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2020-05-20: News Headlines

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2020-05-20). How Russia is Botching Its Relationship With Syria. counterpunch.org What complicates Russia's relationship with Syria, which has sometimes been referred to as a Russian client state, is that two strong-willed, highly self-opinionated leaders are also involved here—Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of Syria Bashar al-Assad. Both enjoy unshakeable clan support and can hold their ground. Assad is by no means a Russian protege, and the interests of the two countries do not always overlap, either.

Andrew Korybko (2020-05-20). The US' "Medical Terrorism" Against Syria Threatens to Make World War C Much Deadlier. globalresearch.ca The Syrian Ambassador to Russia slammed the US' sanctions against his country as a form of medical terrorism that prevents it from importing much-needed "medicines, and medical goods, and other means to combat [COVID-19]", which strongly suggests that America wants …

Paul Antonopoulos (2020-05-20). Failures in Syria and Libya Fuel Coup Speculations Against Erdogan. globalresearch.ca Turkish media has been full of speculation of a potential coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, including from state-run

South Front (2020-05-20). Video: Caliphate in Miniature: Rift Between Turkey and Al-Qaeda in Idlib. globalresearch.ca In the second half of April and early May, the Syrian province of Idlib became the epicenter of a military political drama developing between Turkish forces and their al-Qaeda-linked allies. | The escalated tensions even led to a military incident on …

South Front (2020-05-20). Video: Turkey's 'Neo-Ottoman' Project Shifts Focus From Syria to Libya. globalresearch.ca This week, massive Turkish military support has finally allowed the Government of National Accord to achieve some breakthrough in the battle against the Libyan National Army (LNA). | On May 18, GNA forces and members of Turkish-backed militant groups from Syria …

Elijah J. Magnier (2020-05-20). Israel Strikes Syria to Keep the USA in the Levant 20 Years After the Unconditional Withdrawal From Lebanon — What Has Been Achieved? globalresearch.ca Following its

Steven Sahiounie (2020-05-20). The US Is Using Wheat as a Weapon of War in Syria. globalresearch.ca Apache helicopters of the

Philip Giraldi (2020-05-19). News Stories Avoid Naming Israel. thealtworld.com There are two stories that seem to have been under-reported in the past couple of weeks. The first involves Michael Flynn's dealings with the Russian United Nations Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. And the second describes yet another bit of espionage conducted by a foreign country directed against the United States. Both stories involve the State of Israel. | The bigger story is, of course, the dismissal by Attorney General William Barr of the criminal charges against former National Security Advisor General Michael Flynn based on malfeasance by the FBI investigators. The curious aspect of the story as it is being rel…

South Front (2020-05-19). Video: ISIS Terrorists Attack Syrian Army Near Al-Sukhna. globalresearch.ca About 2 dozen Turkish-backed militants have been killed or wounded in a recent series of clashes in northern Syria. 14 of them were reportedly killed in a failed attack on positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near Kubrlik overnight …

Michael Lynk (2020-05-19). Canada Missing in Action on Israel's Proposed Annexation of the West Bank. commondreams.org The UN Security Council meets on the situation in Syria at UN headquarters in October 2019. (Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Mary Altaffer) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/file-20200518-83348-6ewy1l.jpg

news.un (2020-05-19). Syria: UN relief chief appeals for renewal of lifesaving cross-border aid operation. news.un.org The UN's top aid official has urged the Security Council to renew a mechanism that provides lifesaving assistance to millions of desperate people in northwest Syria, through cross-border deliveries from Turkey.

news.un (2020-05-18). Renewed trust and cooperation could finally 'unlock progress' toward peace in Syria — UN envoy. news.un.org Renewed trust, confidence, and cooperation between international players and Syrians could finally "unlock progress", putting the country on a political path towards lasting peace, the UN Special Envoy for Syria told the Security Council on Monday.

Denijal Jegiƒá (2020-05-13). In banning Hezbollah, Germany responds to far-right, U.S. and Israeli pressure — not any security threat. thegrayzone.com Hezbollah has never been charged with any crimes in Germany nor does it have an official presence in the country….

Aaron Maté (2020-05-06). Exclusive: OPCW chief made false claims to denigrate Douma whistleblower, documents reveal. thegrayzone.com The Grayzone has obtained documents exposing numerous falsehoods and misleading claims by OPCW Director General Fernando Arias to degrade the…

Ryan Cristián (2020-04-29). Israel Attacks Syria, US OKs Annexation, OPCW Caught Again & Impending (Already Here) Bio False Flag. thelastamericanvagabond.com Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (4/28/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …

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."

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.

Zero Hedge (2020-05-17). Chinese Ambassador To Israel Found Dead, Sparking Avalanche Of Rumors Amid Tensions. iranian.com China's Ambassador to Israel has been found dead inside his home near Tel Aviv Sunday morning, Israel's Foreign Ministry has confirmed. 57-year old ambassador Du Wei had only assumed his post in February 2020 in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, due to which he entered a two week mandatory self-quarantine upon his arrival. He'd previously been China's envoy to …

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2020-05-15). Russia makes a botch of its Syrian alliance. iranian.com Russia's relationships with its client states have never been easy. Of course, managing client states is always a complicated exercise. The Kremlin's cupboard is full of skeletons — Hungary (1956), Czechoslovakia (1968), Cuba (1962), Afghanistan (1980), Ukraine (2014) and so on. What complicates Russia's relationship with Syria is that two strong-willed, highly self-opinionated leaders are also …

Zero Hedge (2020-05-14). "My Job Is To Make Syria A Quagmire For The Russians": CIA Doctrine Made Official Policy. iranian.com Like with the disastrous Iraq quagmire years before the US war machine came to Syria under Obama, Washington's rationale and justification for occupying the Syrian Arab Republic has shifted and changed drastically multiple times over. When ultimately what started as US covert regime change efforts targeting Assad failed (based ostensibly in "protecting civilians"), the official mission then …

RT (2020-05-20). Russia plans to open consulate general in China's Wuhan — ambassador. rt.com Russia's Foreign Ministry plans to open a consulate general in Wuhan, the capital of China's Hubei province, Ambassador to Beijing Andrey Denisov said on Wednesday. "The city of Wuhan has been well-known to us for a long time. Before Wuhan, there was the city of Hankou. Our country was present in Hankou in the late 19th century, there was a consulate general," the envoy told an online briefing. | "Now the Russian Foreign Ministry has decided to reopen the consulate general in Wuhan. We hope that when the budget allows, we will restore our presence in Wuhan," TASS quoted Denisov as saying. "I am very pleased to…

RT (2020-05-19). COMEY urged probe into Flynn by misrepresenting Russian contacts, declassified memo shows. rt.com Ex-FBI director James Comey pushed to investigate Trump's incoming national security adviser Michael Flynn despite lacking any evidence Flynn had shared classified info with Russian officials, a newly-declassified memo reveals. | It was Comey who told President Barack Obama and other administration officials that "incoming NSA Flynn is speaking frequently with Russian Ambassador Kislyak" in a meeting documented in the January 2017 memo by National Security Advisor Susan Rice, the unredacted first page of which was obtained by CBS on Tuesday. | The FBI director admits he "has no indication thus far that Flynn h…

en.mehrnews (2020-05-20). Zionists aware of Hezbollah's readiness to respond aggression: Naim Qassem. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 20 (MNA) — Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's deputy secretary-general, says the Zionist regime is fully aware of Hezbollah's ability for responding any probable aggression.

sputniknews (2020-05-20). Syrian Justice Ministry Refutes Reports of Arresting Accounts of Assad's Cousin Makhlouf. sputniknews.com CAIRO (Sputnik) – The Syrian Justice Ministry on Wednesday refuted media reports about arrested accounts of businessman Rami Makhlouf, a cousin of President Bashar Assad.

2020-05-19: News Headlines

Elijah Magnier (2020-05-19). Israel strikes Syria to keep the USA in the Levant. 20 years after the unconditional Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, what has been achieved? (2). thealtworld.com Following its defeat in the second war on Lebanon, Israel discovered that its only way to suppress Hezbollah would …

Elijah Magnier (2020-05-19). Israà´l frappe la Syrie pour maintenir les États-Unis au Levant. Vingt ans après le retrait inconditionnel d'Israà´l du Liban, où en sommes-nous? 2/3. thealtworld.com Après avoir perdu sa deuxième guerre au Liban, Israà´l a découvert que le seul moyen de réprimer le Hezbollah …

Philip Giraldi (2020-05-19). News Stories Avoid Naming Israel. globalresearch.ca There are two stories that seem to have been under-reported in the past couple of weeks. The first involves Michael Flynn's dealings with the Russian United Nations Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. And the second describes yet another bit of …

South Front (2020-05-19). Video: ISIS Terrorists Attack Syrian Army Near Al-Sukhna. globalresearch.ca About 2 dozen Turkish-backed militants have been killed or wounded in a recent series of clashes in northern Syria. 14 of them were reportedly killed in a failed attack on positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near Kubrlik overnight …

Scott Ritter (2020-05-19). US nukes in Poland would not be a deterrent, but a MASSIVE provocation for Russia. thealtworld.com The US has promoted the deployment of US nuclear weapons on Polish soil as part of NATO's 'nuclear sharing' arrangement. Such a move would only increase the chances of the very war such a deployment seeks to deter. | For the second time in little more than a year, the US ambassadors to Germany and Poland have commented on matters of NATO security in a manner which undermines the unity of the alliance while threatening European security by seeking to alter the balance of power in a way that is unduly provocative to Russia. | Richard Grenell, the US ambassador to Germany and the acting director of national intellig…

news.un (2020-05-18). Renewed trust and cooperation could finally 'unlock progress' toward peace in Syria — UN envoy. news.un.org Renewed trust, confidence, and cooperation between international players and Syrians could finally "unlock progress", putting the country on a political path towards lasting peace, the UN Special Envoy for Syria told the Security Council on Monday.

Miri Wood (2020-05-18). Trump Bombs Syrian Wheat Fields While Fighting COVID 'Enemy' at Home. globalresearch.ca US President Donald J. Trump took time from his domestic fight of battling COVID-19 single-handedly and with one arm tied behind his back to set fire to Syrian wheat fields in Hasakah governate. He performed the ritual of the double-war …

Steve Sweeney (2020-05-18). Britain Warned Against 'Coup-mongering' in Venezuela After Embassy Discovery. globalresearch.ca Venezuela has warned Britain against "coup-mongering" after the discovery of a "Venezuelan reconstruction unit" in the Foreign Office. | Demanding an urgent explanation, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreeaza lodged a formal complaint with ambassador Duncan Hill, who the minister said confirmed …

Elijah J. Magnier (2020-05-18). Twenty Years After the Unconditional Israeli Withdrawal From Lebanon, What Has Been Achieved? globalresearch.ca "We were Hezbollah trainers. It is an organisation that learns quickly. The Hezbollah we met at the beginning (1982) is different from the one we left behind in 2000". This is what the former Chief of Staff and former Minister …

South Front (2020-05-17). Video: Syrian Army Suffers Casualties in Daraa. Militants Attack Russian-Turkish Patrol. globalresearch.ca The security situation has been escalating in southern Syria. Over the past 24 hours, at least 3 pro-government fighters and a civilian have been killed in attacks by gunmen in al-Musayfrah and Saida-al-Taebah. The attacks followed the March 14 and …

Basma Qaddour (2020-05-17). ISIS Terrorists Confess that They Have Carried Out Many Operations in Coordination with US Occupation Forces in Al-Tanf Base. globalresearch.ca During a security operation carried out with the help of the Syrian Badia's residents, an ambush was set up against an ISIS terrorist group composed of 6 members where 3 of them were killed and the remaining ones were arrested….

IMEMC & Agencies (2020-05-17). Tunisian President Reiterates Support for Palestinian Cause. imemc.org Tunisian President, Qais Said, reportedly said, on Saturday, that his country continues to support the Palestinian people and their cause of justice. The president's remarks came on the sidelines of a Ramadan breakfast banquet, he held for various Arab and Islamic ambassadors to Tunisia. "We in Tunisa are still dedicated …

Elijah Magnier (2020-05-16). 20 years after the unconditional Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon: what has been achieved? (1). thealtworld.com "We were Hezbollah trainers. It is an organisation that learns quickly. The Hezbollah we met at the beginning (1982) is different from the one we left behind in 2000". This is what the former Chief of Staff and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gabi Ashkenazi, said twenty years after the Israeli "For the first time we met a non-conventional army, but also an ideological organisation with deep faith: and this faith triumphed over us. We were more powerful, more technologically advanced and better arm…

Elijah Magnier (2020-05-16). 20 ans après le retrait inconditionnel d'Israà´l du Liban, où en sommes-nous? 1/3. thealtworld.com ´ Nous avons formé le Hezbollah. C'est une organisation qui apprend vite. Le Hezbollah que nous avons connu à notre arrivée (1982) était différent de celui que nous avons laissé derrière nous en 2000. ª Ce sont les mots de l'ancien chef de cabinet et ministre des Affaires étrangères Gabi Ashkenazi, vingt ans après le retrait ´ C'était notre premier affrontement avec une armée non conventionnelle, qui était aussi une organisation idéologique animée d'une foi profonde, une foi qui a…

Staff (2020-05-16). The ŸêAnnexation After Seventy-Two Years Of Continuous Nakba. imemc.org By: Marwan E. Toubassi, Ambassador of the State of Palestine in Greece:…

Eva Bartlett (2020-05-16). Daesh terrorists Confess Terrorism Done In Coordination With US Occupation Forces. thealtworld.com SANA, "Through a security operation, that was launched in cooperation with Syrian citizens in al-Badyah (Syrian semi-desert), an ambush has targeted a group from Daesh terrorist organization, including 6 persons. | The security operation ended up with killing three of the groups and arresting the three others. …The three terrorists, in a program broadcast on the Syrian TV on Thursday, confessed to perpetrating different terrorist operations, inducing acts of killing, execution, abduction, acts of sabotage and destruction of public and private properties…

Jeffrey St. Clair (2020-05-15). Roaming Charges: Unmasked and Anonymous. counterpunch.org I'm hyped for some ObamaGate action, as long as its about things that matter: health care plan designed by Heritage Foundation, bailing out Wall Street, failing to close Gitmo, droning US citizens, Afghan surge, the jailing of whistleblowers and legal harassment of journalists, the Libyan and Honduran coups, mass surveillance, the funding and arming of proxy wars in Yemen and Syria, record deportations, Deepwater Horizon, new nukes (both power plants and weapons), etc…

Zero Hedge (2020-05-17). Chinese Ambassador To Israel Found Dead, Sparking Avalanche Of Rumors Amid Tensions. iranian.com China's Ambassador to Israel has been found dead inside his home near Tel Aviv Sunday morning, Israel's Foreign Ministry has confirmed. 57-year old ambassador Du Wei had only assumed his post in February 2020 in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, due to which he entered a two week mandatory self-quarantine upon his arrival. He'd previously been China's envoy to …

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2020-05-15). Russia makes a botch of its Syrian alliance. iranian.com Russia's relationships with its client states have never been easy. Of course, managing client states is always a complicated exercise. The Kremlin's cupboard is full of skeletons — Hungary (1956), Czechoslovakia (1968), Cuba (1962), Afghanistan (1980), Ukraine (2014) and so on. What complicates Russia's relationship with Syria is that two strong-willed, highly self-opinionated leaders are also …

RT (2020-05-19). 'Deep, deep mistrust': Warring parties in Syria agree to reconvene Geneva talks, UN envoy says. rt.com Opposing sides in Syria's conflict have agreed to reconvene in Geneva for talks on the constitution, United Nations special envoy Geir Pedersen said on Tuesday. | He added that a lull in fighting could provide an opportunity to start healing "deep, deep mistrust" between them. | "As soon as the pandemic situation allows, they have agreed to come to Geneva and they have agreed on an agenda for the next meeting," he told reporters. The envoy did not give a date and said that a virtual meeting of the constitutional committee would not be possible. | Pedersen also repeated a message made to the UN Security Council…

en.mehrnews (2020-05-19). Iran seeks peaceful coexistence with neighbors: amb. to Moscow. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 19 (MNA) — Iran is interested in maintaining peaceful relations with its neighbors and it does not seek expansionism, said Iran's Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali.

en.mehrnews (2020-05-19). Iran urges US to end occupation of Syria under disguise of fighting terrorism. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 19 (MNA) — Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Majid Takht-Ravanchi said that the United States should end its occupation of Syria under the excuse of fighting against terrorism.

en.mehrnews (2020-05-19). Iran, Russia step up telephone diplomacy amid pandemic: envoy. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 19 (MNA) — The coronavirus spread has not brought about any noticeable changes in bilateral cooperation in the sphere of civil nuclear power engineering, the Russian ambassador to Tehran said.

en.mehrnews (2020-05-18). VIDEO: Russian envoy talks of Iran, Russia bilateral relation, regional issues. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, May 18 (MNA) — In an exclusive interview with Mehr News Agency, Russian Ambassador to Tehran Levan Dzhagaryan talked of Tehran-Moscow bilateral relations, as well as the recent developments in Syria and region.

sputniknews (2020-05-19). Syria Seizes Stock of Terrorist Weapons, Including US-Made TOW and LAW Missiles – Photos. sputniknews.com Over the past three years, authorities in Syria have seized enough terrorist weapons, ammunition, communications equipment and medical supplies to field a small army. Many of the arms were covertly delivered to the country from abroad, and paid for by powers seeking the illegal armed overthrow of Syria's government.

sputniknews (2020-05-18). Putin, Erdogan Discuss Coronavirus Response, Situation in Syria and Libya. sputniknews.com ANKARA (Sputnik) – Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan have discussed cooperation on the coronavirus fight and the situation in Syria, both the Kremlin and the office of the Turkish president said Monday.

yenisafak (2020-05-19). Syrian regime seizes assets of Assad's tycoon cousin Makhlouf. yenisafak.com The Syrian regime decided on Tuesday to seize assets belonging to Rami Makhlouf, a tycoon cousin of President Bashar al-Assad and one of Syria's richest men, and his wife and children, according to a regime document seen by Reuters.The document, stamped May 19 and signed by the Syrian finance minister, said the "precautionary seizure" aimed to guarantee payment of sums owned to the Syrian telecom regulatory authority.Makhlouf said in a video statement issued on Sunday that officials had told him to quit as head of mobile operator Syriatel. The unprecedented public tussle has uncovered a rift at the heart of the…

yenisafak (2020-05-18). UN sends 89 trucks carrying aid to Syria's Idlib. yenisafak.com The United Nations sent Monday 89 truckloads of humanitarian aid to Idlib, a northwestern Syrian province where millions are in urgent need of assistance.The trucks loaded with the supplies entered Syria through the Cilvegozu border gate in Turkey's southern Hatay province bordering Idlib.The aid will be distributed to vulnerable people in 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…

WSWS (2020-05-18). Britain's covert operations to overthrow Syrian government exposed. wsws.org Sarkha is one of many programmes in a vast network of fake news activities carried out by the intelligence arms of the US and European powers.