Major developments unfold across India and the world in today's top headlines. The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has officially called off its nationwide student protest after the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, following weeks of demonstrations over the NEET paper leak controversy and demands for education reforms. The announcement came after a joint press conference between the Government of India and CJP leaders, marking a significant political development.

Internationally, tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate as Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim responsibility for targeting Saudi Arabian oil facilities along the Red Sea coast. The latest attacks have heightened fears of a wider regional conflict, with Saudi Arabia warning of further retaliation.

Europe is battling an environmental crisis as devastating wildfires continue to rage across France and Spain. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has convened another emergency crisis meeting while authorities report that more than 250,000 people have been evacuated, including nearly 197,000 people from southwestern France. The ongoing fires have also disrupted the Tour de France, forcing organizers to shorten one of the race stages due to safety concerns.

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep concern over the situation in the Golan Heights, calling recent developments unacceptable. Syria has once again demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the UN-patrolled buffer zone, adding to growing regional tensions.


Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns, CJP Calls Off Protest | Yemen Crisis | France Fires | Middle East Crisis

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is due to meet the French and German foreign ministers on Friday, in the highest-level visit by major Western powers under the new authorities in Damascus.
Top French diplomat Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in the Syrian capital on Friday, AFP journalists said. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock joined him later, a ministry source told AFP, for talks on behalf of the European Union.
Sharaa, head of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led the offensive that toppled Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in early December.
The HTS-dominated interim authorities now face the daunting task of rebuilding state institutions, with growing calls to ensure an inclusive transition and guarantee minority rights.
Barrot, in a post on X, said: "Together, France and Germany stand alongside the Syrian people, in all their diversity."
He added that the two European powers wanted to promote a "peaceful transition".
In Damascus, he expressed hope for a "sovereign, stable and peaceful" Syria.
It was also a "hope that the aspirations of all Syrians can be realised", he added, "but it is a fragile hope".
In a statement, Baerbock said Germany wanted to help Syria become a "safe home" for all its people, and a "functioning state, with full control over its territory".
She said the visit was a "clear signal" to Damascus of the possibility for a new relationship between Syria and Germany, and Europe more broadly.
Despite "scepticism" about HTS -- which is rooted in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda and is designated a terrorist organisation by numerous governments -- Baerbock said that "we must not miss the opportunity to support the Syrian people at this important crossroads".
She also asked the new regime to avoid "acts of vengeance against groups within the population", to avoid a long delay before elections, and to avert attempts to Islamise the judicial and education systems.
"This must be our common objective," she added.
<h2>Prison visit</h2>
The two ministers also plan to visit the notorious Saydnaya prison, not far from the capital.
Saydnaya was the site of extrajudicial executions, torture and forced disappearances, and epitomised the atrocities committed against Assad's opponents.
Since his ouster, a bevy of foreign envoys have travelled to Damascus to meet with the country's new leaders.
France and Germany had both already sent lower-level delegations last month.
At the start of his visit, Barrot met with representatives of Syria's Christian communities.
Diplomatic sources said Barrot told the Christian leaders that France was committed to a pluralistic Syria with equal rights for all, including minority groups.
Syria's civil war -- which started in 2011, sparked by the Assad government's brutal repression of democracy protests -- saw Germany, France and a host of other countries shutter their diplomatic missions in Damascus.
The conflict killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions and left Syria fragmented and ravaged.
The new authorities have called for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Syria under Assad to allow for reconstruction.
Paris is due to host an international summit on Syria later this month, following a similar meeting in December in Jordan.
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

World | Sharaa, head of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led the offensive that toppled Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in early December.

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is due to meet the French and German foreign ministers on Friday, in the highest-level visit by major Western powers under the new authorities in Damascus. Top French diplomat Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in the Syrian capital on Friday, AFP journalists said. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock joined him later, a ministry source told AFP, for talks on behalf of the European Union. Sharaa, head of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led the offensive that toppled Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in early December. The HTS-dominated interim authorities now face the daunting task of rebuilding state institutions, with growing calls to ensure an inclusive transition and guarantee minority rights. Barrot, in a post on X, said: "Together, France and Germany stand alongside the Syrian people, in all their diversity." He added that the two European powers wanted to promote a "peaceful transition". In Damascus, he expressed hope for a "sovereign, stable and peaceful" Syria. It was also a "hope that the aspirations of all Syrians can be realised", he added, "but it is a fragile hope". In a statement, Baerbock said Germany wanted to help Syria become a "safe home" for all its people, and a "functioning state, with full control over its territory". She said the visit was a "clear signal" to Damascus of the possibility for a new relationship between Syria and Germany, and Europe more broadly. Despite "scepticism" about HTS -- which is rooted in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda and is designated a terrorist organisation by numerous governments -- Baerbock said that "we must not miss the opportunity to support the Syrian people at this important crossroads". She also asked the new regime to avoid "acts of vengeance against groups within the population", to avoid a long delay before elections, and to avert attempts to Islamise the judicial and education systems. "This must be our common objective," she added. Prison visit The two ministers also plan to visit the notorious Saydnaya prison, not far from the capital. Saydnaya was the site of extrajudicial executions, torture and forced disappearances, and epitomised the atrocities committed against Assad's opponents. Since his ouster, a bevy of foreign envoys have travelled to Damascus to meet with the country's new leaders. France and Germany had both already sent lower-level delegations last month. At the start of his visit, Barrot met with representatives of Syria's Christian communities. Diplomatic sources said Barrot told the Christian leaders that France was committed to a pluralistic Syria with equal rights for all, including minority groups. Syria's civil war -- which started in 2011, sparked by the Assad government's brutal repression of democracy protests -- saw Germany, France and a host of other countries shutter their diplomatic missions in Damascus. The conflict killed more than 500,000 people, displaced millions and left Syria fragmented and ravaged. The new authorities have called for the lifting of sanctions imposed on Syria under Assad to allow for reconstruction. Paris is due to host an international summit on Syria later this month, following a similar meeting in December in Jordan. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

European diplomats visit Syria for talks with de facto leader Sharaa

Damascus
Iran's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that its embassy in Syrian would reopen once the "necessary conditions" are met, after the diplomatic mission was vandalised following the ouster of Tehran ally Bashar al-Assad.
"The reopening of the embassy in Damascus requires preparations, the most important of which is ensuring the security and safety of the embassy and its staff," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.
He added that work to that end will be pursued "as soon as the necessary conditions are provided", without offering a specific timeline.
The Iranian embassy in Damascus was ransacked after diplomats abandoned it as rebel forces seized the capital and ousted Assad.
Iran had supported Assad throughout Syria's civil war, which began in 2011.
Since his fall, Iran has sought to distance itself from the deposed leader, instead emphasising the history of friendship between the two countries.
Also read: <a data-ved="2ahUKEwjg0Kjg1K6KAxWlg2MGHW0PFgYQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-israel-strikes-syria-overnight-as-rebel-leader-warns-of-unwarranted-escalation-784154" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-israel-strikes-syria-overnight-as-rebel-leader-warns-of-unwarranted-escalation-784154&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjg0Kjg1K6KAxWlg2MGHW0PFgYQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE">West Asia crisis: Israel strikes Syria overnight, rebel leader warns of `unwarranted escalation`</a>
Baqaei said on Tuesday that Iran's "advisory" presence in Syria was "at the invitation of the government".
"We were never in Syria to support a specific person, group or party," he said.
"Our presence in Syria was fundamental and principled, and our withdrawal was responsible."
Baqaei also said that Iran's rival Israel, which has conducted hundreds of air strikes in Syria since Assad's fall and sent troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone, "severely violated Syria's territorial integrity".
Watch: Syria: Islamic State Planning Mass Prison Break?
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On Monday, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said Russia and Iran "should not have a place" in war-torn Syria now that Assad is gone.
Baqaei slammed the remarks as a "joke," adding that the era of foreign powers "trying to dictate (policies) on another region is over."
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The Iranian embassy in Damascus was ransacked after diplomats abandoned it as rebel forces seized the capital and ousted Assad.



Damascus Iran's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that its embassy in Syrian would reopen once the "necessary conditions" are met, after the diplomatic mission was vandalised following the ouster of Tehran ally Bashar al-Assad. "The reopening of the embassy in Damascus requires preparations, the most important of which is ensuring the security and safety of the embassy and its staff," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei. He added that work to that end will be pursued "as soon as the necessary conditions are provided", without offering a specific timeline. The Iranian embassy in Damascus was ransacked after diplomats abandoned it as rebel forces seized the capital and ousted Assad. Iran had supported Assad throughout Syria's civil war, which began in 2011. Since his fall, Iran has sought to distance itself from the deposed leader, instead emphasising the history of friendship between the two countries. Also read: West Asia crisis: Israel strikes Syria overnight, rebel leader warns of `unwarranted escalation` Baqaei said on Tuesday that Iran's "advisory" presence in Syria was "at the invitation of the government". "We were never in Syria to support a specific person, group or party," he said. "Our presence in Syria was fundamental and principled, and our withdrawal was responsible." Baqaei also said that Iran's rival Israel, which has conducted hundreds of air strikes in Syria since Assad's fall and sent troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone, "severely violated Syria's territorial integrity". Watch: Syria: Islamic State Planning Mass Prison Break? × On Monday, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said Russia and Iran "should not have a place" in war-torn Syria now that Assad is gone. Baqaei slammed the remarks as a "joke," adding that the era of foreign powers "trying to dictate (policies) on another region is over." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Syria crisis: Iran 'awaiting necessary conditions' to reopen embassy

Iran's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that its embassy in Syrian would reopen once the "necessary conditions" are met, after the diplomatic mission was vandalised following the ouster of Tehran ally Bashar al-Assad.

"The reopening of the embassy in Damascus requires preparations, the most important of which is ensuring the security and safety of the embassy and its staff," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.

He added that work to that end will be pursued "as soon as the necessary conditions are provided", without offering a specific timeline.

The Iranian embassy in Damascus was ransacked after diplomats abandoned it as rebel forces seized the capital and ousted Assad.

Iran had supported Assad throughout Syria's civil war, which began in 2011.

Since his fall, Iran has sought to distance itself from the deposed leader, instead emphasising the history of friendship between the two countries.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjg0Kjg1K6KAxWlg2MGHW0PFgYQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-israel-strikes-syria-overnight-as-rebel-leader-warns-of-unwarranted-escalation-784154" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/west-asia-crisis-israel-strikes-syria-overnight-as-rebel-leader-warns-of-unwarranted-escalation-784154&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjg0Kjg1K6KAxWlg2MGHW0PFgYQxfQBKAB6BAgMEAE">West Asia crisis: Israel strikes Syria overnight, rebel leader warns of `unwarranted escalation`</a>

Baqaei said on Tuesday that Iran's "advisory" presence in Syria was "at the invitation of the government".

"We were never in Syria to support a specific person, group or party," he said.

"Our presence in Syria was fundamental and principled, and our withdrawal was responsible."

Baqaei also said that Iran's rival Israel, which has conducted hundreds of air strikes in Syria since Assad's fall and sent troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone, "severely violated Syria's territorial integrity".

Watch:&nbsp;Syria: Islamic State Planning Mass Prison Break?

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On Monday, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said Russia and Iran "should not have a place" in war-torn Syria now that Assad is gone.

Baqaei slammed the remarks as a "joke," adding that the era of foreign powers "trying to dictate (policies) on another region&nbsp;is&nbsp;over."

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Iran's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that its embassy in Syrian would reopen once the "necessary conditions" are met, after the diplomatic mission was vandalised following the ouster of Tehran ally Bashar al-Assad.

Iran's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that its embassy in Syrian would reopen once the "necessary conditions" are met, after the diplomatic mission was vandalised following the ouster of Tehran ally Bashar al-Assad. "The reopening of the embassy in Damascus requires preparations, the most important of which is ensuring the security and safety of the embassy and its staff," said foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei. He added that work to that end will be pursued "as soon as the necessary conditions are provided", without offering a specific timeline. The Iranian embassy in Damascus was ransacked after diplomats abandoned it as rebel forces seized the capital and ousted Assad. Iran had supported Assad throughout Syria's civil war, which began in 2011. Since his fall, Iran has sought to distance itself from the deposed leader, instead emphasising the history of friendship between the two countries. Also read: West Asia crisis: Israel strikes Syria overnight, rebel leader warns of `unwarranted escalation` Baqaei said on Tuesday that Iran's "advisory" presence in Syria was "at the invitation of the government". "We were never in Syria to support a specific person, group or party," he said. "Our presence in Syria was fundamental and principled, and our withdrawal was responsible." Baqaei also said that Iran's rival Israel, which has conducted hundreds of air strikes in Syria since Assad's fall and sent troops into a UN-patrolled buffer zone, "severely violated Syria's territorial integrity". Watch: Syria: Islamic State Planning Mass Prison Break? × On Monday, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said Russia and Iran "should not have a place" in war-torn Syria now that Assad is gone. Baqaei slammed the remarks as a "joke," adding that the era of foreign powers "trying to dictate (policies) on another region is over." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Amid Syria's civil war that resulted in the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, Germany has suspended its decisions on asylum requests from Syrians on Monday, December 9, the interior minister said.

Germany is home to Europe’s largest diaspora from the country after taking in nearly one million Syrians during 2015-16 under former chancellor Angela Merkel.

“The end of the brutal tyranny of the Syrian dictator Assad is a great relief for many people who have suffered from torture, murder and terror,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said in a statement.

However, “the situation in Syria is currently very unclear,” she cautioned.&nbsp;

The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has paused the decisions for asylum procedures that are ongoing until the situation becomes clearer.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-conflict-us-nsa-sullivan-to-visit-israel-for-talks-on-syria-as-rebels-take-over-updates-782755">Syrian conflict: US NSA Sullivan to visit Israel for talks on Syria as rebels take over- Updates</a>

According to the interior ministry, 974,136 Syrian nationals were living in Germany. While 5,090 of these were acknowledged as eligible for asylum, 321,444 were granted the status of refugee, and 329,242 were given subsidiary protection, a temporary stay of deportation. Tens of thousands of other cases remain pending.

<h2>EU 'not currently engaging' with Syrian rebels</h2>

The European Union said on Monday&nbsp;that it is not in contact with the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which overthrew the rule of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. The EU has also urged for a peaceful political transition in the country.

Although HTS broke ties with Al-Qaeda in 2016, the group and its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, remain under EU sanctions.

“The European Union is not currently engaging with HTS or its leaders, full stop,” EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni said.&nbsp;

“As HTS takes on greater responsibilities, we will need to assess not just their words but also their actions.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-are-the-alawites-assads-community-who-dominated-syria-despite-being-a-minority-782702">Who are the Alawites, Assad's community, who dominated Syria despite being a minority</a>

<h2>UK will 'quickly' decide on terror status of HTS&nbsp;</h2>

The UK will “quickly” decide whether to remove the Islamist group HTS from the list of terrorist organisations, Pat McFadden, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations of the United Kingdom, said on Monday, December 9.

The group is classified as a terror group in the UK and the United States.

“If the situation stabilises, there'll be a decision to make about how to deal with whatever new regime is in place there,” he told BBC Radio 4.

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Amid Syria's civil war that resulted in the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, Germany has suspended its decisions on asylum requests from Syrians on Monday, December 9, the interior minister said.

Amid Syria's civil war that resulted in the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad, Germany has suspended its decisions on asylum requests from Syrians on Monday, December 9, the interior minister said. Germany is home to Europe’s largest diaspora from the country after taking in nearly one million Syrians during 2015-16 under former chancellor Angela Merkel. “The end of the brutal tyranny of the Syrian dictator Assad is a great relief for many people who have suffered from torture, murder and terror,” Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said in a statement. However, “the situation in Syria is currently very unclear,” she cautioned. The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees has paused the decisions for asylum procedures that are ongoing until the situation becomes clearer. Also read | Syrian conflict: US NSA Sullivan to visit Israel for talks on Syria as rebels take over- Updates According to the interior ministry, 974,136 Syrian nationals were living in Germany. While 5,090 of these were acknowledged as eligible for asylum, 321,444 were granted the status of refugee, and 329,242 were given subsidiary protection, a temporary stay of deportation. Tens of thousands of other cases remain pending. EU 'not currently engaging' with Syrian rebels The European Union said on Monday that it is not in contact with the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which overthrew the rule of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. The EU has also urged for a peaceful political transition in the country. Although HTS broke ties with Al-Qaeda in 2016, the group and its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, remain under EU sanctions. “The European Union is not currently engaging with HTS or its leaders, full stop,” EU spokesman Anouar El Anouni said. “As HTS takes on greater responsibilities, we will need to assess not just their words but also their actions.” Also read | Who are the Alawites, Assad's community, who dominated Syria despite being a minority UK will 'quickly' decide on terror status of HTS The UK will “quickly” decide whether to remove the Islamist group HTS from the list of terrorist organisations, Pat McFadden, Minister for Intergovernmental Relations of the United Kingdom, said on Monday, December 9. The group is classified as a terror group in the UK and the United States. “If the situation stabilises, there'll be a decision to make about how to deal with whatever new regime is in place there,” he told BBC Radio 4. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Germany freezes Syrian asylum decisions; EU not engaging with rebel group HTS after Assad ouster

Syria is back in the spotlight after the European Union highlighted Syria's plight at a Brussels conference. Our next report is all about the meeting and why it's crucial for Syria.

Syrian refugees fear abandonment

In Syria, after more than a decade of civil war, the narcotics business had taken place to thrive in the country already struggling. The Captagon drug has turned Syria into the world's latest narco state. Watch this video to know more.

How Captagon is turning Syria into a 'narco-state'?

In 2021, about 60 million people were internally displaced around the world

At least 11 people were killed late Tuesday in an attack on a village in eastern Iraq blamed on the Islamic State group, security sources said.

The attack on Al-Rashad in Diyala province left "11 dead and 13 wounded", a local security source said.

Another said that civilians were among those killed by small arms fire in the village, home to many members of the security services.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/car-bomb-kills-six-in-syrias-afrin-monitor-419945">Car bomb kills six in Syria's Afrin: Monitor</a>

The area has been sealed off and reinforcements sent to hunt for the attackers, the first source said.

Both sources said most of the village's inhabitants belong to the same Bani Tamim tribe as the Diyala provincial governor.

IS surged to control large swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014, but its "caliphate" later crumbled under successive attacks.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hardship-of-life-heartbreaking-photo-of-syrian-father-son-wins-sipa-awards-2021-423996">'Hardship of Life': Heartbreaking photo of Syrian father &amp; son wins SIPA awards 2021</a>

Iraq declared it defeated in 2017 and the group was smashed in neighbouring Syria in 2019.

But the jihadist threat remains and the group continues to carry out attacks.

A UN report published early this year estimated that around 10,000 IS fighters remained active across Iraq and Syria.

In early September, 13 Iraqi federal police officers were killed in an IS attack on their checkpoint near northern city Kirkuk.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-syria-terrorists-actively-entering-afghanistan-vladimir-putin-420560">Iraq, Syria terrorists actively entering Afghanistan: Vladimir Putin</a>

In July, the group claimed responsibility for an attack on a market in a Shiite district of Baghdad, Sadr City, in which around 30 people died.

Earlier this month, authorities announced two significant arrests outside Iraq: of the planner of a 2016 IS-claimed attack that killed 320 in Baghdad, and of IS's suspected finance chief, Sami Jasim al-Jaburi.

At least 11 people were killed late Tuesday in an attack on a village in eastern Iraq blamed on the Islamic State group, security sources said. The attack on Al-Rashad in Diyala province left "11 dead and 13 wounded", a local security source said.

At least 11 people were killed late Tuesday in an attack on a village in eastern Iraq blamed on the Islamic State group, security sources said. The attack on Al-Rashad in Diyala province left "11 dead and 13 wounded", a local security source said. Another said that civilians were among those killed by small arms fire in the village, home to many members of the security services. Also Read | Car bomb kills six in Syria's Afrin: Monitor The area has been sealed off and reinforcements sent to hunt for the attackers, the first source said. Both sources said most of the village's inhabitants belong to the same Bani Tamim tribe as the Diyala provincial governor. IS surged to control large swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014, but its "caliphate" later crumbled under successive attacks. Also read | 'Hardship of Life': Heartbreaking photo of Syrian father & son wins SIPA awards 2021 Iraq declared it defeated in 2017 and the group was smashed in neighbouring Syria in 2019. But the jihadist threat remains and the group continues to carry out attacks. A UN report published early this year estimated that around 10,000 IS fighters remained active across Iraq and Syria. In early September, 13 Iraqi federal police officers were killed in an IS attack on their checkpoint near northern city Kirkuk. Also Read | Iraq, Syria terrorists actively entering Afghanistan: Vladimir Putin In July, the group claimed responsibility for an attack on a market in a Shiite district of Baghdad, Sadr City, in which around 30 people died. Earlier this month, authorities announced two significant arrests outside Iraq: of the planner of a 2016 IS-claimed attack that killed 320 in Baghdad, and of IS's suspected finance chief, Sami Jasim al-Jaburi.

11 dead in Iraq attack blamed on IS group: Security sources

Eight children under the age of five years have died within days in a camp in northeastern Syria, where thousands of relatives of jihadists are staying, the Save the Children charity on Thursday said.

"The spike in under-five mortality was recorded between 6-10 August and is more than three times higher than the mortality rate since the beginning of 2020," a statement said, as quoted by news agency AFP.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hits-squad-that-placed-explosives-along-syria-frontier-army-says-317789">Israel hits squad that placed explosives along Syria frontier, army says</a>

It said that health and nutrition services have fallen sharply in the Kurdish-run Al-Hol camp, where tens of thousands of people, including the kin of Islamic State, reside.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-jets-flying-near-iranian-passenger-plane-over-syria-airspace-sparks-panic-315863#:~:text=Two%20US%20jets%20flew%20dangerously,board%2C%20Iranian%20authorities%20said%20Friday.">Panic as US jets fly near Iran passenger plane over Syria</a>

The camp is run by the autonomous Kurdish administration that rules most of northeastern Syria.

It has confirmed 171 novel coronavirus cases, including eight deaths.&nbsp;

Medical support has taken a big hit after UN Security Council in January scrapped a key border crossing used for delivering medical aid for residents.&nbsp;

"We are seeing a collective failure at all levels to protect children," said Save the Children Syria Response Director Sonia Khush.&nbsp;

Sonia also blamed the UN Security Council for the "ongoing failure", adding that it causing "unforgivable delays in services."

The charity said heart failure, internal bleeding and severe malnutrition were the causes of child deaths in August, which could have been avoided if they were treated in operational field hospitals, which were reduced by 40 per cent because of border crossing restrictions.&nbsp;

The delay in health services, along with the ongoing coronavirus situation has created a massive medical void in this overcrowded camp.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Eight children under the age of five years have died within days in a camp in northeastern Syria, where thousands of relatives of jihadists are staying, the Save the Children charity on Thursday said.

Eight children under the age of five years have died within days in a camp in northeastern Syria, where thousands of relatives of jihadists are staying, the Save the Children charity on Thursday said. "The spike in under-five mortality was recorded between 6-10 August and is more than three times higher than the mortality rate since the beginning of 2020," a statement said, as quoted by news agency AFP. Also read | Israel hits squad that placed explosives along Syria frontier, army says It said that health and nutrition services have fallen sharply in the Kurdish-run Al-Hol camp, where tens of thousands of people, including the kin of Islamic State, reside. Also read | Panic as US jets fly near Iran passenger plane over Syria The camp is run by the autonomous Kurdish administration that rules most of northeastern Syria. It has confirmed 171 novel coronavirus cases, including eight deaths. Medical support has taken a big hit after UN Security Council in January scrapped a key border crossing used for delivering medical aid for residents. "We are seeing a collective failure at all levels to protect children," said Save the Children Syria Response Director Sonia Khush. Sonia also blamed the UN Security Council for the "ongoing failure", adding that it causing "unforgivable delays in services." The charity said heart failure, internal bleeding and severe malnutrition were the causes of child deaths in August, which could have been avoided if they were treated in operational field hospitals, which were reduced by 40 per cent because of border crossing restrictions. The delay in health services, along with the ongoing coronavirus situation has created a massive medical void in this overcrowded camp.

Syria: Alarming rise in child deaths at northeastern camp

Reports have emerged of&nbsp;up to 50 Pakistani fighters having been killed in military action in Syria.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stop-migrants-crossing-in-aegean-sea-erdogan-to-turkey-coastguard-284932">Also Read:&nbsp;Stop migrants crossing in Aegean Sea, says Erdogan to Turkey coastguard</a>

Although Pakistan has refused to comment,&nbsp;reports of photographs of the funeral of the Pakistani troops taking place on March 2 in the city of Qom has emerged recently.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/reports-51-pakistani-mercenaries-killed-in-idlib-no-response-by-pak-foreign-office-yet-284960/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The fighting has escalated dramatically in recent days in Idlib in northwest Syria, where Turkey has sent thousands of troops and military vehicles in the last month to counter Syrian government forces’ advances in the last remaining bastion held by rebels.&nbsp;

On the opposite side in Syria’s nine-year conflict is Russia, which supports President Bashar Assad and has also carried out airstrikes in recent days.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-russia-have-agreed-on-syria-ceasefire-from-midnight-president-erdogan-284594">Also Read: Turkey, Russia agree on Syria ceasefire</a>

On Thursday, Turkey and Russia had agreed to a cease-fire deal after talks in Moscow to contain a conflict that has displaced nearly a million people in three months.

Pakistani mercenaries are reportedly aiding Turkey in their operations. However, Pakistan’s foreign ministry did not respond to the reports.

In fact, a few weeks ago, Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had denied having any knowledge of Pakistani nationals fighting on Syrian soil.

The Pakistan foreign minister while answering a question to WION's Islamabad Bureau Chief Anas Mallick, Qureshi had said reports of Pakistanis fighting in the Syrian war were inauthentic.

Reports have emerged of up to 50 Pakistani fighters having been killed in military action in Syria. Also Read: Stop migrants crossing in Aegean Sea, says Erdogan to Turkey coastguard Although Pakistan has refused to comment, reports of photographs of the funeral of the Pakistani troops taking place on March 2 in the city of Qom has emerged recently.

Reports have emerged of up to 50 Pakistani fighters having been killed in military action in Syria. Also Read: Stop migrants crossing in Aegean Sea, says Erdogan to Turkey coastguard Although Pakistan has refused to comment, reports of photographs of the funeral of the Pakistani troops taking place on March 2 in the city of Qom has emerged recently. Watch Video: The fighting has escalated dramatically in recent days in Idlib in northwest Syria, where Turkey has sent thousands of troops and military vehicles in the last month to counter Syrian government forces’ advances in the last remaining bastion held by rebels. On the opposite side in Syria’s nine-year conflict is Russia, which supports President Bashar Assad and has also carried out airstrikes in recent days. Also Read: Turkey, Russia agree on Syria ceasefire On Thursday, Turkey and Russia had agreed to a cease-fire deal after talks in Moscow to contain a conflict that has displaced nearly a million people in three months. Pakistani mercenaries are reportedly aiding Turkey in their operations. However, Pakistan’s foreign ministry did not respond to the reports. In fact, a few weeks ago, Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had denied having any knowledge of Pakistani nationals fighting on Syrian soil. The Pakistan foreign minister while answering a question to WION's Islamabad Bureau Chief Anas Mallick, Qureshi had said reports of Pakistanis fighting in the Syrian war were inauthentic.

Reports of Pakistani fighters killed in Idlib; no response from Imran govt

WION Global Summit: Climate change is changing our economy, says Greenland's first female Prime Minister

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Syrian air defence responded to Israeli missiles targeting the south and centre of the country, state media said. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-air-defence-responds-to-israeli-missiles-report-284433">Read More</a>

US Supreme Court hears case that could set future of abortion

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Former United Nations chief Javier Perez de Cuellar dead at 100

Former UN chief Javier Perez de Cuellar, who was known for his peace-making efforts including brokering a ceasefire in the Iran-Iraq war, died on Wednesday in his native Peru, aged 100. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-united-nations-chief-javier-perez-de-cuellar-dead-at-100-284393">Read More</a>

China coronavirus infections spike in central city of Wuhan

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Greece blocks 35,000 migrants, plans to deport arrivals after March 1

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Amid coronavirus concerns, Chinese robotic arm can help save lives

Researchers at one of China's top universities have designed a robot they say could help save lives&nbsp;during the coronavirus outbreak. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-coronavirus-concerns-chinese-robotic-arm-can-help-save-lives-284534">Read More</a>

Sri Lanka seizes record drugs haul at sea

Two foreign trawlers packed with over $33 million worth of heroin and crystal methamphetamine were seized in Sri Lanka's biggest-ever drugs bust at sea, a navy spokesman said. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-seizes-record-drugs-haul-at-sea-284553">Read More</a>

ICC Women's T20 World Cup: India progress to finals after semifinal match gets abandoned

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WION Global Summit: Climate change is changing our economy, says Greenland's first female Prime Minister Greenland's first female prime minister Aleqa Hammond on Thursday expressed concerns over climate change at WION Global Summit 2020 and underlined its impact on the country's economy.

WION Global Summit: Climate change is changing our economy, says Greenland's first female Prime Minister Greenland's first female prime minister Aleqa Hammond on Thursday expressed concerns over climate change at WION Global Summit 2020 and underlined its impact on the country's economy. Read More World's largest rainforest losing ability to absorb carbon: Study A new study has revealed that the trees in the world's largest rainforest are losing their ability to absorb carbon. Read More Syrian air defence responds to 'Israeli missiles': Report Syrian air defence responded to Israeli missiles targeting the south and centre of the country, state media said. Read More US Supreme Court hears case that could set future of abortion The US Supreme Court heard arguments in a major abortion case for the first time since President Donald Trump appointed two new conservative justices with the future of the procedure potentially at stake. Read More Former United Nations chief Javier Perez de Cuellar dead at 100 Former UN chief Javier Perez de Cuellar, who was known for his peace-making efforts including brokering a ceasefire in the Iran-Iraq war, died on Wednesday in his native Peru, aged 100. Read More China coronavirus infections spike in central city of Wuhan Mainland China reported a rise in new confirmed cases of coronavirus on Thursday, reversing three straight days of declines, because of a spike in new infections in Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak. Read More Greece blocks 35,000 migrants, plans to deport arrivals after March 1 Greece has repulsed nearly 35,000 migrants trying to cross onto its territory illegally since Turkey opened its border nearly a week ago, government sources said on Thursday, as it prepares to deport hundreds of others who made it through. Read More Amid coronavirus concerns, Chinese robotic arm can help save lives Researchers at one of China's top universities have designed a robot they say could help save lives during the coronavirus outbreak. Read More Sri Lanka seizes record drugs haul at sea Two foreign trawlers packed with over $33 million worth of heroin and crystal methamphetamine were seized in Sri Lanka's biggest-ever drugs bust at sea, a navy spokesman said. Read More ICC Women's T20 World Cup: India progress to finals after semifinal match gets abandoned India's women cricket team progressed into the finals after their semifinal clash with England was abandoned. Read More

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To help her daughter cope with Syria's long-running war trauma, a Syrian father has turned the experience of airstrikes and shelling into a game.

The father Abdullah al-Muhammad who is a video journalist by profession taught her three-year-old a bittersweet game in which both laugh at the sound of shelling in Idlib.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkeys-erdogan-says-syria-talks-with-russia-unsatisfactory-offensive-matter-of-time-281591">Turkey's Erdogan says Syria talks with Russia unsatisfactory, offensive 'matter of time'</a>

The video, posted by Muhammad on social media this week, shows him and his three-year-old daughter Salwa laughing adorably as an explosion is heard outside their home.

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The video evoked emotional response from viewers&nbsp;as it got viral. Several called for an end to violence in the region after seeing the video.

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This is Selva and her father Abdullah. 
 
Abdullah created a game for his 4 year old daughter so that Selva is not scared when bombs explode. 
 
They laugh together at the explosion. 
 
This is life in Syria and it breaks my heart.<a href="https://t.co/t7CB2M0ooZ">pic.twitter.com/t7CB2M0ooZ</a>
— Travis Akers (He/Him/His) (@travisakers) <a href="https://twitter.com/travisakers/status/1230100668666568705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Syrian father helps daughter cope with the sounds of war. 
The girl has to laugh as she hears the explosion. 
 
Mohammad: "Does it make you laugh?" 
Salwa: "Yes it is funny." 
 
But more tragic 😢 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Syria?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Syria</a> <a href="https://t.co/Og4yZiZIBt">pic.twitter.com/Og4yZiZIBt</a>
— Sapna Madan ❄️Care4Animals❄️ (@sapnamadan) <a href="https://twitter.com/sapnamadan/status/1230010555663974403?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Talking about this "game", Muhammad told Reuters that when he moved from Sarmada district to Idlib, Salwa would become startled when she would hear the sound of a bombing near their home. After which he asked nearby children to light a firecracker to show Salwa that the noise is just for fun.

"They started laughing, and she started laughing and saw that the thing is just a game," Muhammad said, adding, "Two days later the air force hit, and I immediately told her not to fear, it's just kids detonating fire-crackers."

"I turn the matter into a game so that she won't be afraid, " said.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/air-strikes-hit-hospitals-camps-in-northwest-syria-300-civilian-casualties-281561">Air strikes hit hospitals, camps in northwest Syria; 300 civilian casualties</a>

Since then, Mohammad has continued using the same method to keep her daughter away from the trauma of Syria's nine-year-old war. The technique seems to have worked for Muhammad and his daughter.

"It's not scary, it's funny," Salwa said in the video.

Syrian troops supported by Russian warplanes have been advancing since December against the last rebel bastions in Idlib and Aleppo provinces in what could be one of the final chapters of the nine-year-old civil war.

Several studies have proved that children in Syria suffer a severe form of psychological trauma that can cause life-long damage due to the unending war in the region.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

To help her daughter cope with Syria's long-running war trauma, a Syrian father has turned the experience of airstrikes and shelling into a game. The father Abdullah al-Muhammad who is a video journalist by profession taught her three-year-old a bittersweet game in which both laugh at the sound of shelling in Idlib.

To help her daughter cope with Syria's long-running war trauma, a Syrian father has turned the experience of airstrikes and shelling into a game. The father Abdullah al-Muhammad who is a video journalist by profession taught her three-year-old a bittersweet game in which both laugh at the sound of shelling in Idlib. Also read: Turkey's Erdogan says Syria talks with Russia unsatisfactory, offensive 'matter of time' The video, posted by Muhammad on social media this week, shows him and his three-year-old daughter Salwa laughing adorably as an explosion is heard outside their home. × The video evoked emotional response from viewers as it got viral. Several called for an end to violence in the region after seeing the video. This is Selva and her father Abdullah. Abdullah created a game for his 4 year old daughter so that Selva is not scared when bombs explode. They laugh together at the explosion. This is life in Syria and it breaks my heart.pic.twitter.com/t7CB2M0ooZ — Travis Akers (He/Him/His) (@travisakers) February 19, 2020 × Syrian father helps daughter cope with the sounds of war. The girl has to laugh as she hears the explosion. Mohammad: "Does it make you laugh?" Salwa: "Yes it is funny." But more tragic 😢 #Syria pic.twitter.com/Og4yZiZIBt — Sapna Madan ❄️Care4Animals❄️ (@sapnamadan) February 19, 2020 × Talking about this "game", Muhammad told Reuters that when he moved from Sarmada district to Idlib, Salwa would become startled when she would hear the sound of a bombing near their home. After which he asked nearby children to light a firecracker to show Salwa that the noise is just for fun. "They started laughing, and she started laughing and saw that the thing is just a game," Muhammad said, adding, "Two days later the air force hit, and I immediately told her not to fear, it's just kids detonating fire-crackers." "I turn the matter into a game so that she won't be afraid, " said. Also read: Air strikes hit hospitals, camps in northwest Syria; 300 civilian casualties Since then, Mohammad has continued using the same method to keep her daughter away from the trauma of Syria's nine-year-old war. The technique seems to have worked for Muhammad and his daughter. "It's not scary, it's funny," Salwa said in the video. Syrian troops supported by Russian warplanes have been advancing since December against the last rebel bastions in Idlib and Aleppo provinces in what could be one of the final chapters of the nine-year-old civil war. Several studies have proved that children in Syria suffer a severe form of psychological trauma that can cause life-long damage due to the unending war in the region.

Watch: To cope with war trauma, Syrian father and daughter turn bombing sounds into rosy game

Syrian rebels shot down a government helicopter west of Aleppo in Syria's northwestern Idlib region, where violence and displacement has spiked in recent weeks, Turkish and Syrian state media reported on February 14.

Syrian helicopter downed by Turkey-backed rebels

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/croatia-votes-for-president-set-to-lead-european-union-269511">European Union</a> called on Syria's regime and its allies to halt "indiscriminate" military attacks on civilians in the country's north-west, where an intensifying bombardment by Damascus and Russian forces has displaced tens of thousands.

Civilians have streamed out of affected areas of jihadist-dominated Idlib province in recent weeks to escape heightened attacks on the southern edge of the final major opposition-held pocket of Syria, eight years into the country's devastating war.

"The escalation of violence in the Northwest of Syria by the Syrian regime and its allies must cease," the EU said in a statement by a spokesperson for European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell, which said airstrikes and shelling had led to "countless civilian deaths".

"All parties have the obligation to protect civilians. The regime and its allies must cease indiscriminate military attacks and respect international humanitarian law," the statement said.

Violence has intensified since mid-December despite an August ceasefire deal and international calls for a de-escalation.

More than <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-235000-flee-northwest-syria-flare-up-united-nation-270586">235,000 people fled</a> the area between December 12 and 25, mostly from the beleaguered city of Maaret al-Numan, according to the United Nations' humanitarian coordination agency OCHA.

The EU called for urgent unhindered humanitarian access to the three million civilians thought to be living in Idlib province.&nbsp;

It acknowledged that "terrorist groups" were operating in the region, but stressed that combating these networks "does not permit the undermining of international humanitarian law or the targeting of civilians".

The Idlib region is dominated by the country's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.&nbsp;

Residents in the province mainly depend on critical cross-border aid, which came under threat in December after Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended such deliveries for a year.&nbsp;

The move raised fears that vital UN-funded aid could stop entering Idlib from January unless an alternative agreement is reached.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-235000-flee-northwest-syria-flare-up-united-nation-270586">Damascus regime</a>, which now controls 70 per cent of Syria, has repeatedly vowed to take back the region.&nbsp;

Backed by Moscow, Damascus launched a blistering offensive against Idlib in April, killing around 1,000 civilians and displacing more than 400,000 people.

Syria's war has killed over 370,000 people and displaced millions since beginning in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

The European Union called on Syria's regime and its allies to halt "indiscriminate" military attacks on civilians in the country's north-west, where an intensifying bombardment by Damascus and Russian forces has displaced tens of thousands.

The European Union called on Syria's regime and its allies to halt "indiscriminate" military attacks on civilians in the country's north-west, where an intensifying bombardment by Damascus and Russian forces has displaced tens of thousands. Civilians have streamed out of affected areas of jihadist-dominated Idlib province in recent weeks to escape heightened attacks on the southern edge of the final major opposition-held pocket of Syria, eight years into the country's devastating war. "The escalation of violence in the Northwest of Syria by the Syrian regime and its allies must cease," the EU said in a statement by a spokesperson for European Foreign Minister Josep Borrell, which said airstrikes and shelling had led to "countless civilian deaths". "All parties have the obligation to protect civilians. The regime and its allies must cease indiscriminate military attacks and respect international humanitarian law," the statement said. Violence has intensified since mid-December despite an August ceasefire deal and international calls for a de-escalation. More than 235,000 people fled the area between December 12 and 25, mostly from the beleaguered city of Maaret al-Numan, according to the United Nations' humanitarian coordination agency OCHA. The EU called for urgent unhindered humanitarian access to the three million civilians thought to be living in Idlib province. It acknowledged that "terrorist groups" were operating in the region, but stressed that combating these networks "does not permit the undermining of international humanitarian law or the targeting of civilians". The Idlib region is dominated by the country's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Residents in the province mainly depend on critical cross-border aid, which came under threat in December after Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended such deliveries for a year. The move raised fears that vital UN-funded aid could stop entering Idlib from January unless an alternative agreement is reached. The Damascus regime, which now controls 70 per cent of Syria, has repeatedly vowed to take back the region. Backed by Moscow, Damascus launched a blistering offensive against Idlib in April, killing around 1,000 civilians and displacing more than 400,000 people. Syria's war has killed over 370,000 people and displaced millions since beginning in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

Syria regime must halt 'escalation of violence': European Union

Turkey will not withdraw from its observation posts in the Syrian rebel bastion province of Idlib which has seen an increase in violence carried out by regime forces supported by Russian airstrikes, the defence minister said.&nbsp;

The posts were established under a September 2018 deal between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-235000-flee-northwest-syria-flare-up-united-nation-270586">Syrian regime</a> ally Moscow and Ankara, which backs the rebels, to avert an all-out Syrian government onslaught in Idlib.

President Bashar al-Assad's forces surrounded one of 12 Turkish observation posts in Idlib province on Monday after overrunning nearby areas in a push to take the last opposition holdout, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.&nbsp;

"We respect the agreement reached with Russia and we expect Russia to abide by this agreement," Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in comments published on Sunday on the defence ministry's Twitter account.

"We will by no means empty those 12 observation posts, we will not leave there," Akar said.

His comments came during a visit, together with top army commanders, to the southern province of Hatay on the Syrian border to inspect Turkish troops on Saturday.

Turkey, worried over a new wave of refugees from the Idlib region, is pressing for a fresh ceasefire deal, as it sent a delegation to Moscow on Monday.

"We are doing what's needed to put an end to this massacre," Akar was quoted as saying by the official news agency Anadolu.&nbsp;

He said Ankara expected <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-backed-syrian-forces-gain-ground-in-idlib-269853">Damascus ally Russia</a> to "use its influence on the regime in order to stop ground and air assault" in Idlib.

The latest violence has displaced more than 235,000 people and killed scores of civilians, despite an August ceasefire deal and international calls for a de-escalation.

The Idlib region hosts some three million people including many displaced by years of violence in other parts of Syria.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"As long as this pressure remains in place, it will trigger a new migrant wave and put further burden on Turkey which is already hosting nearly four million Syrian brothers," said Akar.

Around <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-and-syrian-protesters-hold-anti-russia-rally-in-istanbul-270797">300 protesters</a> -&nbsp;mostly Syrians living in Turkey -&nbsp; held an anti-Moscow demonstration near the Russian consulate in Istanbul on Saturday against the intensified attacks in Idlib, shouting "murderer Putin, get out of Syria!", referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Libya timetable&nbsp;

Akar's visit to soldiers on the border region comes as Turkey is also readying to send troops to support the UN-recognised government in Tripoli against strongman Khalifa Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army.&nbsp;

"The Turkish Armed Forces are ready for whatever task is given in order to protect our country and people's interests," Akar said.&nbsp;

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday said Ankara would respond to an invitation from the Libyan national unity government and that the Turkish parliament would vote on a motion to send troops as soon as it returns from recess as early as next month.

Ankara signed in November a security and military cooperation deal with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) but in order to send troops, parliament needs to vote through motion as it does for Iraq and Syria.

Anadolu news agency, citing sources in Erdogan's ruling party, reported that the timetable could be brought forward and the motion could be presented to the parliamentary speaker's office on Monday.

The General Assembly could vote the measure in an extraordinary session on Thursday, it said. Parliament is due to return from recess on January 7.

Turkey will not withdraw from its observation posts in the Syrian rebel bastion province of Idlib which has seen an increase in violence carried out by regime forces supported by Russian airstrikes, the defence minister said.

Turkey will not withdraw from its observation posts in the Syrian rebel bastion province of Idlib which has seen an increase in violence carried out by regime forces supported by Russian airstrikes, the defence minister said. The posts were established under a September 2018 deal between Syrian regime ally Moscow and Ankara, which backs the rebels, to avert an all-out Syrian government onslaught in Idlib. President Bashar al-Assad's forces surrounded one of 12 Turkish observation posts in Idlib province on Monday after overrunning nearby areas in a push to take the last opposition holdout, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "We respect the agreement reached with Russia and we expect Russia to abide by this agreement," Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in comments published on Sunday on the defence ministry's Twitter account. "We will by no means empty those 12 observation posts, we will not leave there," Akar said. His comments came during a visit, together with top army commanders, to the southern province of Hatay on the Syrian border to inspect Turkish troops on Saturday. Turkey, worried over a new wave of refugees from the Idlib region, is pressing for a fresh ceasefire deal, as it sent a delegation to Moscow on Monday. "We are doing what's needed to put an end to this massacre," Akar was quoted as saying by the official news agency Anadolu. He said Ankara expected Damascus ally Russia to "use its influence on the regime in order to stop ground and air assault" in Idlib. The latest violence has displaced more than 235,000 people and killed scores of civilians, despite an August ceasefire deal and international calls for a de-escalation. The Idlib region hosts some three million people including many displaced by years of violence in other parts of Syria. "As long as this pressure remains in place, it will trigger a new migrant wave and put further burden on Turkey which is already hosting nearly four million Syrian brothers," said Akar. Around 300 protesters - mostly Syrians living in Turkey - held an anti-Moscow demonstration near the Russian consulate in Istanbul on Saturday against the intensified attacks in Idlib, shouting "murderer Putin, get out of Syria!", referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Libya timetable Akar's visit to soldiers on the border region comes as Turkey is also readying to send troops to support the UN-recognised government in Tripoli against strongman Khalifa Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army. "The Turkish Armed Forces are ready for whatever task is given in order to protect our country and people's interests," Akar said. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday said Ankara would respond to an invitation from the Libyan national unity government and that the Turkish parliament would vote on a motion to send troops as soon as it returns from recess as early as next month. Ankara signed in November a security and military cooperation deal with the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) but in order to send troops, parliament needs to vote through motion as it does for Iraq and Syria. Anadolu news agency, citing sources in Erdogan's ruling party, reported that the timetable could be brought forward and the motion could be presented to the parliamentary speaker's office on Monday. The General Assembly could vote the measure in an extraordinary session on Thursday, it said. Parliament is due to return from recess on January 7.

Will not withdraw from army posts in Syria's Idlib: Turkey

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/15-killed-in-airstrikes-in-northwest-syria-265777">Air strikes </a>killed 19 civilians Monday in Syria's last major opposition bastion, the site of the deadliest clashes between regime forces and armed groups since an August ceasefire came into force, a monitoring group said.

More than 100 kilometres (60 miles) to the north, a separate <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eight-children-among-nine-killed-in-turkish-shelling-on-north-syria-monitor-265784">Turkish artillery attack </a>on a Kurdish-held city in Aleppo province killed 11 civilians, including eight children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.&nbsp;

Syria's bloody eight-year-long conflict has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 2011.

It continues to claim scores of civilian lives, especially in areas outside government control.

In the province of Idlib, largely under the control of a group dominated by a former Al-Qaeda affiliate, regime air raids killed 13 civilians in a market in the town of Maaret al-Numan, the Britain-based Observatory said.&nbsp;

An AFP correspondent saw rescue workers carry a wounded man away on a stretcher while a body lay motionless amid spilt oranges and bags of onions.

Maher Mohammed, 35, a vendor in the market, said it was the most frightening bombardment he had witnessed in years.

"We ran inside the shops and threw ourselves on the ground," the father of five told AFP.

"They bombarded half the market. Our neighbours were killed," as were two women in a car who had come to do some shopping, he said.

The Observatory said six others died in Russian and regime bombardment in other parts of the province, including a woman and her two children in a Russian strike on an Idlib prison.

Fighting rages&nbsp;

On the southeastern edge of the region, regime forces and armed groups were locked in heavy clashes, with almost 100 fighters killed in two days, according to the war monitor.

The battles on the fringes of Idlib since Saturday are the most deadly since a Russia-brokered ceasefire went into effect in late August, it said.

Fifty-four regime fighters had been killed, while 47 of their foes including 33 jihadists had also lost their lives since Saturday, the Observatory said.

President Bashar al-Assad has long maintained that his government will eventually reimpose its control over the northwestern region on the border with Turkey.

During a meeting on Monday with Russia's special envoy for Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, Assad agreed to "continue the fight against terrorism" so that Idlib would not become "a permanent haven for terrorists," the presidency said.

The late August ceasefire came months into a devastating Russia-backed regime offensive that killed around 1,000 civilians and ousted hundreds of thousands from their homes.

But sporadic clashes and deadly Russian and regime bombardment on the jihadist-held bastion have continued, with 179 civilians including 45 children killed during that time.

Turkish attack&nbsp;

In the strategic city of Tal Rifaat, controlled by local Kurdish fighters, a Turkish artillery attack hit near a school as students were leaving the building.

Most of the 11 civilians killed in the shelling had been displaced from the Afrin region captured last year by Turkish troops and their Syrian proxies, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.

Footage released by Kurdish-run media purported to show bloody and bandaged young men being carried into a crowded medical facility after the attack.

Wrapped in thick wool blankets, the corpses of the deceased were lined up on the floor of an empty room in the same facility, in the footage.

Outside, relatives broke-down crying.

Tal Rifaat, a strategic town 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Turkey's frontier, is the site of regular confrontations between Turkish-backed forces and Kurdish fighters.&nbsp;

Turkey threatened to launch a cross-border offensive to capture Tal Rifaat last year after taking Afrin from the US-backed People's Protection Units (YPG) militia.

But Russia intervened to stop the planned offensive.

In October, it said it agreed to work with Turkey to remove all YPG militia "elements and their weapons" from Tal Rifaat.&nbsp;

But in early November, Turkish President Reep Tayyip Erdogan said Kurdish "terror groups" had still not left.

Tal Rifaat is held by local Kurdish fighters displaced from Afrin, the Observatory head said, adding that Russian forces and regime troops are also currently deployed inside the town.

Turkey in October launched a cross-border operation south of its frontier against Syrian Kurdish forces.

In the two months since the operation began, it has established a so-called "safe zone" in a 120-kilometre-long strip along the border, where it says it wants to resettle Syrian refugees.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Air strikes killed 19 civilians Monday in Syria's last major opposition bastion, the site of the deadliest clashes between regime forces and armed groups since an August ceasefire came into force, a monitoring group said.

Air strikes killed 19 civilians Monday in Syria's last major opposition bastion, the site of the deadliest clashes between regime forces and armed groups since an August ceasefire came into force, a monitoring group said. More than 100 kilometres (60 miles) to the north, a separate Turkish artillery attack on a Kurdish-held city in Aleppo province killed 11 civilians, including eight children, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Syria's bloody eight-year-long conflict has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 2011. It continues to claim scores of civilian lives, especially in areas outside government control. In the province of Idlib, largely under the control of a group dominated by a former Al-Qaeda affiliate, regime air raids killed 13 civilians in a market in the town of Maaret al-Numan, the Britain-based Observatory said. An AFP correspondent saw rescue workers carry a wounded man away on a stretcher while a body lay motionless amid spilt oranges and bags of onions. Maher Mohammed, 35, a vendor in the market, said it was the most frightening bombardment he had witnessed in years. "We ran inside the shops and threw ourselves on the ground," the father of five told AFP. "They bombarded half the market. Our neighbours were killed," as were two women in a car who had come to do some shopping, he said. The Observatory said six others died in Russian and regime bombardment in other parts of the province, including a woman and her two children in a Russian strike on an Idlib prison. Fighting rages On the southeastern edge of the region, regime forces and armed groups were locked in heavy clashes, with almost 100 fighters killed in two days, according to the war monitor. The battles on the fringes of Idlib since Saturday are the most deadly since a Russia-brokered ceasefire went into effect in late August, it said. Fifty-four regime fighters had been killed, while 47 of their foes including 33 jihadists had also lost their lives since Saturday, the Observatory said. President Bashar al-Assad has long maintained that his government will eventually reimpose its control over the northwestern region on the border with Turkey. During a meeting on Monday with Russia's special envoy for Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, Assad agreed to "continue the fight against terrorism" so that Idlib would not become "a permanent haven for terrorists," the presidency said. The late August ceasefire came months into a devastating Russia-backed regime offensive that killed around 1,000 civilians and ousted hundreds of thousands from their homes. But sporadic clashes and deadly Russian and regime bombardment on the jihadist-held bastion have continued, with 179 civilians including 45 children killed during that time. Turkish attack In the strategic city of Tal Rifaat, controlled by local Kurdish fighters, a Turkish artillery attack hit near a school as students were leaving the building. Most of the 11 civilians killed in the shelling had been displaced from the Afrin region captured last year by Turkish troops and their Syrian proxies, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said. Footage released by Kurdish-run media purported to show bloody and bandaged young men being carried into a crowded medical facility after the attack. Wrapped in thick wool blankets, the corpses of the deceased were lined up on the floor of an empty room in the same facility, in the footage. Outside, relatives broke-down crying. Tal Rifaat, a strategic town 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Turkey's frontier, is the site of regular confrontations between Turkish-backed forces and Kurdish fighters. Turkey threatened to launch a cross-border offensive to capture Tal Rifaat last year after taking Afrin from the US-backed People's Protection Units (YPG) militia. But Russia intervened to stop the planned offensive. In October, it said it agreed to work with Turkey to remove all YPG militia "elements and their weapons" from Tal Rifaat. But in early November, Turkish President Reep Tayyip Erdogan said Kurdish "terror groups" had still not left. Tal Rifaat is held by local Kurdish fighters displaced from Afrin, the Observatory head said, adding that Russian forces and regime troops are also currently deployed inside the town. Turkey in October launched a cross-border operation south of its frontier against Syrian Kurdish forces. In the two months since the operation began, it has established a so-called "safe zone" in a 120-kilometre-long strip along the border, where it says it wants to resettle Syrian refugees.

Thirty killed across Syria as violence rages

India is likely to face heat in the near future due to various emerging fault lines in the Gulf. While Gulf managed to ensure stability amidst the Syrian crisis in particular and Arab Spring in general, recent events in the Gulf cast doubt on the long term stability of the region.&nbsp;

In this context, the September 14 Drone attacks, reportedly&nbsp;carried out by Iranian backed Houthi guerrilla, on&nbsp; Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq oil refinery and Khurais oil field - belonging to the state-owned Aramco - have sent ‘oil shock wave’ throughout the world.

The attacks disrupted the outflow of 5 per cent of global oil supply. While Saudi Arabia has repeatedly stated that this attack will not affect Saudi’s production of oil, however, it could not remove the feat that oil installation in Saudi Arabia, UAE and elsewhere is not free from external attacks.&nbsp;

This combines with other factors such as a series of attack on oil tankers belonging to different countries, UK-Iranian tension for seizing the private oil tanker caring the Iranian oil to Syria by UK, shooting down of US drone by the Iran, the traditional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the continuous blockade of Qatar by the Quarter (Saudi Arabia, UAE, &nbsp;Egypt and Bahrain), the US sanction against Iran, and Yemen civil war with UAE-Saudi Arabia supporting the Yemini government in exile and Iranian backing the Houthis—all combined have made the region very vulnerable to the forces of destabilisation.&nbsp;

India is directly affected by such developments in the Gulf. India is the third-largest oil importer in the world and 83 per cent of its oil is imported from the Gulf despite its diversification of sources of hydrocarbon products. Of late, India has stopped buying oil from Iran under US pressure, which has made India more dependent on Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

Besides, India is critically dependent on the flow of remittances from the region, which constitutes the largest share of total global remittances. Further stability in Gulf is important from the point of view of trade and investment, particularly with the UAE government. &nbsp;

Given the high-stake that India has in the stability of Gulf, the government of India&nbsp;must come up&nbsp;with a&nbsp;strategy to cope with the emerging crisis in the Gulf which may affect the uninterrupted supply of the oil or even soar the prices of  oil because of  above-enumerated reasons. Following the 1973 Oil Shock, which had disrupted the manufacturing industries of the West due to steep hike in the prices of oil  as well as the supply of oil for a few months, the West developed the capacity of storing oil for minimum six months. Earlier it was 23 days. Currently, India has a capacity to meet only about 12 days of the country’s crude oil requirement with storage facility for only 87 days.&nbsp;

Though in the event of the oil crisis, India may rely upon the USA and Nigeria, the quality of oil supplies by these countries are as good as that of Gulf apart from long-distance travel costs.  Given this situation, India needs to devise specific strategy including enhancing the storage capacity of hydrocarbon resources for at least 6 months, on par with advanced countries. &nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

&nbsp;

India is likely to face heat in the near future due to various emerging fault lines in the Gulf. While Gulf managed to ensure stability amidst the Syrian crisis in particular and Arab Spring in general, recent events in the Gulf cast doubt on the long term stability of the region.

India is likely to face heat in the near future due to various emerging fault lines in the Gulf. While Gulf managed to ensure stability amidst the Syrian crisis in particular and Arab Spring in general, recent events in the Gulf cast doubt on the long term stability of the region. In this context, the September 14 Drone attacks, reportedly carried out by Iranian backed Houthi guerrilla, on Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq oil refinery and Khurais oil field - belonging to the state-owned Aramco - have sent ‘oil shock wave’ throughout the world. The attacks disrupted the outflow of 5 per cent of global oil supply. While Saudi Arabia has repeatedly stated that this attack will not affect Saudi’s production of oil, however, it could not remove the feat that oil installation in Saudi Arabia, UAE and elsewhere is not free from external attacks. This combines with other factors such as a series of attack on oil tankers belonging to different countries, UK-Iranian tension for seizing the private oil tanker caring the Iranian oil to Syria by UK, shooting down of US drone by the Iran, the traditional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the continuous blockade of Qatar by the Quarter (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Bahrain), the US sanction against Iran, and Yemen civil war with UAE-Saudi Arabia supporting the Yemini government in exile and Iranian backing the Houthis—all combined have made the region very vulnerable to the forces of destabilisation. India is directly affected by such developments in the Gulf. India is the third-largest oil importer in the world and 83 per cent of its oil is imported from the Gulf despite its diversification of sources of hydrocarbon products. Of late, India has stopped buying oil from Iran under US pressure, which has made India more dependent on Saudi Arabia. Besides, India is critically dependent on the flow of remittances from the region, which constitutes the largest share of total global remittances. Further stability in Gulf is important from the point of view of trade and investment, particularly with the UAE government.  Given the high-stake that India has in the stability of Gulf, the government of India must come up with a strategy to cope with the emerging crisis in the Gulf which may affect the uninterrupted supply of the oil or even soar the prices of  oil because of  above-enumerated reasons. Following the 1973 Oil Shock, which had disrupted the manufacturing industries of the West due to steep hike in the prices of oil  as well as the supply of oil for a few months, the West developed the capacity of storing oil for minimum six months. Earlier it was 23 days. Currently, India has a capacity to meet only about 12 days of the country’s crude oil requirement with storage facility for only 87 days. Though in the event of the oil crisis, India may rely upon the USA and Nigeria, the quality of oil supplies by these countries are as good as that of Gulf apart from long-distance travel costs.  Given this situation, India needs to devise specific strategy including enhancing the storage capacity of hydrocarbon resources for at least 6 months, on par with advanced countries.  (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How does Gulf crisis affect India

US President Donald Trump on Sunday told <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kremlin-says-onus-is-on-turkey-to-rein-in-militants-in-syrias-idlib-223225">Syria and Russia</a> to stop "bombing the hell" out of Syria's last jihadist stronghold Idlib.

"Hearing word that Russia, Syria and, to a lesser extent, Iran, are bombing the hell out of Idlib Province in Syria, and indiscriminately killing many innocent civilians. The World is watching this butchery. What is the purpose, what will it get you? STOP!" he said on Twitter shortly before he was to depart for a state visit to Britain.

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Hearing word that Russia, Syria and, to a lesser extent, Iran, are bombing the hell out of Idlib Province in Syria, and indiscriminately killing many innocent civilians. The World is watching this butchery. What is the purpose, what will it get you? STOP!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1135332642851893250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2019</a></blockquote>
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His comments came after Syrian NGOs on Friday decried international inaction in the face of mounting violence in the northwestern region.

As well as killing dozens of civilians, the recent bombardments by Syrian and Russian forces in northwest Syria have pushed 300,000 people towards Turkey's border, the NGOs said at a press conference in Istanbul.&nbsp;

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday that almost 950 people had been killed in the latest clashes in Idlib.&nbsp;

A September deal was supposed to avert a full-out regime offensive on the province and adjacent areas held by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

But the jihadists have refused to leave the area, and the deal is on the verge of collapse as Syrian and Russian forces allied to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad ramp up air strikes and rocket fire.

Watch: Israel and Syria exchange fire amid soaring regional tensions

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Iranian fighters and Hezbollah paramilitary forces are also stationed in Syria to back the Assad regime.

The worsening unrest in Idlib comes with tensions soaring between Iran and the United States.

The stand-off has been simmering since the US last year withdrew from the 2015 nuclear treaty Iran reached with major world powers.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday told Syria and Russia to stop "bombing the hell" out of Syria's last jihadist stronghold Idlib. "Hearing word that Russia, Syria and, to a lesser extent, Iran, are bombing the hell out of Idlib Province in Syria, and indiscriminately killing many innocent civilians.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday told Syria and Russia to stop "bombing the hell" out of Syria's last jihadist stronghold Idlib. "Hearing word that Russia, Syria and, to a lesser extent, Iran, are bombing the hell out of Idlib Province in Syria, and indiscriminately killing many innocent civilians. The World is watching this butchery. What is the purpose, what will it get you? STOP!" he said on Twitter shortly before he was to depart for a state visit to Britain. Hearing word that Russia, Syria and, to a lesser extent, Iran, are bombing the hell out of Idlib Province in Syria, and indiscriminately killing many innocent civilians. The World is watching this butchery. What is the purpose, what will it get you? STOP! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2019 × His comments came after Syrian NGOs on Friday decried international inaction in the face of mounting violence in the northwestern region. As well as killing dozens of civilians, the recent bombardments by Syrian and Russian forces in northwest Syria have pushed 300,000 people towards Turkey's border, the NGOs said at a press conference in Istanbul. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Friday that almost 950 people had been killed in the latest clashes in Idlib. A September deal was supposed to avert a full-out regime offensive on the province and adjacent areas held by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. But the jihadists have refused to leave the area, and the deal is on the verge of collapse as Syrian and Russian forces allied to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad ramp up air strikes and rocket fire. Watch: Israel and Syria exchange fire amid soaring regional tensions × Iranian fighters and Hezbollah paramilitary forces are also stationed in Syria to back the Assad regime. The worsening unrest in Idlib comes with tensions soaring between Iran and the United States. The stand-off has been simmering since the US last year withdrew from the 2015 nuclear treaty Iran reached with major world powers.

'STOP!' bombing, killing in Syria's Idlib: US President Donald Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday he did not rule out Syrian forces, backed by Russian air power, launching a full-scale assault on militants in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/army-shelling-kills-22-civilians-in-syrias-idlib-monitor-207943">Syria's Idlib province</a>, but that such an operation was unpractical for now.

Russia, one of the Syrian government’s staunchest allies, and Turkey brokered a deal in September to create a demilitarised zone in the northwest <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/istanbul-summit-france-will-ensure-ceasefire-in-idlib-remains-russia-to-discuss-return-of-refugees-to-syria-172313">Idlib</a> region that would be free of all heavy weapons and jihadist fighters.

The deal helped avert a government assault on the region, the last major bastion of opponents of President Bashar al-Assad.

But Moscow has since complained about escalating violence in the area and said that militants who used to belong to the Nusra Front group are in control of large swaths of territory.

Speaking in Beijing, Putin said that Moscow and Damascus would continue what he called the fight against terrorism and that any militants who tried to break out of Idlib, something he said happened from time to time, were bombed.

But Putin said the presence of civilians in parts of Idlib where militants were also active meant the time was not yet ripe for full-scale military operations.

"I don't rule it (a full-scale assault) out, but right now we and our Syrian friends consider that to be inadvisable given this humanitarian element," Putin told reporters.

Moscow is keen to help Assad retake territory, including eventually Idlib province, but Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has argued against a Russian-backed offensive in a region that borders his own country.

Ankara is concerned about potential refugee flows from Idlib in the event of a military operation, and wants to retain its influence there.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday he did not rule out Syrian forces, backed by Russian air power, launching a full-scale assault on militants in Syria's Idlib province, but that such an operation was unpractical for now.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday he did not rule out Syrian forces, backed by Russian air power, launching a full-scale assault on militants in Syria's Idlib province, but that such an operation was unpractical for now. Russia, one of the Syrian government’s staunchest allies, and Turkey brokered a deal in September to create a demilitarised zone in the northwest Idlib region that would be free of all heavy weapons and jihadist fighters. The deal helped avert a government assault on the region, the last major bastion of opponents of President Bashar al-Assad. But Moscow has since complained about escalating violence in the area and said that militants who used to belong to the Nusra Front group are in control of large swaths of territory. Speaking in Beijing, Putin said that Moscow and Damascus would continue what he called the fight against terrorism and that any militants who tried to break out of Idlib, something he said happened from time to time, were bombed. But Putin said the presence of civilians in parts of Idlib where militants were also active meant the time was not yet ripe for full-scale military operations. "I don't rule it (a full-scale assault) out, but right now we and our Syrian friends consider that to be inadvisable given this humanitarian element," Putin told reporters. Moscow is keen to help Assad retake territory, including eventually Idlib province, but Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has argued against a Russian-backed offensive in a region that borders his own country. Ankara is concerned about potential refugee flows from Idlib in the event of a military operation, and wants to retain its influence there.

Russia and Syria are not planning assault on Idlib for now: Vladimir Putin

By Harout Akdedian

The so-called Islamic State (IS) recently lost its last remnant of territory in Syria, but observers were quick to remind the world that the war against the organisation is far from over. What then does this loss of territorial control actually mean for IS?

At its height, the self-proclaimed “caliphate” controlled an estimated 34,000 square miles across Syria and Iraq, so its defeat on the ground is clearly a severe blow for it. Nevertheless, IS is now expected to evolve. Its networks will disperse into virtual, online spaces and become largely invisible. It will focus on insurgency tactics and terror attacks with a wider reach.

In the face of this evolution, it may seem like maintaining IS in a contained geographic pocket would have been better than eradicating its primary territorial base altogether.

With its defeat on the ground in Syria and Iraq, however, IS and its offshoots will have a more limited capacity for recruitment, indoctrination and growth.

The importance of territory

The success of rebel groups to survive protracted armed conflicts is dependent on their ability to maintain territorial control. They require it to extract resources and enlist local recruits.

Territorial control allows armed groups to force local populations into compliance and conformity with their ideological outlook. Since its inception, IS understood that its radical “Islamic” community does not locally exist. Instead, the organisation set about creating it, reshaping communities under its control in its own image.

Comparative evidence from civil wars around the world demonstrates how territorial control does not depend on a local population’s ideological agreement with the forces in place. Instead, in his book The Logic of Violence in Civil War, Stathis Kalyvas argues that a combination of coercive measures and local administrative bodies allows a force to maintain order, stability and compliance.

For example, during the Liberian civil war in the early 1990s, NPFL (The National Patriotic Front of Liberia) rebels, led by Charles Taylor, used administrative bodies and courts in the territory they controlled to create an alternative order backed up by displays of brutality and violence. This led to an intricate system of patronage and loyalty that created new dependencies between local communities and the new regime.

These Taylor-era Liberian courts are comparable to IS’s religious courts which controlled the issuing of permits for cross border activities, defined the educational content of local schools, distributed social services – and carried out extreme public punishments.

In enduring armed conflict, these administrative bodies, social services and displays of order encourage the cooperation of the local population. In other words, territorial control allows the occupier to manage the behaviour and, potentially, the ideology of the people under its control.

Instruments of control

Under IS, spectacles of brutality and violence were a key part of this. Public executions involved people being incinerated, stoned, decapitated and thrown off towers. Staged in front of local people, these executions were carefully choreographed and meticulously documented and disseminated – both locally and internationally.

IS explicitly claimed that these acts of brutality were intended to create a vacuum by disrupting local societal structures that could then be “filled” and “managed” by them. Essentially, displays of violence were used as an instrument of social organisation.

Data personally collected between 2012 and 2014 shows that many living under the rule of radicalised groups such as IS judge these groups based on their own immediate day-to-day conditions rather than the organisation’s overall performance or outlook.

If administrative structures function and people have access to food and basic services, for example, local populations may overlook – or even adhere to – the occupying force’s ideology (albeit under duress). And those that don’t are severely and publicly punished as an “example” to others.

The 2014 executions of members of the Sunni Arab al-Sheitaat tribe, in Deir el-Zor, Syria, are a case in point. IS took the lives of more than 700 of its members for revoking a pledge of allegiance. In addition, IS incessantly targeted other Jihadi or predominantly Sunni rebel formations. Indeed, the tally of those killed continues to increase as more mass graves are discovered.

Violent consolidation 
 
Such atrocities were examples of IS consolidating its power through the elimination of rivals and the suppression of potential or real dissent within its area of control. Faced with this, local populations had no choice but to imitate expressions of religiosity as defined by IS and to demonstrate compliance. For local people, this was a method of adaptation and survival – but IS’s loss of territorial control now greatly reduces its capacity to control and indoctrinate local residents in this way.

The question of how IS’s methods impacted local populations, in the long run, is yet to be answered. A lot will depend on what happens next in its former territory and to those living there now.

Either way, while IS is badly incapacitated, it certainly is not finished. It will most likely splinter into new organisations which might try to establish territorial control elsewhere. Parts of North Africa and the Maghreb are particularly susceptible, where control over vast swathes of land remain contested. In the meantime, IS will continue to try to nurture its virtual communities and seek new audiences online.

(Harout Akdedian is Carnegie SFM Postdoctoral fellow, Central European University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/islamic-state-the-caliphate-is-off-the-map-for-now-but-will-evolve-in-dangerous-ways-114831">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

By Harout Akdedian The so-called Islamic State (IS) recently lost its last remnant of territory in Syria, but observers were quick to remind the world that the war against the organisation is far from over.

By Harout Akdedian The so-called Islamic State (IS) recently lost its last remnant of territory in Syria, but observers were quick to remind the world that the war against the organisation is far from over. What then does this loss of territorial control actually mean for IS? At its height, the self-proclaimed “caliphate” controlled an estimated 34,000 square miles across Syria and Iraq, so its defeat on the ground is clearly a severe blow for it. Nevertheless, IS is now expected to evolve. Its networks will disperse into virtual, online spaces and become largely invisible. It will focus on insurgency tactics and terror attacks with a wider reach. In the face of this evolution, it may seem like maintaining IS in a contained geographic pocket would have been better than eradicating its primary territorial base altogether. With its defeat on the ground in Syria and Iraq, however, IS and its offshoots will have a more limited capacity for recruitment, indoctrination and growth. The importance of territory The success of rebel groups to survive protracted armed conflicts is dependent on their ability to maintain territorial control. They require it to extract resources and enlist local recruits. Territorial control allows armed groups to force local populations into compliance and conformity with their ideological outlook. Since its inception, IS understood that its radical “Islamic” community does not locally exist. Instead, the organisation set about creating it, reshaping communities under its control in its own image. Comparative evidence from civil wars around the world demonstrates how territorial control does not depend on a local population’s ideological agreement with the forces in place. Instead, in his book The Logic of Violence in Civil War, Stathis Kalyvas argues that a combination of coercive measures and local administrative bodies allows a force to maintain order, stability and compliance. For example, during the Liberian civil war in the early 1990s, NPFL (The National Patriotic Front of Liberia) rebels, led by Charles Taylor, used administrative bodies and courts in the territory they controlled to create an alternative order backed up by displays of brutality and violence. This led to an intricate system of patronage and loyalty that created new dependencies between local communities and the new regime. These Taylor-era Liberian courts are comparable to IS’s religious courts which controlled the issuing of permits for cross border activities, defined the educational content of local schools, distributed social services – and carried out extreme public punishments. In enduring armed conflict, these administrative bodies, social services and displays of order encourage the cooperation of the local population. In other words, territorial control allows the occupier to manage the behaviour and, potentially, the ideology of the people under its control. Instruments of control Under IS, spectacles of brutality and violence were a key part of this. Public executions involved people being incinerated, stoned, decapitated and thrown off towers. Staged in front of local people, these executions were carefully choreographed and meticulously documented and disseminated – both locally and internationally. IS explicitly claimed that these acts of brutality were intended to create a vacuum by disrupting local societal structures that could then be “filled” and “managed” by them. Essentially, displays of violence were used as an instrument of social organisation. Data personally collected between 2012 and 2014 shows that many living under the rule of radicalised groups such as IS judge these groups based on their own immediate day-to-day conditions rather than the organisation’s overall performance or outlook. If administrative structures function and people have access to food and basic services, for example, local populations may overlook – or even adhere to – the occupying force’s ideology (albeit under duress). And those that don’t are severely and publicly punished as an “example” to others. The 2014 executions of members of the Sunni Arab al-Sheitaat tribe, in Deir el-Zor, Syria, are a case in point. IS took the lives of more than 700 of its members for revoking a pledge of allegiance. In addition, IS incessantly targeted other Jihadi or predominantly Sunni rebel formations. Indeed, the tally of those killed continues to increase as more mass graves are discovered. Violent consolidation Such atrocities were examples of IS consolidating its power through the elimination of rivals and the suppression of potential or real dissent within its area of control. Faced with this, local populations had no choice but to imitate expressions of religiosity as defined by IS and to demonstrate compliance. For local people, this was a method of adaptation and survival – but IS’s loss of territorial control now greatly reduces its capacity to control and indoctrinate local residents in this way. The question of how IS’s methods impacted local populations, in the long run, is yet to be answered. A lot will depend on what happens next in its former territory and to those living there now. Either way, while IS is badly incapacitated, it certainly is not finished. It will most likely splinter into new organisations which might try to establish territorial control elsewhere. Parts of North Africa and the Maghreb are particularly susceptible, where control over vast swathes of land remain contested. In the meantime, IS will continue to try to nurture its virtual communities and seek new audiences online. (Harout Akdedian is Carnegie SFM Postdoctoral fellow, Central European University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Islamic State is off the map for now, but war against the organisation is far from over

A US-backed force in Syria said Tuesday it has arrested jihadists suspected of involvement in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-us-troops-reported-among-16-dead-in-north-syria-attack-190816">deadliest attack on US troops</a> since they deployed in the war-torn country in 2014.

Nineteen people including four American personnel were killed in the January 16 suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State group in the northern Syrian city of Manbij.

The four Americans killed were two soldiers, a civilian defence department employee and a Pentagon subcontractor.

The US Department of Defense had previously reported only two American personnel killed in combat in Syria, in separate incidents.

A spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said that several suspects have been detained over the Manbij bombing.

"A group of suspects believed to be involved in (the) January 16 Manbij bombing that killed several US and SDF servicemen were captured following technical surveillance by our forces," Mustefa Bali said in English on Twitter.

The spokesman's comments came as his force advanced against the jihadists in eastern Syria, confining holdout fighters to a tiny slither in the village of Baghouz on the banks of the Euphrates River.

The Kurdish-led force on Sunday said at least 520 IS fighters have been captured in "special operations" by the SDF since January 9.

An additional 5,000 jihadists who have fled their last redoubt have been detained over the same period, it said.

After sweeping across swathes of Syria and Iraq in 2014, the IS jihadists' cross-border "caliphate" has been whittled down by multiple offensives to the tiny embattled enclave in Baghouz.

But despite the stinging defeats, IS has proved it is still capable of carrying out deadly attacks using hideouts in the sprawling desert or sleeper cells in the towns.

Run by a Washington-backed town council since the US-led coalition and its ground partners pushed out jihadists in 2016, Manbij has been a realm of relative quiet.

The town was considered sufficiently secure that a group of top US military commanders and lawmakers strolled through its market without body armour last summer.

President Donald Trump in December announced he would pull all American troops from Syria, claiming IS had been "largely defeated".&nbsp;

But the White House has since said it would maintain a small "peace-keeping" force of 200 US troops in the country.

A US-backed force in Syria said Tuesday it has arrested jihadists suspected of involvement in the deadliest attack on US troops since they deployed in the war-torn country in 2014.

A US-backed force in Syria said Tuesday it has arrested jihadists suspected of involvement in the deadliest attack on US troops since they deployed in the war-torn country in 2014. Nineteen people including four American personnel were killed in the January 16 suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State group in the northern Syrian city of Manbij. The four Americans killed were two soldiers, a civilian defence department employee and a Pentagon subcontractor. The US Department of Defense had previously reported only two American personnel killed in combat in Syria, in separate incidents. A spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said that several suspects have been detained over the Manbij bombing. "A group of suspects believed to be involved in (the) January 16 Manbij bombing that killed several US and SDF servicemen were captured following technical surveillance by our forces," Mustefa Bali said in English on Twitter. The spokesman's comments came as his force advanced against the jihadists in eastern Syria, confining holdout fighters to a tiny slither in the village of Baghouz on the banks of the Euphrates River. The Kurdish-led force on Sunday said at least 520 IS fighters have been captured in "special operations" by the SDF since January 9. An additional 5,000 jihadists who have fled their last redoubt have been detained over the same period, it said. After sweeping across swathes of Syria and Iraq in 2014, the IS jihadists' cross-border "caliphate" has been whittled down by multiple offensives to the tiny embattled enclave in Baghouz. But despite the stinging defeats, IS has proved it is still capable of carrying out deadly attacks using hideouts in the sprawling desert or sleeper cells in the towns. Run by a Washington-backed town council since the US-led coalition and its ground partners pushed out jihadists in 2016, Manbij has been a realm of relative quiet. The town was considered sufficiently secure that a group of top US military commanders and lawmakers strolled through its market without body armour last summer. President Donald Trump in December announced he would pull all American troops from Syria, claiming IS had been "largely defeated". But the White House has since said it would maintain a small "peace-keeping" force of 200 US troops in the country.

Syria force says it arrested jihadists behind attack on US troops

Kurdish-led forces said around 2,000 people, mostly jihadists, surrendered from the Islamic State group's last scrap of territory in Syria Tuesday, as air raids and shelling resumed after a brief lull.

A ragged tent encampment in the eastern Syrian village of Baghouz is all that remains of a once-sprawling IS "caliphate" declared in 2014 across large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces has been trying to crush holdout IS fighters for weeks but the mass outpouring of men, women and children from the riverside hamlet has bogged down its advance.

Backed by the US-led coalition, the SDF renewed its assault Sunday after warning remaining IS fighters their time was up.

Air strikes and shelling have since pummelled Baghouz three nights in a row, killing scores of fighters and prompting hundreds of jihadists and their relatives to surrender.

Thousands handed themselves over Tuesday, after a deluge of fire hit the IS encampment the previous night.

"Around 2,000 people, mostly fighters, have handed themselves over today," SDF spokesman Adnan Afrin told AFP, without adding how many remain inside.

The SDF and the US-led coalition resumed shelling and air strikes on the last IS bastion Tuesday evening, interrupting a brief lull in fighting that had taken hold during the day to allow for people to surrender.

An AFP correspondent near the front line heard warplanes rumbling overhead, as the sound of mortar fire and explosions rang from the IS encampment.

Dozens of SDF fighters massed at the entrance of the village of Baghouz on Tuesday evening.

Sherif, the unit commander, said his force was preparing to storm the jihadist redoubt.

"We readied ourselves today and our spirits are high," he told AFP.

"We will enter with full force and we will be at the forefront" of the advance, said the fighter who has been battling jihadists for years.

'Terrorising IS fighters'

Earlier Tuesday, Ali Cheir, an SDF unit commander, said his force and the coalition were pummelling the IS enclave at night to flush out jihadists.

"The objective of our advance is to terrorise IS fighters so they surrender, and for the civilians to come out," said the 27-year-old.

Coalition warplanes Monday pounded the jihadist redoubt with 20 air strikes, destroying armoured vehicles and arms caches, SDF spokesman Mustefa Bali said.

He said US-backed forces clashed with jihadists on several fronts, killing nearly 40 IS fighters.

Since December, around 60,000 people have left the last IS redoubt, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, around a tenth of them suspected jihadist fighters.

The United Nations said the numbers from Baghouz arriving in one Kurdish-run camp further north for the displaced were smaller than in previous weeks.

It said they were reaching the camp in a worse state than before.

The UN's food agency said it is concerned about their wellbeing.

"On Sunday night more than 3,000 people, mostly women and children in a poor state, reached the camp," the WFP said.

"WFP is deeply concerned about the welfare of tens of thousands of people recently arriving at the Al-Hol camp," it said Tuesday.

Around 113 people -- two-thirds of them children under five -- have died en route to the camp or shortly after arriving since December, the UN's humanitarian coordination office OCHA says.

'Battles not over'

At the height of its brutal rule, IS controlled a stretch of land in Syria and Iraq the size of the United Kingdom.

The total capture of the Baghouz camp by the SDF would mark the end of the cross-border "caliphate" it proclaimed more than four years ago.

But beyond Baghouz, IS retains a presence in eastern Syria's vast Badia desert and sleeper cells in the northeast.

The jihadists have continued to claim deadly attacks in SDF-held territory in recent months, and the US military has warned of the need to maintain a "vigilant offensive".

The group released a video late Monday allegedly showing jihadists in Baghouz, quietly defiant in the face of the advancing SDF.

"If we had thousands of kilometres and now we only have some kilometres left, it is said we have lost -- but God's judging standard is different," said a man named Abu Abdel Adheem.

"The battles are not over," he said, sitting on the ground in a circle with two men and a young boy in a hooded jacket.

Baghouz is the latest front on Syria's complex civil war, which has killed more than 360,000 people since 2011.

Kurdish-led forces said around 2,000 people, mostly jihadists, surrendered from the Islamic State group's last scrap of territory in Syria Tuesday, as air raids and shelling resumed after a brief lull.

Kurdish-led forces said around 2,000 people, mostly jihadists, surrendered from the Islamic State group's last scrap of territory in Syria Tuesday, as air raids and shelling resumed after a brief lull. A ragged tent encampment in the eastern Syrian village of Baghouz is all that remains of a once-sprawling IS "caliphate" declared in 2014 across large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces has been trying to crush holdout IS fighters for weeks but the mass outpouring of men, women and children from the riverside hamlet has bogged down its advance. Backed by the US-led coalition, the SDF renewed its assault Sunday after warning remaining IS fighters their time was up. Air strikes and shelling have since pummelled Baghouz three nights in a row, killing scores of fighters and prompting hundreds of jihadists and their relatives to surrender. Thousands handed themselves over Tuesday, after a deluge of fire hit the IS encampment the previous night. "Around 2,000 people, mostly fighters, have handed themselves over today," SDF spokesman Adnan Afrin told AFP, without adding how many remain inside. The SDF and the US-led coalition resumed shelling and air strikes on the last IS bastion Tuesday evening, interrupting a brief lull in fighting that had taken hold during the day to allow for people to surrender. An AFP correspondent near the front line heard warplanes rumbling overhead, as the sound of mortar fire and explosions rang from the IS encampment. Dozens of SDF fighters massed at the entrance of the village of Baghouz on Tuesday evening. Sherif, the unit commander, said his force was preparing to storm the jihadist redoubt. "We readied ourselves today and our spirits are high," he told AFP. "We will enter with full force and we will be at the forefront" of the advance, said the fighter who has been battling jihadists for years. 'Terrorising IS fighters' Earlier Tuesday, Ali Cheir, an SDF unit commander, said his force and the coalition were pummelling the IS enclave at night to flush out jihadists. "The objective of our advance is to terrorise IS fighters so they surrender, and for the civilians to come out," said the 27-year-old. Coalition warplanes Monday pounded the jihadist redoubt with 20 air strikes, destroying armoured vehicles and arms caches, SDF spokesman Mustefa Bali said. He said US-backed forces clashed with jihadists on several fronts, killing nearly 40 IS fighters. Since December, around 60,000 people have left the last IS redoubt, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, around a tenth of them suspected jihadist fighters. The United Nations said the numbers from Baghouz arriving in one Kurdish-run camp further north for the displaced were smaller than in previous weeks. It said they were reaching the camp in a worse state than before. The UN's food agency said it is concerned about their wellbeing. "On Sunday night more than 3,000 people, mostly women and children in a poor state, reached the camp," the WFP said. "WFP is deeply concerned about the welfare of tens of thousands of people recently arriving at the Al-Hol camp," it said Tuesday. Around 113 people -- two-thirds of them children under five -- have died en route to the camp or shortly after arriving since December, the UN's humanitarian coordination office OCHA says. 'Battles not over' At the height of its brutal rule, IS controlled a stretch of land in Syria and Iraq the size of the United Kingdom. The total capture of the Baghouz camp by the SDF would mark the end of the cross-border "caliphate" it proclaimed more than four years ago. But beyond Baghouz, IS retains a presence in eastern Syria's vast Badia desert and sleeper cells in the northeast. The jihadists have continued to claim deadly attacks in SDF-held territory in recent months, and the US military has warned of the need to maintain a "vigilant offensive". The group released a video late Monday allegedly showing jihadists in Baghouz, quietly defiant in the face of the advancing SDF. "If we had thousands of kilometres and now we only have some kilometres left, it is said we have lost -- but God's judging standard is different," said a man named Abu Abdel Adheem. "The battles are not over," he said, sitting on the ground in a circle with two men and a young boy in a hooded jacket. Baghouz is the latest front on Syria's complex civil war, which has killed more than 360,000 people since 2011.

2,000 more surrender from Islamic State Syria bastion as end nears

US-backed fighters have been hoping for weeks that the final day has come for the Islamic State group's "caliphate", but its last tiny sliver of land just won't seem to empty.&nbsp;

Tens of thousands of dust-covered women, children and men have streamed out of the ragged tent encampment in the Syrian village of Baghouz since December -- and despite that exodus they still keep on coming.&nbsp;

The numbers have flummoxed the Kurdish-led forces and bogged down their offensive to finish off the once sprawling proto-state.

"When we began the operation we knew there would be civilians, but not in such a big number," Adnan Afrin, a spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, said Thursday. &nbsp;

In recent days thousands more men and women -- including those who once flocked to join IS from across the globe -- left the IS pocket.

That upended assumptions that few families remained holed up in Baghouz and those who refused to leave or surrender were choosing to die there. &nbsp;

"They're coming from underground... they're never-ending," said one SDF official.&nbsp;

The International Rescue Committee on Friday said as many as 12,000 people from Baghouz have arrived in one camp for non-combatants in northeast Syria over the past 48 hours, including some 6,000 people on Thursday alone.&nbsp;

The women trucked out of the bastion this week gave drastically varying figures on the holdout families that remain in the bombed-out and besieged jihadist bastion. &nbsp;

"There's still more," said Umm Aboud from the northern Syrian city of Al-Bab.&nbsp;

"You see how many people have come out in the past few days, there's that many still inside," said the mother of four, her bright green eyes peering through a black veil.&nbsp;

'Thousands' still inside

More than 55,000 civilians have arrived in the Kurdish-run Al-Hol camp since December, according to the International Rescue Committee. &nbsp;

"The IRC and other agencies are doing all they can do help the new arrivals but Al-Hol camp is now at breaking point," the organisation said Friday.

"No one could have guessed that such a large number of women and children were still living in Baghouz."

Questions remain as to how aid planners, as well as SDF officials and their coalition partners, could have so severely underestimated the number of people left in the crumbling "caliphate".&nbsp;

Carrying what they could manage, black-clad women trucked out of Baghouz in the past few days have said they were living crammed together in trenches, tents and cars near the bend in the Euphrates as the bombing campaign rolled the redoubt back.&nbsp;

"There are thousands of families leaving... (but) there were thousands and thousands of families there, even I was surprised," 35-year-old Umm Alaa, from the Iraqi town of Heet, said Wednesday after fleeing. &nbsp;

The mother of 10 said she lost a child last week due to hunger as the situation grew increasingly desperate. &nbsp;

Footage obtained by AFP from the Free Burma Rangers, a Christian aid group run by a former US special forces operative, showed hundreds of people still remained in the riverside camp. &nbsp;

In the images said to have been filmed Thursday, women draped in black walked through the makeshift dwellings as overturned cars and scraps of twisted metal littered the ground.

The aid group has come in close proximity to the camp in recent days and its head, David Eubank, told AFP some two thousand people could remain inside.&nbsp;

Analyst Mutlu Civiroglu, on the ground in eastern Syria, told AFP that IS was purposefully trying to conceal its numbers.&nbsp;

They have regularly been "releasing certain numbers of people, including fighters, in controlled amounts" in an attempt to buy time, he said. &nbsp;

"If they really wanted to surrender, they would have... and if they wanted to fight again, they could have," he added. &nbsp;

The delay was "a deliberate effort, maybe to prepare for something else... what that is though is unclear".&nbsp;

US-backed fighters have been hoping for weeks that the final day has come for the Islamic State group's "caliphate", but its last tiny sliver of land just won't seem to empty.

US-backed fighters have been hoping for weeks that the final day has come for the Islamic State group's "caliphate", but its last tiny sliver of land just won't seem to empty. Tens of thousands of dust-covered women, children and men have streamed out of the ragged tent encampment in the Syrian village of Baghouz since December -- and despite that exodus they still keep on coming. The numbers have flummoxed the Kurdish-led forces and bogged down their offensive to finish off the once sprawling proto-state. "When we began the operation we knew there would be civilians, but not in such a big number," Adnan Afrin, a spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces, said Thursday. In recent days thousands more men and women -- including those who once flocked to join IS from across the globe -- left the IS pocket. That upended assumptions that few families remained holed up in Baghouz and those who refused to leave or surrender were choosing to die there. "They're coming from underground... they're never-ending," said one SDF official. The International Rescue Committee on Friday said as many as 12,000 people from Baghouz have arrived in one camp for non-combatants in northeast Syria over the past 48 hours, including some 6,000 people on Thursday alone. The women trucked out of the bastion this week gave drastically varying figures on the holdout families that remain in the bombed-out and besieged jihadist bastion. "There's still more," said Umm Aboud from the northern Syrian city of Al-Bab. "You see how many people have come out in the past few days, there's that many still inside," said the mother of four, her bright green eyes peering through a black veil. 'Thousands' still inside More than 55,000 civilians have arrived in the Kurdish-run Al-Hol camp since December, according to the International Rescue Committee. "The IRC and other agencies are doing all they can do help the new arrivals but Al-Hol camp is now at breaking point," the organisation said Friday. "No one could have guessed that such a large number of women and children were still living in Baghouz." Questions remain as to how aid planners, as well as SDF officials and their coalition partners, could have so severely underestimated the number of people left in the crumbling "caliphate". Carrying what they could manage, black-clad women trucked out of Baghouz in the past few days have said they were living crammed together in trenches, tents and cars near the bend in the Euphrates as the bombing campaign rolled the redoubt back. "There are thousands of families leaving... (but) there were thousands and thousands of families there, even I was surprised," 35-year-old Umm Alaa, from the Iraqi town of Heet, said Wednesday after fleeing. The mother of 10 said she lost a child last week due to hunger as the situation grew increasingly desperate. Footage obtained by AFP from the Free Burma Rangers, a Christian aid group run by a former US special forces operative, showed hundreds of people still remained in the riverside camp. In the images said to have been filmed Thursday, women draped in black walked through the makeshift dwellings as overturned cars and scraps of twisted metal littered the ground. The aid group has come in close proximity to the camp in recent days and its head, David Eubank, told AFP some two thousand people could remain inside. Analyst Mutlu Civiroglu, on the ground in eastern Syria, told AFP that IS was purposefully trying to conceal its numbers. They have regularly been "releasing certain numbers of people, including fighters, in controlled amounts" in an attempt to buy time, he said. "If they really wanted to surrender, they would have... and if they wanted to fight again, they could have," he added. The delay was "a deliberate effort, maybe to prepare for something else... what that is though is unclear".

'Never-ending' numbers in last Islamic State scrap shock US-backed fighters

More than 20 civilians were killed Sunday in central Syria when a landmine left behind by jihadists exploded under a van, the state news agency SANA said.

The ordnance left behind by the Islamic State group in the town of Salamiyeh killed farmworkers who were heading to a region in the Hama province to pick truffles, SANA said, citing local police.&nbsp;

It was the second such incident since February 8 when a landmine that had been planted by IS in rural Hama exploded killing seven civilians, SANA said.

IS had a presence in Hama's countryside before the Syrian army drove the jihadists from the area in 2017.

Before withdrawing they had planted mines in the area and rigged buildings with explosives, a tactic they have used in other areas as well.

More than four years after IS overran large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq and declared a "caliphate", the jihadist group has lost one territory after another and are left with only a tiny patch in the village of Baghouz near the Iraqi border.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are closing in on jihadists defending their last sliver of territory.&nbsp;

The battle for Baghouz is now the only live front in Syria's war, which has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions since 2011.

Beyond Baghouz, IS retains a presence in the vast Syrian desert, and continues to claim deadly attacks in SDF-held territory.

More than 20 civilians were killed Sunday in central Syria when a landmine left behind by jihadists exploded under a van, the state news agency SANA said. The ordnance left behind by the Islamic State group in the town of Salamiyeh killed farmworkers who were heading to a region in the Hama province to pick truffles, SANA said, citing local police.

More than 20 civilians were killed Sunday in central Syria when a landmine left behind by jihadists exploded under a van, the state news agency SANA said. The ordnance left behind by the Islamic State group in the town of Salamiyeh killed farmworkers who were heading to a region in the Hama province to pick truffles, SANA said, citing local police. It was the second such incident since February 8 when a landmine that had been planted by IS in rural Hama exploded killing seven civilians, SANA said. IS had a presence in Hama's countryside before the Syrian army drove the jihadists from the area in 2017. Before withdrawing they had planted mines in the area and rigged buildings with explosives, a tactic they have used in other areas as well. More than four years after IS overran large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq and declared a "caliphate", the jihadist group has lost one territory after another and are left with only a tiny patch in the village of Baghouz near the Iraqi border. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces are closing in on jihadists defending their last sliver of territory. The battle for Baghouz is now the only live front in Syria's war, which has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions since 2011. Beyond Baghouz, IS retains a presence in the vast Syrian desert, and continues to claim deadly attacks in SDF-held territory.

Mine blast kills more than 20 civilians in Syria

In pics: Syrian children in focus at Sarajevo museum on war and childhood

A bomb blast hit the capital of war-torn Syria on Sunday and a "terrorist" was arrested, state media said, in a rare attack in the city that has been largely insulated from violence.

The explosion came as another bomb in the northern city of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/bomb-blast-in-a-bus-kills-3-civilians-in-syrias-afrin-monitor-191619">Afrin killed three people and wounded nine others</a>, according to a war monitor, on the first anniversary of a Turkish offensive on the Kurdish-majority region.

Also on Sunday Israel said it intercepted a rocket fired from Syria after Damascus accused the Jewish state of carrying out air raids on the south of the country.

State news agency SANA said a "bomb blast" had hit southern Damascus "without leaving any victims".&nbsp;

"There is confirmation of reports that a terrorist has been arrested," it said.&nbsp;

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported, however, a "huge explosion" near a military intelligence office in southern Damascus that left a number of people dead and wounded. &nbsp;

"The explosion took place near a security branch in the south of the city," and was followed by shooting, said the monitor which relies on a network of sources inside the country.

"There are some people killed and injured but we could not verify the toll immediately," it added.

It was unclear if the blast was caused by a bomb that was planted or a suicide attack, according to the monitor.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Syria is locked in a civil war that has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions since a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011 spiralled into full conflict.

With key military backing from Russia, President Bashar al-Assad's forces have retaken large parts of Syria from rebels and jihadists, and now control almost two-thirds of the country.

Repeated attacks

The Syrian regime in May reclaimed a final scrap of territory held by the Islamic State group (IS) in southern Damascus, cementing total control over the capital for the first time in six years.

Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said that Sunday's blast appeared to be the first attack in Damascus since a car bomb over a year ago that caused no casualties.

Damascus has been largely spared the worst of the violence during the country's nearly eight-year war, but several bomb attacks have shaken the city.

In March 2017 a double suicide attack claimed by Al-Qaeda's former affiliate in the country killed 74 people, including dozens of Iranian pilgrims visiting religious sites in the historic Old City. &nbsp;

That was followed a few days later by bombings claimed by IS at a courthouse and restaurant that killed 32 people.

One of the most high-profile attacks in the capital saw a bomb kill Assad's brother-in-law Assef Shawkat -- a top security official -- and the minister of defence at a command centre in July 2012.

Since reclaiming control of Damascus and surrounding regions, security forces have removed many of the checkpoints that dotted the city.

Government troops have largely pushed remaining rebel and jihadist forces into the northwestern province of Idlib, while IS holds a few dwindling pockets of territory.&nbsp;

The Afrin blast was the result of a bomb placed in a bus in the centre of the city, according to the Observatory.

Turkish troops and allied rebel groups seized the Afrin region from Kurdish forces in March last year after a two-month air and ground offensive.

Israel meanwhile said a rocket fired from Syria's Golan Heights had been intercepted by its "Iron Dome" air defence system.

It came after SANA, quoting a Syrian military source, said anti-aircraft defences went into action after Israel on Sunday launched air strikes on the south of the country.

Israel has pledged to stop arch foe Iran from entrenching itself militarily in neighbouring Syria and says it has carried out hundreds of air strikes there against Iranian targets and those of Tehran's Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

A bomb blast hit the capital of war-torn Syria on Sunday and a "terrorist" was arrested, state media said, in a rare attack in the city that has been largely insulated from violence.

A bomb blast hit the capital of war-torn Syria on Sunday and a "terrorist" was arrested, state media said, in a rare attack in the city that has been largely insulated from violence. The explosion came as another bomb in the northern city of Afrin killed three people and wounded nine others, according to a war monitor, on the first anniversary of a Turkish offensive on the Kurdish-majority region. Also on Sunday Israel said it intercepted a rocket fired from Syria after Damascus accused the Jewish state of carrying out air raids on the south of the country. State news agency SANA said a "bomb blast" had hit southern Damascus "without leaving any victims". "There is confirmation of reports that a terrorist has been arrested," it said. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor reported, however, a "huge explosion" near a military intelligence office in southern Damascus that left a number of people dead and wounded. "The explosion took place near a security branch in the south of the city," and was followed by shooting, said the monitor which relies on a network of sources inside the country. "There are some people killed and injured but we could not verify the toll immediately," it added. It was unclear if the blast was caused by a bomb that was planted or a suicide attack, according to the monitor. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Syria is locked in a civil war that has killed more than 360,000 people and displaced millions since a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011 spiralled into full conflict. With key military backing from Russia, President Bashar al-Assad's forces have retaken large parts of Syria from rebels and jihadists, and now control almost two-thirds of the country. Repeated attacks The Syrian regime in May reclaimed a final scrap of territory held by the Islamic State group (IS) in southern Damascus, cementing total control over the capital for the first time in six years. Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said that Sunday's blast appeared to be the first attack in Damascus since a car bomb over a year ago that caused no casualties. Damascus has been largely spared the worst of the violence during the country's nearly eight-year war, but several bomb attacks have shaken the city. In March 2017 a double suicide attack claimed by Al-Qaeda's former affiliate in the country killed 74 people, including dozens of Iranian pilgrims visiting religious sites in the historic Old City. That was followed a few days later by bombings claimed by IS at a courthouse and restaurant that killed 32 people. One of the most high-profile attacks in the capital saw a bomb kill Assad's brother-in-law Assef Shawkat -- a top security official -- and the minister of defence at a command centre in July 2012. Since reclaiming control of Damascus and surrounding regions, security forces have removed many of the checkpoints that dotted the city. Government troops have largely pushed remaining rebel and jihadist forces into the northwestern province of Idlib, while IS holds a few dwindling pockets of territory. The Afrin blast was the result of a bomb placed in a bus in the centre of the city, according to the Observatory. Turkish troops and allied rebel groups seized the Afrin region from Kurdish forces in March last year after a two-month air and ground offensive. Israel meanwhile said a rocket fired from Syria's Golan Heights had been intercepted by its "Iron Dome" air defence system. It came after SANA, quoting a Syrian military source, said anti-aircraft defences went into action after Israel on Sunday launched air strikes on the south of the country. Israel has pledged to stop arch foe Iran from entrenching itself militarily in neighbouring Syria and says it has carried out hundreds of air strikes there against Iranian targets and those of Tehran's Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

'Bomb blast' hits Syrian capital Damascus

Turkey said Monday it would not be intimidated by threats after US President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-warns-turkey-of-economic-devastation-if-it-hits-kurds-190087">Donald Trump warned the country of economic devastation</a>&nbsp;if it attacked Kurdish forces.

"We have said repeatedly we are not scared of and will not be intimidated by any threats," news agency AFP quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu as saying.&nbsp;

Trump had on Sunday issued a warning to Turkey (on Twitter) that he "will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds."

"Economic threats against Turkey will get nowhere," Cavusoglu replied Monday.

Cavusoglu added on Monday, he was speaking at a press conference in Ankara with his Luxembourg counterpart Jean Asselborn, that Turkey was "not against" a "security zone" in Syria as suggested by Trump.&nbsp;

"Create 20-mile safe zone..." Trump had suggested on Twitter.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1084584259510304768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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....Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey. Russia, Iran and Syria have been the biggest beneficiaries of the long term U.S. policy of destroying ISIS in Syria - natural enemies. We also benefit but it is now time to bring our troops back home. Stop the ENDLESS WARS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1084586625672376322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Trump, however, did not detail who would create, enforce or pay for the safe zone, or where it would be located.

"Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey," the US president added in another tweet.

US-led operations against IS in Syria have been spearheaded on the ground by the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Ankara sees the backbone of that alliance, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), as a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.

On Saturday, more than 600 people were evacuated from the remaining IS holdout in eastern Syria, a monitor said, as US-backed fighters prepare for a final assault on the area.

Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman said that several dozen jihadist fighters were among those evacuated to areas held by the Kurdish-Arab alliance.&nbsp;

Abdel Rahman said some 16,000 people, including 760 IS fighters, have fled the area since the start of December, though this marked the first time the SDF and the coalition provided buses, suggesting a deal struck between the warring sides.

(With inputs from agencies)

Turkey said Monday it would not be intimidated by threats after US President Donald Trump warned the country of economic devastation if it attacked Kurdish forces.

Turkey said Monday it would not be intimidated by threats after US President Donald Trump warned the country of economic devastation if it attacked Kurdish forces. "We have said repeatedly we are not scared of and will not be intimidated by any threats," news agency AFP quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu as saying. Trump had on Sunday issued a warning to Turkey (on Twitter) that he "will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds." "Economic threats against Turkey will get nowhere," Cavusoglu replied Monday. Cavusoglu added on Monday, he was speaking at a press conference in Ankara with his Luxembourg counterpart Jean Asselborn, that Turkey was "not against" a "security zone" in Syria as suggested by Trump. "Create 20-mile safe zone..." Trump had suggested on Twitter. Starting the long overdue pullout from Syria while hitting the little remaining ISIS territorial caliphate hard, and from many directions. Will attack again from existing nearby base if it reforms. Will devastate Turkey economically if they hit Kurds. Create 20 mile safe zone.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2019 × ....Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey. Russia, Iran and Syria have been the biggest beneficiaries of the long term U.S. policy of destroying ISIS in Syria - natural enemies. We also benefit but it is now time to bring our troops back home. Stop the ENDLESS WARS! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 13, 2019 × Trump, however, did not detail who would create, enforce or pay for the safe zone, or where it would be located. "Likewise, do not want the Kurds to provoke Turkey," the US president added in another tweet. US-led operations against IS in Syria have been spearheaded on the ground by the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Ankara sees the backbone of that alliance, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), as a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) which has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state. On Saturday, more than 600 people were evacuated from the remaining IS holdout in eastern Syria, a monitor said, as US-backed fighters prepare for a final assault on the area. Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights head Rami Abdel Rahman said that several dozen jihadist fighters were among those evacuated to areas held by the Kurdish-Arab alliance. Abdel Rahman said some 16,000 people, including 760 IS fighters, have fled the area since the start of December, though this marked the first time the SDF and the coalition provided buses, suggesting a deal struck between the warring sides. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkey says it will not be 'intimidated' by Trump's threats

An estimated 25,000 people have fled escalating violence over the last six months in eastern Syria, where die-hard jihadists are defending their last bastions, the UN said Friday.&nbsp;

Much of the unrest has been centred around Hajin in Deir Ezzor province, which had been the last town of note controlled by the Islamic State group in the area until it was taken in December by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The United Nations refugee agency said that clashes and air strikes have forced 25,000 people to run and seek shelter in camps or informal settlements, sometimes after spending several nights in the desert exposed to harsh weather and without access to food or water.&nbsp;

The agency also warned over "mounting civilian casualties" in the area, without providing figures.&nbsp;

An estimated 2,000 civilians remain trapped in Hajin, where conflict continues, the UN said. &nbsp;

The SDF is currently flushing out the very last pockets of land controlled by the jihadists in the Euphrates River valley.

The US-led coalition that is supporting them in the area said Friday that it had begun withdrawing its troops, following a shock announcement from US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

An estimated 25,000 people have fled escalating violence over the last six months in eastern Syria, where die-hard jihadists are defending their last bastions, the UN said Friday.

An estimated 25,000 people have fled escalating violence over the last six months in eastern Syria, where die-hard jihadists are defending their last bastions, the UN said Friday. Much of the unrest has been centred around Hajin in Deir Ezzor province, which had been the last town of note controlled by the Islamic State group in the area until it was taken in December by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The United Nations refugee agency said that clashes and air strikes have forced 25,000 people to run and seek shelter in camps or informal settlements, sometimes after spending several nights in the desert exposed to harsh weather and without access to food or water. The agency also warned over "mounting civilian casualties" in the area, without providing figures. An estimated 2,000 civilians remain trapped in Hajin, where conflict continues, the UN said. The SDF is currently flushing out the very last pockets of land controlled by the jihadists in the Euphrates River valley. The US-led coalition that is supporting them in the area said Friday that it had begun withdrawing its troops, following a shock announcement from US President Donald Trump.

25,000 flee violence in eastern Syria: United Nations

Syria's nearly eight-year-old conflict saw its lowest annual death toll in 2018 as the regime reasserted its authority over swathes of territory, a war monitor said on Monday.

A total of 19,666 people were killed this year as a result of the conflict, which erupted in 2011, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported.

"2018 was the lowest annual toll since the start of the conflict," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

The Britain-based monitor relies on a vast network of sources across Syria to document the war that broke out after the brutal repression of nationwide anti-regime protests in 2011.

The death toll for 2017 stood at more than 33,000 and the highest annual figure was reached in 2014 -- the year the Islamic State jihadist group proclaimed a "caliphate" over large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq -- when 76,000 people were killed.

Among those killed in 2018 were 6,349 civilians, 1,437 of them children, Abdel Rahman said.

Eastern Ghouta

"Most of those killed during the first part of the year were killed in regime and Russian bombardment of opposition areas, including Eastern Ghouta," Abdel Rahman said.

"The majority of those killed in the second half of the year were killed in coalition air strikes," he added.

The first months of 2018 were marked by major Russian-backed government operations to retake rebel and jihadist bastions in and around the capital Damascus.

The bloodiest of them was an assault on Eastern Ghouta, a densely-populated area east of Damascus that remained besieged for years.

The most active front of the past few months has been the battle against the remnants of the Islamic State group in eastern Syria.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by a US-led coalition carrying out air strikes, launched an offensive on September 10.

Jihadist fighters defending the last rump of their once sprawling proto-state, near the Iraqi border along the Euphrates River, have put up fierce resistance but seem close to collapsing.

While fighting has ended or is winding down in several parts of the country, 2019 could see its share of military flare-ups.

Threatened Turkish offensive

Besides the continued threat posed by IS sleeper cells even after it loses its last pocket in eastern Syria, two other areas remain of concern.

Turkey has threatened a major offensive against the Kurdish militia that controls regions along its border in northeastern Syria.

The announcement made by Donald Trump two weeks ago that he had ordered a full troop pullout from Syria left the US-led coalition's Kurdish allies more exposed.

Thousands of rebel fighters and jihadists also remain in Idlib, a northern province where many of them were transferred as a result of deals to end government assaults on other areas across the country.

Under an agreement reached in Russia, Turkey was tasked with disarming some of the groups active in Idlib but little progress has been achieved.

President Bashar al-Assad has consistently said that his forces would seek to reconquer the entire Syrian territory.

According to the Observatory, the government and its allies now controls 60.2 per cent of Syrian territory, while the SDF hold 28.8 per cent.

The Kurds last week asked for the regime's help against the threat of a Turkish offensive, a move that will put pay to their ambitions of increased autonomy.

By comparison, the US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project puts the number of conflict-related deaths in Afghanistan at more than 40,000 this year.

Syria's nearly eight-year-old conflict saw its lowest annual death toll in 2018 as the regime reasserted its authority over swathes of territory, a war monitor said on Monday.

Syria's nearly eight-year-old conflict saw its lowest annual death toll in 2018 as the regime reasserted its authority over swathes of territory, a war monitor said on Monday. A total of 19,666 people were killed this year as a result of the conflict, which erupted in 2011, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported. "2018 was the lowest annual toll since the start of the conflict," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. The Britain-based monitor relies on a vast network of sources across Syria to document the war that broke out after the brutal repression of nationwide anti-regime protests in 2011. The death toll for 2017 stood at more than 33,000 and the highest annual figure was reached in 2014 -- the year the Islamic State jihadist group proclaimed a "caliphate" over large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq -- when 76,000 people were killed. Among those killed in 2018 were 6,349 civilians, 1,437 of them children, Abdel Rahman said. Eastern Ghouta "Most of those killed during the first part of the year were killed in regime and Russian bombardment of opposition areas, including Eastern Ghouta," Abdel Rahman said. "The majority of those killed in the second half of the year were killed in coalition air strikes," he added. The first months of 2018 were marked by major Russian-backed government operations to retake rebel and jihadist bastions in and around the capital Damascus. The bloodiest of them was an assault on Eastern Ghouta, a densely-populated area east of Damascus that remained besieged for years. The most active front of the past few months has been the battle against the remnants of the Islamic State group in eastern Syria. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by a US-led coalition carrying out air strikes, launched an offensive on September 10. Jihadist fighters defending the last rump of their once sprawling proto-state, near the Iraqi border along the Euphrates River, have put up fierce resistance but seem close to collapsing. While fighting has ended or is winding down in several parts of the country, 2019 could see its share of military flare-ups. Threatened Turkish offensive Besides the continued threat posed by IS sleeper cells even after it loses its last pocket in eastern Syria, two other areas remain of concern. Turkey has threatened a major offensive against the Kurdish militia that controls regions along its border in northeastern Syria. The announcement made by Donald Trump two weeks ago that he had ordered a full troop pullout from Syria left the US-led coalition's Kurdish allies more exposed. Thousands of rebel fighters and jihadists also remain in Idlib, a northern province where many of them were transferred as a result of deals to end government assaults on other areas across the country. Under an agreement reached in Russia, Turkey was tasked with disarming some of the groups active in Idlib but little progress has been achieved. President Bashar al-Assad has consistently said that his forces would seek to reconquer the entire Syrian territory. According to the Observatory, the government and its allies now controls 60.2 per cent of Syrian territory, while the SDF hold 28.8 per cent. The Kurds last week asked for the regime's help against the threat of a Turkish offensive, a move that will put pay to their ambitions of increased autonomy. By comparison, the US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project puts the number of conflict-related deaths in Afghanistan at more than 40,000 this year.

In 8 years of war, Syria records lowest death toll with over 19,000 killed in 2018

Russia and Turkey on Saturday agreed to coordinate ground operations in Syria after last week's shock announcement of a US military withdrawal, Moscow's top diplomat said.

"Of course we paid special attention to new circumstances which appeared in connection with the announced US military pullout," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after talks with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Moscow.

"An understanding was reached of how military representatives of Russia and Turkey will continue to coordinate their steps on the ground under new conditions with a view to finally rooting out terrorist threats in Syria," Lavrov said.

Cavusoglu confirmed the two countries would coordinate Syria operations, adding they also discussed plans to help refugees to return home.

"We will continue active work (and) coordination with our Russian colleagues and colleagues from Iran to speed up the arrival of a political settlement in the Syrian Republic," he said in remarks translated into Russian.

Besides Lavrov and Cavusoglu, Russian and Turkish defence ministers Sergei Shoigu and Hulusi Akar also attended the talks.

President Donald Trump last week unexpectedly said he was pulling all 2,000 troops from Syria, declaring that the United States had achieved its objective as the Islamic State group had been "knocked" out.

The extremist movement, also known as ISIS, has lost nearly all its territory, although thousands of its jihadists are thought to remain in war-battered Syria.

On Friday, Russia said it would host a three-way summit with Turkey and Iran on the Syrian conflict early next year.

President Donald Trump last week unexpectedly said he was pulling all 2,000 troops from Syria, declaring that the United States had achieved its objective as the Islamic State group had been 'knocked' out.

Russia and Turkey on Saturday agreed to coordinate ground operations in Syria after last week's shock announcement of a US military withdrawal, Moscow's top diplomat said. "Of course we paid special attention to new circumstances which appeared in connection with the announced US military pullout," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after talks with Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Moscow. "An understanding was reached of how military representatives of Russia and Turkey will continue to coordinate their steps on the ground under new conditions with a view to finally rooting out terrorist threats in Syria," Lavrov said. Cavusoglu confirmed the two countries would coordinate Syria operations, adding they also discussed plans to help refugees to return home. "We will continue active work (and) coordination with our Russian colleagues and colleagues from Iran to speed up the arrival of a political settlement in the Syrian Republic," he said in remarks translated into Russian. Besides Lavrov and Cavusoglu, Russian and Turkish defence ministers Sergei Shoigu and Hulusi Akar also attended the talks. President Donald Trump last week unexpectedly said he was pulling all 2,000 troops from Syria, declaring that the United States had achieved its objective as the Islamic State group had been "knocked" out. The extremist movement, also known as ISIS, has lost nearly all its territory, although thousands of its jihadists are thought to remain in war-battered Syria. On Friday, Russia said it would host a three-way summit with Turkey and Iran on the Syrian conflict early next year.

Russia, Turkey agree to coordinate on Syria after US pullout

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