Opposition website speaks to source who claims first batch of detainees – which include those sentenced for violent crimes – will be sent to fight on the Deir-ez-Zor front against ISIS
Moscow hails phone call between leaders as constructive and ‘business-like,’ with the Russian president also urging caution on U.S. policy toward North Korea, Saudi-owned newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reports
Syrian human rights lawyer says evidence exists tying members of the ruling family to war crimes, opposition site Sada al-Sham writes
Large numbers of Syrians and Turks are supporting theater work performed in Arabic in the southern Turkish province of Urfa, as artists strive to encourage a space for peace amid hatred and ignorance, Enabl Baladi reports
Although major hard-line Sunni groups are witnessing significant military blows on the ground in Syria and Iraq, more local, regional and international efforts must be made to ensure the ideas that gave birth to groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda are also defeated, Walid al-Bunni writes for All4Syria
Fighters and their families from Foua and Kafraya have taken up new residence in an area cleared by Iran and Hezbollah in 2013 with a view of creating a Shiite presence there, opposition outlet Zaman al-Wasl reports
Opposition outlet Souriatna reports on the growing discontent among some Lebanese citizens toward Syrian refugees, claiming some cities have conducted public campaigns to smear workers and close shops belonging to Syrians as a result of a saturated cheap labor market
Russia’s head of arms control claims new ‘chemical theater’ could take place in the Damascus countryside, Saudi-owned Al-Hayat reports, weeks after Putin pointed to the possibility of ‘fake’ gas attacks to justify further U.S. strikes on the Syrian regime
Syrian president addresses his ruling Baath Party during committee meeting, calling for placing greater importance on helping the party adapt to a changing society and attracting younger members, state media reports
U.N. head says organization will work to limit the impact of recent U.S. strike and violence in Aleppo and Idleb on any upcoming political talks, Syrian state media reports
The negative impacts of the Islamic State’s time administering the province still mark the economy of the northern and eastern countryside of Aleppo, Alsouria writes
With many beginning their work in coordination councils around the country, large numbers of activists have upskilled in a move aimed at providing professional coverage of the Syrian crisis in a place where most foreign outlets cannot, opposition outlet Enab Baladi writes
Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar says media and political delegations can play an important role in conveying the reality of events in Syria to Western audiences, during meeting with delegation of visiting journalists
Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat explains that many opposition factions are still deciding whether to participate in the talks in the Kazakh capital, claiming that some parties believe Russia isn’t pulling its weight in enforcing the cease-fire deal
It will be up to the armies of Syria, Iraq and Russia to defend the interests of their people by preventing the breakup of Middle Eastern geography for benefit of Western energy interests, Ali Hashem writes for pro-regime Al-Watan
Opposition site Alsouria Net reports on attack which targeted convoy of around 5,000 people who had been granted safe passage out of the besieged Shiite villages
Moscow’s behavior will further complicate the Syrian issue, opposition says, after Russia doubled down on its support for the Assad regime following the sarin gas attack earlier this month
Russia considers fighting terrorism and a successful political solution in Syria as its key goals, says Kremlin spokesman, adding that calls to withdraw Russian support from the Assad regime are short-sighted, Syrian government media reports
Activists claim scores of people are being killed in Idleb and Hama by the Russian air force in retaliation for the U.S. missile strike on the Shayrat air base late last week, opposition media office writes
Russian military would respond with direct action in the event its units are threatened in Syria, Duma defense committee deputy tells Russian media in a warning to the Trump administration
