2020-02-24: News Headlines

RT (2020-02-24). US proposals to start dialogue with terrorists in Idlib are unacceptable — Russian FM. rt.com Moscow will resist any attempts to whitewash the terrorists holed up in Idlib, Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, adding that engaging in talks with them as the US is hinting is out of question. | Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an Al-Qaeda offshoot previously known as Al-Nusra, which controls Idlib, has been designated as a terrorist organization not only by the UN, but by the US itself, Lavrov said. | However, officials in Washington, including the special envoy for Syria, James Jeffrey, "allow themselves statements, from which a conclusion can be made that 'it's not such a terrorist organization anym…

Agha Hussain (2020-02-24). How a Subtle Turkey-Iran Entente is Helping Iran Secure a Firm Presence in Syria. mintpressnews.com In the last of a three-part series, Agha Hussein investigates how cooperation with Turkey is helping Iran resist pressure to leave Syria.

RT (2020-02-24). Israel intercepts 12 out of 14 missiles fired from Gaza in latest cross-border flare-up — IDF. rt.com Israel has shot down twelve projectiles, hours after the IDF carried out attacks inside Syria and Gaza. The Israeli military has claimed that its initial strikes were aimed at terrorist targets. | The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Twitter that air sirens had gone off in southern Israel on Monday, after fourteen projectiles were fired into Israel from Gaza. The IDF claims that twelve of the missiles were successfully intercepted. | Videos posted to social media purportedly show Israel's Iron Dome anti-air defense system in action. There are no reports of injuries. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad terro…

Robert Fisk (2020-02-24). There's Little Chance for Change in Lebanon, Except for More Suffering. counterpunch.org The freezing Mediterranean squalls that slash across downtown Beirut and the seafront to the west may give the impression this week that Lebanon is lapsing back into its favourite pastime: forgetting history and praying for a return to the good old days. Revolution? Now that the country's old parliamentary sectarians have gathered to support Hassan Diab's deeply uninspiring government,

Robert Abele (2020-02-24). The American Empire Will Fall if Humanity Stands Together. globalresearch.ca Empires despise laws. The U.S. Empire still desires to dominate Iran, Venezeula, Bolivia, Syria, and others, all in contravention of the United Nations Charter and the Geneva Conventions. When the Geneva Conventions and International Laws of War and Commerce were …

Uprooted Palestinians (2020-02-24). Lest We Forget — Hillary Clinton: We Must Destroy Syria for Israel. globalresearch.ca This article was originally published in 2018. | A leaked Hillary Clinton email confirms that the Obama administration, with Hillary at the helm, orchestrated a civil war in Syria to benefit Israel. | The new Wikileaks release shows the then Secretary of …

WSWS (2020-02-24). Control of offshore gas and oil provokes conflicts in eastern Mediterranean. wsws.org A new "scramble for Africa" is being tied into a new "scramble" for the eastern Mediterranean, as Turkey, Greece, Israel, Egypt, Cyprus, Lebanon and the European powers compete over gas exploration, production licenses and pipelines.

sputniknews (2020-02-24). Libyan National Army Claims Turkish Arms Making Their Way Into Terrorist Hands Via Misrata Port. sputniknews.com Turkish President Erdogan confirmed Saturday that "several" Turkish servicemen had been killed fighting Libyan National Army Commander Khalifa Haftar's forces. On Sunday, regional media said as many as 16 Turkish troops and over 100 mercenaries transported to Libya from Syria had died fighting for the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord.

yenisafak (2020-02-24). Russian airstrikes kill 5 civilians in northern Syria. yenisafak.com Russian warplanes targeted residential areas in Syria's Idlib de-escalation, killing at least five civilians, a civil defense group working in the war-torn country said Monday.The Syrian opposition aircraft targeted 18 residential areas, according to The White Helmets.These areas include Kafr Nabl, Ehsim, Kansafra, Sufuhon, Hizareen, Kafar Aweed, Hass, Deir Sunbul villages in the south of Idlib as well as Darat Izza and Kafr Nouran towns in the west of Aleppo.Syria has been mired in a vicious civil war since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on the pro-democracy protests. | Since then, hundreds of tho…

yenisafak (2020-02-24). Russia, Turkey preparing talks on Syria's Idlib. yenisafak.com Russia and Turkey are preparing talks on how to de-escalate fighting in Syria's Idlib province, TASS news agency reported on Monday, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov."Another series of consultations, which we hope will lead us to an agreement on how to ensure that this is indeed a de-escalation zone and that terrorists do not operate there, is being prepared now," Lavrov was quoted as saying.

RT (2020-02-23). WATCH Damascus air defenses intercept incoming Israeli missiles. rt.com Syrian air defenses in Damascus brought down several "hostile targets" coming from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights. Israel confirmed it conducted a strike as videos of the alleged interception were shared online. | The Israeli military launched a series of raids against "terrorist targets" belonging to Islamic Jihad in Syria and throughout Gaza, IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed in a rare admission of strikes against its neighbor. | Also on rt.com | | The st…

South Front (2020-02-23). Video: SAA Syrian Forces Give Turkish Army "A Whipping" in Eastern Idlib. globalresearch.ca On February 20, the 2nd Army of NATO and its proxy forces once again failed to capture the village of Nayrab, eastern Idlib, from the Syrian Army. The Turkish attack involved 2 dozens of military equipment pieces, including battle …

Andrew Korybko (2020-02-23). The Syrian Arab Army's Victorious Liberation of Aleppo. Historical Comparisons. globalresearch.ca While there are certainly some structural similarities between the Syrian Arab Army's ongoing liberation offensive in Northwestern Syria and Saakashvili's previous desire to restore Georgia's full sovereignty over Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2008, the international legal and situational differences …

teleSUR (2020-02-23). Syrian Forces Defend Damascus From Alleged New Israeli Attack. telesurenglish.net Syria's air defense is responding to "hostile targets" over the Damascus area, state news agency SANA reported Sunday. | RELATED: | According to the news agency, Syrian forces are repelling "a batch of hostile missiles coming from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights." | Media reports said explosions were heard in the sky over Damascus, while videos allegedly confirm the attacks. SANA's correspondent confirmed that…

teleSUR (2020-02-23). IMF Extends Visit To Crisis-Hit Lebanon: Sources. telesurenglish.net The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will continue meetings with the Lebanese authorities on Monday, extending a visit to provide technical advice that was expected to end Sunday. | RELATED: | According to sources close to the process, the IMF began meetings with the Lebanese authorities on Feb. 20 to provide comprehensive technical advice on how to deal with the country's overwhelming financial and economic crisis. The fund initially said that its team would stay until Feb. 23.

Aaron Maté (2020-02-21). Turkey, US protect Al Qaeda in Idlib and worsen Syria's suffering. thegrayzone.com Why is Turkey, with US backing, protecting Al-Qaeda's largest affiliate in Idlib, Syria? Idlib is facing a humanitarian disaster as…

news.un (2020-02-21). UN chief appeals for end to Syria's 'man-made humanitarian nightmare'. news.un.org In a tersely delivered statement on Friday, the UN Secretary-General appealed for an end to the "man-made humanitarian nightmare" currently unfolding in Syria, where ongoing military operations in the north-west have displaced hundreds of thousands amid bitter winter temperatures.

Staff (2020-02-20). Headlines for February 20, 2020. democracynow.org Democratic Contenders Take Aim at Billionaire Michael Bloomberg in Nevada Debate, Protesters Interrupt Nevada Debate to Demand Immigration Discussion, Michael Bloomberg Made Transphobic Remarks in 2019, Bloomberg Campaign NDAs Could Prevent Reporting of Abuses, U.N. Warns of Unfolding Humanitarian Catastrophe in Syria's Idlib, German Far-Right Gunman Kills 10 in Frankfurt Suburb, China Expels Wall Street Journal Reporters over "Racist" Op-Ed, Trump Taps Ally Richard Grenell as Director of National Intelligence, As Roger Stone Faces Sentencing in Federal Court, Trump Hints at Pardon, Julian Assange's Lawyers: Trum…

news.un (2020-02-20). End hostilities, 'preserve lives': UN refugee chief makes appeal for people trapped in Syria's Idlib. news.un.org As the already dire situation in north-west Syria dramatically continues to worsen in Idlib province, the head of the United Nations refugee agency called on Thursday for an end to the hostilities and appealed for urgent action to allow the people trapped there to move to places of safety.

Jason Ditz (2020-02-20). Turkey Kills Over 50 Syrian Troops, Russian Warplanes Intervene to Halt Offensive. theantimedia.com Russia called the situation a "worst case scenario."

Susan Price (2020-02-20). Syria: Refugee crisis as Assad's forces advance. greenleft.org.au

pip.hinman (2020-02-20). The climate crisis and the need for peace. greenleft.org.au

Andre Vltchek (2020-02-19). Could the Latest Outburst of Ankara's Temper lead to Escalation in Syria? dissidentvoice.org So far Turkey, militarily the second mightiest NATO country, has been able to get away with virtually anything it has chosen to brew in the Middle East. The reason why is simple: to confront Turkey's bullying and expansionism militarily would be like confronting the United States or Israel; thousands of innocent people would die as …

news.un (2020-02-19). Amid 'devastating scale' of suffering in Syria's north-west, UN Security Council urged to find political way forward. news.un.org With progress stalled on both the peace and political fronts in Syria, UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen urged ambassadors in the Security Council on Wednesday to "put their weight" into finding a solution to end nearly nine years of conflict.

Staff (2020-02-17). Headlines for February 17, 2020. democracynow.org Americans Aboard Cruise Ship Repatriated as 71,000 Global Cases of Coronavirus Confirmed, 1,100+ Ex-DOJ Staff Call on Attorney General Barr to Resign, Sen. Klobuchar Can't Say Name of Mexican President, Sen. Sanders Calls Out Bloomberg on Campaign Trail, Bloomberg's Company Faced Years of Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Lawsuits, LGBT Activists of Color Call Out Pete Buttigieg for Ties to Big Money, Conservative Positions, Airstrikes Kill 31 People, Including Children, in Yemen, Intensifying Syrian Gov't Offensive Has Displaced 800,000 Civilians Since December, Airstrike Kills 8 Civilians in Afghanistan as U…

Middle East Eye (2020-02-07). Russia Says Israel Used Civilian Plane as Human Shield During Syria Strikes. theantimedia.com Russia accused Israel of "making a total mockery of the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians."

Middle East Eye (2020-02-06). Turkey Gives Assad Deadline to Pull Back or Face Military Action. theantimedia.com Turkey has given the Syrian government until the end of this month to withdraw from recently seized territory in Idlib province.

Medea Benjamin (2020-02-02). Why aren't Americans rising up like the people of Chile and Lebanon? zcomm.org The tinder for a revolutionary movement is everywhere…