Coalition leader meets with U.S. envoy to Syria on the sidelines of Geneva negotiations between representatives from the Assad regime and opposition spectrum
In the wake of Khan Sheikhoun, U.S. statements this week exposing the Syrian regime for covering-up its abuses were intended as yet another warning to Assad, Russia and Iran, Walid al-Bunni writes
Turkish FM expressed Ankara wishes for the removal of anti-ISIS envoy Brett McGurk due to his support for Kurdish militias, Anadolu news agency reports
Former detainee says bodies of prisoners were buried under security headquarters after being tortured to death, opposition website writes
Foreign ministry source says claims Syria uses crematorium to hide extent of atrocities are ‘Hollywood-like’ and fundamentally untrue, government media reports
Damascus mobilizes forces to desert region in attempt to prevent U.S.-backed rebels from making further gains in the area, opposition outlet reports
As imminent battle approaches, the uncertainty of ISIS control over the city has resulted in severe economic hardship and an exodus of many businesses and work opportunities, opposition website writes
Russian FM tells U.S. president that America could play key role in preserving security inside proposed safe zones, Syrian government media reports
Free Syrian Army commander says international coalition authorized units to take over and administer 11 villages in the northern Aleppo countryside, opposition website reports
Abdulnasser Al-Ayed explains that for Russia’s ‘safe zone’ proposal to work, Moscow will need to consider U.S. concerns despite attempts to sideline Washington in the Syrian peace process
Munzer Eid laments the decision by the U.S. president to include Saudi Arabia among the destinations for his first foreign trip, in piece for loyalist newspaper Al-Thawra
Media adviser to Turkey’s president threatens to hit Americans patrolling the southern border days after U.S. forces arrived in the Kurdish region of northern Syria, Qatari-owned Al-Arabi Al-Jadid reports
Russian delegation also holds bilateral meetings in the Kazakh capital with Iranians and the United States, Syrian state media reports
Gen. Ali Abdullah Ayoub says Iran, Russia and Hezbollah are the only forces who can foil the conspiracy against Syria, government outlet reports
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
British-based group singles out regime and Russian forces for their human rights violations in report documenting the deaths of more than a thousand non-combatants in 30 days, Madar al-Youm reports
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
Opposition media reports that family hit by strike while trying to leave the town of Tabqa, the ISIS-held Syrian town currently besieged by Western-backed SDF forces
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
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
