Confusion heads political expectations worldwide, with cautious optimism and wishful thinking being shared between the current US administration, Russia, Iran and Assad, as concrete details around what a Trump presidency would look like remain unclear
Opposition negotiators trying to spare the area what happened in other areas, like Daraya and Moadamiya, especially given that the regime is trying to take control of the southern countryside of Damascus
Syrian President Bashar al Assad said on Tuesday Damascus would have to “wait and see” if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump would change Washington’s policy on Syria but that he was ready to cooperate with him in fighting militants. Following is the full text, as published in SANA
Despite the president-elect’s promises to withdraw American power from the region and revert to a more isolationist strategy, history shows us that major changes in US foreign policy rarely occur with the rotation of presidential administrations, writes Eyyad al-Jaafari
Meetings touched on the prospect of a ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid to eastern and western Aleppo, according to a UN statement
An increase in state repression and random violence has contributed to the spread of “war commanders” and the occurrence of a coup in social segments to the benefit of the emerging “new guard” of businessmen
Opposition says found munitions are instead evidence of the Assad regime’s collusion in the use of internationally-banned weapons
Representatives meet in Syrian capital to discuss regional situation and enhancing bilateral relations
Economic support from friends like Iran and Russia has bolstered efforts by Syrians’ to fight terrorism for over six years, says Syrian deputy FM
Despite the implementation of the “four cities” agreement, it is not possible to compare — in any sense at all — the siege of Zabadani and Madaya which are under opposition control, and the siege of Kefraya and Foua which are under the control of the regime and its militias
Bashar al-Assad told Serbian newspaper Politika the US’ “secret collaboration with terrorists is the reason why all attempts at a ceasefire and political transition in Syria have so far failed.” Following is the full text of the interview as published by SANA, the official news agency.
The issue that is difficult to find a clear explanation for so far is the reduction in the intensity of the bombardment. Is there something threatening the Russian aircraft? Or is Putin sending a message to the Iranians after the dispute that erupted between them that they will lose without his support?
One of the most likely reason’s for Russia’s announcement to halt raids on Aleppo may be that Moscow has begun to sense the weight of international pressure upon it, and has begun to resent the situation of international embarrassment which the developments in Aleppo have caused
Islamic State retreat occurred quietly and quickly, leaving a vacuum for the regime and its allies to take control of in a number of areas in the provincial countryside
Social media pages announce most loyalist towns and villages in the coastal province have suffered a loss in the fighting, with even the smallest of villages mourning fighters killed in Aleppo
Saudi Arabian king reaffirms his country’s support for Syria’s revolution and its people against the Assad regime and its allies
Russia’s victory in enabling the regime and Iran’s militias to enter eastern Aleppo will comprise a major turning point in the Syrian war and will lead to a major disruption in the balance of forces to favor Iran, its militias, and the Assad regime
This development represents a departure by the opposition because of the blatant shift in Russia’s role from a joint position in international oversight of the political process, alongside the US, to a direct party to the war, alongside the regime, against the Syrian people
Crowds arrive from Iraq, Iran and Lebanon, and some east Asian countries, turning the areas which are under Iranian influence into military zones, says activist
Christians in these areas have also suffered from the Iranian presence, but in a different way from bombardment and destruction like Syria’s other areas, as communities leaving in large part due to a moral collapse and widespread disorder
