2020-07-03: News Headlines

South Front (2020-07-03). Video: Syria Prepares for Military Confrontation with Turkey in Northeast. globalresearch.ca The Syrian Army and the National Defense Forces have put their forces on high alert in response to the new round of aggressive actions by the Turkish Army and its proxies in northeastern Syria. | Several convoys of government forces, including …

_____ (2020-07-03). Bounty-Hunter Hoax to Kill U.S.-Russia Relations. strategic-culture.org Relations between the United States and Russia have already been badly wounded during recent years, largely as a result of baseless allegations such as Moscow interfering in American elections, colluding with President Donald Trump, or regarding other international developments, from the downing of a Malaysian airliner over Ukraine, to purported war crimes in Syria, to the alleged poisoning of British double-agent Sergei Skripal in England. | But the latest U.S. media effort claiming Russian military intelligence involvement in sponsoring Taliban assassins or "bounty hunters" to target American troops in Afghanis…

Elijah J. Magnier (2020-07-03). No Israeli War on Lebanon Before the Next US Elections. globalresearch.ca There is no doubt that, since Ben Gurion, the Zionist

South Front (2020-07-02). Video: Internal Tensions Do Not Stop Militants from Provocations in Southern Idlib. globalresearch.ca Late on June 30, fighting resumed near the villages of Kansafrah, Al-Ruwayha and Bayanin in southern Idlib between the Syrian Army and Turkish-backed militants. Intense artillery shelling also targeted positions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham across the Jabal Al-Zawiyah area. Pro-militant …

Brett Wilkins (2020-07-02). New ICC Complaint Filed Over US-Israel War Crimes in Palestine. commondreams.org Since illegally occupying the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip in Palestine and the Golan Heights in Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War, over 200 Jews-only settler colonies have been built in the West Bank. (Photo: MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/noapartheid.jpg

yenisafak (2020-07-02). Turkish resort city ready for safe tourism season. yenisafak.com Turkey's Mediterranean resort city of Antalya is fully set up to ensure safe tourism and a virus-free environment, according to Ukraine's envoy to Turkey."We see that visits from Ukraine started well. There are serious preparations for safe tourism in Antalya, we had the chance to see them ourselves by visiting like a tourist," Ambassador Andrii Sybiha said during a meeting with Ersin Yazici, Antalya's governor.Sybiha said Antalya is a very beautiful city and is not only the capital of Turkish tourism but also agriculture.Telling how flights from Ukraine to Antalya started on Wednesday, he called on more Ukrainia…

sputniknews (2020-07-02). US Amb to UN Claims Russia's Position on Syria Cross-Border Aid Program Will Lead to 'Mass Graves'. sputniknews.com A UN resolution adopted in January envisaged a reduction of border crossings under a program of cross-border humanitarian aid to Syria, from four to two, as the Assad government regained control over the country's territory and made possible aid delivery from inside Syria.

yenisafak (2020-07-01). 'Priority in Syria political unity, territorial integrity'. yenisafak.com Protecting the political unity and territorial integrity of Syria is a priority, the Turkish president said Wednesday."Maintaining the political unity and territorial integrity of Syria, the establishment of calm on the ground and a lasting solution to the conflict are our priority," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a Turkey-Russia-Iran summit under the Astana process via video conference."We'll continue to do our best to provide peace, security and stability in our neighbor Syria," he said.The trilateral meeting is ongoing with the attendance of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Puti…

RT (2020-07-01). New York Times calls for punishing Putin over anonymous bounty claims but advised Trump to let ISIS kill Russian troops in Syria. rt.com The same New York Times reporting anonymous claims of Russian bounties on US troops in Afghanistan opined in 2017 that President Trump should let ISIS "bleed" Russian forces in Syria rather than help defeat the terrorists. | Thomas Friedman, who has won three Pulitzer prizes as a journalist and columnist for the Times, argued in an

RT (2020-07-01). Turkey accuses 'biased' France of allowing Libya embargo violations in support of Haftar. rt.com Ankara has taken aim at France for allegedly ignoring violations of an international arms embargo placed on Libya, claiming that illegal activity was being carried out to benefit commander Khalifa Haftar. According to Reuters, Turkey's ambassador to Paris, Ismail Hakki Musa, said on Wednesday that the United Arab Emirates and Egypt were bypassing the UN blockade — and that "biased" France was doing nothing to stop it. | The accusation comes a day after Turkey slammed France's "dishonest approach" to the crisis in Libya. For its part, Paris has condemned Ankara for turning a blind eye to illegal arms shipm…

RT (2020-07-01). UK turns to Germany in bid to finally get its Covid-19 contact tracing app off the ground, ambassador says. rt.com Germany's ambassador to the UK says British health services have reached out to their German counterparts to find a solution to the UK's embarrassing predicament over its yet-to-be-launched coronavirus contact tracing app. | Diplomat Andreas Michaelis made the remark while speaking to BBC Radio 4's 'Today' show about the success of Germany's domestic contact tracing app, which relies on Apple and Google tech to trace people who may have contracted coronavirus because of their proximity to a confirmed case. "It works," Michaelis said. | This is in stark contrast to the UK's own app which, far from working, has…

yenisafak (2020-07-01). Turkey, Russia, Iran commit to Syria's unity, independence. yenisafak.com Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, and Hassan Rouhani released a 14-item statement after a videoconference where they discussed the current situation in Syria.The leaders reviewed the developments following their last meeting in Ankara last September and "reiterated their determination to enhance the trilateral coordination in light of their agreements," according to the statement.The leaders "emphasized their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic as well as to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," the statement said.They also…

yenisafak (2020-07-01). Merkel stresses 'strategic ties' with Turkey. yenisafak.com German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday stressed the importance of "strategic ties" with Turkey, also vowing to enhance dialogue with Ankara to help resolve conflicts in Libya and Syria.Speaking on the day Germany assumed the EU's six-month rotating presidency, Merkel said she shares the view that EU member states should take a more "coherent strategy" towards Turkey, stressing that this strategy should involve both cooperation and criticism."We have strategic ties [with Turkey], as we are [both] members of NATO. Moreover, addressing the refugee question is only possible with the EU-Turkey agreement, if we m…

sputniknews (2020-07-01). China's Ambassador in UK Summoned to Foreign Office Over 'Deep Concern' About Hong Kong Law – Report. sputniknews.com The national security law for Hong Kong was unanimously passed by the top Chinese legislative body, the standing committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), on Tuesday, later signed by President Xi Jinping. The law aimed at strengthening security and safety, is seen by Hong Kong residents as a violation of their liberties.

en.mehrnews (2020-07-01). Caesar sanctions 'economic terrorism': Iran's envoy to Brussels. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 01 (MNA) — Addressing the IV Conference on 'Supporting the future of Syria and the region', Iranian ambassador to Brussels Gholamhossein Dehghani named the US Caesar sanctions against Syria as 'economic terrorism'.

en.mehrnews (2020-07-01). Iran to continue to support Syrian government, people with greater vigor. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 01 (MNA) — Condemning any sanctions against nations in the world, especially Syria, President Rouhani stressed Iran will continue to support the Syrian government and people with greater vigor.

en.mehrnews (2020-07-01). Kazakhstan, one of Iran's top priorities for extraterrestrial cultivation: envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 01 (MNA) — Iranian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Majid Samadzadeh Saber on Wed. described Kazakhstan as Iran's priorities for extraterrestrial cultivation.

en.mehrnews (2020-07-01). Iranian-Turkish border guards enjoy good interaction: Cmdr. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 01 (MNA) — Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi, Border Guards Commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran police said in a meeting with Iranian ambassador to Turkey, that the interaction between Iranian and Turkish border guards is of high quality and we are looking forward to expanding our interactions and cooperation more and more.

Ricardo Vaz and Lucas Koerner (2020-06-30). Venezuela's Maduro Expels EU Ambassador Following New Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com The Venezuelan president demanded "respect" from European countries.

news.un (2020-06-30). Syria: Top UN officials appeal to donors to help end 'shocking' scale of suffering. news.un.org The UN chief called on the world to step up "financial, humanitarian and political commitments", to help end nearly a decade of brutal conflict and suffering across Syria, in a video message delivered to the fourth Brussels Donor Conference on Tuesday.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-30). Leaders of Astana Process to hold virtual meeting. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 30 (MNA) — Kremlin Spokesman announced on Tuesday that the Iranian, Russian, and Turkish presidents will hold a videoconference on the Syrian crisis tomorrow.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-30). Saudi Arabia's false claims against Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 30 (MNA) —Faisal bin Furhan Al Saud, Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia has claimed that Iran is a big danger for the Identity and future of Syria.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-30). German envoys signals end of his tenure in Iran. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 30 (MNA) — Michael Klor-Berchtold pointed to the ending of his tenure in Iran as the ambassador of Germany.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-30). West Bank annexation continuation of Israeli occupation. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jun. 30 (MNA) — Iranian ambassador to Paris Bahram Ghasemi said on Tuesday that West bank annexation is the continuation of Israeli occupation and aggression.

en.mehrnews (2020-06-30). Iranian envoy submits credential to Austrian President. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Jul. 01 (MNA) — Iran's new ambassador to Austria submitted his credentials to the Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen in a ceremony held At the Austrian Presidential Palace on Tuesday.