Lebanese official describes plan to exchange eight Hezbollah prisoners for thousands of refugees as ‘forced displacement,’ opposition website reports
Russia rejects news of strikes claiming accusations are meant to discredit work on a successful cease-fire plan, opposition website reports
After the recent capitulation of Turkish-backed Ahrar al-Sham to HTS in rebel-held Idelb, uncertainty remains around further infighting and the possibility of an Ankara intervention, Enab Baladi writes
Kremlin has attempted to discredit Zaman al-Wasl’s claims that Iranian experts are working on developing long-range missiles near Assad’s coastal stronghold
Writing for the Turkey-based outlet, Abou al-Khair al-Attar claims Israel benefits from prolonging the crisis in Syria largely at the expense of Ankara
Assad’s displacement of opposition fighters to Idleb has resulted in a violent contest between the two key factions over which of the groups newly arrived fighters will join, Walid al-Bunni writes
Abdulrahman Mustafa says support from international community not essential in order for Syrians to hold Assad to account, opposition media office reports
President tells Iranian envoy that government forces and allies are fighting against terror groups for the benefit of Syria and its people, state media reports
Top diplomats meet following negotiations between Syrian government and the opposition in Switzerland and Kazakhstan, government media reports
As international focus shifts to Deir-ez-Zor, ISIS is attempting to strengthen its defenses in the eastern province in anticipation of the next big clash, Enab Baladi writes
Assad’s failure to secure the areas he retakes will be the opposition’s last hope in gaining public support, a former media executive writes for Saudi-owned newspaper
Veteran opposition figure Michel Kilo asks if the cooperation between the U.S. and Russia on the de-escalation zones proposal is a step forward, or just hot air
The United Nations must abandon the fruitless negotiations between the Syrian government and opposition, which have now dragged on for half a decade, Walid Al-Bunni writes
In an interview with Asharq al-Awsat, the U.N. envoy argues that shared Americana and Russian interests have helped reach the deal on southern Syria
The buffer zone in southern Syria agreed upon between Russia and the United States is creating division among opposition ranks, Enab Baladi reports
The Syrian government is making significant economic concessions to Russia, which will have long-term damaging effects on the Syrian economy, Enab Baladi writes
Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan voice concerns over Russia’s attempts to involve its allies in the de-escalation zones, Alsouria Net writes
Human rights lawyer and former political prisoner says the fight against terrorism has become a cover for the powerful to hide their violations, All4Syria writes
Negotiations between main players appear to confirm Iranian forces will be kept away from Syria’s south, as per Jordanian and U.S. demands, Alsouria Net writes
Key officials claim refugees will only be returned through U.N. avenues, recalling crimes of the Syrian regime during its occupation of Lebanon, Saudi-owned newspaper reports
