countryside are among the worst in recent years. 

Clashes in eastern Syria between Arab tribal fighters and US-backed Kurdish-led fighters have left several people, including civilians, dead and others wounded, opposition activists and pro-government media have said. 

The clashes, which continued on Wednesday, are among the worst in years in the region along the border with Iraq, where hundreds of United States troops have been based since 2015 to help in the fight against the ISIL (ISIS) armed group.  

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WNU Editor: The U.S. is trying to urge calm .... US-led coalition urges calm in northeast Syria after clashes between Arab tribes, Kurdish-led force (Reuters). More here .... US military calls for end of fighting in east Syria (AP). 

My opinion is that this is going to get very messy. Syria/Iran/Russia/etc. .... there are many governments that see the U.S. vulnerable in their occupation of eastern Syria. They are going to exploit this and will make it worse in the coming months. 

Heavy Clashes Occurring Between US-Backed Forces And Arab Tribes In Eastern Syria  

At least 25 dead in heavy clashes between US proxy militia, Arab tribes in eastern Syria -- The Cradle  

Syria: 28 killed in fighting between Arab tribes and Kurds -- Middle East Monitor  

Rare Uprising Against US-Backed Forces In Syria Leaves Many Killed -- Zero Hedge

Protests Against Syrian President Assad's Government Growing

 

The Guardian: Syrian protests enter second week with calls for Assad to go 

Demonstrations have grown steadily throughout the south, centring around the province of Suwayda 

A spate of protests and strikes across government-held areas in southern Syria have continued into their second week, with demonstrators increasingly unafraid to call for the removal of the president, Bashar al-Assad. 

Protesters gathered in the southern city of Suwayda on Monday, closing provincial roads. The province of Suwayda has remained under government control since Syria’s 2011 uprising and is home to much of the country’s Druze minority. 

Video shared by the activist-led organisation Suwayda24 showed several hundred people gathered in a central square waving Druze flags and chanting “long live Syria, and down with Bashar al-Assad”.  

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Update: Protesters demand end to authoritarian rule in Syria (Reuters)  

WNU Editor: The protests stem from tough economic times .... Syria: Protests over growing economic hardship spread in south (BBC). More here .... Residents in southern Syria raid ruling party offices, block road as protests over economy intensify (AP).

New Book Claims Russia And US Narrowly Avoided A Major Conflict In Syria

US marines on patrol near the US al-Tanf military base on the Syrian border - Shutterstock © Shutterstock   

The Telegraph: Russians 'threatened US base with destruction' in Syria 

The US and Russia came close to engaging in a direct military confrontation in Syria after the Russians threatened an American special forces base at the height of the civil war, it can be revealed. 

US commanders threatened to respond with military force after the Russians ordered American special forces to leave their base “or face destruction”. 

After the special forces had dispersed into the Syrian desert as a precautionary measure, General Stephen Townsend, the commander of the US-led coalition’s Combined Joint Task Force, contacted his Russian opposite number to send him an ultimatum: “Are we talking or are we fighting.” After a brief pause, during which the Russians weighed up their options, they replied: “We are talking.” 

The response helped to defuse a major crisis between US and Russian forces operating in Syria during the civil war, which could easily have escalated into a major confrontation between Moscow and Washington.

Read more ....  

Update: Russia and US narrowly avoided major conflict in Syria – Telegraph (RT)  

WNU Editor: This incident happened in 2017, but tensions continue between the two countries in Syria .... US Commander Accuses Russia of 'Buffoonery in the Air' in Syria (VOA).

Syrian President Assad Gets A Warm Welcome At The Arab League Summit

 

Al Jazeera: Assad gets warm welcome as Syria welcomed back into Arab League 

Syrian president attends first regional bloc summit since his country’s suspension over crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011. 

After more than a decade of isolation, Bashar al-Assad, the president of war-torn Syria, has been welcomed back into the Arab League.

Al-Assad on Friday attended the regional bloc’s 32nd summit that kicked off in Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah for the first time since his country’s suspension following the eruption of war in Syria in 2011.  

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WNU Editor: It looks like he never left.

 Syrian President Assad Gets A Warm Welcome At The Arab League Summit  

Syria's Assad wins warm welcome at Arab summit after years of isolation -- Reuters 

Arab embrace of Assad underscores divergence with U.S. over Syria -- Washington Post 

Syria’s Bashar al-Assad returns to Arab League after years of isolation -- The Guardian

 Syria's Assad sheds pariah status despite 12 years of brutality -- Axios

Syria's Assad Lands In Saudi Arabia For Arab League Summit

 

Al Jazeera: Syria’s Assad arrives in Saudi Arabia in first visit since war 

President Bashar al-Assad to attend the Arab League summit on Friday, a sign of his regional rehabilitation. 

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has arrived in the Saudi port city of Jeddah, according to Al-Arabiya TV and Syrian state television. 

Al-Assad will attend the Arab League summit on Friday after Syria was reinstated to the regional organisation this month, more than 11 years after its suspension.  

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WNU Editor: No question about it. this is a huge win for Syrain President Assad, and a huge loss for the West. Update: Syrian President Assad has just been invited to COP28 .... Syrian president Assad invited to COP28 climate summit by the UAE (CNN). 

Syria's Assad Lands In Saudi Arabia For Arab League Summit  

Syria’s Assad arrives in Saudi Arabia for regional summit, sealing his return to the Arab fold -- AP

Arab League head welcomes Syria back into the bloc -- Reuters 

Syria's Assad lands in Saudi for Arab summit: state TV -- Al-Monitor/AFP  

Syria’s Assad Rejoins Arab League For the First Time in 13 Years -- New York Times 

Saudi Arabia Welcomes Assad in Diplomatic Win for Syrian Leader -- Bloomberg

Arab Governments Vote For Syria’s Return To The Arab League After 12 Years

 

The Guardian/Reuters: Arab League readmits Syria as relations with Assad normalise  

Syria’s membership of Arab League suspended in 2011 after bloody crackdown on street protests. 

Arab League foreign ministers have adopted a decision to readmit Syria after more than a decade of suspension, consolidating a regional push to normalise ties with President Bashar al-Assad.

The decision said Syria could resume its participation in Arab League meetings immediately, while calling for a resolution of the crisis resulting from the country’s civil war, including the flight of refugees to neighbouring countries and drug smuggling across the region.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: So much for US pressure to make sure this not happen. 

Arab Governments Vote For Syria’s Return To The Arab League After 12 Years  

Arab governments vote for Syria’s return to the Arab League -- AP  

Arab League Readmits Syria as Relations With Assad Normalise -- Reuters  

Arab League brings Syria back into its fold after 12 years -- Al Jazeera  

Arab League agrees to readmit Syria after nearly 12-year suspension -- Axios

Arab Nations Set To Rehabilitate Syria’n President Assad In Defiance Of The U.S.

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, center background, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, second left, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein, left, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri, right, and Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, second right, attend a regional consultative meeting in Amman, Jordan, May 1, 2023 (AP Photo/Raad Adayleh)  

CNN: Arab nations set to rehabilitate Syria’s pariah president in defiance of US  

Abu Dhabi CNN — Arab nations are set to re-admit Syria into the Arab League despite repeated objections from the United States to ending the decade-long isolation of a regime that it holds accountable for the deaths of more 300,000 civilians and displacement of millions in the country’s brutal civil war. 

Speaking to CNN’s Becky Anderson Thursday, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said he believes there are enough votes among Arab League members for Syria to return to the bloc, adding that Jordan has kept the US informed in its efforts to rebuild ties with the regime. 

Officials and analysts have said that Syria’s re-admission into the Arab League, while symbolic, comes with the hope that it could pave the way for President Bashar Al Assad’s rehabilitation internationally, and potentially the removal of crippling sanctions against his regime.  

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Arab Nations Set To Rehabilitate Syria’s President Assad In Defiance Of The U.S.  

Arab ministers to hold emergency meeting over Syria’s potential return to Arab League -- Times Of Israel  

Syria to be readmitted soon to Arab League, Jordan minister says -- Reuters  

Arab League Summit to seek Arab solutions to Arab problems -- Arab News  

Assad will demand high price for return of refugees -- Al-Monitor

US Military Releases Declassified Video Of Fully Armed Russian Fighter Jets Intercepting U.S. Jets Over Syria

 

Daily Mail: US military releases declassified video of fully armed Russian fighter jets intercepting American jets over Syria on two separate occasions 

* One of the videos was recorded on Tuesday and shows high-res images 

* The two interceptions are part of a larger trend of Russian-US air conflict 

* Central Command has warned the war in Ukraine could spill into Syria 

US Central Command released videos Wednesday of Russian fighter jets intercepting American jets over Syria on two separate occasions, as tensions continue to escalate between the two nations. 

The videos show high-quality infrared views of a Russian Su-35 intercepting an American craft just a month after General Michael 'Erik' Kurilla, head of Central Command, said he's seen a spike in aggressive Russian activity. 

'We have seen a significant spike since about March 1 in Syria,' General Kurilla told the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 16.  

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Update #1: Russian Su-35 Encounters Over Syria Seen In Newly Declassified Videos (Warzone/The Drive) 

Update #2: Russia Ups Its Dangerous Behavior in Syria With ‘Unprofessional‘ Flying, Missile Shot at MQ-9 (Air & Space Forces Magazine)

WNU Editor: The Russian Ministry Of Defense is also accusing US forces are acting unprofessionally in Syria .... Russia protests over ‘provocative actions’ by US forces in Syria (Al Jazeera).

Arab Leaders Are Bringing Syria's Assad Back 'In From The Cold'

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad welcomes a delegation from the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in Damascus, Syria [Syrian Presidency/Reuters]  

The Cradle: Egyptian FM in Syria for first high-level visit since 2011  

The Egyptian diplomat was received by his Syrian counterpart, and met with President Bashar al-Assad, signifying Damascus’ gradual return to the regional fold  

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry arrived in Damascus on 27 February to meet with President Bashar al-Assad and express his country’s solidarity with Syria following the devastating earthquake, signifying continued warming of relations between the Syrian government and regional states. 

The visit to Syria represents the first by a high-level Egyptian official since the start of the US-backed war in 2011. Upon his arrival at Damascus International Airport, Shoukry was received by Syria’s Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad.  

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WNU Editor: The visit by the Egyptian foreign minister was not the only Arab official visiting Damascus this week .... Syria’s Assad meets senior Arab lawmakers in Damascus (Al Jazeera). 

 This is also another sign on the declining influence of the U.S. in the region.

Erdogan Declares Three-Month-Long State Of Emergency Across Southeast Turkey As WHO Warns 23 Million People Could Be Affected By The Qquake – Death Toll Rises Past 7,800

 

The Guardian: Turkey and Syria earthquake death toll passes 7,800 as rescue efforts falter  

Aftershocks and freezing weather hamper efforts of rescue teams searching for survivors after 7.8-magnitude quake 

Aftershocks, freezing temperatures and damaged roads are hampering efforts to tackle the enormous humanitarian emergency triggered by Monday’s 7.8-magnitude earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria, with 7,800 people now confirmed dead and 380,000 others seeking refuge in Turkey alone. 

As the scale of the devastation from the initial quake – and a second tremor – became clearer, the Turkish authorities declared a state of emergency in 10 provinces and the World Health Organization warned that the number of fatalities could exceed 20,000.  

Read more .... 

More News On The Turkish - Syrian Earthquake 

Live: Clock ticking for rescuers as quake toll nears 8,000 -- BBC  

Turkey and Syria earthquake: race to find survivors as death toll passes 7,900 and hundreds of thousands seek shelter – latest -- The Guardian  

Turkey-Syria earthquake: Rescuers press on into third day -- DW  

February 7, 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake news -- CNN 

Fears grow for untold numbers buried by Turkey earthquake -- AP  

Rescuers dig through rubble as Turkey-Syria quake death toll passes 7800 -- Reuters  

Death toll from Turkey-Syria earthquake surpasses 7,000 as rescue efforts continue -- France 24  

Turkey’s President Erdogan declares 3-month state of emergency for quake-hit regions -- CNBC  

Turkey, Syria Quake Rescuers ‘Race Against Time’ as Death Toll Rises -- WSJ

Kurdish Delegation Engaged In Talks With The Assad Regime Over U.S. Objections

US soldier oversees members of SDF in Syria on 21 September (Reuters/File photo)  

The Cradle: Kurdish delegation leaves Damascus on ‘positive’ note: Report 

The US has reportedly warned the SDF several times not to engage in any dialogue with Damascus 

A Kurdish delegation representing the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) concluded a visit to Damascus on 20 January after meeting with several representatives of the Syrian government over the last few days, Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported. 

The delegation was headed by the foreign relations chief of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), Badran Jia Kurd, and arrived in the capital on 17 January. 

According to the report, the last few meetings did not result in anything significant, but the “prevailing impression” is that both sides are willing to continue along the path of dialogue, despite US warnings. 

“These are preliminary understandings between the two sides, on things such as Syrian territorial integrity, the national flag, and the presidency of Bashar al-Assad,” it states.  

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WNU Editor: The Syrian Kurds are seeing the hand writing on the wall. The US is being slowly squeezed out of the Middle East, and they better start laying the groundwork to make a deal with Damascus.

U.S. Fighter Jets Escort A Russian Cargo Plane And Two Tu-22 Backfire Bombers In Eastern Syria

A Tupolev Tu-22M3 Backfire strategic bomber is shown in this library photo.  

CNN: US fighter jets escort Russian aircraft in eastern Syria 

(CNN) US fighter jets and other coalition aircraft escorted three Russian aircraft in eastern Syria on Tuesday when the Russians flew into coalition-restricted airspace, according to two US officials with direct knowledge of the incident. 

A Russian cargo aircraft, accompanied by two Tu-22 Backfire bombers flew across Iraq into the so-called Eastern Syria Security Area without giving sufficient advance notification to the US-run coalition that they were moving through the area. 

When the US warned the Russians it needed more advance notice, the Russians said they were proceeding, the officials said. That led to US F-16s and coalition aircraft flying alongside the Russians briefly until they left the area. The deconfliction process is a normal procedure but generally done with more notice.  

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Update: US fighters, coalition aircraft escort Russian bombers in eastern Syria: report (The Hill)

WNU Editor: The Russians are sending a message that they do not recognize US jurisdiction in places like Syria. This is going to get worse.

200 Are Reported Dead After Five Days Of Fighting Between Islamic State Fighters And Kurdish Forces In Syria. U.S. Special Forces And Air Support Now Involved

 

The Guardian: Hundreds of boys ‘human shields’ in Islamic State prison breakout 

Siege in Kurdish-run prison in Syria ‘deeply distressing’, says Save the Children 

The fate of more than 700 boys and teenage detainees has become central to the siege of a Kurdish-run prison in Syria that was overrun on Friday by jihadists, who are accused of using the boys as human shields. 

As the siege around the Ghwayran prison in the Kurdish-run northern city of Hasakah entered a fifth day, Islamic State prisoners inside moved into a dormitory housing the boys, some of whom are as young as 12, in an attempt to prevent an assault by Kurdish forces stationed outside.  

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WNU Editor: It looks like the Islamic State is re-organizing itself back into an effective force .... Syria: Islamic State slowly showing signs of growing stronger after prison raid (SKY News). More here .... Syria prison attack shows ISIL ‘absolutely’ growing stronger (Al Jazeera). 

200 Are Reported Dead After Five Days Of Fighting Between Islamic State Fighters And Kurdish Forces In Syria  

Hundreds of children held by IS in besieged prison in Syria -- BBC  

US Troops Join Kurdish-Led Forces in Assault on Prison Held by ISIS -- New York Times  

More than 200 reported dead after Isis prison break in Syria as clashes continue -- The Independent  

IS using hundreds of minors as human shields as Syrian prison standoff continues -- Times of Israel

Islamic State Launches Biggest Attack In Syria In Two Years

 

France 24: Dozens killed as fighting rages after IS prison attack in eastern Syria 

Fighting raged for a third day Saturday between the Islamic State group and Kurdish forces in Syria after IS attacked a prison housing jihadists, with the violence killing nearly 90 people, a monitor said. 

The assault on Ghwayran prison in the northeastern city of Hasakeh is one of IS's most significant since its "caliphate" was declared defeated in Syria nearly three years ago. 

"At least 28 members of the Kurdish security forces, five civilians and 56 members of IS have been killed" in the violence, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.  

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WNU Editor: The US military is launching air strikes .... US carried out airstrikes in Syria against ISIS (AP). 

 Islamic State Launches Biggest Attack In Syria In Two Years  

Syria prison attack kills more than 100, clashes ongoing -- Al Jazeera 

Syrian Kurdish forces tighten siege after Islamic State prison break -- Reuters  

U.S.-Backed Forces Struggle to Contain Islamic State in Battle Over Syrian Prison -- WSJ  

Heavy fighting continues for 3rd day to stop ISIS prison break attempt in Syria -- CBS  

US-backed Forces Continue Battling Islamic State Over Syrian Prison -- VOA  

Deadly ISIS prison break attempt fuels fears of the group's resurgence -- CNN

Iran And Hezbollah Boosting Their Presence In Syria

SyriaHR: Hezbollah and Revolutionary Guards boost their presence south and west Damascus 

Reliable sources have informed SOHR that Lebanese “Hezbollah” has begun digging and expanding an old military base previously used by the regime forces to conduct flying training with reconnaissance aircraft and as air force intelligence centre training for live-firing drills, in an area near Khirbet Al-Ward village near Al- Sayyidah Zainab area south of Damascus, where Lebanese “Hezbollah” has been located since 2015. 

According to Syrian Observatory sources, over the past few days, Lebanese “Hezbollah” began digging “potholes and basements” in the base where its experts and members are stationed. Hezbollah also concealed Iranian-made drones in “basements and potholes” that had previously dug for fear of being targeted by Israel. Members of Hezbollah also kicked farmers out of their lands that are near the base for fear of filming them while digging.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Iran, Hezbollah Expanding Old Military Bases In Syria (Iran International)  

Update #2: Hezbollah deploys air defense systems in Syria’s Qalamoun mountains (Jerusalem Post)  

WNU Editor: This report is probably premature .... Report: Assad Cracking Down on Iranian Activities in Syria (Algemeiner).

The War In Syria Continues

The crew of a Russian Su-30 fighter prepare to take off at Hmeimim aerodrome in Syria. © Dmitriy Vinogradov © Reuters  

Reuters: Russian jets bomb rebel-held Idlib in Syria, witnesses say 

AMMAN (Reuters) - Russian jets bombed areas near the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib on Sunday, witnesses and rebel sources said, marking a new year flare-up for the last opposition-held bastion. 

War planes flying at high altitude, which tracking centres said were Russian Sukhoi jets, dropped bombs on several towns and a water pumping station serving the overcrowded city of Idlib, whose wider population is more than a million. 

No immediate comment was available from Russia or the Syrian army, which says it targets the hideouts of militant groups who control the region but deny any attacks on civilians. 

An official at the city's water utility service said it was out of action as a result of the strikes.  

Read more .... 

Update #1: CBN News' Chuck Holton Reports From Syria: 'It's Easy to See Why Millions of People Fled' (CBN News)  

Update #2: 2022 Look Ahead: No end to suffering in sight for war-weary Syrians (Arab News)  

WNU Editor: Not the worst year for casualties in the Syrian war, but still bad .... More than 3,700 people were killed in Syria's civil war this year (NPR).

Erdoğan And Putin Hold Face-To-Face Talks On Syria

Ahead of this week’s summit first responders in the Idlib area said Syrian air force bombing has again intensified, and the Turkish military has deployed extra troops. Photograph: Vladimir Smirnov/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POO 

The Guardian: Erdoğan and Putin hold face-to-face talks over Syria ceasefire 

Turkey’s president wants to shore up the truce because it has been ruptured repeatedly in the last 18 months 

The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, met with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, for their first face-to-face talks since the pandemic in which they discussed the future of the last pocket of Syria outside regime control. 

The leaders met in in the Russian Black Sea resort town of Sochi for Wednesday’s summit, in which Erdoğan sought to shore up a March 2020 ceasefire deal which ended a bruising assault by Bashar al-Assad and his Russian allies on Turkish-backed fighters in north-west Syria. 

The fighting last year brought Ankara and Moscow close to direct confrontation and threatened Turkey – which is already home to about 4 million Syrians – with a new wave of refugees.  

Read more .... 

More News On Erdoğan And Putin Holding Face-To-Face Talks On Syria  

Turkey, Russia to continue working to solve problems in Syria's Idlib -NTV -- Reuters  

Putin hails 'compromises' with Turkey in talks with Erdogan over Syria, defence -- New Arab  

Turkey’s Erdogan Presses Russia’s Putin to Halt Syria Assault -- WSJ  

Putin, Erdogan hold closed-door summit in Sochi -- Al-Monitor  

Turkey and Russia to preserve status-quo in Syria's Idlib, Turkish official says -- Middle East Eye  

War In Syria Heating Up Again, Prompting Tense Putin-Erdogan Summit -- Zero Hedge

Syria Says It Will Drive-Out U.S. Soldiers From The Country If They Do Not Leave Voluntarily

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad. Reuters  

Newsweek: Syria Says It Will Drive U.S. From Country If Troops Do Not Leave Voluntarily  

Syria's foreign minister on Monday vowed to drive U.S. troops out of his country if they do not leave voluntarily. 

Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad called the presence of Turkish and U.S. troops in northern Syria illegal and a flagrant violation of international law. 

Hundreds of U.S. troops are stationed in eastern Syria and working with Kurdish-led fighters to combat the Islamic State militant group. 

Turkish forces are present in northern Syria, where Turkey has supported and funded Syrian opposition fighters against Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces. 

Mekdad called for the troops to withdraw voluntarily from Syria, threatening to push them out if they did not go.

Read more ....  

Update: Syrian Foreign Minister Urges Turkey, US to Withdraw Troops at UNGA (Sputnik) 

WNU Editor: The Syrian foreign minister did not go into details on how his country will drive-out the U.S. and Turkish troops that are deployed in Syria.

UN Calculates New Death Toll From Syrian Civil War

🇸🇾#Syria: UN Human Rights Chief updates @UN_HRC on the extent of conflict-related casualties in Syria from 2011 - 2021. @MBachelet urges us all to listen to the voices of survivors & victims, and to the stories of those who have now fallen silent for ever: https://t.co/rm7GxDbZiO pic.twitter.com/CgIkRWxXtO

— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) September 24, 2021

 

BBC: Syria war: UN calculates new death toll 

At least 350,209 people have been killed in 10 years of war in Syria, the UN says in its first official death toll since 2014. 

Its human rights chief cautioned the figure is "certainly an under-count of the actual number of killings". 

A leading but unofficial UK-based monitoring group recently put the death toll at over 606,000. 

The war in Syria has largely wound down with just a single province now controlled by jihadists and rebels.  

Read more .... 

More News On The UN saying At Least 350,000 Civilians Have Been Killed in Syria’s Civil War 

UN: At Least 350,000 Civilians Killed in Syria’s Civil War -- VOA  

UN tallies 350K dead in Syria war, admits toll likely higher -- ABC News/AP  

Syria: UN says 350,000 war death toll is an 'undercount' -- DW  

New UN death toll: At least 350,000 people killed in Syria’s war -- Al Jazeera 

UN says at least 350K killed in Syria’s war, 'certainly an undercount' -- Al-Monitor

Syria Suffers Widespread Power Blackouts After ISIS ‘Attack’ On Gas Pipeline Feeding Key Power Station

A view of the Deir Ali power plant southeast of Syria's capital Damascus (ASTE-SY)  

Middle East Eye: Islamic State claims attack on Syrian gas pipeline 

Militant group takes credit for attack that left much of Syria without of power 

The Islamic State group on Saturday claimed an attack on a natural gas pipeline southeast of the capital Damascus which resulted in major power outages. 

In a statement, IS said that its fighters were able to "plant and detonate explosives on the gas pipeline feeding the Tishreen and Deir Ali plants". 

The Deir Ali station provides power for much of Damascus and the surrounding area. 

Ghassan al-Zamel, the minister of electricity, said on Saturday that the plant generated half of Syria's power needs, according to the official SANA news agency.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Power has been restored .... Syria repairs gas pipeline & restores power after ‘ISIS terrorist attack’ plunged Damascus into darkness (RT).

 More News On Widespread Power Blackouts In Syria After Pipeline Attack  

Attack on gas line leaves Syrian capital and outskirts with no electricity -Sana -- Reuters  

Syria suffers widespread blackout after ‘attack’ on gas pipeline feeding key power station – electricity minister -- RT 

Act of Sabotage Results in Power Outage in Damascus, Energy Minister Says -- Sputnik