With Trump strategy unclear, U.S. allies turn to Moscow to secure their interests in Syria- The Washington Post

As President Trump began a six-day trip to Europe, due to culminate Monday in a meeting with Russian President Vladi­mir Putin, Putin was having some meetings of his own.

In Moscow on Wednesday, he hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a frequent visitor, who said he wanted to talk to the Russian leader “without intermediaries.” Hours later, Putin sat down with Ali Akbar Velayati, the foreign policy adviser to Iran’s supreme leader.

The main subject of the meetings was Syria, also a top item on Trump’s agenda.

“Of course I’m going to bring that up” with Putin, Trump said Friday during a stop in Britain. “I’m not going in with high expectations,” he said, “but we may come out with some surprising things.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/with-trump-strategy-unclear-us-allies-turn-to-moscow-to-secure-their-interests-in-syria/2018/07/14/0a2a3b34-8551-11e8-8f6c-46cb43e3f306_story.html

Druze Obstacle 'Fabricated' to Undermine PSP's Success in Elections- Naharnet

Amid the escalating war of words between the Progressive Socialist Party and Free Patriotic Movement, the PSP stressed on Friday that a so-called “Druze obstacle” was “fabricated” by some in order to eliminate the “sweeping victory” of the party in the general elections, al-Joumhouria daily reported.

“The Druze obstacle was fabricated by political parties who planned to minimize the (parliamentary) elections’ results and eliminate the sweeping victory of the party,” PSP sources told the daily on condition of anonymity.

The sources added: “Those who believe that a Cabinet share should be allocated to figures they believe are a national asset should give them of their own share,” not of the share of other parties.

“The PSP Druze representation is strictly limited to three seats, no more, no less,” they concluded, amid insistence of Druze Lebanese Democratic Party chief MP Talal Arslan to get one of the seats.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/248433

Syrian Millitary Resumes Its Advance In Western Daraa- South Front

On July 13, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) captured Tafas dam and entered the villages of Khirbat Kasi and Nahj in the western Daraa countryside, according to the Hezbollah media wing in Syria. The deployment of the SAA in these areas is a part of a reconciliation agreement, which was reached few days ago.

A day earlier, the SAA entered the towns of Kafr Shams, Inkhil and Muzayrib in the western Daraa countryside under the same reconciliation agreement. The former fighters of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in these towns are currently handing over their weapons to the SAA.

Meanwhile, dozens of civilians took at streets in the town of al-Harrah to stress their support for the SAA, according to Syrian pro-government activists. A day earlier, Syrian opposition sources reported that religious scholars in the town called for a reconciliation agreement with the Damascus government.

The remaining fighters of the FSA and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in the western Daraa countryside and the governorate of al-Quneitra appear to be unwilling to fight. These areas will likely accept a reconciliation agreement in the upcoming days.

https://southfront.org/syrian-millitary-resumes-its-advance-in-western-daraa-map/

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham Beheads Senior ISIS Commander In Idlib- South Front

On July 13, Anas al-Sheikh, a senior commander of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) security forces, told the HTS-linked news network Iba’a that the group managed to capture ISIS commander “Abu al-Bar’a al-Sahili” during a special operation in the town of Harem in northern Idlib countryside.

Only hours after his capture, al-Sahili was beheaded in a brutal way by HTS’ security forces. Al-Sheikh said that ISIS commander was executed in the same area where he beheaded a fighter of HTS last week. Al-Sahili is responsible for several attacks on the civilians and HTS fighters, according to al-Sheikh.

After the execution of al-Sahili, the ISIS-linked news agency Amaq reported that ISIS cells killed four fighters of HTS in hit and run attacks near the towns of Sarmin and Maarrat al-Nu’man. These attacks are likely a response to HTS, especially that many ISIS sympathizers in the governorate of Idlib vowed to avenge al-Sahili.

https://southfront.org/hayat-tahrir-al-sham-beheads-senior-commander-of-isis-in-idlib/

Netanyahu: Israel Won't Attack Syria if Existing Agreements are Upheld- Sputnik News

The comment comes in the wake of an overnight attack against Syrian military facilities and the Israeli prime minister's visit to Moscow on Wednesday, where he discussed Middle East issues with Russian President Putin.

On Thursday, Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel did not have any problems with Syrian President Bashar al Assad and would not intervene in the country if the existing agreements are upheld, according to Haaretz.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201807121066281364-netanyahu-no-problem-assad/

Suriye ordusu, Dera yakınındaki Tafas kentini ele geçirdi- Sputnik News

Suriye hükümet güçleri, Dera kenti yakınındaki Tafas kentinde kontrolü ele geçirip belediye Başkanlığı binası üzerine Suriye bayrağı astı.

Sputnik muhabirinin bölgeden aktardığına göre, Tafas'ın Suriye ordusunun kontrolüne geçmesi konusunda bugün nihai mutabakat sağlandı.

Tafas Belediye Başkanlığı binası üzerine Suriye bayrağı asılırken kent sakinleri, Suriye ordusunu büyük bir coşkuyla karşıladı.

Dera'nın 13 kilometre batısındaki Tafas'ta bulunan militanlar, Rus askerinin aracılığıyla düzenlenen barış görüşmelerini birçok kez çıkmaza sokmuştu. Yaklaşık 2 hafta önce 'Ceyş Halid bin Valid' militanları, IŞİD'e katıldıklarını duyurmuştu.

https://tr.sputniknews.com/ortadogu/201807121034260102-suriye-ordusu-dera-tafas-kenti-el-gecirdi/

Zaharova: Suriye ordusu, Ürdün sınırında kontrolü ele geçirdi- Sputnik News

Rusya Dışişleri Bakanlığı Sözcüsü Mariya Zaharova, Suriye ordusunun Ürdün sınırını kontrol altına aldığını, Dera kentinin militanlardan tamamen kurtarıldığını ve temizliğin asgari kayıpla gerçekleştiğini belirtti.

Suriye hükümet güçleri, Rusya ordusunun yardımıyla ülkenin güney bölgelerindeki terörle mücadele çalışmalarını yoğunlaştırırken Moskova'dan bölgedeki duruma ilişkin önemli bir açıklama geldi.

'OPERASYONDA SON AŞAMAYA GELDİ'

Rus Dışişleri Sözcüsü Zaharova, haftalık basın toplantısında yaptığı açıklamada, Ürdün sınırının Suriye ordusunun kontrolüne geçtiğini, Dera ve Kuneytra'nın militanlardan temizlenmesine yönelik operasyonda son aşamaya gelindiğini kaydetti.

'BEYRUT-ŞAM-AMMAN OTOBANI TRAFİĞE AÇILDI'

Zaharova, "Şu an itibarıyla Dera kenti tamamen kurtarıldı, 7 yılı aşkın süredir yasadışı silahlı grupların kontrolünde bulunan Dera idari merkezinin güney ve güneydoğu mahallelerindeki durumun normale döndürülmesi konusunda mutabakat sağlandı. Suriye ordusu, Ürdün sınırını kontrol altına alarak Beyrut-Şam-Amman otobanının trafiğe açılmasını sağladı. Suriye'nin güneybatısının teröristlerden kurtuluşu, asgari kayıpla başarıldı" ifadelerini kullandı.

https://tr.sputniknews.com/rusya/201807121034262123-zaharova-suriye-ordusu-urdun-sinirinda-kontrolu-ele-gecirdi/

Syria's Assad seeks support of tribes against US, others- Al-Monitor

As the Syrian regime, backed by Russia, is on the verge of taking control of the remaining opposition-held areas in southern Syria, Damascus is trying to mobilize Syrian tribes against foreign forces, including those of the United States, in the country's east.

Regime forces seized the Nassib crossing on the border with Jordan July 6. The next day, some 55 Arab and Kurdish tribes meeting in Aleppo declared their total support for the “Syrian Arab Army, led by President Bashar al-Assad, to confront the Turkish aggression and its supporters, namely the US, France and others.”

Back on June 2, around 70 Syrian tribal members and leaders in Deir Hafer city, in northern Aleppo province, announced they were forming a force called the Popular Tribal Resistance Units. The closing statement of that conference said pro-regime units aim to “resist the US, French and Turkish presence in eastern Syria and reject any presence or intervention of military forces of any state on Syrian soil without the government’s approval and coordination."

It added, "The Popular Tribal Resistance Units will be a real backbone for the Syrian army.”

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/07/syria-arab-tribes-us-foreign-presence-kurds.html

Strong Lebanon MP Blames Jumblat for ‘Worsening Economic Situation’- Naharnet

Following Jumblat’s remarks on reasons that inflated Lebanon’s deficit, MP George Atallah, of the Strong Lebanon parliamentary bloc, replied lashing out at Jumblat and blaming him for “squandering public funds” when the Ministry of Displaced was led by PSP ministers, the National News Agency reported on Tuesday.

“Failure to push for a solution to the crisis of refugees is considered a national disloyalty. The first economic step should begin with the closure of the Central Fund for the Displaced,” said Atallah.

“You ask about the economy Walid Beik? The (Syrian) displacement crisis led to a 5% reduction of GDP 5%, increased the cost to the economy by $18 billion and doubled the unemployment rate to 35% and raised the proportion of crime to 60%?” he added.

“The economic situation came to what it is today thanks to you and people like you. The solution begins with closing the waste of funds, primarily the displaced fund which drained the State’s finances for over three decades without achieving its goals,” he added.

On Monday, Jumblat stressed that the Turkish power ships are “the main reason behind Lebanon’s budget deficit” and not the presence of Syrian refugees.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/248335

From Palmyra to Al-Tanf: Inside Damascus' Struggle to Win Back Syrian Desert- Sputnik News

A Sputnik correspondent has received an exclusive first-hand look at the situation in the large, sparsely populated but strategically crucial desert territories in the Badia (the Syrian Steppe) following its liberation from jihadists.

Traveling from Palmyra in central Syria to the border with Iraq and the so-called 55-kilometer "security zone" around the US base at Al-Tanf in the country's south, journalist Mikhail Alaeddin surveyed the situation on the ground now that the Daesh (ISIS/ISIL)* caliphate has been smashed.

Palmyra at Peace

"On the road from the city of Homs to Palmyra I recall last year's experiences. Today, the road is paved with descent asphalt, without pits or burnt-out cars on the roadside. Last spring, the day Palmyra was freed from the terrorists, after slamming into a pit from a mortar shell, my car lost a wheel," the journalist recalled.

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201807101066221638-syria-desert-first-hand-report/

Syrian War Report – July 10, 2018: Government Forces Liberated All Border Points South Of Daraa- South Front

On July 9, units of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), assisted by the Russian Military Police, retook all militant positions on the Syrian-Jordanian border south of the city of Daraa. So, the SAA fully encircled the remaining militant positions in and near the city.

On July 10, Russian-backed negotiations between the Damascus government and militants in the area continued. However, if militant groups continue refusing to surrender, they will face military action, which they will find hard to contain.

Thus, despite hysteria in the mainstream media and multiple anti-Russian and anti-government statements by representatives of the so-called moderate opposition, they have few options and little time to decide.

The only chunk of the Jordanian-Syrian border in the province of Daraa which remains in the hands of militants is the ISIS-held area east of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The expected SAA military operation against ISIS as well as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham east of the Golan Heights is already causing concern among the Israeli leadership.

On July 9, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that his country will “respond harshly” to any attempts by the Syrian military to enter the demilitarized area in the Golan Heights.

https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-july-10-2018-government-forces-liberated-all-border-points-south-of-daraa/

ISIS Suicide Bomber Targets Syrian Army Troops In Western Daraa. Casualties Reported- South Front

On July 10, a suicide bomber from the ISIS-linked militant group Khalid ibn al-Walid targeted positions of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) at the village of Zaizoun in the western part of the province of Daraa.

According to ISIS-linked sources, about two dozens of SAA troops were killed in the incident. However, this number is clearly overestimated. Pro-government sources say that less than 10 SAA troops were killed or injured in the attack.

There is no confirmed data or photo and video evidence allowing to confirm or deny claims of the sides.

Zaizoun came under control of the SAA on July 9 after non-ISIS militants had surrendered in the area.

Khalid ibn al-Walid has increased its activity in the province of Daraa amid the ongoing SAA advance in the area. The group’s leadership clearly understands that as soon as the SAA finishes its operation to retake the city of Daraa, the SAA command will start a military operation to defeat the ISIS-linked group.

Meanwhile, reports started appearing that some members of militant groups surrendering to the SAA – their radical part – already joined Khalid ibn al-Walid to participate in the battle against pro-government forces.

https://southfront.org/isis-suicide-bomber-targets-syrian-army-troops-in-western-daraa/

Al-Rahi Meets Aoun, Says No Imminent Bassil-Geagea Meeting- Naharnet

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed Tuesday that internal unity is a priority as he rejected “bilateral alliances” and announced that Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea will not be meeting Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil anytime soon.

“What we care about is internal Lebanese unity... and all Lebanese must reconcile for the sake of their unity,” al-Rahi said after talks with President Michel Aoun in Baabda.

Rejecting “bilateral alliances,” the patriarch said “Bassil and Geagea will not meet at the moment,” while reassuring that “there are daily efforts to bring together all parties.”

Media reports had said that MP Ibrahim Kanaan of the FPM and caretaker Information Minister Melhem Riachi of the LF would soon “meet in Bkirki” in a bid to contain the growing disputes between their two parties.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/248344

Hariri'den 'ulusal çıkarlara odaklanma' çağrısı- Sputnik News

Lübnan Başbakanı Saad Hariri, yeni hükümetin kurulması için siyasi taraflara bakanlık dağılımına değil, ulusal çıkarlara odaklanmaları çağrısında bulundu.

Yeni hükümeti kurma çalışmalarını sürdüren Hariri, Meclis Başkanı Nebih Berri'yi başkent Beyrut'taki konutunda ziyaret etti.

Hariri, görüşmenin ardından yaptığı yazılı açıklamada, ülkedeki kötü ekonomik durum göz önüne alındığında mümkün olan en kısa zamanda bir hükümet kurmanın gerekliliği konusunda Berri ile uzlaştıklarını belirtti.

Hükümet kurmanın öncelikleri olduğunu, bunun için herkesin farklılıkları bir kenara koyması gerektiğine vurgu yapan Hariri, siyasi taraflara bakanlıklara değil ulusal çıkarlara odaklanmaları çağrısı yaptı.

Lübnan Cumhurbaşkanı Mişel Aun, 6 Mayıs'ta yapılan genel seçimlerin ardından Başbakan Hariri'yi 24 Mayıs'ta yeni hükümeti kurmakla görevlendirmişti. Ancak yeni hükümetin kurulması, bakanlıkların paylaşılması konusunda siyasi taraflar arasında yaşanan çekişmeler gibi pürüzler sebebiyle gecikti.

https://tr.sputniknews.com/ortadogu/201807101034227266-hariri-ulusal-cikar-cagri/

Tens of Thousands Return Home after South Syria Ceasefire Deal- Naharnet

Tens of thousands have returned to their homes in southern Syria since a ceasefire deal between regime ally Russia and rebels to end more than two weeks of deadly bombardment, a monitoring group said Sunday.

The deal was largely holding despite air strikes on two areas that killed four civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said, and although rebel evacuations under the deal were postponed.

President Bashar al-Assad's regime is determined to retake control of the key southern province of Daraa bordering Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, seven years after protests there sparked Syria's civil war.

Since June 19, a deadly regime bombardment campaign on the province had caused more than 320,000 people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations, many to the sealed border with Jordan.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/248279

Jumblat Says Power Ships to Blame for Deficit, Not Refugees- Naharnet

Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat stressed Monday that the Turkish power ships are “the main reason behind the budget deficit” and not the presence of Syrian refugees.

“Enough with the underestimation of people's intelligence by saying that the Lebanese economy could collapse due to the presence of the homeless Syrians,” Jumblat tweeted.

“Stop that cheap racist campaign. As if the collapse is needed in order to weaken Lebanon, impoverish it and keep it vulnerable without any immunity after Daraa was handed over to the (Syrian) regime,” he added.

“Put an end to the Turkish (power) ships, which are the main reason behind the budget deficit,” Jumblat went on to say.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/248311

Geagea: Maarab Agreement Has not Fallen- Naharnet

Despite political bickering between the Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement over Cabinet shares that has eventually shaken a landmark agreement between the two, LF chief Samir Geagea stressed that his party “adheres” to the agreement and will do everything that can be done to save it, An Nahar daily reported on Monday.

“I do not agree with the fall of Maarab agreement although I sense the enormity of what happened in the last four days. It is very unfortunate and reflected negatively not only on the Christian situation, but also on the country which needs efforts be put together instead of dispersing them,” Geagea told An Nahar.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/248284

Suriye, hava üssüne saldırı gerçekleştiren İsrail uçaklarından birini vurdu'- Sputnik News

Suriye hava savunma kuvvetlerinin Humus’ta yer alan Т-4 Hava Üssü’ne yapılan füze saldırısını püskürttükleri bildirildi. Saldırının ardından Suriye hava savunma sistemlerinin atılan birkaç füzeyi düşürdüğü ve İsrail uçaklarından birini vurduğu bildirildi.

Suriye resmi haber ajansı SANA’nın aktardığına göre saldırı sonucunda ölen ya da yaralanan olmadı, ancak maddi zarar meydana geldi.

SANA diğer yandan T4 Hava Üssü’ne saldırının İsrail tarafından düzenlenmiş olabileceğini açıkladı. Haberde, “İsrail’in T4 Hava Üssü’ne saldırı düzenlediği konusunda haberler geliyor” dendi.

SANA, daha sonra Humus’taki hava üssüne saldırının İsrail Hava Kuvvetleri tarafından düzenlendiğini bildirdi. Habere göre, Suriye hava savunma sistemleri, atılan birkaç füzeyi düşürdü, İsrail uçaklarından birini vurdu ve diğer uçakları Suriye hava sahasından uzaklaştırmayı başardı.

https://tr.sputniknews.com/amp/ortadogu/201807081034193196-suriye-hava-savunma-humus-fuze-saldirisi/

Syrian state media says air defenses hit Israeli plane, thwart missile strike- Reuters

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian military air defenses struck an Israeli warplane and shot down Israeli missiles targeting the T4 air base in Homs province in response to an act of “aggression” on Sunday night, Syrian state media said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said Israel does not comment on foreign reports.

Israel has grown deeply alarmed by the expanding clout of its arch enemy Iran during the seven-year war in neighboring Syria. Israel’s air force has struck scores of targets it describes as Iranian deployments or arms transfers to Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Damascus, as well as its allies Iran and Russia, blamed Israel for an April 9 air strike on the same Homs base, an attack that killed seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) members. Tehran vowed at the time to respond.

Syrian state news agency SANA said the missile attack on Sunday caused only material damage.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-airbase/syrian-state-media-air-defense-thwarts-attack-on-homs-air-base-idUSKBN1JY0WL

Syrian refugees cross border into Syria- Daily Star

BEIRUT: Two buses carrying over 40 Syrian refugees left the Masnaa border crossing Sunday to Syria, in the third of such processes recently organized by General Security.

Several refugees gathered at the crossing after the government body announced Saturday evening that it was facilitating the voluntary return of the refugees back to Syria.

The refugees boarded two buses heading to Moadamieh al-Sham in the Damascus countryside, while some other Syrian refugees crossed the border in their own cars.

The General Security said in a statement that it had secured a "voluntary return" for 42 Syrian refugees.

A source told The Daily Star that 33 other Syrian refugees departed separately in the morning and that still others had left on Saturday.

The source added that Syrian army personnel were present in the buses, but couldn't specify why, suggesting that it might have been for coordination purposes. General Security officers were also present to oversee the process. "It is possible there will be more returns soon, also to Moadamieh," the source said.

Local TV channel LBCI announced that several of those leaving were categorized as being from the opposition and certain assurances had to be given to them. The TV channel added that there was contact between the Lebanese and Syrian sides in this regard.

Josep Zapater, head of the UNHCR’s office in Lebanon's Bekaa, confirmed to The Daily Star the refugees were heading to Muadamiyat al-Sham.

“They are going to [Moadamieh], we don't have final figures. Right now they are awaiting procedures in Masnaa. It might be around 19 families,” Zapater said.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2018/Jul-01/454923-syrian-refugees-cross-border-into-syria.ashx