(2020-09-19). US army announces new deployments in Syria. middleeasteye.net 
US army announces new deployments in Syria | The move follows a collision between Russian and American vehicles which left seven American soldiers injured | Sat, 09/19/2020 – 10: 36 | Armoured vehicles have been sent as part of the reinforcements (AFP) | The US Army announced Friday it was stepping up its military deployment in northeastern Syria despite a push to limit its presence there,…
(2020-09-19). Damascus berates Dutch legal action on human rights record. middleeasteye.net 
Damascus berates Dutch legal action on human rights record | The Netherlands has launched a bid through international bodies to hold the Syrian government to account for abuses | Sat, 09/19/2020 – 13: 36 | The Syrian government stands accused of committing widespread human rights abuses (AFP) | The Syrian government berated the Netherlands on Saturday for launching a new bid through intern…
(2020-09-19). Trump Had Contemplated Ordering the Assassination of Bashar al-Assad. globalresearch.ca Donald Trump
(2020-09-19). Attack foiled as explosives-laden car found in NW Syria. yenisafak.com A potential terrorist attack was thwarted as authorities seized a vehicle rigged with explosives in northwestern Syria on Saturday.A car found in Syria's Afrin region was fitted with 75 kilograms (165 pounds) of explosives connected to mobile phones for remote detonation, according to a statement by the governor's office of Turkey's southern Hatay province.Police in Afrin received intelligence reports that a bomb-laden vehicle prepared in the Tal Rifat region, under the control of the PYD/YPG/PKK terrorist organization, was sent to the Operation Olive Branch area in Afrin for an attack on security forces or civil…
(2020-09-19). At least nine still missing after Beirut port blast: Lebanon army. yenisafak.com The Lebanese army said on Saturday that nine people were still missing after last month's explosion at the Beirut port.A military statement said that two Syrian nationals were among those still missing after the port blast."This file will not be closed as long as investigations continue," the statement said.On Aug. 4, a huge explosion in the port of Beirut rocked the city, killing 192 people and injuring over 6,000 people.The blast caused damage estimated at $15 billion, according to official figures.The explosion occurred as Lebanon was experiencing its worst economic crisis, including a dramatic drop in the val…
(2020-09-18). 'Mugged and robbed': Worried Lebanese turn to buying guns amid soaraway crime. middleeasteye.net 
'Mugged and robbed': Worried Lebanese turn to buying guns amid soaraway crime | As the economy sinks and crime rises, citizens are doing what they say was previously unthinkable, arming themselves | Fri, 09/18/2020 – 09: 26 | A man is seen stealing nappies and some petty cash at a local pharmacy in Beirut (Screengrab) | "Come on you, put them in the bag," a man in a surgical mask and holding…
(2020-09-18). UN calls on Turkey to investigate possible war crimes in northern Syria. middleeasteye.net 
UN calls on Turkey to investigate possible war crimes in northern Syria | UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said there was an 'alarming pattern in recent months of grave violations' | Fri, 09/18/2020 – 21: 51 | The UN said increased infighting among the various Turkish-affiliated armed groups was causing civilian casualties (AFP/File photo) | The United Nations on Friday urged Turkey t…
(2020-09-18). Coups on allies: HTS rids Syria's Idlib of opponents. middleeasteye.net 
Coups on allies: HTS rids Syria's Idlib of opponents | HTS was a magnet for foreign fighters from Europe, but now they are in its prisons as part of the group's efforts to gain international support | Fri, 09/18/2020 – 11: 59 | The car of a Hurras al-Deen second-ranked leader after being targeted in Idlib by the international coalition on 14 September (MEE/Ali Haj Suleiman)
| At the foot of…
(2020-09-18). Washington deploys armored vehicles to Syria & steps up air patrols after dust-up with Russian forces. rt.com 
The Pentagon has sent a number of armored vehicles, radar systems and additional troops to Syria in a show of force, bolstering the US military presence in the country following a run-in with Russian forces last month. | The deployments, accompanied by increased air patrols over eastern Syria, were announced by US Central Command on Friday. | "The United States has deployed Sentinel radar, increased the frequency of US fighter patrols over US forces, and deployed Bradley Fighting Vehicles to augment US forces in the Eastern Syria Security Area (ESSA)," CENTCOM spokesman Captain Bill Urban said in a statement,…
(2020-09-18). New US Ambassador to Germany Attracts the Usual Enemies: Doug Macgregor Feels the Wrath of the Pro-Israeli Lobby. globalresearch.ca There is an old saying that allegedly came out of the French Revolution, that revolution, like the god Saturn, devours its own children. It was reportedly uttered by Georges Danton at the trial that preceded his execution and could be …
(2020-09-18). Russia breaks the US 'Caesar Act' and Syria refuses the Lebanese & Iraqi models. thealtworld.com Russia is showing its willingness to consolidate its role as a superpower and its readiness to challenge the United States of America. Moscow will not return to the lethargy that began after Perestroika and lasted for two long decades (from 1991 until 2011). Its decision to wake up and return to the world stage began in Syria. It was 2015 when it sent its military forces to protect its interests and allies and to fight terrorism in the Levant. Today, it has sent its ´ diplomatic heavies ª to Damascus, President Vladimir Putin's envoy, Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavro…
(2020-09-18). 'Substantive' talks on new constitution bring hope of forging path out of Syria's near decade-long conflict. news.un.org While deep distrust persists among warring parties in Syria, a "faint but real ray of hope" emerged with the convening in Geneva of the Constitutional Committee after a nine-month hiatus, the top UN envoy helping chart a path out of the near decade-long conflict, told the Security Council on Friday.
(2020-09-18). UN and partners promote sport as a tool to prevent violent extremism. news.un.org Ambassadors, senior UN officials, representatives of global sports organizations, and managers of some of the world's top athletes met virtually on Friday to underline the role that sport can play in combating violent extremism and radicalization.
(2020-09-18). UN rights chief calls for Turkey to probe violations in northern Syria. news.un.org The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has urged Turkey to launch an immediate independent investigation into violations and abuses committed in parts of north, northwest and northeast Syria, which are under the control of its forces and affiliated armed groups.
(2020-09-18). Israel regime's nuclear weapons threat to world's security. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 18 (MNA) — Iran's Ambassador to the Vienna-based international organizations Kazem Gharibabadi said that the Zionist regime's acquisition of nuclear weapons is a serious threat to the security and stability of the region and the world.
(2020-09-17). US announces another round of Hezbollah-related sanctions. middleeasteye.net 
US announces another round of Hezbollah-related sanctions | New measures target two Lebanese companies and one official accused by Washington of being linked to Iran-backed group | Thu, 09/17/2020 – 16: 03 | Latest round of sanctions comes after US targeted former government minister allied with Hezbollah (Reuters/File photo) | The US government announced another round of sanctions on Lebanon-based entities, t…
(2020-09-17). Israeli newspaper rows back on Friedman quote on Dahlan. middleeasteye.net 
Israeli newspaper rows back on Friedman quote on Dahlan | US ambassador originally quoted as saying Washington was considering supporting the former Fatah leader as Palestinian president | Thu, 09/17/2020 – 10: 55 | David Friedman predicted that the normalisation deals marked the beginning of the end of 'the Arab-Israeli conflict' (AFP) | An Israeli newspaper has rowed back on a quote by US Ambassador David Fr…
(2020-09-17). Coronavirus: More than 200 cases at Lebanon's biggest prison, union leader says. middleeasteye.net 
Coronavirus: More than 200 cases at Lebanon's biggest prison, union leader says | Head of doctors' union blames prisoners for the spike in infections, saying they were not abiding by health measures | Thu, 09/17/2020 – 12: 59 | Roumieh prison houses more than 4,000 prisoners, around three times its intended capacity, and has long been infamous for its poor conditions (AFP) | Lebanon's larg…
(2020-09-17). US considering 'appointing' Mohammed Dahlan as next Palestinian president: Friedman. middleeasteye.net US considering 'appointing' Mohammed Dahlan as next Palestinian president: Friedman | US ambassador to Israel also says freeze on West Bank annexation is temporary and Arab-Israeli conflict will be over within a year | Thu, 09/17/2020 – 10: 55 | David Friedman predicted that the normalisation deals marked the beginning of the end of the Arab-Israeli-conflict (AFP) | The United States is considering supporting…
(2020-09-17). New Ambassador Attracts the Usual Enemies: Doug Macgregor Feels the Wrath of the Jewish Lobby. thealtworld.com As is all too often the case in the United States, the loudest voices, like ADL, are generally the ones that Congress pays attention to. | There is an old saying that allegedly came out of the French Revolution, that revolution, like the god Saturn, devours its own children. It was reportedly uttered by Georges Danton at the trial that preceded his execution and could be applied equally to the demise of Trotsky after the Russian Revolution. It meant that the leaders that drove the dramatic political developments frequently get a taste of power and become resistant to any further change. They often end up turning…
(2020-09-17). How USA and Turkey Plunder and Loot Syria with Impunity. dissidentvoice.org While President Trump lashes out at rioting and looting in Portland and Kenosha, half way around the world, the USA and Turkey are plundering and looting Syria on a vastly greater scale with impunity and little publicity. Turkey Loots Syria, then Disrupts Safe Water Supply Turkey has been plundering the Syrian infrastructure for years. …
(2020-09-17). Iran urges termination of foreign interference in Afghanistan. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 17 (MNA) — The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan underlined the significance of putting an end to all sorts of external interventions in Afghanistan.
(2020-09-17). Israeli Security Forces Accuse Palestinian Woman of Spying, Recruiting for Hezbollah. sputniknews.com Israeli authorities have arrested a Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem, accusing her of spying for Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
(2020-09-17). Turkey fights for justice as region demands it, says Erdogan. yenisafak.com Critics of Turkish foreign policy should stop accusing Ankara and instead oppose the conditions in the region that make it necessary for Turkey to champion peace and justice, said the nation's president on Thursday."They say, 'Why is Turkey involved in Syria, Libya, the Eastern Mediterranean, Africa, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Central Asia?" Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a group of ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's provincial heads at party headquarters in the capital Ankara.But, he added, "If Turkey retreats, will Syria enjoy peace and freedom?…"If Turkey turns its back to what is happening in Libya,…
(2020-09-17). France, Lebanon at stalemate over proposed deadline. yenisafak.com French President Emmanuel Macron expressed disappointment Wednesday over Lebanon's failure to form a new government by mid-September in accordance with a schedule laid out by both countries.The agreement on Sept. 1 came in the wake of a colossal explosion at the main port in the capital Beirut on Aug. 4 after 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate left untended for years ignited in a warehouse there. The chemical compound is often used in making bombs and fertilizer.The explosion, felt for miles, left 190 dead, 6,500 injured — including 19 French citizens — and 300,000 displaced.Macron visited Beirut two days after the…
(2020-09-16). Syria COVID spread may be much higher than figures suggest, Lowcock tells Security Council. news.un.org Reports from inside Syria are pointing to a much broader spread of COVID-19 than the number of confirmed cases — currently 3,618 — suggests, the UN's top humanitarian official says.
(2020-09-16). UN sends six aid trucks to Idlib, Syria. yenisafak.com The UN on Wednesday dispatched six trucks with humanitarian aid to northwestern Syria, where millions of people remain in need of assistance due to internal conflict.The trucks crossed over into Syria's Idlib province from the Cilvegozu border gate in Turkey's southern Hatay province.The aid will be distributed among residents of Idlib and nearby rural areas.Syria has been ravaged by a civil war since early 2011, when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protesters.Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced, according to UN estimates.Idlib falls within a de-escal…
(2020-09-16). 1982 Beirut massacre still haunts survivors. yenisafak.com "We unwittingly came to Lebanon and we will return to our homeland Palestine whenever possible." | About one square kilometer (less than half a square mile) in size, the Sabra and Shatila camp, located west of Beirut, is home to 12,000 Palestinian refugees, according to unofficial data.
(2020-09-16). Greece struggles to bring migrants into temporary camp after fire. yenisafak.com Greek authorities were still struggling on Wednesday to move thousands of migrants sleeping rough into a temporary camp, a week after the overcrowded Moria migrant camp burned down, while fears grew over a coronavirus outbreak on the island of Lesbos.More than 12,000 people, mostly refugees from Afghanistan, Africa and Syria, were left without shelter, proper sanitation or access to food and water by the fire that tore through Moria, Greece's biggest camp for migrants reaching its islands by sea.No one was killed or hurt in the fire, which broke out after quarantine measures were imposed following the discovery o…
(2020-09-16). 'Physical evidence' of killings presented at Syrian officials' trial in Germany. middleeasteye.net 
'Physical evidence' of killings presented at Syrian officials' trial in Germany | Anwar Raslan and Eyad al-Gharib are on trial over alleged involvement in notorious Branch 251 intelligence unit | Wed, 09/16/2020 – 13: 54 | 'The Muted Demonstration', an installation by Syrian artist Khaled Barakeh, which consists of structures dressed in clothes that belong to Syrian activists, on sidelines of Ko…
(2020-09-16). Trump "Wanted to Assassinate" Assad. dissidentvoice.org In a new interview, Donald Trump has confirmed "he wanted to assassinate" Syria's president Bashar al-Assad despite 2 years of flat-out denials the option was even discussed.
(2020-09-16). Iran-Venezuela ties offering anti-unilateralism model: envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 16 (MNA) — Stating that the hegemony of the US is over, Venezuela's Ambassador to Tehran told Mehr News Agency that the Iran-Venezuela relations are conveying a message to other countries that they can counter the unilateralism too.
(2020-09-16). Turkey repels attack on observation post in Syria. yenisafak.com Turkish security forces fended off an attack in the Idlib de-escalation zone in northwestern Syria, the country's National Defense Ministry said Wednesday.The ministry said in a statement that groups directed by the Bashar al-Assad regime but disguised as civilians approached several of Turkey's observation posts in the region.One of these groups staged an attack near a Turkish observation post and was then dispersed, it added.No damage to the observation post was reported, it said.Idlib falls within a de-escalation zone forged under an agreement between Turkey and Russia.The area has been the subject of multiple…
(2020-09-16). Trump Confession He Was Ready to Assassinate Assad Condemned as 'Disgusting Display' of 'Imperial Hubris'. commondreams.org "If he had indeed murdered Assad, then the Middle East, and the fate of U.S. soldiers in the region, would have exploded into even more violence and chaos," said one anti-war advocate. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/trump_syria_kurds_0.jpg …
