Time to Consider Plan B: Sen. Corker
The Syrian Observer
April 22, 2016
Assad continues to target civilians, block humanitarian access, and refuse the release of detainees, says senior Republican senator
Assad continues to target civilians, block humanitarian access, and refuse the release of detainees, says senior Republican senator
Leaks reveal how Rami Makhlouf smuggled his huge wealth out of Syria with help from Panamanian law firm and British banking giant
Western diplomats say the Russian withdrawal came as a surprise, especially that no indicators were detected beforehand
People in Syria’s ISIS-controlled regions fear being targeted by all sides under the newly implemented cease-fire deal, which excludes areas overseen by the Islamic State and Nusra Front
Beijing says it hopes international and regional states will now play a constructive role in promoting a political settlement
Moscow says it supports the solution that the participants of the Syria negotiations decide on, including the idea of creating a federal state
Prisoners refuse to be freed on the condition they join a voluntary brigade of a pro-regime militia to fight ISIS in the eastern Homs countryside
At least 70 ISIS fighters killed in the recapture of the northern border town by Western-backed forces, says spokesman
Militants attack border city of Tal Abyad with heavy shelling from inside Turkey, Russian military source announces
Around 400 to 500 fighters have crossed the border, a Turkish security source confirmed
United Nations bid to hold talks hampered by diplomatic failure as fighting intensifies on the ground between regime forces and rebels in a number of areas
An empowered Moscow, with its military presence and its “perpetual” military accord, has forced its interlocutors — including the Americans — to make one of two choices: a mixed opposition list; or two delegations, one the “Russian list,” and the other the “Riyadh list”
“Various dates have been named, but the final decision will be made by the Secretary General of the UN on the advice and recommendations of Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura,” he added.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, warns that bombing will increase the risk of terrorist attacks by sleeper cells in Europe unless there is a concerted effort to destroy ISIS on the ground. The following is the full text of the interview, as published by SANA.
President Assad says terrorists are flocking from over 100 countries around the world to Syria, in an effort to transform the country into a hub for terrorism
As the Syrian regime embraces the “Russian protection”, it finally becomes ready to engage in arbitration and partnership without the fear of being forced to divide its power
Russia is engaging in a tacit competition with Iran – especially amid talks about the impending creation of a regional and international “contact group” after America’s ratification of the Iran deal next month
Assad’s regime even boasts that Moscow’s decision to hunker down demonstrates the strength of bilateral relations
A source at the Russian embassy in Tehran stated that the embassy received permission for all requests by Russian planes carrying humanitarian aid to Syria to pass through Iran’s airspace
According to UAE Today newspaper, the total value of Syrian investments was approximately AED 6.5 billion, followed by Palestinians and Saudis who traded AED 5.7 billion and AED 5.2 billion each in Dubai
