Russian MoD: More than 23 thousand terrorists killed in Syria last year
Russian Ministry of Defense affirmed that thousands of terrorists were killed in Syria and hundreds of their positions, weapons warehouses and heavy equipment have been destroyed during the war against terrorism last year.
The Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that “In 2018, more than 23 thousand terrorists were killed in Syria, in addition to destroying 159 tanks, 57 armored vehicles, more than 900 cannons and about 3 thousand machinegun-equipped cars belonging to terrorist groups.”
“Since September 2015, more than 87 thousand terrorists including(830) of their leaders were killed and more than (4500) terrorists from the Commonwealth of Independent States were also killed,” the Ministry added.
The statement indicated that ” About 1,000 field camps, 10 thousand ammunition and fuel warehouses, 650 tanks and 700 vehicles belonging to terrorists in Syria were also destroyed.”
The Ministry said that “The Syrian Arab Army in cooperation with the supporting forces has established control over (96,5 %) of the Syrian territories.”
Since September 2015, the Russian forces, upon a request by the Syrian Arab Republic, have participated in supporting the tireless efforts exerted by the Syrian Arab Army in its war against terrorist organizations.
UK Foreign Secretary Hunt Admits Assad to Be in Power 'For a While'
The admission is a step back from the usual 'Assad must go' rhetoric which the UK, the US and its allies have repeatedly used in relation to the Syrian president in the course of the war which has rocked the country since 2011.
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has admitted that Syrian President Bashar Assad will likely remain in power "for a while" thanks to support from his Russian allies.
"I think you know the British long-standing position is that we won't have lasting peace in Syria with that regime. But regretfully we do think he's going to be around for a while and that is because of the support that he's had from Russia," Hunt said, speaking to Sky News."Russia may think that it's gained a sphere of influence. What we would say to them is: Yes — and you've also gained a responsibility. If you're going to be involved in Syria then you need to make sure that there really is peace in Syria. And that means making sure that President Assad does not use chemical weapons on his own people," Hunt added.
The UK, the US and France have repeatedly accused the Syrian government of using chemical weapons against civilians in areas of the country controlled by various armed groups. Damascus and its allies have repeatedly shown that the majority of the so-called chemical attacks have been false-flag operations staged by groups such as the Western-backed White Helmets in a bid to prompt a Western military intervention.
Britain had been at the forefront of providing various forms of material and moral support for forces fighting the Syrian government since 2011, with the controversial White Helmets 'rescue group' founded by James Le Mesurier, a former British military intelligence officer and mercenary with links to the Gulf States. The Syrian army has also repeatedly found and displayed stockpiles of British, US, French and Israeli-made weapons provided to militants as it cleared areas of the country of terrorist control.
Syria descended into foreign-backed civil conflict in 2011, as multiple factions dominated by Islamist radicals attempted to overthrow the government. Russia intervened in the conflict in late September 2015, concentrating its efforts on thrashing Daesh (ISIS)* militants which had taken over eastern Syria, as well as other terrorists such as Nusra Front (aka al-Qaeda in Syria)* in other parts of the country. By mid-2018, thanks to efforts by the Syrian and Russian militaries, as well as Hezbollah and Iranian military advisors, Daesh was routed in Syria, and the vast majority of the terrorists and other anti-government rebels retreated to the northern province of Idlib, which remains the only part of the country under partial terrorist control.
*Terrorist groups outlawed in Russia and many other countries.
British Embassy in Syria mysteriously under construction
The British Embassy in Damascus is undergoing construction, despite the fact that it was closed at the start of the Syrian conflict.
According to an Al-Masdar field correspondent who visited the site, the British Embassy in Damascus was indeed under construction, marking the first time since its closure that any work has been done to the building.
Al-Masdar reached out to the Syrian government about the mysterious construction; however, the official in Damascus declined to comment on the project.
The project reportedly began earlier this week and the construction focused on the front entrance of the building.
SDF, Syrian gov’t begin talks on future of Tal Abyad
Head of the Joint Council of Raqqa announced on Thursday that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will continue its negotiations with the Syrian government on the SDF-controlled areas irrespective of the absence or presence of the US troops in Syria.
“The SDF does not pay heed to the US presence or absence in Syria,” the Arabic-language al-Watan newspaper quoted Leila Mostafa as saying, referring to the ongoing talks between SDF and the Damascus government on SDF-controlled al-Jazira region in eastern and northeastern Syria.
She noted that the representatives of the Syrian government and the SDF have held talks in the town of Ain Issa in Northern Raqqa, and said, “the two sides will hold similar meetings in the near future.”
In a relevant development on Sunday, the predominately-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces surrendered control of the strategic Tishrin Dam in Northern Syria to the Damascus troops a day after it retreated from the key town of Manbij to be replaced by the Syrian Army.
The Arabic-language website of Sputnik reported that the army took control of the Tishrin Dam in Eastern Aleppo on Saturday afternoon after the SDF forces retreated from the region.
Popular gathering in Hasaka in denunciation of Turkish threats, rejection of any illegitimate foreign presence in Syria
Hasaka City on Thursday witnessed a massive popular gathering in denunciation of the Turkish threats to launch an aggression on the Syrian territories and in rejection of any illegitimate foreign presence in Syria.
The gathering was held at the President Square with the participation of elders and dignitaries of the clans and tribes and representatives of different activities in the province.
SANA’s reporter said that participants in the gathering affirmed their standing by the Syrian Arab Army, the icon of the national sovereignty, in the face of all types and forms of terrorism and in the face of the threats by the Turkish regime to launch an aggression on the Syrian territories.
They asserted their readiness to sacrifice to defend the homeland in the face of any aggression and to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria and the dignity of its people.
Over the past few days, many Syrian provinces have witnessed rallies and massive gatherings in support of the victories achieved by the Syrian Arab Army over terrorism, in addition to holding many protests against the threats by the Turkish regime to launch an aggression on the Syrian territories and its direct support to terrorist organizations.
MILITANTS INFIGHTING SPILLOVER TO HAMA AND IDLIB LEADING TO MORE LOSES ON BOTH SIDES
On January 3, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) developed its attack on Turkish-backed National Front for Liberation (NFL) and advanced in the opposition-held parts of the governorates of Hama and Idlib.
According to the Syrian news outlet, Enab Baladi, the radical group imposed control of the towns of Faqie, Tramla and Arnaba in the southern Idlib countryside and the towns of Shahranaz and Shir Mughar in the northwestern Hama countryside.
This new round of infighting erupted three days ago, when HTS launched an attack on the positions of the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement in the western Aleppo countryside after accusing it of assassinating four of its fighters. The radical group managed to capture several areas from al-Zenki, including the strategic town of Darat Izza.
After the failure of the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement to hold onto its positions, the group’s allies in the NFL joined the battle and announced a total mobilization against HTS on January 2.
The Lebanese al-Mayadeen TV said that more than 180 militants have been killed in the infighting so far. The number of casualties is expected to raise in the upcoming few days as both sides appears to be determined to eliminate each other.
Turkish-backed rebels capture jihadist stronghold in southwest Idlib
In a surprise move, the Turkish-backed National Liberation Front launched a big assault on the Shashabo Mountain of southwest Idlib this morning.
The National Liberation Front was able to overpower the jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham at the Shashabo Mountain, seizing all of the towns in this rugged area.
Among the towns captured by the National Liberation Front at the Shashabo Mountain were Shahranaz, Ruwaydi, and Butmah.
The Shashabo Mountain had long been under the control of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham and their allies, making it an imperative area to the jihadist group.
The National Liberation Front was able to catch Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham off guard with this attack, as the latter has concentrated much of their troops in northern Hama, west Aleppo, and northeast Idlib.
MILITARY SITUATION IN SYRIA ON JANUARY 3, 2019 (MAP UPDATE)
Russian Ministry of Defense affirmed that thousands of terrorists were killed in Syria and hundreds of their positions, weapons warehouses and heavy equipment have been destroyed during the war against terrorism last year.
The Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that “In 2018, more than 23 thousand terrorists were killed in Syria, in addition to destroying 159 tanks, 57 armored vehicles, more than 900 cannons and about 3 thousand machinegun-equipped cars belonging to terrorist groups.”
“Since September 2015, more than 87 thousand terrorists including(830) of their leaders were killed and more than (4500) terrorists from the Commonwealth of Independent States were also killed,” the Ministry added.
The statement indicated that ” About 1,000 field camps, 10 thousand ammunition and fuel warehouses, 650 tanks and 700 vehicles belonging to terrorists in Syria were also destroyed.”
The Ministry said that “The Syrian Arab Army in cooperation with the supporting forces has established control over (96,5 %) of the Syrian territories.”
Since September 2015, the Russian forces, upon a request by the Syrian Arab Republic, have participated in supporting the tireless efforts exerted by the Syrian Arab Army in its war against terrorist organizations.
UK Foreign Secretary Hunt Admits Assad to Be in Power 'For a While'
The admission is a step back from the usual 'Assad must go' rhetoric which the UK, the US and its allies have repeatedly used in relation to the Syrian president in the course of the war which has rocked the country since 2011.
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has admitted that Syrian President Bashar Assad will likely remain in power "for a while" thanks to support from his Russian allies.
"I think you know the British long-standing position is that we won't have lasting peace in Syria with that regime. But regretfully we do think he's going to be around for a while and that is because of the support that he's had from Russia," Hunt said, speaking to Sky News."Russia may think that it's gained a sphere of influence. What we would say to them is: Yes — and you've also gained a responsibility. If you're going to be involved in Syria then you need to make sure that there really is peace in Syria. And that means making sure that President Assad does not use chemical weapons on his own people," Hunt added.
The UK, the US and France have repeatedly accused the Syrian government of using chemical weapons against civilians in areas of the country controlled by various armed groups. Damascus and its allies have repeatedly shown that the majority of the so-called chemical attacks have been false-flag operations staged by groups such as the Western-backed White Helmets in a bid to prompt a Western military intervention.
Britain had been at the forefront of providing various forms of material and moral support for forces fighting the Syrian government since 2011, with the controversial White Helmets 'rescue group' founded by James Le Mesurier, a former British military intelligence officer and mercenary with links to the Gulf States. The Syrian army has also repeatedly found and displayed stockpiles of British, US, French and Israeli-made weapons provided to militants as it cleared areas of the country of terrorist control.
Syria descended into foreign-backed civil conflict in 2011, as multiple factions dominated by Islamist radicals attempted to overthrow the government. Russia intervened in the conflict in late September 2015, concentrating its efforts on thrashing Daesh (ISIS)* militants which had taken over eastern Syria, as well as other terrorists such as Nusra Front (aka al-Qaeda in Syria)* in other parts of the country. By mid-2018, thanks to efforts by the Syrian and Russian militaries, as well as Hezbollah and Iranian military advisors, Daesh was routed in Syria, and the vast majority of the terrorists and other anti-government rebels retreated to the northern province of Idlib, which remains the only part of the country under partial terrorist control.
*Terrorist groups outlawed in Russia and many other countries.
British Embassy in Syria mysteriously under construction
The British Embassy in Damascus is undergoing construction, despite the fact that it was closed at the start of the Syrian conflict.
According to an Al-Masdar field correspondent who visited the site, the British Embassy in Damascus was indeed under construction, marking the first time since its closure that any work has been done to the building.
Al-Masdar reached out to the Syrian government about the mysterious construction; however, the official in Damascus declined to comment on the project.
The project reportedly began earlier this week and the construction focused on the front entrance of the building.
SDF, Syrian gov’t begin talks on future of Tal Abyad
Head of the Joint Council of Raqqa announced on Thursday that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) will continue its negotiations with the Syrian government on the SDF-controlled areas irrespective of the absence or presence of the US troops in Syria.
“The SDF does not pay heed to the US presence or absence in Syria,” the Arabic-language al-Watan newspaper quoted Leila Mostafa as saying, referring to the ongoing talks between SDF and the Damascus government on SDF-controlled al-Jazira region in eastern and northeastern Syria.
She noted that the representatives of the Syrian government and the SDF have held talks in the town of Ain Issa in Northern Raqqa, and said, “the two sides will hold similar meetings in the near future.”
In a relevant development on Sunday, the predominately-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces surrendered control of the strategic Tishrin Dam in Northern Syria to the Damascus troops a day after it retreated from the key town of Manbij to be replaced by the Syrian Army.
The Arabic-language website of Sputnik reported that the army took control of the Tishrin Dam in Eastern Aleppo on Saturday afternoon after the SDF forces retreated from the region.
Popular gathering in Hasaka in denunciation of Turkish threats, rejection of any illegitimate foreign presence in Syria
Hasaka City on Thursday witnessed a massive popular gathering in denunciation of the Turkish threats to launch an aggression on the Syrian territories and in rejection of any illegitimate foreign presence in Syria.
The gathering was held at the President Square with the participation of elders and dignitaries of the clans and tribes and representatives of different activities in the province.
SANA’s reporter said that participants in the gathering affirmed their standing by the Syrian Arab Army, the icon of the national sovereignty, in the face of all types and forms of terrorism and in the face of the threats by the Turkish regime to launch an aggression on the Syrian territories.
They asserted their readiness to sacrifice to defend the homeland in the face of any aggression and to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria and the dignity of its people.
Over the past few days, many Syrian provinces have witnessed rallies and massive gatherings in support of the victories achieved by the Syrian Arab Army over terrorism, in addition to holding many protests against the threats by the Turkish regime to launch an aggression on the Syrian territories and its direct support to terrorist organizations.
MILITANTS INFIGHTING SPILLOVER TO HAMA AND IDLIB LEADING TO MORE LOSES ON BOTH SIDES
On January 3, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) developed its attack on Turkish-backed National Front for Liberation (NFL) and advanced in the opposition-held parts of the governorates of Hama and Idlib.
According to the Syrian news outlet, Enab Baladi, the radical group imposed control of the towns of Faqie, Tramla and Arnaba in the southern Idlib countryside and the towns of Shahranaz and Shir Mughar in the northwestern Hama countryside.
This new round of infighting erupted three days ago, when HTS launched an attack on the positions of the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement in the western Aleppo countryside after accusing it of assassinating four of its fighters. The radical group managed to capture several areas from al-Zenki, including the strategic town of Darat Izza.
After the failure of the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement to hold onto its positions, the group’s allies in the NFL joined the battle and announced a total mobilization against HTS on January 2.
The Lebanese al-Mayadeen TV said that more than 180 militants have been killed in the infighting so far. The number of casualties is expected to raise in the upcoming few days as both sides appears to be determined to eliminate each other.
Turkish-backed rebels capture jihadist stronghold in southwest Idlib
In a surprise move, the Turkish-backed National Liberation Front launched a big assault on the Shashabo Mountain of southwest Idlib this morning.
The National Liberation Front was able to overpower the jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham at the Shashabo Mountain, seizing all of the towns in this rugged area.
Among the towns captured by the National Liberation Front at the Shashabo Mountain were Shahranaz, Ruwaydi, and Butmah.
The Shashabo Mountain had long been under the control of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham and their allies, making it an imperative area to the jihadist group.
The National Liberation Front was able to catch Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham off guard with this attack, as the latter has concentrated much of their troops in northern Hama, west Aleppo, and northeast Idlib.
MILITARY SITUATION IN SYRIA ON JANUARY 3, 2019 (MAP UPDATE)
- Turkish-backed militants have reportedly withdrawn most of their forces from a frontline near the SDF-held town of Manbij;
- A convoy of the Kurdish YPG has left the area on the western bank of the Euphrates River;
- About 20 Syrian army soldiers have been reportedly killed in an ISIS attack in the Euphrates Valley;
- Tensions between Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and Turkish-backed militant groups are developing in the Idlib de-escalation zone.
