Iranian president says cooperation on Syria is good example of regional collaboration- TASS

BAKU, August 8. /TASS/. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday there are all the conditions to boost ties with Russia and cited as an example cooperation in the settlement of the Syrian crisis.

Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia, Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Hassan Rouhani earlier on Monday adopted a declaration of cooperation after their trilateral meeting.

"The signing of fundamental agreements between us, as well as simplified visa issuance procedures, measures to encourage investments in our countries, cooperation in the area of customs services, the establishment of a green customs corridor, cooperation in the areas of science and technologies, and closer ties between our regions are good examples of our cooperation and prove that there are corresponding conditions to boost cooperation between our two states," Rouhani said. 

More: http://tass.ru/en/world/893126

Russian strategic bombers hammer terrorists’ facilities in Syria- TASS

MOSCOW, August 8. /TASS/. Six Russian long-range bombers Tupolev Tu-22M3 have delivered a strike against the facilities of the Islamic State terrorist organization outlawed in Russia in the areas near the Syrian city of Palmyra, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Monday.

"On August 8, 2016, six long-range bombers Tu-22M3, which took off from the Russian territory, have delivered a concentrated strike with high-explosive munitions against the facilities of the Islamic State terrorist organization in the areas east and northwest of Palmyra, near the communities of Es-Suhne and Arak," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

More: http://tass.ru/en/defense/893030

Syria Aleppo: Jets pound rebels in key city- BBC News

Rebel factions who claim to have made gains in Syria's city of Aleppo have come under intense air bombardment from pro-government forces.

The Syrian government released video showing its planes apparently bombing targets in the south-west of the city.

The rebels earlier said they had broken a weeks-long government siege of Aleppo - a claim denied by Damascus.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37006859

Hundreds join key battle for Syria’s Aleppo- Al-Arabiya

Regime and rebel forces have sent in hundreds of fighters and extra military equipment to join the crucial battle for Syria’s second city Aleppo, a monitoring group said Monday.

Fighting is intensifying as both sides prepare for what Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said would be a decisive battle for the northern city.

“An estimated 2,000 Syrian, Iraqi, and Iranian fighters as well as Lebanese fighters from (Shiite movement) Hezbollah have arrived in Aleppo since Sunday night,” Abdel Rahman told AFP.

The Monday edition of Al-Watan, a Syrian daily close to the government, said the army and allied forces had received “the necessary military reinforcements to launch the battle to retake the areas from which it withdrew.”

Al-Watan said a Palestinian loyalist militia had sent “huge reinforcements” to Syria’s army battling to defend a cement factory south of Aleppo.

Citing a source on the ground, the newspaper said military warplanes “are carrying out a barrage of air strikes targeting the armed groups.”

Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad are on the defensive in Aleppo since an opposition alliance overran key territory south of the city at the weekend.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/08/08/Hundreds-join-key-battle-for-Syria-s-Aleppo.html

UK special forces pictured on the ground in Syria- BBC News

The BBC has obtained exclusive pictures showing for the first time British special forces operating on the ground in Syria.

It is the vehicles that first stand out. The open air, Thalab long range patrol vehicles are built for harsh terrain and are favoured by special forces.

In this case it is British special forces, seen for the first time on the ground, inside Syria, in photographs obtained by the BBC.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-37015915

Lebanon reels under weight of Syrian refugee crisis- Al-Monitor

On June 27, a series of suicide bombings rocked the eastern border town of al-Qaa in the Bekaa Valley. For the Lebanese people, this was the straw that broke the camel’s back, as the attacks reopened the debate over the issue of displaced Syrians in Lebanese territory.

Many Lebanese suspected that the suicide bombers came from the Syrian refugee camps known as Masharih al-Qaa (Qaa Projects) neighboring al-Qaa town and that these camps harbor terrorist groups. Several security and official sources confirmed these suspicions.

This stirred a wave of panic. Various stances were taken on social media by Lebanese citizens, who expressed racist feelings against the Syrian refugees, including calls to expel from Lebanon all displaced people.

Two days after the al-Qaa attacks, Lebanese authorities rushed to impose special measures on the displaced. A night curfew was imposed on Syrian refugees, and the Lebanese army announced the arrest of more than 412 Syrians on various charges.

The Cabinet held an extraordinary session June 28, but no conclusive results were reached. However, the issue of displaced Syrians was brought back to the government's table several times, based on the need for a radical solution and a comprehensive approach.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/07/al-qaa-bombings-syrian-refugees-lebanon-reactions.html

Who Is Laying Siege to Whom in Aleppo?- Carnegie

On August 6, in the span of just 24 hours, the city of Aleppo went from being under government siege to being under rebel siege, or perhaps a double siege—there was much confusion in the media.

Those who do not follow the Syrian conflict as obsessively as, perhaps, many readers of this site would be excused for not understanding what happened. How could the situation be so dramatically transformed in such as short time, and who is actually laying siege to whom?

To clear up the confusion, let’s try to unpack the situation with the help of a map.

http://carnegieendowment.org/syriaincrisis/64274

Lübnan'da 43'üncü deneme de boşa çıktı- Yeni Şafak

Lübnan parlamentosunda cumhurbaşkanlığı seçimi için yapılan oturumda yeterli çoğunluk sağlanamadığı için seçim, 7 Eylül'e ertelendi. İki yıldan uzun süredir Lübnan'da Cumhurbaşkanı seçilememesi siyasi iktidarsızlığı da beraberinde getiriyor.

Ülkede 13'üncü cumhurbaşkanını seçmek üzere gerçekleştirilen 43'üncü oturumda 128 sandalyeli mecliste toplantı yeter sayısı olan 86'ya ulaşılamadı. İki yıldan fazla süredir devam eden cumhurbaşkanlığı seçimi, 7 Eylül'e ertelendi.

Parlamento, görev süresi Mayıs 2014'te dolan Mişel Süleyman'ın yerine geçecek cumhurbaşkanını iki yıldan uzun süredir seçemiyor.

Suriye savaşının yol açtığı kutuplaşma, Suudi Arabistan ve İran'ın desteklediği aktörlerin kontrolündeki Lübnan siyasetinin daha da ayrışmasına ve krizin uzamasına yol açıyor.

Meclis ikiye bölündü

Lübnan parlamentosundaki siyasi partiler 8 Mart ve 14 Mart olarak iki ana blok altında toplanıyor.

14 Mart Bloku, 2005'te eski Başbakan Refik Hariri'nin suikast sonucu öldürülmesinin ardından oğlu Saad Hariri önderliğinde kuruldu. Bu grup Suriye rejimine karşıtlığıyla biliniyor.

8 Mart Bloku ise Suriye rejimi yanlısı gruplardan oluşuyor. Hizbullah ve cumhurbaşkanı adayı Mişel Avn da bu grupta yer alıyor.

İki aday da Hizbullah yanlısı

14 Mart Bloku'nun cumhurbaşkanı adayı başlangıçta Lübnan Güçleri lideri Samir Caca'ydı. Ancak daha sonra hareketin lideri Saad Hariri, rakip siyasi bloktan Beşşar Esed'e yakınlığıyla tanınan Marada Hareketi lideri Süleyman Franci'yi uzlaşı adayı olarak öne çıkardı.

Caca ise Franci'nin adaylığına karşı çıkarak iç savaş sırasındaki kanlı rakibi Ulusal Özgürlük Hareketi lideri Avn'a destek verdiğini açıkladı.

http://www.yenisafak.com/dunya/lubnanda-43uncu-deneme-de-bosa-cikti-2507385

Jihadists and other rebels claim to have broken through siege of Aleppo- The Long War Journal

Shortly after Al Nusrah Front announced on July 28 that it was relaunching its operations under the name Jabhat Fath Al Sham (“Conquest of the Levant Front”), jihadists, Islamists and other Sunni rebel groups began an offensive to break the siege of Aleppo.

Bashar al Assad’s forces and their Iranian allies, backed by Russia, had been squeezing the rebel held part of the city since earlier this year. The Syrian regime and its partners cut off a key supply road in the north during fighting in June and July, thereby encircling their opponents.

The insurgents orchestrated an offensive to break the blockade focusing on areas in the southern part of Aleppo, including the Ramousa district, which houses key military installations. The insurgents’ offensive is one of their largest undertakings since the beginning of the Syrian war, drawing together the resources of more than 20 factions and organizations. It obviously required extensive planning to coordinate the actions of so many groups.

On Aug. 6, just over one week after the battle began, the opposition to Assad claimed to have broken through the defensive positions manned by the Syrian regime and allied paramilitary forces. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), however, the fighting continues and Russia is bombing the area in an attempt to prevent the insurgents from consolidating their gains.

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/08/jihadists-and-other-rebels-claim-to-have-broken-through-siege-of-aleppo.php

Hand Grenade Explodes at Ain el-Hilweh Camp- Naharnet

An explosion shock the Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp overnight, state-run National News Agency reported Sunday.

“The blast resulted from a hand grenade that was hurled in the Akbara neighborhood,” NNA said.

No casualties were reported.

By long-standing convention, the Lebanese army does not enter the twelve Palestinian refugee camps in the country, leaving the Palestinian factions themselves to handle security.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/214398

Syria Regime Forces Redeploy after Rebels 'Break' Aleppo Siege- Naharnet

Syrian regime forces redeployed Sunday to try to avoid being surrounded in neighborhoods they control in Aleppo, after a rebel alliance said it had broken a three-week government siege.

A coalition of rebels and jihadists surged through regime territory on Saturday to open a new route into the northern city's besieged eastern neighborhoods, home to an estimated 250,000 people.

The operation triggered celebrations in eastern districts and sparked fears in regime-controlled western areas of the divided city of food and fuel shortages.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the rebel action was one of the most significant setbacks for government forces since the conflict erupted in March 2011.

"Despite more than 600 Russian strikes, the regime forces were not able to hold on to their positions," he said.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/214409

Al-Rahi-Jumblat Mark 15th Anniversary of Mountain Reconciliation in Moukhtara- Naharnet

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi visited Mount Lebanon on Sunday where he marked the 15th anniversary of the mountain reconciliation between the Christians and Druze and to inaugurate a church in the Shouf town of al-Moukhtara.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan received the Patriarch in the presence of former President Amin Gemayel, Michel Suleiman, former minister Walid Daouk representing ex-PM Najib Miqati, Papal Ambassador to Lebanon Gabriel Caccia, MP Ali Fayyad, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and a number of bishops and priests.

Rahi headed a mass at the al-Saydeh Church in Moukhtara where he marked the anniversary.

He said: “On this occasion we are all committed, each from his own position, to continue this conciliation and provide it with the spiritual, economic and social frameworks to protect the mountain area.”

He highlighted the necessity to primarily elect a president before addressing other pending issues in the country, he said: “What is the point of addressing issues before electing a head of state.”

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/214369

Rebels Turn Tables on Regime as IS Loses Syria Bastion- Naharnet

Jihadists and rebels captured strategic military positions on the edges of Syria's second city Aleppo on Saturday, turning the tables on Russian-backed regime forces besieging the city.

To the northeast, a Western-backed alliance of Arab and Kurdish fighters scored a major victory against the Islamic State group in the town of Manbij after a fierce two-month battle.

The developments have rocked the key northern province of Aleppo, a microcosm of Syria's topsy-turvy, multi-front war that has killed more than 280,000 people.

Rebel and regime forces have fought for control of the provincial capital of the same name since mid-2012, transforming the former economic powerhouse into a divided, bombed-out city.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/214381

At least 500 fighters killed in a week in Aleppo battle: activists- The Daily Star

BEIRUT: More than 500 rebels and government forces have been killed in one week of fierce fighting to control the Syrian city of Aleppo, activists said on Saturday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the majority of those killed since July 31 were rebels fighters and extremists "because of the aerial superiority of the regime and intense Russian airstrikes."

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said at least 130 civilians had also been killed since Sunday, most in rebel shelling of government-controlled districts.

He said at least seven civilians were killed on Saturday in rebel shelling of the government-held neighborhood of Hamdaniyeh.

Government forces on Saturday struggled to push back a powerful assault on military positions south of the battleground city.

The offensive has brought together rebels, Islamists and extremists in an attempt to cut off a government route into Aleppo and break the government siege of eastern districts.

Anti-government forces have captured the armaments school and most of the artillery school at a large military academy, bringing them closer to the government's access route into the city.

The former Nusra Front - renamed Jabhat Fateh al-Sham after breaking from Al-Qaeda - on Saturday announced having captured the two military schools and a third military position.

Drone footage posted by the group online showed a series of explosions in some of those buildings, and massive columns of billowing black smoke.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2016/Aug-06/365932-at-least-500-fighters-killed-in-a-week-in-aleppo-battle-activists.ashx

Rio 2016 Olympics: Lebanese athletes refuse to travel with Israel team- BBC News

Lebanese athletes refused to share a bus with the Israel team to get to Friday's Rio Olympic Games opening ceremony, members of both teams said.

Lebanon and Israel are officially at war and have no diplomatic relations.

The incident happened as the Lebanon team sat on the bus waiting to head to the Maracana stadium, before demanding the Israeli athletes must not board.

Israel's athletes insisted on doing so, but the two teams were eventually taken to the ceremony in different buses.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/36998989

First Syrian cargo ship heads for Russia- SANA

Lattakia, SANA – A Syrian cargo ship carrying goods left Lattakia Port on Friday heading for Russia for the first time in years, Minister of Transport Ali Hammoud told SANA.

In a statement on Saturday during a tour to inspect the situation of the maritime sector in Lattakia province, Hammoud said the freighter will come back loaded with Russian goods, considering this trip as “an important step” towards enhancing relations and agreements with the friendly countries.

The Minister noted that more Syrian ships are getting prepared to transport goods to a number of countries.

http://sana.sy/en/?p=84567

Penned in on All Sides, Syria Kurds in Economic Dire Straits- Naharnet

Syria's Kurds dreamt of an economic success story when they declared an autonomous region in the country's north, an area rich in oil resources and known as a breadbasket.

But instead their proto-state has become an island, squeezed economically on all sides and dependent on aid to make up for shortfalls in basic goods including food and medicine.

In his pharmacy in Qamishli, Mustafa Ebdi examined his dwindling stock.

"Most medication is missing," he told Agence France Presse, as a crowd of customers picked desperately through his sparse shelves.

"Our pharmacies are empty. We cannot find general anaesthetics or other medication used in surgery, as well as medication for diabetes," he added.

Location is largely to blame.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/214302

Turkey wants to find political solution for Syria together with Russia — spokesman- TASS

ANKARA, August 4. /TASS/. Turkey considers Russia a partner in finding a way out of the Syrian crisis, Ibrahim Kalin, a spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told TASS on Thursday.

"We have always sought opportunities for cooperation with Russia on the issue," he said. "We want to look into the future with hope and would like to ensure the political transition in Syria at an early date in cooperation with Russia." Kalin recalled that Turkey and Russia "held summit meetings in Sochi and then in Moscow in September 2015 for the sake of stability in Syria." "Thanks to this we paved the way for creating the International Syria Support Group," he said.

More: http://tass.ru/en/world/892534

Cumhurbaşkanlığı Sözcüsü Kalın, Türkiye-Rusya ilişkilerini değerlendirdi- Sabah

Cumhurbaşkanlığı Sözcüsü İbrahim Kalın, Rusya Devlet Ajansı TASS'a mülakat verdi. Türkiye-Rusya ilişkilerindeki normalleşme sürecine değinen Kalın, normalleşme sürecinin Rusya Devlet Başkanı Vladimir Putin ve Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan'ın kararlılığı sayesinde başladığını vurgulayarak, "Daha önce iki lider arasında yapılan telefon görüşmesinde Çin'de düzenlenecek G20 zirvesi öncesinde şahsen görüşme konusunda mutabakat sağlanmıştı. Zaten ilk adımlar bu görüşmenin hemen ardından atıldı. Her iki ülke, karşılıklı çıkarlar doğrultusunda işbirliğini sürdürdüğü sürece ikili ilişkilerin eskisinden daha iyi bir seviyeye geleceği konusunda şüphemiz yok. 9 Ağustos'ta yapılacak görüşme de normalleşmenin hızlanmasına vesile olacaktır. Gerek ikili ilişkiler gerekse bölgesel ve küresel konularda yakın işbirliği ve eşgüdüm içerisinde olunması her açıdan önem arz ediyor. Hem Türk hem de Rus tarafı bu yönde kararlı bir duruş sergiliyor ve bu ilişkilerin normalleşmesi sürecini hızlandıracaktır" diye konuştu.

http://www.sabah.com.tr/gundem/2016/08/04/cumhurbaskanligi-sozcusu-kalin-turkiye-rusya-iliskilerini-degerlendirdi-1470334935

Syrian Democratic Forces Seize Strategic Locations in Daesh-Held Manbij- Sputnik News

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance of militias recaptured strategically important locations in the northern Syrian city of Manbij, according to the SDF's press service.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance of militias has taken control of strategic locations in the northern Syrian city of Manbij, which is partially held by the Islamic State (ISIL or Daesh) jihadist group, the SDF's press service said in a statement Thursday.

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160804/1043932566/kurds-syria-ceasefire.html