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
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
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
Trump had to send a message to all parties supporting Assad that he won’t just resort to Syrian talks but will be part of the joint offensives in Syria, Tariq Alhomayed writes
During Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s first trip to Moscow, Russian president slams U.S. for act of aggression on Syrian territory, calling last week’s strike a violation of international law, government news agency 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
Al-Hayat columnist Ibrahim Hamidi highlights four observations in the aftermath of the first American strike on Syrian army positions, explaining that the coming days will show which of two tracks will be taken by Russian and the U.S. in response — military escalation between the two superpowers, or a renewed interest in a military-political agreement
Activists report numerous attacks on the rebel-held province over recent days, likely in response to last week’s missile attack by U.S. forces on a Syrian air base, opposition outlet Zaman al-Wasl writes
Vladimir Putin is a game-maker and a surprise-organizer. His counterpart in the Oval Office wants to be too
Activists and media report scores killed in Russian bombing of rebel-held Idleb, including a new strike on the site of last week’s chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun, Zaman al-Wasl writes
Civilians voice concern over increased air campaigns against residential areas as witnesses report white phosphorus attacks in the hours after the U.S. cruise missile strike on a Syrian air base, opposition website Alsouria Net writes
Strike in Daraa province follows gains made by rebels in the provincial capital’s Old City amid intensified fighting for control of the southern region, opposition newspaper reports
