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
Iranian president rejects U.S. actions a blatant violation of sovereignty, following Friday’s attack on a Syrian air base in Homs province, opposition website reports
Vladimir Putin is a game-maker and a surprise-organizer. His counterpart in the Oval Office wants to be too
Well informed sources claim authorities are keeping humanitarian groups under surveillance after the government stopped operations of 370 NGOs for alleged ties to terrorism, including some major international organizations, opposition Sada al-Sham 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
U.S. strike on Homs base is proof that the United States is incapable of changing its policies of conquest and world domination, state news outlet SANA quotes Syrian presidency as saying
Syrian warplanes will be decamped and transported to Hmeimym airbase and civilian airports in the capital and other cities following the U.S. strike in Homs, military source tells opposition newspaper Zaman al-Wasl
Government outlet SANA reports from civil sources that four children were among the dead after the U.S. attacked Shayrat air base and struck villages the surrounding area
In a special op-ed for The Syrian Observer, the coordinator-general of the High Negotiations Committee explains that untying the Syrian knot will require isolating external influence on the Syrian scene, a transition with the establishment of a new political system, and the firm application of international law in order to hold war criminals to account
Operations by the U.S.-led coalition to liberate Raqqa will not be enough as long as Assad and his regime continue their abuse against their own people, the real source of resentment which allows terrorism to thrive, Randa Taqi al-Din writes for Saudi-owned Al-Hayat newspaper
Rather than making concessions or political gestures, by committing large-scale massacres the Assad regime is further raising the stakes and the political cost for the West of refusing to restore ties, Jihad Yazigi explains
Residents in the loyalist coastal regions are expressing concerns over the increase in military activity in the area, amid greater efforts by Moscow to secure strong footing at the negotiating table, opposition outlet Zaman al-Wasl writes
Syrian rebel commander tells opposition media that FSA fighters which participated in Turkey’s Euphrates Shield operation will join U.S. and Kurdish forces for upcoming battle to liberate Raqqa
As the battle for Raqqa city draws closer, a rebel spokesperson laments Kurdish domination of upcoming operations, also predicting that American forces will remain in Raqqa for years at the airbase they seized from ISIS last week, Alsouria Net writes
As key players look to fill the vacuum after the expected fall of ISIS’ capital of Raqqa, Al-Hayat columnist Ibrahim Hamidi breaks down the serpentine motivations behind the recent surge in international action on Syrian soil
As ISIS prepares for urban warfare, Kurdish YPG boasts of superior fighting forces ahead of the looming battle for ISIS’ stronghold in Syria, as residents and U.S. defense officials voice skepticism over the likelihood the battle will be swift and decisive
International community must assume its responsibilities and work to stop future massacres by coalition air forces, loyalist outlet quotes ministry as saying, after reports emerge of over 30 deaths in the fatal strikes
SOHR reports at least 33 civilians killed in U.S. strike on a school sheltering displaced people in an ISIS-held town, while officials from 68 countries meet in Washington to hear Trump’s plan to defeat the militant group
