(2020-02-17). Russia will support Syria's fight against terrorism in Idlib despite Trump's calls to stop it — Kremlin. rt.com 
Moscow has vowed to continue its fight against terrorism in Syria's Idlib province alongside Damascus, even though this doesn't fit with Washington's vision for resolving the crisis. | Both the Russian Armed Forces and the country's advisers will "support the Syrian Arab Republic armed forces in their fight against terrorism," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a briefing on February 17. | Referring to escalating terrorist attacks in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, he said that the Russian government "still regrets that these terrorists have revitalized in Idlib." | The statement follows US…
(2020-02-17). Assad Predicts Victory After Gains in Northern Syria. truthdig.com 
DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian President Bashar Assad congratulated his forces Monday for recent gains in northwestern Syria that led to his troops consolidating control over Aleppo province, pledging to press ahead with a military campaign to achieve complete victory "sooner or later." | Assad, who rarely appears in public, said in a televised address that the onetime economic hub of Aleppo, the provincial capital, will "return stronger than it was before." | "This liberation does not mean the end of the war, and does not mean the end of the schemes nor the end of terrorism or the surrender of enemies," Assad sa…
(2020-02-17). India summons Turkish ambassador, claims Erdogan's remarks on Kashmir are attempt at meddling. rt.com 
New Delhi has issued a forceful response to the Turkish ambassador in the country, following incendiary remarks by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about India's policies in the disputed Kashmir region. | India reportedly presented a "strong demarche" to Turkish Ambassador Sakir Ozkan Torunlar on Monday, and warned that Erdogan's comments during his recent visit to Pakistan will have "strong implications" for bilateral ties. | Announcing the move, a spokesman for the India's Ministry of External Affairs said that Erdogan's allegation about "unilateral steps" being taken in Kashmir reflect "neither an understandi…
(2020-02-17). China accuses Australia of political bias against Huawei. rt.com 
The Australian government's decision to ban tech giant Huawei from its 5G rollout is "politically motivated," according to the Chinese ambassador Cheng Jingye. | "It has become a sore point or thorny issue in the bilateral relations as it damages mutual trust between the two sides," he told Sky News on Monday, calling it "a discrimination against the Chinese company." | The ambassador's criticism comes amid Australia's dispute with the UK over London's decision to allow Huawei to set up its 5G network. | According to Cheng, the UK government made a "sensible" decision to not kowtow to "external pressure" from…
(2020-02-17). Danish troops to return to Iraq air base for anti-ISIS campaign in March. rt.com 
Denmark said it will send military personnel back to the Iraqi Al-Asad base on March 1 to restart training of Iraqi security forces in the fight against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). | The NATO member-state last month removed most of the 130 military personnel it had stationed at the Al-Asad base, due to security concerns in the wake of an Iranian missile attack on the facility on January 8. Denmark's forces at the base are part of the international coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria. | The Danish defense ministry said on Monday the security situation was now no different than before the attack,…
(2020-02-17). Video: Turkey Supports Al Qaeda Against Syrian Forces in Idlib. globalresearch.ca In Turkey, it is by now a good tradition to threaten Syria with a war every time when luckless Idlib rebels suffer another military defeat from the Syrian Army. This week was no exception. Recept Tayip Erdogan spearheaded the choir …
(2020-02-17). Syrian Forces Secure Aleppo City Completely. globalresearch.ca Against all odds, and in the very difficult weather conditions the SAA cleaned all of Jamiyat Zahraa western Aleppo after taking control of the Llayramon and cleaned the two cities of Hreitan and Anadan in Aleppo's northwestern countryside. | Hayyan, Bayanon, …
(2020-02-17). Former Arab League Secretary General: Syria's Return is Close. sputniknews.com The international organisation suspended Syria's membership in 2011 after violent protests turned into a full-scale civil war. Recent reports, however, show that many countries are ready to re-establish ties with Damascus as the Syrian government restores control over the country.
(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…
(2020-02-17). Lavrov says Russian, Turkish forces in contact on Idlib. yenisafak.com Russia said on Monday that its military representatives in Idlib were in constant contact with their Turkish counterparts on developments on the ground in Syria's northwestern province.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Munich, Germany that Moscow would host a fresh round of talks between "interdepartmental delegations" of Russia and Turkey, in the hopes of de-escalating tensions."All the facts are on the table. Military representatives of both the Russian Federation and Turkey, who are on the ground in Syria, in the province of Idlib, examine the changes in the situation in constant contact…
(2020-02-17). Russian airstrikes target two hospitals in Syria's Aleppo. yenisafak.com Russian warplanes struck two hospitals, as well as residential areas, in Syria's northern Aleppo province, an official said on Monday.According to Syria Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, airstrikes hit the hospitals in the northern town of Darat Izza near the Turkish border, wounding civilians and forcing the medical facilities to close.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over half of the country's health facilities have been damaged or destroyed since the start of the civil war in 2011.Russian aircraft also targeted villages in the northwestern Idlib province, a stronghold of oppositi…
(2020-02-16). Syrian army takes control over all villages around Aleppo, eliminating threat of terrorist shelling. rt.com 
The Syrian military has established full control of all areas surrounding Aleppo for the first time since 2012, putting an end to the terrorist shelling of the country's second-largest city. | A total of 23 villages to the west and north of the city were liberated, as fighters from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group (formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra) fled from their positions, state broadcaster SANA reported. | The news prompted large-scale celebrations in Aleppo. Residents took to the streets after dark waving Syrian national flags, and drivers honked their car horns. | Aleppo was freed in 2016 in a joint ope…
(2020-02-16). US Administration Names Panel for West Bank Annexation. imemc.org The US government has appointed members of a committee tasked with mapping out areas of the occupied West Bank that Israel plans to annex as part of President Donald Trump's self-proclaimed "Deal of the Century." A senior Trump administration official told Israel Hayom daily that US ambassador to Israel David …
(2020-02-14). Vital Idlib aid deliveries resume after 'heavy bombing' – WFP. news.un.org Urgently-needed aid deliveries to embattled civilians in north-west Syria have started again after a day-long break in distributions caused by escalating hostilities, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.
(2020-02-13). European left and green MPs support Kurdish struggle. greenleft.org.au 
(2020-02-12). Scuffle Between Syrian Civilians and US Soldiers Reflects Increasing Hostility to US Troops. mintpressnews.com Though today's incident in Qamishli is a rare occurrence, it is likely a harbinger of the region-wide push that has seen countries like Syria and Iraq take a firmer posture towards the presence of US troops in their countries.
(2020-02-11). Exclusive: New leaks shatter OPCW's attacks on Douma whistleblowers. thegrayzone.com Facing accusations that it issued a doctored report alleging a chemical attack in Syria, the OPCW has released an inquiry…
(2020-02-11). Headlines for February 11, 2020. democracynow.org New Hampshire Voters Head to Polls for First Primary of 2020, Coronavirus Death Toll Tops 1,000, with Over 42,000 Confirmed Cases, Chuck Schumer Calls for Investigation into Trump's Retaliation-Motivated Firings, DOJ Reviewing Ukraine Info from Giuliani, DOJ Charges 4 Chinese Military Hackers in 2017 Equifax Breach, El Salvador President Bukele and Armed Officers Confront Lawmakers over Military Funding, Fears Mount for 5 Activists Detained in Philippines, Sinn Féin Scores Major Victory in Ireland, Syrian and Turkish Forces Step Up Attacks as 100,000s Face Humanitarian Disaster, Massive Locust Swarms Threaten Cro…
(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."
(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.
(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…