(2020-01-23). Up to 40 Syrian troops killed, 80 injured as militants stage SIX attacks in Idlib — Russian military. rt.com 
Hundreds of fighters have attempted to break through Syrian Army lines, losing dozens of militants in the process while inflicting heavy casualties on government troops who eventually had to retreat. | Almost 600 fighters staged six attacks on Syrian forces, the Russian military's Reconciliation Center in Syria told the media on Thursday. "In the wake of the offensive, government troops left their positions in the southeastern part of the Idlib de-escalation zone," it said. | The message didn't reveal details of the firefight, but the number of casualties suggests that it was fierce and took a heavy toll on bo…
(2020-01-23). "The New Colossus": In New Play, Tim Robbins Tackles Immigration & Xenophobia. democracynow.org 
President Trump said Wednesday that he would expand his highly controversial travel ban, which already bars citizens from seven countries, most of which have Muslim-majority populations — Libya, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuela — from entering the United States. Politico reports that the expanded ban could implement immigration restrictions on seven more countries: Belarus, Burma, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania, according to two sources. We speak with acclaimed actor, director and activist Tim Robbins, whose recent work has focused on immigration to the United S…
(2020-01-23). US Troops Blocking Russians From Syrian Oilfields in Series of Dangerous Standoffs. theantimedia.com (ZH) — Yet another dangerous incident has played out between American and Russian forces operating in Syria in what appears a series of standoffs near key oil installations since Saturday. "This is the third incident that occurred within a week," one local reporter told VOA in an alarming report. Days ago we reported on the first incident involving a US convoy blocking a Russian …
(2020-01-23). US troops confront Russian convoy near Syrian oil fields. wsws.org Washington is occupying Syrian oil fields to deny resources to Damascus and continue its drive for regime change.
(2020-01-23). EU urges Syrian regime to stop Idlib offensive. yenisafak.com The EU in a statement on Thursday called the Syrian regime and its allies to stop a new offensive hurting civilians near Idlib in northwestern Syria, the second time in a month."The renewal of the offensive in Idlib, including repeated airstrikes and shelling targeting civilians are unacceptable and must cease", the European External Action's Service spokesperson Peter Stano said in the statement.Airstrikes by the Syrian regime and its backers have killed at least 35 people in the last few days in north west Syria. More than 350,000 civilians have been displaced.The EU's foreign and security policy service reaffi…
(2020-01-23). At least 36,000 Syrians flee Idlib de-escalation zone. yenisafak.com Around 36,000 more civilians have fled their homes falling inside the Idlib de-escalation zone in Syria over the last two days and the number of displaced civilians reached 450,000 since November 2019 due to attacks of the regime and its allies.According to Syria's Response Coordination Group, the displaced civilians headed to areas near the Turkish border due to the attacks which violate a cease-fire agreement between Turkey and Russia.Mohammad Hallaj, the director of the group, told Anadolu Agency that the civilians left their homes in Darat Izzah, Atarib, Haiian, Hraytan, Anadan, Khan Tuman, Khan al-Asal, Kafr…
(2020-01-22). Ending Militarization Of Our Communities. dissidentvoice.org 
From Stop The Militarization of Police Facebook page In recent weeks Popular Resistance has focused on the escalation of US militarism around the world, especially in the Middle East with the assassination of General Soleimani, US troops staying in Syria to take their oil and the US refusing to leave Iraq despite being asked to leave. …
(2020-01-22). OPCW investigator testifies at UN that no chemical attack took place in Douma, Syria. thegrayzone.com In testimony before the United Nations Security Council, former OPCW inspection team leader and engineering expert Ian Henderson stated that…
(2020-01-22). Headlines for January 22, 2020. democracynow.org Senate Approves Rules for Trump's Impeachment Trial, Spain Declares Climate Emergency & Readies Climate Legislation, Australian Wildfires Release Massive Amounts of Greenhouse Gas, Airstrikes in Syria Kill 40 People, Including Children, in Idlib, Protesters Denounce Lebanon's Newly Formed Government, U.S. Deports Honduran Children Seeking Asylum to Guatemala Despite Being Ill, Hillary Clinton Slams Bernie Sanders in New Documentary But Says She Will Support Democratic Nominee, Architect of CIA's Torture Program Testifies in War Court at Guantánamo Bay, The Guardian: Bezos's Cellphone Was Allegedly Hacked by Saudi…
(2020-01-22). Video: Dozens Army Troops Killed, Injured in Idlib Clashes. globalresearch.ca 46 Syrian service members have been killed and 77 were wounded in recent clashes with radical militants in Greater Idlib in the period from January 16 to January 19, the Russian Reconciliation Center reported. According to the report, 57 civilians …
(2020-01-22). OPCW Inspector Debunks Doctored Syria Report. "The Chemical Weapons Incident That Never Occurred" globalresearch.ca Last November, WikiLeaks published information from an OPCW whistleblower. | A member of its fact finding mission to Douma, Syria, he expressed grave "concern over intentional bias introduced to a redacted version of the report he co-authored." | The OPCW's so-called Fact …
(2020-01-22). Syrian ambassador to Venezuela with FRSO delegation. fightbacknews.org Caracas, Venezuela – Members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) delegation Sarah Martin and Jim Byrne, with Syrian Ambassador to Venezuela Khalil Bitar, attending World Anti-Imperialist Congress in Caracas.
(2020-01-22). Opening plenary kicks off World Anti-Imperialist Congress. fightbacknews.org Caracas, Venezuela – On January 22, hundreds of international delegates from 52 countries heard from leaders from Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and Brazil to kick off the World Anti-Imperialist Congress. | Starting with a professor from Syria who remarked that U.S. imperialism assassinated Iranian General Qassem Soleimani because the U.S. fears it is losing its grip on the Middle East, the crowd shouted "Viva Soleimani!" He added that, with the help requested by Syria from Russia, Iran and others, the Syrians have bravely declared "No pasarán!" | After the Syrian professor, an official from the Cuban Communist Party sha…
(2020-01-22). Europe dispatches naval flotilla to threaten Iran, Syria. wsws.org A French aircraft carrier and European naval flotillas will patrol strategic Middle East waters that are critical to the global oil trade.
(2020-01-21). 'Ridiculous': US disarmament envoy slams Iranian MP for proposing $3mn bounty on Trump's head. rt.com 
A senior US diplomat said an offer of money for the killing of US President Donald Trump, made by an Iranian lawmaker, serves as clear proof of Tehran's "terrorist underpinnings." | "It's just ridiculous, but it gives you a sense of the terrorist underpinnings of that regime, and that regime needs to change its behavior," US Ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament Robert Wood told reporters in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday, as quoted by Reuters. | The diplomat was commenting on a remark by Iranian lawmaker Ahmad Hamzeh, who promised to pay US$3,000,000 to anyone who kills Trump. Hamzeh said it would be r…
(2020-01-21). Lebanon: UN rights office calls for de-escalation of protest violence. news.un.org What had been largely peaceful demonstrations against Lebanon's Government in the capital Beirut grew increasingly violent over the weekend, sparking the concern of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
(2020-01-19). Syrian Rebels Caught on Film Getting Transferred to Libya on Commercial Plane. theantimedia.com (ZH) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has continued warning that terrorist groups as well as a 'flood of refugees' will show up on Europe's shores if the Tripoli government were to fall to renegade General Khalifa Haftar, amid his continued offensive to control the Libyan capital. Erdogan's statement came a day before he heads to Berlin for a major peace conference …
(2020-01-16). Headlines for January 16, 2020. democracynow.org House Lawmakers Deliver Articles of Impeachment to Senate, Ex-Giuliani Associate Says Trump Knew of Ukraine Pressure Campaign, U.S. Troops Resume Iraq Operations Despite Parliament's Expulsion Order, Afghan Reconstruction Watchdog Tells Congress of U.S. "Mendacity" and "Lies", Trump Signs "Phase 1" Agreement with China, Easing Trade War, Russian Government Resigns as Vladimir Putin Seeks to Retain Power Beyond 2024, At Least 21 Killed in Idlib Amid Syrian, Russian Airstrikes, Court Blocks Trump Order Allowing Local Leaders to Refuse Refugees, ACLU Sues to End Trump's Policy of Sending Asylum Seekers to Guatemala,…
(2020-01-13). Under US pressure, social media companies censor critical content and suspend Venezuelan, Iranian, and Syrian accounts. thegrayzone.com As the US escalates its hybrid wars, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are suspending accounts and censoring content that conflicts with…
(2020-01-13). Ex-Bush official: OPCW's Syria cover-up recalls Iraq war lies. thegrayzone.com Former Bush administration official Col. Lawrence Wilkerson says that reports of US pressure on the OPCW's Syria chemical weapons investigation…