Taimur Jumblat Tours Chouf Churches to Honor Christians Slain in 1977- Naharnet

Taimur Jumblat, the son of Druze leader MP Walid Jumblat and his declared political heir, on Sunday toured several churches in the Chouf region to honor Christian residents who were slain on March 16, 1977 in the wake of the assassination of Druze leader Kamal Jumblat.

“Coexistence remains the guarantee for us all amid the regional situation and the blazes that are surrounding us,” Taimur said.

“We must turn the page on the painful past and look towards the future,” he added.

Taimur laid wreaths of flowers at the churches he visited.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/231623

Aoun to Discuss 'Sectarianism, Senate' with Leaders, Govt. to Tackle Key Issues- Naharnet

President Michel Aoun intends to invite the country's top political leaders to a meeting in Baabda next week while the government is preparing to address important issues during the Wednesday Cabinet session, media reports said on Sunday.

“Aoun intends to invite the leaders of the parties represented in government to a consultative meeting in Baabda and the presidential palace staff have started preparing for it,” the reports said.

The meeting is aimed at “discussing the previous phase and its obstacles as well as the upcoming phase and the means to reactivate the work of state institutions,” the daily said.

The conferees will “discuss the pending Taef Accord articles, especially in terms of abolishing political sectarianism as a prelude to creating a Senate,” ad-Diyar added.

They will also tackle “vital projects that need to be executed” and will address “the rifts that were caused by the electoral law” negotiations, the newspaper said.

“The president will put the leaders of the parties in the picture of his vision and reform ideas for the upcoming years of his tenure,” ad-Diyar added, noting that Speaker Nabih Berri “will contribute to President Aoun's efforts.”

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/231595

U.S. warplane downs Syrian army jet in Raqqa province- Reuters

AMMAN/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. warplane shot down a Syrian army jet on Sunday in the southern Raqqa countryside, with Washington saying the jet had dropped bombs near U.S.-backed forces and Damascus saying the plane was downed while flying a mission against Islamic State militants.

A Syrian army statement released on Syrian state television said the plane crashed and the pilot was missing in the first such downing of a Syrian jet by the United States since the start of the conflict in 2011.

The army statement said it took place on Sunday afternoon near a village called Rasafah.

The "flagrant attack was an attempt to undermine the efforts of the army as the only effective force capable with its allies ... in fighting terrorism across its territory," the Syrian army said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-usa-idUSKBN1990XI

Suriye ordusu: ABD öncülüğündeki koalisyon, Suriye savaş uçağını düşürdü- Sputnik News

Suriye Savunma Bakanlığı'ndan yapılan açıklamada, ABD öncülüğündeki koalisyon güçlerinin Rakka bölgesinde Suriye hava kuvvetlerine ait bir uçağı düşürdüğü bildirildi.

Suriye ordusuna ait savaş uçağının Rakka'nın güneyinde düşürüldüğü belirtilen açıklamada, “Bugün öğle saatlerinde uçağımız, IŞİD’le mücadeleye yönelik görevini yerine getirirken düşürüldü” ifadelerine yer verildi.

Uçağın düşürülmesinin, 'koalisyon güçlerinin eylemlerini IŞİD ile koordine ettiklerinin bir teyidi' olduğu vurgulanan açıklamada, "Ordumuz ve müttefiklerimiz büyük başarılara imza atarken, onların eylemleri ise terörizmle mücadelede Suriye ordusunu ve müttefiklerini durdurmaya yönelik" ifadeleri yer aldı.

Bakanlığın verdiği bilgiye göre uçak düşürüldü, pilot ise şimdiye kadar halen bulunamadı. 

https://tr.sputniknews.com/ortadogu/201706181028942856-suriye-ordusu-abd-koalisyon-ucak/

İran, Suriye'deki IŞİD karargahlarını vurdu- Sputnik News

İran'ın Tahran'da gerçekleştirilen IŞİD saldırılarına karşılık Suriye'nin Deyr ez Zor kentindeki IŞİD karargahlarını vurduğu duyuruldu.

​İran Devrim Muhafızları tarafından yapılan açıklamada, İran'ın batısından fırlatılan orta menzilli karadan karaya füzelerle teröristlerin Deyr ez Zor'daki ana merkezlerinin hedef alındığı belirtildi. Füzelerin, İran'ın Irak sınırına yakın Kürdistan ve Kirmanşah illerinde bulunan Devrim Muhafızları üslerinden fırlatıldığı bildirildi. Fırlatılan füzelerin sayısı konusunda bilgi verilmedi.

İran Devrim Muhafızları'nın, saldırıya ilişkin ''Tahran saldırılarına cevap olarak vurduk'' açıklamasında bulunduğu öğrenildi.

https://tr.sputniknews.com/ortadogu/201706181028942838-iran-suriye-isid-karargahlarini-vurdu/

Propaganda video published by Ahrar Al-Sham shows their military camp in central Syria- Al-Masdar News

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (7:20 P.M.) – Syrian islamist movement, Ahrar Al-Sham, published a 12-minute-long video footage taken in the military camp in northern Homs countryside.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/propaganda-video-published-ahrar-al-sham-shows-military-camp-central-syria/

Important development: US-backed forces push south of Raqqa to cutoff Syrian Army from Deir Ezzor- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:30 P.M.) – The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a new attack in the western Al-Raqqa , targeting the southeastern countryside of Tabaqa.

The Syrian Democratic Forces managed to capture the Bitani District, Sunday, after a short battle with the Islamic State (ISIL).

According to a military source, if the Syrian Democratic Forces continue to push south towards the strategic town of Resafa, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) will open fire on them because this would be a clear attempt by the US-backed forces to cut them off from the road to Deir Ezzor.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/important-development-us-backed-forces-push-south-raqqa-cutoff-syrian-army-deir-ezzor/

Syrian army declares city ceasefire as Russia, U.N. plan July peace talks- Reuters

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian army said it would suspend combat operations in the southern city of Deraa for 48 hours from Saturday, as mediators announced two separate attempts to convene new peace talks next month.

The Syrian army general command said a ceasefire at noon (5 a.m. ET) was being implemented to support "reconciliation efforts", according to a statement carried by state news agency SANA.

The announcement came on the same day as the United Nations said it wanted to start a fresh round of peace talks between Syrian factions on July 10 in Geneva, and Moscow said it hoped to hold talks in Kazakhstan's capital Astana on July 4-5.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-deraa-idUSKBN1980GR

Bogdanov: Moscow hopes to hold next Astana meeting on Syria on July 4-5- SANA

Moscow, SANA – The Russian President’s special representative for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said that Moscow hopes to hold the next Astana meeting on Syria on July 4-5.

In a statement to journalists on Saturday, Bogdanov said that Russia has suggested this date for holding the meeting which will be the fifth of its kind, and that organizing the meeting depends on the Kazakhstani side.

He also said that Russia hopes progress will be made in the 7th round of intra-Syrian talks in Geneva, which are due to be held on June 10th as was announced by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura earlier in the day.

The previous Astana meeting resulted in signing a Russian memorandum on establishing de-escalation zones in Syria.

http://sana.sy/en/?p=108311

Suriye ordusundan Dera'da ateşkes kararı- Sputnik News

Suriye'nin resmi haber ajansı SANA'nın aktardığına göre, Suriye ordusu ülkenin güneyindeki Dera kentinde 48 saat için ateşkes uygulayacağını açıkladı.

SANA'nın haberine göre, Suriye ordusundan yapılan açıklamada, ‘Ulusal ateşkesin desteklenmesi amacıyla Dera kentinde bugün TSİ 12.00'den itibaren 48 saat süreyle tüm askeri eylemlerin durdurulacağı' belirtildi.

https://tr.sputniknews.com/ortadogu/201706171028933407-suriye-ordusu-dera-ateskes/

Army air force destroys command centers, kills ISIS terrorists in eastern provinces- SANA

Provinces, SANA-The Army Air Force carried out Saturday morning intensive sorties targeting the ISIS movement axes and supply routes east of Arak gas field, 3rd station and al-Taybeh al-Gharbiyeh in Palmyra in Homs countryside , inflicting heavy losses upon the ISIS terrorists in personnel and equipment.

The air force airstrikes also destroyed a number of ISIS command centers and vehicles and killed a number of ISIS terrorists in the villages of Salba, Qulaib al-Thaor , Abu Habailat, al-Tanahej, Jana al-Elbawi, Marina and west of Tabbaret al-Dibeh in the eastern countryside of Salamiyeh in Hama countryside. 

Raqqa 

Meanwhile, the air force of the army carried out during the past 24 hours intensive sorties against ISIS terrorists’ positions and dens in the western and southern countryside of Raqqa eastern province.

A military source told SANA that the air raids concentrated on the terrorists’ dens and movements at the surrounding of Abu Kabra well, to the south of al-Nashmi, in Karawi village and in al-Rasafa city in the southern and western countryside of Raqqa.

The source pointed out that many of the terrorists were killed and their vehicles were destroyed during the sorties.

http://sana.sy/en/?p=108260

Army General Command declares 48 hours combat cessation in Daraa province- SANA

Damascus, SANA – General Command of the Army and Armed Forces has announced the cessation of all combat operations in the southern city of Daraa for 48 hours in support of national reconciliation.

In a statement published on the Defense Ministry’s website, the Army General Command stated that all combat operations will stop as of Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 12:00 p.m. for 48 hours.

The Syrian government is keen on consolidating local reconciliations in parallel with army’s operations to eradicate takfiri terrorism and restore security and stability to all Syrian territories.

http://sana.sy/en/?p=108283

Infighting between HTS, FSA and ISIS sleeper cells erupts in Idlib city- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:48 A.M.) – Heavy clashes have erupted in the western districts of Idlib city between various anti-government militias according to opposition activists. It is currently not possible to make clear sense of the situation, however it appears that the firefights which have broken out are of a three-way nature.

Ha’yat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS: previously Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda) security forces in Idlib claim that they discovered an ISIS sleeper cell operating in the city, successfully raiding its headquarters, killing one ISIS loyalist and capturing another, whilst also seizing improvised explosive devices (IED) in the process.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/infighting-hts-fsa-isis-sleeper-cells-erupts-idlib-city/

Lübnan Meclisi yeni seçim yasasını onayladı- AA

Lübnan Meclisi, uzun süredir tartışılan ve önemli değişiklileri kapsayan yeni seçim yasasını onayladı.

Lübnan Meclisi, uzun süredir tartışılan ve önemli değişiklileri kapsayan yeni seçim yasasını onayladı.

Meclis Başkanı Nebih Berri başkanlığında gerçekleşen oturumda, uzun süredir tartışılan ve ülkeyi siyasi krizin eşiğine getiren yeni seçim yasası oy çokluğuyla kabul edildi.

Mecliste görüşmelerin olduğu saatlerde Riyad es-Sulh Meydanı'nda toplanan bir grup, yeni seçim yasasını protesto etti.

Partiler ve siyasi gruplar arasında uzun süren görüşmelerin ardından hazırlanan yeni seçim yasası taslağı, geçen çarşamba günü Bakanlar Kurulu tarafından onaylanarak meclise sunulmuştu.

Seçim tarihinin 2018'in mayıs ayı olarak açıklanması nedeniyle Lübnan Hükümetinin 20 Haziran'da bitecek görev süresi de 11 ay uzatıldı.

Yeni yasa

Yeni seçim yasası, seçime katılan her partinin aldığı oy oranında milletvekili çıkarabileceği nispi temsil sistemini içeriyor. Buna göre Lübnan 15 seçim bölgesine ayrılacak. Ayrıca yurt dışında yaşayan Lübnanlılar da seçimlerde oy kullanabilecek.

Bazı siyasi partiler tarafından istenen şartlardan olan, askerlerin oy kullanması, meclisteki kadın milletvekilleri için kota uygulanması ve oy verme yaşının 21'den 18'e düşürülmesi ise yeni seçim yasasında yer almıyor. Lübnan Meclisinde 4 kadın milletvekili bulunuyor.

Lübnan'daki seçim yasası tartışmaları

Lübnan'da 5 yılda bir gerçekleştirilmesi gereken genel seçimler en son 2009'da yapılmış, 2014'te sağlanan ittifakla yeni cumhurbaşkanının seçilmesinden sonra genel seçimlere gidilmesi kararlaştırılmıştı. Ancak Meclis bu tarihten itibaren yaklaşık 2,5 yıl boyunca, siyasi ihtilaflar nedeniyle bir türlü cumhurbaşkanını seçememiş ve bunun üzerine Meclis görev süresini iki kez uzatmak zorunda kalmıştı.

Lübnan Meclisinde 31 Ekim 2016'da düzenlenen 46. oturumun ikinci turunda 128 sandalyeli mecliste 83 vekilin oyunu alan Mişel Avn'ın Lübnan'ın 13. Cumhurbaşkanı olmasının ardından, ülkenin en önemli sorunu yeni seçim yasası oldu.

"1960 yasası" olarak bilinen seçim sisteminde değişikliğe gidilmesi ve seçime katılan partiler ya da adaylar arasında en çok oyu alanın seçimi kazandığı "çoğunluk sistemi" yerine nispi temsilli seçim sisteminin getirilmesi tartışmaları, Lübnan'ı yeni bir siyasi krizin eşiğine getirdi.

Cumhurbaşkanı Avn, 12 Nisan'da, parlamentonun görev süresinin uzatılması ve yeni seçim yasası konularının tartışılacağı meclis oturumunu bir ay süreyle ertelemiş ve meclisin görev süresinin yeni seçim yasası kararlaştırılmadan uzatılmasına karşı olduğunu ifade etmişti.

http://aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/lubnan-meclisi-yeni-secim-yasasini-onayladi/843317

US-designated terrorist claims he survived suicide attack in Syria- The Long War Journal

Earlier today, Sheikh Abdallah Muhammad al Muhaysini and his social media team claimed via his Telegram channels that he survived a suicide attack after attending Friday prayers at a mosque in Idlib, Syria. An English-language post said that “one of the Khawarij,” meaning an extremist, “blew himself up next to the car of” Muhaysini but he “is fine.” Muhaysini also posted a short video concerning the bombing. A picture of his car can be seen above.

The explosion was independently confirmed by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), which reported that it “shook the area of Abu Thar al-Ghafari mosque in the city of Idlib.”

Citing “reliable sources,” SOHR added that “the information about the explosion in the area” is “still conflicted,” as it isn’t clear if it was caused by “a person detonating himself using an explosive belt or by detonating an IED in a vehicle.” Either way, approximately ten people were reportedly injured, some seriously. SOHR also “received information that the explosion targeted a prominent leader in” Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS). This unnamed figure was described as a Saudi, and “one of his escorts” purportedly died in the blast.

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/06/us-designated-terrorist-claims-he-survived-suicide-attack-in-syria.php

Syrian Army advances against ISIL in east Hama- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:15 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA), alongside the National Defense Forces (NDF), resumed their offensive operations in the eastern countryside of Hama, Friday, targeting the Islamic State’s (ISIL) positions east of Salamiyah.

Backed by heavy Russian airstrikes, the Syrian Arab Army and their allies stormed the large hilltop of Tal Dabbart Debah, striking the terrorist group’s primary defenses in the area.

According to Al-Masdar’s Ibrahim Joudeh, the Syrian Arab Army was able to take control of Tal Dabbart Debah, following a short battle with the Islamic State fighters at this large hilltop.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-advances-isil-east-hama/

ISIS Transfers Its Commanders and Headquarters To Al-Mayadeen City- South Front

ISIS began transferring its important HQs from the terrorist group’s self-proclaimed capital of Raqqa – currently under attack by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) – to Al-Mayadeen city in the Deir Ezzor countryside, the Associated Press reported citing American security sources and Syrian activists

According to the sources, several ISIS commanders fled the besieged cities of Mosul and Raqqa in the last few months and headed to Al-Mayadeen which is entirely under the control of the terrorist organization. They are using the city as a HQ for planning terrorist operations in western countries.

According to US officials, the US-led coalition is aware of the presence of these commanders in Al-Mayadeen city, and that’s why the US-led coalition recently stepped up air strikes on ISIS positions in Al-Mayadeen.

https://southfront.org/isis-transfers-commanders-headquarters-al-mayadeen-city/

As Arabs Bicker over Qatar, Assad Sees an Angle (Aron Lund- The Century Foundation)

With Donald Trump in the White House and Russian President Vladimir Putin eyeing a bigger role in the Middle East, it’s springtime for secular autocrats. Ask Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and he would tell you there is also no better time for a crisis in the Gulf.

A sudden flare-up of tension among the Arab oil monarchies in early June has seen some of Assad’s fiercest opponents go head to head. Accused of breaking the Saudi-led consensus, having affairs with Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood, and of sponsoring extremist groups, Qatar is now under blockade and faces crushing pressure from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and their allies; relief comes only in the form of supplies flown in from Turkey and Iran. Although no one has yet said a kind word about the Syrian president, he must be enjoying the spectacle: not only are Assad’s enemies fighting, they are also stumbling over each other to win Moscow’s support—and that could provide him with a political opening.

https://tcf.org/content/commentary/arabs-bicker-qatar-assad-sees-angle/

Hundreds of Palestinian paramilitary reinforcements arrive in east Damascus- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:30 P.M.) – Hundreds of Palestinian paramilitary personnel traveled from the Jaramana Refugee Camp to the Badiya Al-Sham region of rural Damascus, Friday, a Syrian Army source reported.

According to the source, these reinforcements will replace some of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) soldiers that were redeployed to the eastern part of Damascus City.

Jaysh Al-Tahrir has fought in several battles in the past, including some offensives in northern Syria.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/hundreds-palestinian-paramilitary-reinforcements-arrive-east-damascus/

Al-Wear reconciliation agreement fully implemented after settling legal status of 136 persons- SANA

Homs, SANA – Procedures of settling the legal status of 136 persons from al-Waer neighborhood in Homs city have been completed in the framework of implementing the reconciliation agreement in the neighborhood, which became free of all armed manifestations on May 21.

SANA reporter said that the settlement committee in al-Waer neighborhood has achieved its final missions by settling the legal status of 136 persons after they had turned themselves in to the authorities.

The reporter said that the number of persons who had their legal status settled in the neighborhood according to the reconciliation agreement and the Amnesty Decree No. 15 for 2016 reached 1111 persons, noting that with this final settlement process done, the agreement is fully implemented.

http://sana.sy/en/?p=108182