Among the destroyed buildings of&nbsp;Syria's&nbsp;Aleppo, a battered sign between two army checkpoints welcomes visitors to an area earmarked to become a beacon of&nbsp;post-war reconstruction.

"The industrial city of&nbsp;Aleppo&nbsp;thanks you for your visit," it reads.

Once the country's powerhouse,&nbsp;Aleppo&nbsp;was devastated by&nbsp;Syria's ongoing civil war before Russia-backed government forces expelled the last rebels in late 2016 after a devastating siege.

As some of the city is slowly rebuilt, the Russian army this week showed reporters around, as Moscow seeks to highlight its role in the reconstruction&nbsp;of the war-torn country.

Several factories have reopened in the almost three years since the fighting ended in&nbsp;Aleppo, large parts of which were flattened.

At Katerji Engineering and Mechanical Industries, 1,000 people are employed in metalworking jobs.

About a fifth of the workers recently returned to&nbsp;Aleppo.

"We started work again a year ago and today we have four operational warehouses," said Salah Mitar, the engineer in charge.

"We hope to expand to 11 by 2020," he told AFP, as employees bustled around him in one huge warehouse.

But Mitar said international sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's government and associated businessmen meant the factory cannot import sophisticated machinery.

The two main shareholders of Katerji Engineering and Mechanical Industries Hussam and Baraa Katerji are targeted by European Union and US sanctions respectively.

The factory was under rebel control until&nbsp;Aleppo's recapture and production ground to a halt during the fighting.&nbsp;

For the past eight months since the factory re-opened, employee Khaled said he had received a good salary.

But "very high prices in town" still make life difficult for him and his family, said the 38-year-old father of five.

After fuel shortages the government blames on sanctions, the value of the Syrian pound fell to its lowest level ever on the black market earlier this month.

Customers will return

Aleppo's UNESCO-listed historic centre and its centuries-old covered markets are also returning to life.

The frontline once ran through the old souqs, but today large parts of the historical trading centre have been restored.

Workers still shovel rubble in some alleys, like coffee shops and stalls most still empty prepare to receive merchandise.

Among them,&nbsp;59-year-old Abdel Rahman Mahmud could not wait to see shoppers back in his two-decade-old shop, where he will resume selling soap and spice.

"Customers will return. I'm sure of it. We just need to wait a bit," said the trader, who lost a son in the war.

The civil war has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since starting in 2011 with the repression of anti-government protests.

But, Mahmud said, "our lives have changed a lot these past few years.

Things are a lot better&nbsp;we have electricity, water."

Russian pipes and cables

President Bashar al-Assad's government has won back large parts of the country from rebels and jihadists since Russia intervened militarily on its side in 2015.

After blistering military campaigns and Russia-brokered surrender deals, Damascus now controls more than 60 per cent of&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;and is looking to rebuild with Russian support.

Moscow says it has delivered thousands of tonnes of the water pipe and hundreds of kilometres (miles) of high-tension cable to improve water and power supplies.

Its military police on the ground have deterred looters, Russia says.

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, a longtime Kremlin protege with vast resources, has offered to fund the restoration of&nbsp;Aleppo's centuries-old Umayyad Mosque after it was damaged in the fighting.

But in the east of the city, residential neighbourhoods once under rebel control still largely lie in ruin.

Flattened apartment blocks lie on either side of deserted streets, dotted only by army checkpoints.

And just 10 kilometres (6 miles) away, fighting has continued.

The city lies east of the jihadist-run region of Idlib, where a Russia-announced ceasefire has largely held in recent weeks, despite sporadic bombardment.

The governor of&nbsp;Aleppo&nbsp;province, Hussein Diab, said fighting wounded 123 people in the province in September.

Among the destroyed buildings of Syria's Aleppo, a battered sign between two army checkpoints welcomes visitors to an area earmarked to become a beacon of post-war reconstruction.

Among the destroyed buildings of Syria's Aleppo, a battered sign between two army checkpoints welcomes visitors to an area earmarked to become a beacon of post-war reconstruction. "The industrial city of Aleppo thanks you for your visit," it reads. Once the country's powerhouse, Aleppo was devastated by Syria's ongoing civil war before Russia-backed government forces expelled the last rebels in late 2016 after a devastating siege. As some of the city is slowly rebuilt, the Russian army this week showed reporters around, as Moscow seeks to highlight its role in the reconstruction of the war-torn country. Several factories have reopened in the almost three years since the fighting ended in Aleppo, large parts of which were flattened. At Katerji Engineering and Mechanical Industries, 1,000 people are employed in metalworking jobs. About a fifth of the workers recently returned to Aleppo. "We started work again a year ago and today we have four operational warehouses," said Salah Mitar, the engineer in charge. "We hope to expand to 11 by 2020," he told AFP, as employees bustled around him in one huge warehouse. But Mitar said international sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's government and associated businessmen meant the factory cannot import sophisticated machinery. The two main shareholders of Katerji Engineering and Mechanical Industries Hussam and Baraa Katerji are targeted by European Union and US sanctions respectively. The factory was under rebel control until Aleppo's recapture and production ground to a halt during the fighting. For the past eight months since the factory re-opened, employee Khaled said he had received a good salary. But "very high prices in town" still make life difficult for him and his family, said the 38-year-old father of five. After fuel shortages the government blames on sanctions, the value of the Syrian pound fell to its lowest level ever on the black market earlier this month. Customers will return Aleppo's UNESCO-listed historic centre and its centuries-old covered markets are also returning to life. The frontline once ran through the old souqs, but today large parts of the historical trading centre have been restored. Workers still shovel rubble in some alleys, like coffee shops and stalls most still empty prepare to receive merchandise. Among them, 59-year-old Abdel Rahman Mahmud could not wait to see shoppers back in his two-decade-old shop, where he will resume selling soap and spice. "Customers will return. I'm sure of it. We just need to wait a bit," said the trader, who lost a son in the war. The civil war has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since starting in 2011 with the repression of anti-government protests. But, Mahmud said, "our lives have changed a lot these past few years. Things are a lot better we have electricity, water." Russian pipes and cables President Bashar al-Assad's government has won back large parts of the country from rebels and jihadists since Russia intervened militarily on its side in 2015. After blistering military campaigns and Russia-brokered surrender deals, Damascus now controls more than 60 per cent of Syria and is looking to rebuild with Russian support. Moscow says it has delivered thousands of tonnes of the water pipe and hundreds of kilometres (miles) of high-tension cable to improve water and power supplies. Its military police on the ground have deterred looters, Russia says. Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, a longtime Kremlin protege with vast resources, has offered to fund the restoration of Aleppo's centuries-old Umayyad Mosque after it was damaged in the fighting. But in the east of the city, residential neighbourhoods once under rebel control still largely lie in ruin. Flattened apartment blocks lie on either side of deserted streets, dotted only by army checkpoints. And just 10 kilometres (6 miles) away, fighting has continued. The city lies east of the jihadist-run region of Idlib, where a Russia-announced ceasefire has largely held in recent weeks, despite sporadic bombardment. The governor of Aleppo province, Hussein Diab, said fighting wounded 123 people in the province in September.

In Syria's Aleppo, reconstruction makes slow start

The United Nations special envoy for Syria arrived in Damascus on Sunday for fresh talks on forming a committee tasked with drafting a new constitution for the war-ravaged country.&nbsp;

Geir Pedersen was set to meet with Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Monday to discuss the committee, the UN-backed push for which has been bogged down by disagreements with President Bashar al-Assad's government over the make-up of the body. &nbsp;

On arrival in the Syrian capital, Pedersen said he was "looking very much forward" to his meeting with Muallem, recalling the "productive meetings" they had during his last visit in July.

The Norwegian diplomat, who took up the role in January, said progress has been made since.

On Wednesday, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said an agreement had been reached concerning the formation of the body.&nbsp;

The committee is set to include 150 members, a third picked by the regime, another by the opposition and the remaining third by the UN.

Besides its composition, the mechanisms that will govern the committee's work have yet to be agreed upon, prompting fears among diplomats that concrete progress is still months away.

According to the pro-Damascus daily Al-Watan, Pedersen could make a formal announcement on the constitutional committee at the UN General Assembly, which opens in New York this week.

Numerous rounds of the UN-led peace talks have failed to end a war that has <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-1100-children-were-killed-in-the-syrian-war-in-2018-deadliest-year-202550">killed more than 370,000 people</a> and displaced millions since erupting in 2011 with the repression of anti-government protests.

In recent years, a parallel negotiations track led by Russia and rebel backer Turkey has taken precedence.

With key military backing from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/regime-and-russian-air-strikes-killed-43-people-in-northwest-syria-war-monitor-237768">Russia</a>, Assad's forces have retaken large parts of Syria from rebels and jihadists since 2015, and now control around 60 percent of the country.

The United Nations special envoy for Syria arrived in Damascus on Sunday for fresh talks on forming a committee tasked with drafting a new constitution for the war-ravaged country.

The United Nations special envoy for Syria arrived in Damascus on Sunday for fresh talks on forming a committee tasked with drafting a new constitution for the war-ravaged country. Geir Pedersen was set to meet with Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Monday to discuss the committee, the UN-backed push for which has been bogged down by disagreements with President Bashar al-Assad's government over the make-up of the body. On arrival in the Syrian capital, Pedersen said he was "looking very much forward" to his meeting with Muallem, recalling the "productive meetings" they had during his last visit in July. The Norwegian diplomat, who took up the role in January, said progress has been made since. On Wednesday, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said an agreement had been reached concerning the formation of the body. The committee is set to include 150 members, a third picked by the regime, another by the opposition and the remaining third by the UN. Besides its composition, the mechanisms that will govern the committee's work have yet to be agreed upon, prompting fears among diplomats that concrete progress is still months away. According to the pro-Damascus daily Al-Watan, Pedersen could make a formal announcement on the constitutional committee at the UN General Assembly, which opens in New York this week. Numerous rounds of the UN-led peace talks have failed to end a war that has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since erupting in 2011 with the repression of anti-government protests. In recent years, a parallel negotiations track led by Russia and rebel backer Turkey has taken precedence. With key military backing from Russia, Assad's forces have retaken large parts of Syria from rebels and jihadists since 2015, and now control around 60 percent of the country.

UN Syria envoy arrives in Damascus for fresh talks on forming committee tasked with drafting new constitution

This segment of WION brings to you top stories of the evening from across the globe. Watch this video to get updated with the latest information.

WION Speed News: Watch top national and international news of the morning - September 16th, 2019

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Washington is stalling in its agreement to create a "safe zone" in northeast Syria, and repeated that Ankara was ready to act on its own if necessary to push back Kurdish fighters.

The NATO allies have agreed to establish what Ankara calls a safe zone along Turkey's southern border and clear the region of Syrian Kurdish YPG fighters. On Sunday, Turkish and US&nbsp;troops carried out their first joint military land patrol there.

Turkey, which labels the YPG a terrorist organization, wants the operations to expand rapidly as far as 20 miles (32 km) from its border to create a zone controlled by Turkish troops.

Cavusoglu said Turkey wanted to work with the United States but was growing impatient. "Yes, there are some joint patrols but other than that, the steps that have been taken or the steps that are said to be taken are cosmetic steps," he told reporters.

"We are seeing that the United States is entering a stalling process...and that it is trying get Turkey accustomed to this stalling process," he said in Ankara, adding Washington's approach has so far served the YPG more than Turkey.

The YPG has been a main US&nbsp;ally in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. US&nbsp;support for the fighters has infuriated Turkey and strained ties with Washington.

His comments came after President Tayyip Erdogan said at the weekend that Turkey rejected Washington's protection of the YPG and added that the NATO allies faced differences "at every step" in the safe zone talks.

Erdogan also said Turkey would act alone if the safe zone was not established by the end of September, a warning Cavusoglu repeated on Tuesday, 20 days before month's end.

New migrant wave

In northwestern Syria's Idlib, where Turkey has troops and where Ankara in 2017 agreed with Moscow and Tehran to reduce fighting, months of renewed conflict intensified in recent weeks and raised prospects of another wave of refugees to Turkey.

Erdogan has said Turkey aims to send 1 million of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it hosts to the planned safe zone in northern Syria, and warned that Ankara would "open the gates" to Europe unless it received international support.

Speaking at a lunch with US&nbsp;Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Tuesday, Erdogan said it was not possible for Turkey to handle a new wave of migrants from Syria.

"Our expectation from the United States is to stand with us in our fight against terror and our efforts to establish safe zones where the refugees can return to," Erdogan said, adding Ankara "greatly valued" its cooperation with Washington in Syria.

"Sending 50,000 trucks of equipment and ammunition to the terrorists so far has really bothered us. Against who are these (weapons) used? Against Turkey. It is not possible for us to accept this as a strategic partner," he said.

Turkey and the United States have been at loggerheads over a host of issues in recent months, including Ankara's purchase of Russian defence systems would could spark US&nbsp;sanctions.

Turkey has so far relied heavily on Erdogan's personal ties with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump to resolve issues. Erdogan and Trump are due to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly later this month to discuss developments in Syria, trade and other bilateral issues.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Washington is stalling in its agreement to create a "safe zone" in northeast Syria, and repeated that Ankara was ready to act on its own if necessary to push back Kurdish fighters.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Washington is stalling in its agreement to create a "safe zone" in northeast Syria, and repeated that Ankara was ready to act on its own if necessary to push back Kurdish fighters. The NATO allies have agreed to establish what Ankara calls a safe zone along Turkey's southern border and clear the region of Syrian Kurdish YPG fighters. On Sunday, Turkish and US troops carried out their first joint military land patrol there. Turkey, which labels the YPG a terrorist organization, wants the operations to expand rapidly as far as 20 miles (32 km) from its border to create a zone controlled by Turkish troops. Cavusoglu said Turkey wanted to work with the United States but was growing impatient. "Yes, there are some joint patrols but other than that, the steps that have been taken or the steps that are said to be taken are cosmetic steps," he told reporters. "We are seeing that the United States is entering a stalling process...and that it is trying get Turkey accustomed to this stalling process," he said in Ankara, adding Washington's approach has so far served the YPG more than Turkey. The YPG has been a main US ally in the fight against Islamic State in Syria. US support for the fighters has infuriated Turkey and strained ties with Washington. His comments came after President Tayyip Erdogan said at the weekend that Turkey rejected Washington's protection of the YPG and added that the NATO allies faced differences "at every step" in the safe zone talks. Erdogan also said Turkey would act alone if the safe zone was not established by the end of September, a warning Cavusoglu repeated on Tuesday, 20 days before month's end. New migrant wave In northwestern Syria's Idlib, where Turkey has troops and where Ankara in 2017 agreed with Moscow and Tehran to reduce fighting, months of renewed conflict intensified in recent weeks and raised prospects of another wave of refugees to Turkey. Erdogan has said Turkey aims to send 1 million of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it hosts to the planned safe zone in northern Syria, and warned that Ankara would "open the gates" to Europe unless it received international support. Speaking at a lunch with US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross on Tuesday, Erdogan said it was not possible for Turkey to handle a new wave of migrants from Syria. "Our expectation from the United States is to stand with us in our fight against terror and our efforts to establish safe zones where the refugees can return to," Erdogan said, adding Ankara "greatly valued" its cooperation with Washington in Syria. "Sending 50,000 trucks of equipment and ammunition to the terrorists so far has really bothered us. Against who are these (weapons) used? Against Turkey. It is not possible for us to accept this as a strategic partner," he said. Turkey and the United States have been at loggerheads over a host of issues in recent months, including Ankara's purchase of Russian defence systems would could spark US sanctions. Turkey has so far relied heavily on Erdogan's personal ties with US President Donald Trump to resolve issues. Erdogan and Trump are due to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly later this month to discuss developments in Syria, trade and other bilateral issues.

Turkey says US stalling on Syria 'safe zone', will act alone if needed

Israel will be voting again on September 17 to elect their Prime Minister, know what has changed from the last polls.

The West Asia Post: Israel goes to poll again on September 17

In this segment of The West Asia Post, know how realistic is ties between Pakistan-Israel.

The West Asia Post:  Ties between Pakistan-Israel imaginable?

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Washington is stalling the implementation of an agreement to create a "safe zone" in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-turkey-launch-joint-patrols-in-northeast-syria-248400">northeast Syria</a>.

The NATO allies carried out their first joint military land patrol in the region on Sunday.

Turkey wants the operations to expand rapidly and push back Kurdish forces 20 miles (32 km) from the border, creating a zone which Ankara says should be controlled by Turkish troops.

Cavusoglu said Turkey wanted to work with the United States, but was prepared to clear the area of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-us-imposes-sanctions-on-irans-shipping-network-over-supplying-oil-to-syria-247630"> Kurdish YPG fighters </a>itself if necessary.

"Yes, there are some joint patrols but other than that, the steps that have been taken or the steps that are said to be taken are cosmetic steps," he told reporters in Ankara.

"We are seeing that the United States is entering a stalling process and that it is trying to get Turkey accustomed to this stalling process."

Cavusoglu said Washington's approach so far had served the Syrian Kurdish YPG forces more than Turkey.

The YPG, which has been the main US ally in the fight against Islamic State in Syria, is considered a terrorist organisation by Ankara, which says it is an extension of Kurdish militants in Turkey.

President Tayyip Erdogan said last week Turkey also aims to send 1 million of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it hosts to the planned safe zone in northern Syria.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Washington is stalling the implementation of an agreement to create a "safe zone" in northeast Syria.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Washington is stalling the implementation of an agreement to create a "safe zone" in northeast Syria. The NATO allies carried out their first joint military land patrol in the region on Sunday. Turkey wants the operations to expand rapidly and push back Kurdish forces 20 miles (32 km) from the border, creating a zone which Ankara says should be controlled by Turkish troops. Cavusoglu said Turkey wanted to work with the United States, but was prepared to clear the area of Kurdish YPG fighters itself if necessary. "Yes, there are some joint patrols but other than that, the steps that have been taken or the steps that are said to be taken are cosmetic steps," he told reporters in Ankara. "We are seeing that the United States is entering a stalling process and that it is trying to get Turkey accustomed to this stalling process." Cavusoglu said Washington's approach so far had served the Syrian Kurdish YPG forces more than Turkey. The YPG, which has been the main US ally in the fight against Islamic State in Syria, is considered a terrorist organisation by Ankara, which says it is an extension of Kurdish militants in Turkey. President Tayyip Erdogan said last week Turkey also aims to send 1 million of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it hosts to the planned safe zone in northern Syria.

US stalling on Syria 'safe zone': Turkey

The United States and Turkey on Sunday began joint patrols in northeastern Syria aimed at easing tensions between Ankara and US-backed Kurdish forces who battled the Islamic State jihadist group.

Six Turkish armoured vehicles crossed the border to join US forces in Syria for their first joint patrol under a deal reached between Washington and Ankara, an AFP journalist reported.

Two helicopters flew over the area as the Turkish vehicles drove through an opening in the concrete wall separating the two countries.

They then headed west with the same number of American vehicles, along with an ambulance and a pick-up, for the joint operation, before crossing back into Turkey.

The Turkish defence ministry said drones were also deployed.

The agreement reached on August 7 aims to establish a "safe zone" between the Turkish border and the Syrian areas east of the Euphrates river controlled by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

Syrian Kurdish forces began withdrawing from along the Turkish border in late August.

The patrol allowed Turkish forces to observe "first-hand progress on destroyed YPG fortifications and areas where YPG elements voluntarily departed the area", said Colonel Myles Caggins, spokesman for the US-led coalition against IS.

The YPG forms the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) -- a key partner of Washington in the fight against IS jihadists in Syria.

But Ankara sees the YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party.

The PKK, which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, is blacklisted as a terrorist group by Ankara, the US and the European Union.

Washington's support for the SDF has been a major point of friction with fellow NATO member Turkey.

Caggins said the patrol demonstrated the coalition's "continued commitment to address Turkey's legitimate security concerns, while also allowing the coalition and our SDF partners to remain focused on achieving the enduring defeat" of IS.&nbsp;

'Preventing war'

Turkey carried out unilateral offensives in northern Syria against IS in 2016 and the YPG in 2018.

As the regional fight against IS winds down, the prospect of a US military withdrawal has stoked Kurdish fears of another Turkish attack.&nbsp;

"We are implementing the agreement and we have no problem with it as long as it prevents war," said Riyad Khamis, the head of an SDF-led military council in the border town of Tal Abyad.

Although they led the US-backed fight against IS, Syria's Kurds have largely stayed out of Syria's eight-year civil war, instead building their own autonomous institutions in areas they control.

Sunday's patrol drew sharp criticism from Damascus, which labelled it a flagrant "aggression" that seeks to prolong Syria's war.

It also reiterated its "absolute rejection" of the planned safe zone, calling it a violation of Syria's sovereignty.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to launch an operation against the YPG in Syria unless progress is made on setting up the safe zone.

Erdogan said his US counterpart Donald Trump had promised the buffer would be 32 kilometres (20 miles) wide.

Turkish army chief General Yasar Guler told General Joseph Dunford, the top US military officer, in a phone call on Saturday that the safe zone must be set up without delay, the Turkish defence ministry said.

A joint centre of operations was recently established as part of the agreement.

Ankara hopes the safe zone will smooth the way for the return of some of the more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey, but experts say the situation remains unclear.

"We may have joint patrols but we still don't have a joint understanding of what the safe zone is," said Nicholas Danforth, senior visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

"America sees the safe zone as a way to preserve our relationship with the SDF and preserve the SDF's autonomy. Turkey sees the safe zone as a step toward ending them both."

 
&nbsp;

The United States and Turkey on Sunday began joint patrols in northeastern Syria aimed at easing tensions between Ankara and US-backed Kurdish forces who battled the Islamic State jihadist group.

The United States and Turkey on Sunday began joint patrols in northeastern Syria aimed at easing tensions between Ankara and US-backed Kurdish forces who battled the Islamic State jihadist group. Six Turkish armoured vehicles crossed the border to join US forces in Syria for their first joint patrol under a deal reached between Washington and Ankara, an AFP journalist reported. Two helicopters flew over the area as the Turkish vehicles drove through an opening in the concrete wall separating the two countries. They then headed west with the same number of American vehicles, along with an ambulance and a pick-up, for the joint operation, before crossing back into Turkey. The Turkish defence ministry said drones were also deployed. The agreement reached on August 7 aims to establish a "safe zone" between the Turkish border and the Syrian areas east of the Euphrates river controlled by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). Syrian Kurdish forces began withdrawing from along the Turkish border in late August. The patrol allowed Turkish forces to observe "first-hand progress on destroyed YPG fortifications and areas where YPG elements voluntarily departed the area", said Colonel Myles Caggins, spokesman for the US-led coalition against IS. The YPG forms the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) -- a key partner of Washington in the fight against IS jihadists in Syria. But Ankara sees the YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party. The PKK, which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, is blacklisted as a terrorist group by Ankara, the US and the European Union. Washington's support for the SDF has been a major point of friction with fellow NATO member Turkey. Caggins said the patrol demonstrated the coalition's "continued commitment to address Turkey's legitimate security concerns, while also allowing the coalition and our SDF partners to remain focused on achieving the enduring defeat" of IS. 'Preventing war' Turkey carried out unilateral offensives in northern Syria against IS in 2016 and the YPG in 2018. As the regional fight against IS winds down, the prospect of a US military withdrawal has stoked Kurdish fears of another Turkish attack. "We are implementing the agreement and we have no problem with it as long as it prevents war," said Riyad Khamis, the head of an SDF-led military council in the border town of Tal Abyad. Although they led the US-backed fight against IS, Syria's Kurds have largely stayed out of Syria's eight-year civil war, instead building their own autonomous institutions in areas they control. Sunday's patrol drew sharp criticism from Damascus, which labelled it a flagrant "aggression" that seeks to prolong Syria's war. It also reiterated its "absolute rejection" of the planned safe zone, calling it a violation of Syria's sovereignty. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to launch an operation against the YPG in Syria unless progress is made on setting up the safe zone. Erdogan said his US counterpart Donald Trump had promised the buffer would be 32 kilometres (20 miles) wide. Turkish army chief General Yasar Guler told General Joseph Dunford, the top US military officer, in a phone call on Saturday that the safe zone must be set up without delay, the Turkish defence ministry said. A joint centre of operations was recently established as part of the agreement. Ankara hopes the safe zone will smooth the way for the return of some of the more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey, but experts say the situation remains unclear. "We may have joint patrols but we still don't have a joint understanding of what the safe zone is," said Nicholas Danforth, senior visiting fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. "America sees the safe zone as a way to preserve our relationship with the SDF and preserve the SDF's autonomy. Turkey sees the safe zone as a step toward ending them both."

US, Turkey launch joint patrols in northeast Syria

The United States and Turkey on Sunday began joint patrols in northeastern Syria aimed at easing tensions between Ankara and US-backed Kurdish forces.&nbsp;

Six Turkish armoured vehicles crossed the border to join US troops in Syria for their first joint patrol under a deal reached between Washington and Ankara, an AFP journalist reported.

Two helicopters overflew the area as the Turkish vehicles drove through an opening in the concrete wall erected between the two countries.

The agreement reached on August 7 aims to establish a "safe zone" between the Turkish border and the Syrian areas east of the Euphrates river controlled by the Kurdish People's Protection Units militia.

The YPG is an ally of the US but seen as a terrorist organisation by Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to launch an operation against the YPG in Syria unless progress is made on setting up the safe zone.

Erdogan said his US counterpart Donald Trump had promised it would be 32 kilometres (20 miles) wide.

A joint centre of operations was recently established as part of the agreement.&nbsp;

Turkey previously conducted cross-border operations in northern Syria supporting Syrian rebels in 2016 against IS and in early 2018 against the YPG.

Ankara says the YPG militia is a "terrorist" offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party.

The PKK, which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, is blacklisted as a terrorist group by Ankara, the US and the European Union.

The United States and Turkey on Sunday began joint patrols in northeastern Syria aimed at easing tensions between Ankara and US-backed Kurdish forces. Six Turkish armoured vehicles crossed the border to join US troops in Syria for their first joint patrol under a deal reached between Washington and Ankara, an AFP journalist reported.

The United States and Turkey on Sunday began joint patrols in northeastern Syria aimed at easing tensions between Ankara and US-backed Kurdish forces. Six Turkish armoured vehicles crossed the border to join US troops in Syria for their first joint patrol under a deal reached between Washington and Ankara, an AFP journalist reported. Two helicopters overflew the area as the Turkish vehicles drove through an opening in the concrete wall erected between the two countries. The agreement reached on August 7 aims to establish a "safe zone" between the Turkish border and the Syrian areas east of the Euphrates river controlled by the Kurdish People's Protection Units militia. The YPG is an ally of the US but seen as a terrorist organisation by Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to launch an operation against the YPG in Syria unless progress is made on setting up the safe zone. Erdogan said his US counterpart Donald Trump had promised it would be 32 kilometres (20 miles) wide. A joint centre of operations was recently established as part of the agreement. Turkey previously conducted cross-border operations in northern Syria supporting Syrian rebels in 2016 against IS and in early 2018 against the YPG. Ankara says the YPG militia is a "terrorist" offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party. The PKK, which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, is blacklisted as a terrorist group by Ankara, the US and the European Union.

The United States will give an additional $120 million in humanitarian assistance to help Latin America cope with the arrival of millions of Venezuelan migrants fleeing a crushing economic crisis, the State Department said on Wednesday.

More than 4 million Venezuelans have fled their home country in recent years amid political upheaval and widespread shortages of food and medicine.

Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) head Mark Green made the announcement during a visit to the border city of Cucuta, Colombia, an epicentre of arriving migrants, the State Department said in a statement.

Ivanka Trump, White House adviser and daughter of US President Donald Trump, is also on the visit. Colombia is the first stop on a Latin American tour that will also take her, Sullivan and Green to Argentina and Paraguay.

"This additional funding provides vital support, including emergency food and health assistance, to vulnerable Venezuelans in Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and throughout the region," the statement said. "This assistance brings the US contribution to the Venezuelan regional crisis response to more than $376 million."

"We salute Colombia and neighbouring countries for their continued support as well, and we call upon other donors to make or increase contributions to help address the crisis," the statement added.

Colombia has received more Venezuelan migrants than any other country - it is now home to more than 1.4 million. Hundreds of thousands of others reside in Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil, and other countries.

Colombia has repeatedly lamented the lack of funding to help migrants, saying other humanitarian crises in Syria, South Sudan and Myanmar have received many times more in donations from the international community.

The United States said last week it will provide 12,000 doses of antiretroviral HIV medication to Venezuelan migrants in Colombia, part of efforts to better manage healthcare for migrants and prevent the spread of the disease.

Unlike its neighbours, Colombia has not imposed stringent immigration requirements, instead of encouraging migrants who entered the country informally to register with authorities so they can access social services.

The government of Colombia frequently spars with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over security and the migration crisis.

The two countries do not maintain diplomatic relations and Colombia, along with the United States, numbers among the more than 50 countries that do not recognise Maduro as Venezuela's president, instead of backing opposition leader Juan Guaido.

The United States will give an additional $120 million in humanitarian assistance to help Latin America cope with the arrival of millions of Venezuelan migrants fleeing a crushing economic crisis, the State Department said on Wednesday.

The United States will give an additional $120 million in humanitarian assistance to help Latin America cope with the arrival of millions of Venezuelan migrants fleeing a crushing economic crisis, the State Department said on Wednesday. More than 4 million Venezuelans have fled their home country in recent years amid political upheaval and widespread shortages of food and medicine. Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) head Mark Green made the announcement during a visit to the border city of Cucuta, Colombia, an epicentre of arriving migrants, the State Department said in a statement. Ivanka Trump, White House adviser and daughter of US President Donald Trump, is also on the visit. Colombia is the first stop on a Latin American tour that will also take her, Sullivan and Green to Argentina and Paraguay. "This additional funding provides vital support, including emergency food and health assistance, to vulnerable Venezuelans in Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and throughout the region," the statement said. "This assistance brings the US contribution to the Venezuelan regional crisis response to more than $376 million." "We salute Colombia and neighbouring countries for their continued support as well, and we call upon other donors to make or increase contributions to help address the crisis," the statement added. Colombia has received more Venezuelan migrants than any other country - it is now home to more than 1.4 million. Hundreds of thousands of others reside in Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Brazil, and other countries. Colombia has repeatedly lamented the lack of funding to help migrants, saying other humanitarian crises in Syria, South Sudan and Myanmar have received many times more in donations from the international community. The United States said last week it will provide 12,000 doses of antiretroviral HIV medication to Venezuelan migrants in Colombia, part of efforts to better manage healthcare for migrants and prevent the spread of the disease. Unlike its neighbours, Colombia has not imposed stringent immigration requirements, instead of encouraging migrants who entered the country informally to register with authorities so they can access social services. The government of Colombia frequently spars with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over security and the migration crisis. The two countries do not maintain diplomatic relations and Colombia, along with the United States, numbers among the more than 50 countries that do not recognise Maduro as Venezuela's president, instead of backing opposition leader Juan Guaido.

US to give additional $120 million to help Venezuelan migrants

The Russian military said the United States carried out airstrikes in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/air-strikes-stop-in-syrias-idlib-after-truce-announced-246820/amp">Syria's Idlib </a>de-escalation zone in breach of previous agreements, inflicting numerous casualties and endangering a ceasefire, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-announces-government-ceasefire-in-syrias-idlib-from-saturday-246696">Russia announces government ceasefire in Syria's Idlib from Saturday</a>

TASS news agency, citing the Russian defence ministry, said the United States had forewarned neither Russia nor Turkey about the strikes. It added that Russian and Syrian warplanes had not carried out raids in the region recently.

On Saturday the US Central Command, part of the Department of Defense, had said that US forces struck an al Qaeda facility north of Idlib in Syria in an attack aimed at the organisation's leadership.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said airstrikes pounded bases belonging to jihadist fighters in Syria's northwest. The UK-based monitor said the strikes, near the town of Maarat Misrin in Idlib province, killed more than 40 militants, including some commanders.

Interfax news agency cited Russian military as saying that the United States carried out airstrikes in the region between Maarat Misrin and Kafer Haya in Idlib on Saturday.

US airstrikes have hit a number of Nusra commanders in northwest Syria in recent years.

Russia's defence ministry on Friday said that Syrian government forces would carry out a unilateral ceasefire in the de-escalation zone on Saturday morning.

The Russian military said the United States carried out airstrikes in Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone in breach of previous agreements, inflicting numerous casualties and endangering a ceasefire, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday.

The Russian military said the United States carried out airstrikes in Syria's Idlib de-escalation zone in breach of previous agreements, inflicting numerous casualties and endangering a ceasefire, Russian news agencies reported on Sunday. Also read: Russia announces government ceasefire in Syria's Idlib from Saturday TASS news agency, citing the Russian defence ministry, said the United States had forewarned neither Russia nor Turkey about the strikes. It added that Russian and Syrian warplanes had not carried out raids in the region recently. On Saturday the US Central Command, part of the Department of Defense, had said that US forces struck an al Qaeda facility north of Idlib in Syria in an attack aimed at the organisation's leadership. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said airstrikes pounded bases belonging to jihadist fighters in Syria's northwest. The UK-based monitor said the strikes, near the town of Maarat Misrin in Idlib province, killed more than 40 militants, including some commanders. Interfax news agency cited Russian military as saying that the United States carried out airstrikes in the region between Maarat Misrin and Kafer Haya in Idlib on Saturday. US airstrikes have hit a number of Nusra commanders in northwest Syria in recent years. Russia's defence ministry on Friday said that Syrian government forces would carry out a unilateral ceasefire in the de-escalation zone on Saturday morning.

Russia says US strikes Syria's Idlib, puts ceasefire at risk: Reports

Air strikes on Syria's northwestern Idlib region stopped on Saturday, a war monitor said, after the government agreed to a &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-announces-government-ceasefire-in-syrias-idlib-from-saturday-246696">Russian-backed ceasefire</a> following four months of deadly bombardment.

"There are no warplanes in the sky and airstrikes have stopped," said Rami Abdul Rahman, the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.&nbsp;

Clashes between regime loyalists and insurgents on the edges of the anti-government bastion have also ceased after a unilateral ceasefire by Syrian regime forces went into effect at 6:00 am (0300 GMT), he said.

Artillery and rocket attacks continued however despite the deal, he added.

Syrian regime ally Russia on Friday announced that Damascus government forces would observe a new ceasefire from Saturday morning in Idlib.

It said the truce aimed "to stabilise the situation" in Idlib, one of the last holdout of opposition to forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The Syrian government agreed to the deal, state news agency SANA said.

But the army "reserves the right to respond to violations" by jihadists and allied rebel groups, it added, citing a Syrian military source.

The truce is the latest Russian-led effort to avert what the United Nations has described as one of the worst humanitarian "nightmares" in Syria's eight-year conflict.

Only a few hours before it went into effect, the Observatory reported a Russian airstrike on a health facility in Aleppo's western countryside.&nbsp;

It said the attack after midnight wounded several health workers and put the medical centre out of service.

The UN has said that 43 health facilities and 87 educational facilities have been impacted by fighting since April.

The Idlib region is home to some three million people.

Most of the province and parts of neighbouring Aleppo and Latakia provinces are controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist group led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate.&nbsp;

Russia-backed regime forces have been pressing an offensive against the region despite a deal with rebel backer Turkey in September last year to protect the area.&nbsp;

Stepped up bombardment by Damascus and Moscow since the end of April has displaced 400,000, the UN says, and killed more than 950 civilians, according to the Observatory.

The flare-up has emptied entire towns and villages in northern Hama and southern Idlib of their residents, according to the UN.&nbsp;

Almost half of the displaced are living in camps, reception centres or in the open air, it added.

Earlier this month, Damascus scrapped a similar truce agreement only three days after it went into effect, accusing rebels and jihadists of targeting a Russian airbase.

Assad, who now controls around 60 per cent of the country, has vowed to reclaim the rest, including Idlib.

The Syrian conflict has killed more than 370,000 people and driven millions from their homes since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.

Air strikes on Syria's northwestern Idlib region stopped on Saturday, a war monitor said, after the government agreed to a Russian-backed ceasefire following four months of deadly bombardment.

Air strikes on Syria's northwestern Idlib region stopped on Saturday, a war monitor said, after the government agreed to a Russian-backed ceasefire following four months of deadly bombardment. "There are no warplanes in the sky and airstrikes have stopped," said Rami Abdul Rahman, the head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Clashes between regime loyalists and insurgents on the edges of the anti-government bastion have also ceased after a unilateral ceasefire by Syrian regime forces went into effect at 6:00 am (0300 GMT), he said. Artillery and rocket attacks continued however despite the deal, he added. Syrian regime ally Russia on Friday announced that Damascus government forces would observe a new ceasefire from Saturday morning in Idlib. It said the truce aimed "to stabilise the situation" in Idlib, one of the last holdout of opposition to forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian government agreed to the deal, state news agency SANA said. But the army "reserves the right to respond to violations" by jihadists and allied rebel groups, it added, citing a Syrian military source. The truce is the latest Russian-led effort to avert what the United Nations has described as one of the worst humanitarian "nightmares" in Syria's eight-year conflict. Only a few hours before it went into effect, the Observatory reported a Russian airstrike on a health facility in Aleppo's western countryside. It said the attack after midnight wounded several health workers and put the medical centre out of service. The UN has said that 43 health facilities and 87 educational facilities have been impacted by fighting since April. The Idlib region is home to some three million people. Most of the province and parts of neighbouring Aleppo and Latakia provinces are controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a jihadist group led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate. Russia-backed regime forces have been pressing an offensive against the region despite a deal with rebel backer Turkey in September last year to protect the area. Stepped up bombardment by Damascus and Moscow since the end of April has displaced 400,000, the UN says, and killed more than 950 civilians, according to the Observatory. The flare-up has emptied entire towns and villages in northern Hama and southern Idlib of their residents, according to the UN. Almost half of the displaced are living in camps, reception centres or in the open air, it added. Earlier this month, Damascus scrapped a similar truce agreement only three days after it went into effect, accusing rebels and jihadists of targeting a Russian airbase. Assad, who now controls around 60 per cent of the country, has vowed to reclaim the rest, including Idlib. The Syrian conflict has killed more than 370,000 people and driven millions from their homes since it started with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011.

Air strikes stop in Syria's Idlib after truce announced

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-un-envoy-meets-unga-president-discusses-kashmir-issue-245943">The United Nations</a> said Friday it will help evacuate civilians from an "abysmal" Syrian desert camp near the border with Jordan, after a mission last week determined who wanted to leave.

"We are ready to facilitate" evacuations from the Rukban camp, said Panos Moumtzis, the UN's Syria humanitarian chief.&nbsp;

"We want to make sure it happens voluntarily," he told AFP during an interview in Beirut, describing the situation in the settlement as "abysmal".&nbsp;

According to the UN official, around 12,700 people remain in the isolated Rukban camp near a base used by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

The Syrian government and key backer Russia said in February they had opened corridors out of the camp, calling on residents to leave.

More than half of the original population has left in the past months, the United Nations says.

The UN and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent sent a mission to the camp last week to determine how many people remained inside and who wanted to leave, the UN official said.&nbsp;

"A little bit more than a third of them want to leave," Moumtzis said.&nbsp;

"The vast majority want to go into government-held areas and some others want to go to the north," held by the opposition, he added.&nbsp;

But the UN is not able to provide protection guarantees after civilians quit the camp, he said.

Some 47 per cent of surveyed camp residents said they wanted to stay, citing reasons including "security concerns" and "fear of detention".

Rights groups have warned that civilians returning to government-held territory have faced detention and conscription.

Those fleeing to the rebel-held north might face violence in the Idlib region, where Russian and regime bombardment has killed more than 950 people since April.&nbsp;

Although Rukban has not received aid since February, the latest UN mission did not deliver any relief items beyond "a minimal number of health supplies", Moumtzis said.

But last week's visit is only the first part of a "two-step" plan the second of which will involve aid delivery, according to the UN official.

"The next mission I hope very quickly will go back and deliver the desperately needed assistance," he said, without providing a specific date.

Conditions inside Rukban are dire, with many surviving on just one simple meal a day, often the bread and olive oil or yoghurt, according to one resident.

The United Nations said Friday it will help evacuate civilians from an "abysmal" Syrian desert camp near the border with Jordan, after a mission last week determined who wanted to leave.

The United Nations said Friday it will help evacuate civilians from an "abysmal" Syrian desert camp near the border with Jordan, after a mission last week determined who wanted to leave. "We are ready to facilitate" evacuations from the Rukban camp, said Panos Moumtzis, the UN's Syria humanitarian chief. "We want to make sure it happens voluntarily," he told AFP during an interview in Beirut, describing the situation in the settlement as "abysmal". According to the UN official, around 12,700 people remain in the isolated Rukban camp near a base used by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group. The Syrian government and key backer Russia said in February they had opened corridors out of the camp, calling on residents to leave. More than half of the original population has left in the past months, the United Nations says. The UN and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent sent a mission to the camp last week to determine how many people remained inside and who wanted to leave, the UN official said. "A little bit more than a third of them want to leave," Moumtzis said. "The vast majority want to go into government-held areas and some others want to go to the north," held by the opposition, he added. But the UN is not able to provide protection guarantees after civilians quit the camp, he said. Some 47 per cent of surveyed camp residents said they wanted to stay, citing reasons including "security concerns" and "fear of detention". Rights groups have warned that civilians returning to government-held territory have faced detention and conscription. Those fleeing to the rebel-held north might face violence in the Idlib region, where Russian and regime bombardment has killed more than 950 people since April. Although Rukban has not received aid since February, the latest UN mission did not deliver any relief items beyond "a minimal number of health supplies", Moumtzis said. But last week's visit is only the first part of a "two-step" plan the second of which will involve aid delivery, according to the UN official. "The next mission I hope very quickly will go back and deliver the desperately needed assistance," he said, without providing a specific date. Conditions inside Rukban are dire, with many surviving on just one simple meal a day, often the bread and olive oil or yoghurt, according to one resident.

United Nations to 'facilitate' evacuations from Syria desert camp

Russia on Friday announced that Syrian government forces would ceasefire in the northwestern province of Idlib from Saturday morning.

An agreement was reached on "a unilateral ceasefire by Syrian government forces in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wont-allow-us-to-delay-establishment-of-safe-zone-in-northern-syria-erdogan-246385">Idlib de-escalation zone</a>, from 6:00 am on August 31," the Russian Reconciliation Centre for Syria said in a statement.

The announcement came after Russian-backed regime forces advanced in the jihadist-held bastion, one of the last holdouts of opposition to President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

The statement said the ceasefire aimed "to stabilise the situation" in Idlib and urged anti-government fighters to "abandon armed provocations and join the peace process".

After months of intense bombardment, regime forces launched a ground offensive against Idlib earlier this month.

Syria's war has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 2011.

Russia launched a military intervention in support of Assad's regime in 2015, helping his forces to reclaim large parts of the country from opposition fighters and jihadists.

Russia on Friday announced that Syrian government forces would ceasefire in the northwestern province of Idlib from Saturday morning. An agreement was reached on "a unilateral ceasefire by Syrian government forces in the Idlib de-escalation zone, from 6:00 am on August 31," the Russian Reconciliation Centre for Syria said in a statement.

Russia on Friday announced that Syrian government forces would ceasefire in the northwestern province of Idlib from Saturday morning. An agreement was reached on "a unilateral ceasefire by Syrian government forces in the Idlib de-escalation zone, from 6:00 am on August 31," the Russian Reconciliation Centre for Syria said in a statement. The announcement came after Russian-backed regime forces advanced in the jihadist-held bastion, one of the last holdouts of opposition to President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The statement said the ceasefire aimed "to stabilise the situation" in Idlib and urged anti-government fighters to "abandon armed provocations and join the peace process". After months of intense bombardment, regime forces launched a ground offensive against Idlib earlier this month. Syria's war has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since it started in 2011. Russia launched a military intervention in support of Assad's regime in 2015, helping his forces to reclaim large parts of the country from opposition fighters and jihadists.

Russia announces government ceasefire in Syria's Idlib from Saturday

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Turkey would not allow the US to delay the establishment of a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-strikes-hit-pro-syria-palestinian-group-in-lebanon-245680"> 'safe zone' in northern Syria</a>, in comments published on Thursday.

Ankara and Washington earlier this month agreed after difficult talks to set up a buffer zone between the Turkish border and Syrian areas controlled by the US-backed Kurdish YPG militia.

The NATO allies agreed to set up a joint operations centre which Turkey said at the weekend was at full capacity.

"We will never allow a delay similar to that in Manbij. The process should advance swiftly," Erdogan said, according to CNN Turk broadcaster.

Turkey and the United States in May last year had agreed on a road map including the withdrawal of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) from Manbij in northern Syria.

"The agreement made with the US towards clearing the east of the Euphrates (river) from the YPG and setting up a safe zone is the right step," Erdogan said after returning from talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He said the YPG was "pulling a trick in Manbij" and had not withdrawn. Turkey has repeatedly accused the US of delaying the previous deal.

Ankara says the YPG is a "terrorist" offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been waging an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984.

The PKK is blacklisted as a terror group by Ankara, the US and the European Union.

But the US worked closely with the YPG in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.

Turkey-US relations have been particularly tense over American support to the YPG but other issues remain, including the failure to extradite a Pennsylvania-based Muslim preacher blamed for the 2016 failed coup in Turkey.

But Erdogan said joint US-Turkey patrols would "start soon" as part of the latest agreement for northern Syria.

He said Turkish forces and armoured vehicles were already at the border, adding: "We are in a position where we can do anything at any moment."

Turkey repeatedly threatened to launch a third cross-border offensive in Syria against the YPG until the US-Turkey agreement.

Previous offensives by the Turkish military supporting Syrian rebels took place against IS in 2016 and against the YPG in early 2018.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Turkey would not allow the US to delay the establishment of a 'safe zone' in northern Syria, in comments published on Thursday.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Turkey would not allow the US to delay the establishment of a 'safe zone' in northern Syria, in comments published on Thursday. Ankara and Washington earlier this month agreed after difficult talks to set up a buffer zone between the Turkish border and Syrian areas controlled by the US-backed Kurdish YPG militia. The NATO allies agreed to set up a joint operations centre which Turkey said at the weekend was at full capacity. "We will never allow a delay similar to that in Manbij. The process should advance swiftly," Erdogan said, according to CNN Turk broadcaster. Turkey and the United States in May last year had agreed on a road map including the withdrawal of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) from Manbij in northern Syria. "The agreement made with the US towards clearing the east of the Euphrates (river) from the YPG and setting up a safe zone is the right step," Erdogan said after returning from talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said the YPG was "pulling a trick in Manbij" and had not withdrawn. Turkey has repeatedly accused the US of delaying the previous deal. Ankara says the YPG is a "terrorist" offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been waging an insurgency inside Turkey since 1984. The PKK is blacklisted as a terror group by Ankara, the US and the European Union. But the US worked closely with the YPG in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group. Turkey-US relations have been particularly tense over American support to the YPG but other issues remain, including the failure to extradite a Pennsylvania-based Muslim preacher blamed for the 2016 failed coup in Turkey. But Erdogan said joint US-Turkey patrols would "start soon" as part of the latest agreement for northern Syria. He said Turkish forces and armoured vehicles were already at the border, adding: "We are in a position where we can do anything at any moment." Turkey repeatedly threatened to launch a third cross-border offensive in Syria against the YPG until the US-Turkey agreement. Previous offensives by the Turkish military supporting Syrian rebels took place against IS in 2016 and against the YPG in early 2018.

Won't allow US to delay establishment of 'safe zone' in northern Syria: Erdogan

Israel said on Sunday an air strike against an arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards in Syria that it accused of planning "killer drone attacks" showed Tehran that its forces were vulnerable anywhere.

Israel said on Sunday an air strike against an arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards in Syria that it accused of planning "killer drone attacks" showed Tehran that its forces were vulnerable anywhere. A senior Revolutionary Guards commander denied that Iranian targets had been hit late on Saturday and said its military "advisory centres have not been harmed", the semi-official ILNA news agency reported. The Israeli military said its aircraft struck "Iranian Quds Force operatives and Shiite militias which were preparing to advance attack plans targeting sites in Israel from within Syria over the last number of days". The elite Quds Force is the overseas arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC). Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters "a number of attack drones", each armed with several kilogrammes of explosives, were to have been launched simultaneously at targets in northern Israel on Thursday but the plan was thwarted. He did not disclose what measures Israel took that day. He described the "killer drones" - designed to slam into targets - as highly accurate. The military released grainy black-and-white surveillance footage purporting to show the Iranian operatives on Thursday near the drones' launching site. In the footage, four people are seen walking in an open area, one of them carrying an object that the military identified as a killer drone. Conricus said the drones, accompanied by the Iranian operatives, had arrived at Damascus airport from Iran several weeks ago and were taken to a Quds-controlled compound in a village southeast of the city. Israel carried out Saturday's attack, Conricus said, after learning that another attempt to launch drones was imminent. Writing on Twitter after Saturday's Israeli strike, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "Iran has no immunity anywhere. Our forces operate in every sector against the Iranian aggression. If someone rises up to kill you, kill him first." Speaking on Sunday on the Syrian front, Netanyahu added: "Any country that allows its territory to be used for attacks against Israel will face the consequences, and I repeat, the country will face the consequences."

Israel says air strike in Syria sent 'no immunity' message to Iran

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rocket-from-gaza-draws-israeli-air-strikes-one-person-wounded-12126/amp">Israeli airstrikes</a> targeted a Palestinian faction loyal to the Syrian government in eastern Lebanon before dawn on Monday, Lebanese state media and the group said.

The strikes came just hours after the head of Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah threatened Israel after two drones fell on its Beirut stronghold in what he described as a targeted "drone attack".

The National News Agency said "three hostile strikes" after midnight hit Lebanon's eastern mountains near Qusaya town "where the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command has military posts".

"They responded well a barrage of anti-aircraft fire," it said.

PFLP-GC spokesman Anwar Raja told the Al-Mayadeen television channel that it was an Israeli strike.

The PFLP-GC has close ties to Hezbollah and Syria's government.&nbsp;

It has positions in the eastern region of Bekaa, as well as in Al-Naaemeh just south of Beirut.

Qusaya is only about five kilometres (three miles) from the Syrian border.

In July 2015, a security official said a blast at a PFLP-GC base there wounded seven people, while the Palestinian group blamed it on an Israeli strike.

On Sunday, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah threatened Israel after what he described as a targeted "drone attack" in a stronghold of his group in the south of Beirut.

"The time when Israeli aircraft come and bombard parts of Lebanon is over," he said.

"I say to the Israeli army along the border, from tonight be ready and wait for us," he said. "What happened yesterday will not pass."

Hezbollah, considered a terrorist organisation by Israel and the United States, is a major political actor in Lebanon and also a key government backer in war-torn Syria.

The latest incident also came after Israel on Saturday launched strikes in neighbouring Syria to prevent what it said was an Iranian attack on the Jewish state.

Israeli airstrikes targeted a Palestinian faction loyal to the Syrian government in eastern Lebanon before dawn on Monday, Lebanese state media and the group said.

Israeli airstrikes targeted a Palestinian faction loyal to the Syrian government in eastern Lebanon before dawn on Monday, Lebanese state media and the group said. The strikes came just hours after the head of Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah threatened Israel after two drones fell on its Beirut stronghold in what he described as a targeted "drone attack". The National News Agency said "three hostile strikes" after midnight hit Lebanon's eastern mountains near Qusaya town "where the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command has military posts". "They responded well a barrage of anti-aircraft fire," it said. PFLP-GC spokesman Anwar Raja told the Al-Mayadeen television channel that it was an Israeli strike. The PFLP-GC has close ties to Hezbollah and Syria's government. It has positions in the eastern region of Bekaa, as well as in Al-Naaemeh just south of Beirut. Qusaya is only about five kilometres (three miles) from the Syrian border. In July 2015, a security official said a blast at a PFLP-GC base there wounded seven people, while the Palestinian group blamed it on an Israeli strike. On Sunday, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah threatened Israel after what he described as a targeted "drone attack" in a stronghold of his group in the south of Beirut. "The time when Israeli aircraft come and bombard parts of Lebanon is over," he said. "I say to the Israeli army along the border, from tonight be ready and wait for us," he said. "What happened yesterday will not pass." Hezbollah, considered a terrorist organisation by Israel and the United States, is a major political actor in Lebanon and also a key government backer in war-torn Syria. The latest incident also came after Israel on Saturday launched strikes in neighbouring Syria to prevent what it said was an Iranian attack on the Jewish state.

Israeli strikes hit pro-Syria Palestinian group in Lebanon

The Israeli air force struck in Syria to prevent an Iranian force from launching an attack on the Jewish state with drones armed with explosives, the army said Sunday.

While Israel operates regularly in Syria, it rarely acknowledges its actions so swiftly, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning arch-foe Iran it had no immunity from his state's military.

In a briefing to reporters, military spokesman Jonathan Conricus said that late Saturday the Israeli air force "was able to thwart an Iranian attempt led by the Quds force from Syria to conduct an attack on Israeli targets in northern Israel using killer drones."

According to Conricus, the Israeli attack took place in Aqraba, southeast of Damascus, and targeted "a number of terror targets and military facilities belonging to the Quds force as well as Shiite militias." &nbsp;&nbsp;

The army had on Thursday prevented an earlier attempt to launch the drone attack, Conricus said, without providing further details.

"The threat was significant and these killer drones were capable of striking targets with significant capacity," he said.

A Syrian military source quoted by official Sana news agency said that "At 2330 (2030 GMT) anti-aircraft defences detected enemy targets from Golan heading towards the area around Damascus".

"The aggression was immediately confronted and so far the majority of the enemy Israeli missiles have been destroyed before reaching their targets," the source added.

'Iran has no immunity anywhere'&nbsp;

An AFP correspondent in Damascus heard several large explosions before Sana announced the defensive action.

"The aggression is still going on and the air defence is able to counter the targets, dropping most of them" in the south of the country, the Sana agency said early Sunday.

Since the beginning of the war in Syria in 2011, Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes in Syria, most of them against what it says are Iranian and Hezbollah targets.

Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shiite group that supports Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, who is also backed by Tehran.

Hours after the strike in Syria, a Hezbollah official said one drone had come down and another had exploded in one of the group's strongholds in the Lebanese capital Beirut. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The official could not confirm if the drones were Israeli or if they had been shot down by Hezbollah.

Israel says it is determined to prevent its arch-foe Iran from entrenching itself militarily in Syria, where Tehran backs Assad's regime.

In a statement issued just minutes after the Israeli army announced its attack, Netanyahu hailed the military's "major operational effort" in thwarting the attack planned by "the Iranian Quds force and Shiite militias."

"Iran has no immunity anywhere," Netanyahu said. "Our forces operate in every sector against Iranian aggression."

Military spokesman Conricus said Israel held both Iran and the Syrian regime responsible for the planned drone attack, noting that forces in northern Israel were on "elevated readiness to respond to any development".

He also noted that while Iranian forces had launched rockets and missiles at Israel from Syria three times during 2018, the use of "kamikaze" drones set to explode on their targets was a new and "different tactic".

The Jewish state insists that it has the right to continue to target positions held by Iran and its ally Hezbollah out of self-defence.

The Israeli air force struck in Syria to prevent an Iranian force from launching an attack on the Jewish state with drones armed with explosives, the army said Sunday.

The Israeli air force struck in Syria to prevent an Iranian force from launching an attack on the Jewish state with drones armed with explosives, the army said Sunday. While Israel operates regularly in Syria, it rarely acknowledges its actions so swiftly, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning arch-foe Iran it had no immunity from his state's military. In a briefing to reporters, military spokesman Jonathan Conricus said that late Saturday the Israeli air force "was able to thwart an Iranian attempt led by the Quds force from Syria to conduct an attack on Israeli targets in northern Israel using killer drones." According to Conricus, the Israeli attack took place in Aqraba, southeast of Damascus, and targeted "a number of terror targets and military facilities belonging to the Quds force as well as Shiite militias." The army had on Thursday prevented an earlier attempt to launch the drone attack, Conricus said, without providing further details. "The threat was significant and these killer drones were capable of striking targets with significant capacity," he said. A Syrian military source quoted by official Sana news agency said that "At 2330 (2030 GMT) anti-aircraft defences detected enemy targets from Golan heading towards the area around Damascus". "The aggression was immediately confronted and so far the majority of the enemy Israeli missiles have been destroyed before reaching their targets," the source added. 'Iran has no immunity anywhere' An AFP correspondent in Damascus heard several large explosions before Sana announced the defensive action. "The aggression is still going on and the air defence is able to counter the targets, dropping most of them" in the south of the country, the Sana agency said early Sunday. Since the beginning of the war in Syria in 2011, Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes in Syria, most of them against what it says are Iranian and Hezbollah targets. Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shiite group that supports Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, who is also backed by Tehran. Hours after the strike in Syria, a Hezbollah official said one drone had come down and another had exploded in one of the group's strongholds in the Lebanese capital Beirut. The official could not confirm if the drones were Israeli or if they had been shot down by Hezbollah. Israel says it is determined to prevent its arch-foe Iran from entrenching itself militarily in Syria, where Tehran backs Assad's regime. In a statement issued just minutes after the Israeli army announced its attack, Netanyahu hailed the military's "major operational effort" in thwarting the attack planned by "the Iranian Quds force and Shiite militias." "Iran has no immunity anywhere," Netanyahu said. "Our forces operate in every sector against Iranian aggression." Military spokesman Conricus said Israel held both Iran and the Syrian regime responsible for the planned drone attack, noting that forces in northern Israel were on "elevated readiness to respond to any development". He also noted that while Iranian forces had launched rockets and missiles at Israel from Syria three times during 2018, the use of "kamikaze" drones set to explode on their targets was a new and "different tactic". The Jewish state insists that it has the right to continue to target positions held by Iran and its ally Hezbollah out of self-defence.

Israeli jets hit targets in Syria to prevent Iranian drone attack: Army

Syrian government forces backed by Russia are involved in heavy clashes in and around Syria's last rebel bastion of Idlib against armed-Assad groups. Watch the full video to know more.

Syrian airstrikes hit Turkish military convoy in Idlib

Mobile cinema brings movie magic to Syria Kurd children

Syrian government forces look set to recover the strategic town of Khan Shaykhun that has been in rebel hands since 2014 in a major Russian-backed offensive into the opposition's last major stronghold.

WION Dispatch: Syrian troops push against Idlib

The Muslim convert dubbed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jihadi-jack-canada-slams-uk-decision-to-off-load-islamist-fighter-243976">"Jihadi Jack"</a>, who is being held in northern Syria after joining the Islamic State group, on Monday said that Britain's decision to revoke his citizenship was "not something I recognise."

Jack Letts, 24, who was a dual UK-Canadian national, was captured by Kurdish forces in Syria in 2017 and is languishing in jail there, despite saying in a media interview earlier this year he would like to return to Britain.

But in a recent interview with ITV News Letts said that "stripping me of British citizenship and not stripping me is the same thing at the end of the day. It's not something I recognise."

"I never grew up being accepted as a British person anyway," he added.

"But, in the same way Britain hasn't helped me for two and a half years, Canada has done nothing. I always thought Canada was a better country, I had this illusion."

Canada's Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale dashed hopes of a swift return to Canada for Letts, posting to Twitter that the government had "no legal obligation to facilitate" the return of Canadian citizens detained in Syria.

Goodale earlier confirmed that the United Kingdom had "revoked the citizenship of Jack Letts", expressing disappointment at the move.

"It is a crime to travel internationally with a goal of supporting terrorism or engaging in terrorism," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters Monday.

"And that is a crime that we will continue to make all attempts to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."

'Legal black hole'

Letts converted to Islam at the age of 16 and fled his home in Oxfordshire, central England, two years later to join IS.

"I'm not innocent," he told ITV News earlier this year. "I deserve what comes to me. But I just want it to be... appropriate... not just haphazard, freestyle punishment in Syria."

His Canadian father and British mother were convicted in a UK court in June of funding terrorism by sending him a small amount of money during his time in Syria, but were spared jail.

In an interview on British television Sunday evening, Letts' parents accused the British government of "shirking responsibility".

"It was a real shock that your government can do this to you without any form of redress or discussion or way of actually contacting Jack, given that he's being held incommunicado and has no access to a lawyer," his mother Sally Lane, 57, said.

"Jack and other people are now in a legal black hole," she said, adding that she has been told that the Canadian government has been trying to bring Jack back.

The Mail on Sunday also reported that there were concerns that the issue could overshadow a meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Britain's new leader Boris Johnson at the G7 summit in France next weekend.

The decision is the latest instance of Britain revoking the citizenship of its nationals who went to join the Islamic State group's self-proclaimed caliphate.

In February it faced criticism after stripping Shamima Begum, a teenager who travelled to Syria to marry an IS fighter, of her British citizenship.

The Muslim convert dubbed "Jihadi Jack", who is being held in northern Syria after joining the Islamic State group, on Monday said that Britain's decision to revoke his citizenship was "not something I recognise.

The Muslim convert dubbed "Jihadi Jack", who is being held in northern Syria after joining the Islamic State group, on Monday said that Britain's decision to revoke his citizenship was "not something I recognise." Jack Letts, 24, who was a dual UK-Canadian national, was captured by Kurdish forces in Syria in 2017 and is languishing in jail there, despite saying in a media interview earlier this year he would like to return to Britain. But in a recent interview with ITV News Letts said that "stripping me of British citizenship and not stripping me is the same thing at the end of the day. It's not something I recognise." "I never grew up being accepted as a British person anyway," he added. "But, in the same way Britain hasn't helped me for two and a half years, Canada has done nothing. I always thought Canada was a better country, I had this illusion." Canada's Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale dashed hopes of a swift return to Canada for Letts, posting to Twitter that the government had "no legal obligation to facilitate" the return of Canadian citizens detained in Syria. Goodale earlier confirmed that the United Kingdom had "revoked the citizenship of Jack Letts", expressing disappointment at the move. "It is a crime to travel internationally with a goal of supporting terrorism or engaging in terrorism," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters Monday. "And that is a crime that we will continue to make all attempts to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law." 'Legal black hole' Letts converted to Islam at the age of 16 and fled his home in Oxfordshire, central England, two years later to join IS. "I'm not innocent," he told ITV News earlier this year. "I deserve what comes to me. But I just want it to be... appropriate... not just haphazard, freestyle punishment in Syria." His Canadian father and British mother were convicted in a UK court in June of funding terrorism by sending him a small amount of money during his time in Syria, but were spared jail. In an interview on British television Sunday evening, Letts' parents accused the British government of "shirking responsibility". "It was a real shock that your government can do this to you without any form of redress or discussion or way of actually contacting Jack, given that he's being held incommunicado and has no access to a lawyer," his mother Sally Lane, 57, said. "Jack and other people are now in a legal black hole," she said, adding that she has been told that the Canadian government has been trying to bring Jack back. The Mail on Sunday also reported that there were concerns that the issue could overshadow a meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Britain's new leader Boris Johnson at the G7 summit in France next weekend. The decision is the latest instance of Britain revoking the citizenship of its nationals who went to join the Islamic State group's self-proclaimed caliphate. In February it faced criticism after stripping Shamima Begum, a teenager who travelled to Syria to marry an IS fighter, of her British citizenship.

'Jihadi Jack' lashes out at UK after it revokes his citizenship

syria

Syria, News on Syria, stories on Syria, articles on Syria, Syria stories at Wion, Syria news, Syria latest news