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
A dozen people killed and hospital damaged by airstrikes on opposition-held Kafr Takharim, in yet another case of medical facilities being targeted by Syrian or Russian warplanes, Alsouria reports
The Assad regime is scrambling to receive assurances from allies and make sense of U.S. policy after the Trump administration’s surprise strike on a Syrian air base. But Damascus is failing to see that rules of the game have already changed, Yahya Al-Aridi writes for opposition outlet All4Syria
Civilians reported dead and wounded after central market is struck in Khan Sheikhoun, the site of this month’s chemical attack which preceded the first U.S. military strikes on Syria, opposition media Alsouria Net writes
Russian foreign minister tells European counterpart that Moscow will continue to move ahead with plans for a peaceful political solution through U.N.-approved channels, despite efforts by some players to evade negotiations in favor for regime change in Syria
Speaking to Zaman al-Wasl, the opposition figure explains that the stances of international and regional states toward the Assad regime have changed since the chemical attack in Idleb’s countryside on April 4
Opposition media center reports that Syrian government forces and allied militias continue to target rebel-held areas with heavy bombardment, now for the 40th day in a row, as the death toll rises in some residential districts
U.N. envoy tells reporters in Switzerland that cease-fire guarantors Russia, Turkey and Iran worked actively to ensure the success of a possible political settlement during trilateral meetings in Tehran, state news media reports
Activists and monitoring groups claim FSA troops kill over 50 Shiite militants in four weeks of fighting throughout Hama province, meanwhile a rebel missile attack kills Russian and regime personnel in the province’s northern countryside, opposition website Zaman al-Wasl reports
Led by the United States, an international consensus has finally formed that the rule of the Assad family has reached its end, but Syrians must understand that the battle is not yet over, writes Walid al-Bunni for All4Syria
Report by U.K.-based human rights group documents regime violations in the Al-Waer neighborhood of Homs, including the killing of nearly 900 civilians, in the lead-up to resettlement operations being carried out, opposition media reports
Russia will continue to support a peaceful settlement and protect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity against the international forces of terrorism and extremism, Putin tells Assad in cable, state media reports
UNSC Resolution 2254 is the only plan to settle crisis in Syria and covers all aspects of a peaceful solution, Russian foreign minister tells journalists during press conference in the breakaway republic of Abkhazia, Syrian state media reports
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
Government outlet SANA reports on a closed-door meeting between the three guarantors of a nationwide cease-fire which came into effect on Dec. 30 last year
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
Critics claim Ankara’s plans to erect a massive security wall extending the entire border with Syria have resulted in numerous violations of sovereignty, as witnesses call out Turkey for possible land grab, opposition outlet Sada al-Sham writes
The former opposition leader speaks with Zaman al-Wasl about the shift in U.S. policy following this month’s gas attack, explaining that the Trump administration has since ended any chance of cooperation with the Assad regime in the battle against ISIS
Donald Trump’s decision to strike the Shayrat base earlier this month was less about changing the balance of power in Syria, but instead represented a nod to his domestic rivals showing his willingness to act as a strong and decisive leader, Abdel Moneim Ali Eissa writes for loyalist outlet Al-Watan
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
