Nusra mobilizes fighters in northwestern Hama- Al-Masdar News

According to the latest report released by the Russian military at the Hmaymim Airfields, the Syrian Al-Qaeda group “Jabhat Al-Nusra” has begun to amass a large quantity of fighters in the Hama Governorate. 

Since Jabhat Al-Nusra retreated from most of the territory they controlled inside the Latakia Governorate in the last 6 months, they have been able to preserve a lot of fighters along the Idlib and Hama borders with Jabal Al-Akrad (Kurdish Mountains).

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/nusra-mobilizes-fighters-northwestern-hama/ 

Security Council Urges Lebanese Officials to 'Act Responsibly,' and Elect a President- Naharnet

The U.N. Security Council has reiterated its call on Lebanon's rival politicians to elect a president and appealed for more support from the international community for the Lebanese army and police.

“The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their deep concern over the 21-month vacancy in the presidency of Lebanon and the current political stalemate in government, which seriously impair Lebanon’s ability to address the security, economic, social and humanitarian challenges facing the country,” they said in a statement issued on Thursday,

The Council expressed concern over the parliament’s failure to elect a president following a lack of quorum and reaffirmed its call on all Lebanese officials “to act responsibly and with leadership and flexibility to urgently convene a parliamentary session and proceed to the election” of a head of state.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/204850

Syrian Army defeats ISIL infiltration attempt in east Hama- Al-Masdar News

On Friday morning in the Hama Governorate’s eastern countryside, the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) launched a powerful assault on the village of Mafkar Al-Sharqiyah inside the Al-Salamiyah District, targeting the Syrian Arab Army’s defenses at the eastern flank. 

The ISIS assault began at approximately 8:30 A.M. (Damascus Time) when they sent a VBIED (vehicle borne improvised explosive device) towards the Syrian Arab Army’s checkpoint outside of Mafkar Al-Sharqiyah. 

Luckily, the checkpoint guards outside of Mafkar Al-Sharqiyah destroyed the VBIED before it could reach its intended destination.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-defeats-isis-infiltration-attempt-east-hama/

Residents of Syrian Adra return to their houses, recaptured from terrorists- TASS

Adra, Syria’s biggest industrial city with about 2,000 factories and plants, was seized by Jabhat al-Nusra militants in 2013

Residents of Syria’s biggest industrial center — Adra (Damascus Province) — are returning to their houses, recaptured from terrorists, and call on the Syrian external opposition to follow suit, the city’s Mayor Jasim Mohammed al-Mahmoud told reporters on Friday.

Before the war, Adra was Syria’s biggest industrial city, where at territory of 7,000 hectares were about 2,000 factories and plants. 

In 2013, Jabhat al-Nusra (outlawed in Russia) militants seized the city. After the terrorists attacked the city with population of 20,000 only 500 people remained there. However, several months ago, the governmental forces liberated the city.

More: http://tass.ru/en/world/863290

Russia says ‘Syria military comeback’ possible- Al-Arabiya

Russia could scale up its military presence in Syria again within hours and would still bomb militant groups there despite a partial draw-down of forces ordered after military successes, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Speaking in one of the Kremlin’s grandest halls three days after he ordered Russian forces to partially withdraw from Syria, the Russian leader said the smaller strike force he had left behind was big enough to help forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad keep advancing.

“I’m sure that we will see new and serious successes in the near future,” Putin told an audience of more than 700 members of the military at an awards ceremony. In particular, he said he hoped that the ancient city of Palmyra, which is held by Islamic State, would soon fall to Assad’s forces.

“I hope that this pearl of world civilization, or at least what’s left of it after bandits have held sway there, will be returned to the Syrian people and the entire world,” Putin said, referring to the World Heritage Site.

In his first public remarks since ordering the withdrawal, Putin for the first time put an approximate price tag on the Russian operation, saying that the bulk of the expenses - 33 billion rubles ($481.89 million) - had been taken from the defense ministry’s war games budget.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/03/18/Russia-can-make-powerful-Syria-military-comeback-in-hours.html

Russia jets continue strikes in Syria, Moscow says- The Telegraph

Terror group claims to have killed Russian soldiers in combat as generals announce a major offensive to push Isil out of Palmyra only days after Vladimir Putin ordered a withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/12198120/Russia-jets-continue-strikes-in-Syria-Moscow-says.html

Syria warns against any attempt to undermine its unity and territorial integrity- SANA

Damascus, SANA – The Syrian government warned against any attempt to undermine Syria’s unity and territorial integrity under whatever names.

The warning was expressed by a Foreign and Expatriates Ministry source, speaking in a statement to SANA on Thursday.

The government “warns any party against attempting to undermine the territorial integrity of Syria and the unity of its people under whatever names,” the source said in the statement.

That, it added, includes those who gathered in al-Rmeilan city in Hasaka province.

“Raising the issue of a federation or that of federalization would affect the territorial integrity of Syria, which goes against the Constitution, the national concepts and international resolutions,” the source said.

“Any declaration to that effect would be without any legal value and void of any legal, political, social or economic effect as long as it does not reflect the will of the entire Syrian people with all their political leanings and social spectra, who are all committed to the national unity and territorial integrity of their country,” the source added.

The source went on saying that “The main task for our people now is combating terrorism, and any deviation from this goal would be considered support for terrorism and for all those who try to weaken Syria and undermine the will of its heroic army in its endeavor for restoring security and stability nationwide.”

http://sana.sy/en/?p=72217

U.S.: Islamic State Carrying out 'Genocide'- Naharnet

The United States declared Thursday that the Islamic State group's slaughter of Christians, Yazidis and Shiites amounts to a genocide and vowed to halt it.

Secretary of State John Kerry made the proclamation after Congress demanded Washington recognize that the group seeks to exterminate religious minorities.

"Daesh is genocidal by self-proclamation, by ideology and by actions, in what it says, what it believes and what it does," Kerry declared.

"Daesh is also responsible for crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing directed at these same groups, and in some cases also against Sunni Muslims, Kurds and other minorities," he added.

The Islamic State group has regularly carried out mass killings of Shiite Muslims, Christians and Yazidis. In June 2014 it seized the formerly cosmopolitan city of Mosul in northern Iraq, placing whole communities under threat of murder, rape or enslavement.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/204812

Suriyeli Kürtler federasyon ilan etti, Şam 'tanımıyoruz' dedi- BBC Türkçe

Suriyeli Kürtlerin siyasi hareketi PYD öncülüğünde biraraya gelen ve Arap, Süryani ve Ezidi grupları da içeren kongre 'Kuzey Suriye Federasyonu'nun kuruluşunu ilan etti.

AFP'ye konuşan Kürt yetkililer, federal yapının oluşmasıyla Suriye'nin kuzeyindeki üç kantonun birleştirildiğini duyurdu.

Ancak Suriye hükümetinden gelen ilk açıklamalarda herhangi bir federal yapının tanınmayacağı ifade edildi.

Suriye devlet haber ajansına konuşan bir Suriye Dışişleri Bakanlığı yetkilisi açıklamanın herhangi bir yasal dayanağı olmadığını söyledi.

Suriyeli muhaliflerin oluşturduğu Ulusal Koalisyon da federal yapı açıklamasına karşı çıkarak "Herhangi bir özerk bölge oluşturma girişimi Suriye halkının iradesini hiçe saymaktır" dedi.

http://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler/2016/03/160317_suriye_federasyon

International Millitary Review & Analysis – Withdrawal of Russian Military from Syria (Arab, Ger)

Dünden bugüne Cenevre görüşmeleri- Al-Jazeera Turk

Suriye’deki iç savaş yarın beşinci yılını dolduracak. Savaş, sadece Suriye'ye yıkım getirmekle kalmadı, hem Türkiye'de hem bölgede hem de Avrupa'da etkisini saldırılarla, çatışmalarla, göçmen kriziyle gösterdi. Soruna kalıcı çözüm bulma iddiasıyla bugüne kadar hepsi Cenevre’de gerçekleşen üç tur görüşme yapıldı. Üçüncü turun ikinci ayağı da bugün başlıyor. Bu toplantıların amacı ‘geçiş yönetimi’ kurmak. Ama, görüşmelerde hiç bir zaman o noktaya gelinemedi.

http://www.aljazeera.com.tr/interaktif/dunden-bugune-cenevre-gorusmeleri

International Military Review – Syria, Mar. 9 2016 (Arab, Ger Subs)

International Military Review - Syria, Mar. 2, 2016 (Arab, Ger subs)

ABD'den Suriye'de federal devlet açıklaması- Sputnik News

Rusya Dışişleri Bakan Yardımcısı Sergey Ryabkov'un 'Eğer Cenevre görüşmelerinin katılımcıları uygun görürse Suriye'de federal bir modele geçilebileceği' açıklamasına yanıt veren ABD Dışişleri Bakanlığı Sözcüsü John Kirby, böyle bir hedeflerinin olmadığını söyledi.

Tamamını oku: http://tr.sputniknews.com/abd/20160301/1021206655/abd-suriye-rusya.html

Report of the Russian Centre for reconciliation of opposing sides in the Syrian Arab Republic (March 1, 2016)- Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

General information on the application of measures for the reconciliation of opposing sides

In the course of the last day, the Russian party has signed cease-fire agreements with four commanders of moderate opposition units, which controlled Dumeir (Damascus province). Total number of reconciliation agreements has reached 38.

Peacemaking negotiations with leaders of five armed formations located in the Damascus, Daraa and Homs province are continued. 

By the mediation of the Russian Federation, leadership of the Daraa province had meetings with civilians from Etbaa, al-Samein, Mesmia, Nava, Saida and Nahtah. More than 1,000 people participated in the meeting.

In accordance to the meeting results, 842 members of Jaysh al-Islam, Free Syrian Army and al-Yarmuk Brigade signed consents to stop warfare and back to the peaceful life.

The meeting took place despite efforts of radical groups taken in order to foil the event. Several civilians were beaten by militants on their way to the meeting.

Moreover, militants have captured retired Colonel of the Syrian army Zaidan al-Nasirat, who is one of the meeting initiators. 

http://eng.syria.mil.ru/en/index/syria/reconciliation_centre_bulletins/more.htm?id=12079702@egNews

Assad: Syria Truce a 'Glimmer of Hope'- VOA

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Tuesday the cessation of hostilities in his country's five-year war is a "glimmer of hope."

In a German television interview, Assad said his government will do its part to make the truce work.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the next few days "critical" in building momentum toward the goal of de-escalating the Syrian conflict.

He spoke to reporters Monday evening in Washington as Syria entered its fourth day under a cessation of hostilities that includes pro-government fighters and opposition forces, but not Islamic State militants or those from al-Qaida-linked Jabhat al-Nusra.

Kerry said he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agree there have been a number of violations since the truce began Saturday, but that they do not want to litigate them publicly.  Instead, they will rely on a task force led by their two countries to investigate every reported violation and promote compliance with the halt in fighting.

http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-next-few-days-critical-in-building-syria-momentum/3214087.html

Syria conflict: Truce 'violations' will be probed - Kerry- BBC News

US Secretary of State John Kerry says all alleged violations of the partial truce in Syria will be investigated.

He said the US and Russia were working on a mechanism to ensure air strikes only targeted so-called Islamic State (IS) or al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front.

Mr Kerry said they had agreed not to debate alleged violations in public.

On Monday, aid convoys began reaching besieged areas of Syria as the cessation of violence, which began on Saturday, appeared to be holding.

But France expressed concern about reports of strikes by Syrian government and Russian aircraft on areas controlled by mainstream rebels.

Russia says it is only targeting UN-designated terrorist organisations - including IS and al-Nusra, which is part of a major rebel alliance - in line with the terms of the cessation of hostilities.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35693422

Russia moves extra drones, radars to Syria to monitor truce- TASS

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. The Russian Defense Ministry has redeployed to the Hmeimim air base in Syria three drone complexes and two radars, the ministry’s press-service said.

"Over the past three days the Russian Defense Ministry has redeployed to Hmeimim three advanced complexes equipped with drones and two radars capable of identifying small targets and of exposing the use of artillery systems by terrorists," says a news release obtained by TASS.

In order to spot the positions of multiple rocket launchers, artillery pieces and mortars being used by truce abusers "two sets of artillery instrumental reconnaissance have been delivered to Syria and deployed there."

More: http://tass.ru/en/defense/859934

Syrian Air Force drops thousands of leaflets over the East Ghouta: major offensive coming- Al-Masdar News

On Tuesday morning in the East Ghouta region of Greater Damascus, the Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAF) dropped thousands of leaflets over a number of cities and villages, warning them of the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) coming offensive to capture the strategic Agricultural College that is currently under the control of Jaysh Al-Islam (Army of Islam) and Jabhat Al-Nusra (Syrian Al-Qaeda group). 

Considered one of the most fortified areas in the East Ghouta, the Agricultural College not only possesses the high ground, but it is also surrounded by wide-open farms that makes it very difficult to attack for the enemy forces. 

With Jabhat Al-Nusra and Jaysh Al-Islam concentrated on recapturing the Marj Al-Sultan Military Airport, the Syrian Arab Army’s 416th Regiment of the Republican Guard will attempt to hold onto this large base while their comrades from the 102nd Brigade (Republican Guard) attack the Agricultural College.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-air-force-drops-leaflets-over-the-east-ghouta-offensive-coming/ 

Suriye savaşı: ABD, Rusya'yla aynı hizaya mı geldi?- BBC Türkçe

Suriye'de ateşkesin ihlal edilmeye başlandığı yolundaki ilk haberlere rağmen, ülkedeki şiddet düzeyi azaldı ve kaydedilen bu ilerleme az da olsa, burada yıllardır rakip durumda olan ABD ile Rusya'yı bir araya getirdi.

Moskova ile Washington, Şubat ayının başlarında varılan Münih anlaşmasından bu yana, Suriye'de ateşkesin uygulanması ve insani yardımların ulaştırılmasından sorumlu Uluslararası Suriye Destek Grubu'nun eş başkanları.

Her iki ülke de bu anlaşmanın sağlanması için büyük çaba gösterdi ve başarıya ulaşmasından bekledikleri çıkarlar var.

Kısa süre öncesine kadar ABD Dışişleri Bakanlığı'nın IŞİD'e karşı stratejisinden sorumlu olan, şimdilerde ise İngiltere'deki bir düşünce kuruluşuna başkanlık eden Karin Von Hoppel, "Rusya, siyasi sürece saygı gösterdiği ve Suriye Cumhurbaşkanı Beşar Esad'ı bombardımana son verip, süreci ciddiye almaya ikna ettiği sürece, ABD ve Rusya bu anlaşmanın ortak sahipleri" diyor.

Washington, hızla Esad hükümeti ile muhalifler arasında görüşmelere zemin hazırlanması gerektiği görüşünde.

http://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler/2016/03/160301_suriye_abd_rusya