A spokesperson for the Kremlin said late Monday (Dec 24) that ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's wife, Asma, has not filed for a divorce, rejecting earlier reports that had claimed she did so.

A spokesperson for the Kremlin said late Monday (Dec 24) that ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's wife, Asma, has not filed for a divorce, rejecting earlier reports that had claimed she did so. "No, they do not correspond to reality," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said when asked about the divorce claim. Peskov also denied reports that Assad had been confined to Moscow and that his property assets had been frozen. What did the reports say? With the fall of Bashar Al Assad's regime in Syria, reports, mainly in Turkish and Israeli media, said Asma al-Assad filed for a divorce and wanted to relocate to the Britain. The reports claimed that Asma applied in a Russian court to shift to London as she holds dual citizenship of the UK and Syria. According to The Jerusalem Post, Asma had expressed discontent with her life in Moscow. Asma's journey Born and raised in London Asma moved to Syria in 2000 and married Bashar Al-Assad the same year. She was 25 at the time. In early December, the Syrian leader sought refuge in Russia after rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, seized Damascus, ending Assad’s decades-long rule. Also Read: Bashar al-Assad's family flees Syria, president's whereabouts unclear: Reports Assad's life in exile Russia granted Assad and his family asylum on humanitarian grounds, but they remain under severe restrictions. Assad is currently not allowed to leave Moscow or participate in any political activity. Russia did not approve the asylum request of Assad’s brother, Maher al-Assad, which is still being looked at closely for review. The fall of the Assad regime was quick, with the HTS forces playing a central role in overthrowing the government. Watch | Syria After Assad: New Syrian Leadership Faces Major Challenges Asma's dual citizenship and plans Asma’s dual nationality could ease her potential relocation to the UK. According to reports, Asma was eager to start a new chapter of her life in London, staying away from her husband's controversial regime. Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the 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.

Kremlin denies reports that ousted Syrian president Assad's wife Asma filed for divorce

Aleppo
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<meta content="uuidTNOE0FnQWWk2" name="uuid"/>A spokesperson for the Kremlin said late Monday (Dec 24) that ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's wife, Asma, has not filed for a divorce, rejecting earlier reports that had claimed she did so.
"No, they do not correspond to reality," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said when asked about the divorce claim.
Peskov also denied reports that Assad had been confined to Moscow and that his property assets had been frozen.
<h2>What did the reports say?</h2>
With the fall of Bashar Al Assad's regime in Syria, reports, mainly in Turkish and Israeli media, said Asma al-Assad filed for a divorce and wanted to relocate to the Britain.
The reports claimed that Asma applied in a Russian court to shift to London as she holds dual citizenship of the UK and Syria. 
According to The Jerusalem Post, Asma had expressed discontent with her life in Moscow.
<h2>Asma's journey</h2>
Born and raised in London Asma moved to Syria in 2000 and married Bashar Al-Assad the same year. She was 25 at the time.
In early December, the Syrian leader sought refuge in Russia after rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, seized Damascus, ending Assad’s decades-long rule.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bashar-al-assads-family-flees-syria-presidents-whereabouts-unclear-reports-782206">Bashar al-Assad's family flees Syria, president's whereabouts unclear: Reports</a>
<h2>Assad's life in exile</h2>
Russia granted Assad and his family asylum on humanitarian grounds, but they remain under severe restrictions.
Assad is currently not allowed to leave Moscow or participate in any political activity.
Russia did not approve the asylum request of Assad’s brother, Maher al-Assad, which is still being looked at closely for review.
The fall of the Assad regime was quick, with the HTS forces playing a central role in overthrowing the government.
Watch | Syria After Assad: New Syrian Leadership Faces Major Challenges
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<h2>Asma's dual citizenship and plans</h2>
Asma’s dual nationality could ease her potential relocation to the UK.
According to reports, Asma was eager to start a new chapter of her life in London, staying away from her husband's controversial regime.
Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the 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.

Reports, mainly in Turkish media, had said earlier that Asma al-Assad filed for divorce and wanted to relocate to the UK. Asma applied in a Russian court to shift to London as she holds dual citizenship in the UK and Syria, as per the reports   



Aleppo A spokesperson for the Kremlin said late Monday (Dec 24) that ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's wife, Asma, has not filed for a divorce, rejecting earlier reports that had claimed she did so. "No, they do not correspond to reality," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said when asked about the divorce claim. Peskov also denied reports that Assad had been confined to Moscow and that his property assets had been frozen. What did the reports say? With the fall of Bashar Al Assad's regime in Syria, reports, mainly in Turkish and Israeli media, said Asma al-Assad filed for a divorce and wanted to relocate to the Britain. The reports claimed that Asma applied in a Russian court to shift to London as she holds dual citizenship of the UK and Syria. According to The Jerusalem Post, Asma had expressed discontent with her life in Moscow. Asma's journey Born and raised in London Asma moved to Syria in 2000 and married Bashar Al-Assad the same year. She was 25 at the time. In early December, the Syrian leader sought refuge in Russia after rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, seized Damascus, ending Assad’s decades-long rule. Also Read: Bashar al-Assad's family flees Syria, president's whereabouts unclear: Reports Assad's life in exile Russia granted Assad and his family asylum on humanitarian grounds, but they remain under severe restrictions. Assad is currently not allowed to leave Moscow or participate in any political activity. Russia did not approve the asylum request of Assad’s brother, Maher al-Assad, which is still being looked at closely for review. The fall of the Assad regime was quick, with the HTS forces playing a central role in overthrowing the government. Watch | Syria After Assad: New Syrian Leadership Faces Major Challenges Asma's dual citizenship and plans Asma’s dual nationality could ease her potential relocation to the UK. According to reports, Asma was eager to start a new chapter of her life in London, staying away from her husband's controversial regime. Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the 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.

Syria's brutal conflict entered its 10th year Sunday with President Bashar al-Assad's regime consolidating its hold over a war-wracked country where foreign powers are flexing their muscle.

When Syrian anti-government demonstrators first took to the streets on March 15, 2011, they could scarcely have imagined their protests would turn into a complex war entangling rebels, jihadists and outside forces.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/east-syria-strike-kills-26-iraqi-fighters-monitor-285947">East Syria strike kills 26 Iraqi fighters: Monitor</a>

At least 384,000 people have since died, including more than 116,000 civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor says.

The war has left cities and villages in ruins, shattered the economy and displaced more than 11 million people internally and abroad, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring countries and Europe.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/fragmented-politics-of-syrian-refugee-crisis-jeopardises-the-future-of-millions-285579">Fragmented politics of Syrian refugee crisis jeopardises the future of millions</a>

"We've lost everything," said one of the displaced, Hala Ibrahim, a rights activist from Aleppo who now lives in Idlib province, the last rebel stronghold.

"I left my university, my house which was bombed," said the woman in her 30s.

"Nine years of revolution illustrate the extent of the suffering we have known, between exile, bombings and deaths."

Assad, with the military support of Russia, Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, has clawed back control of over 70 per cent of the war-torn country.

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&nbsp;

Neighbouring Turkey, which supports local armed groups, has deployed its troops across the border in Idlib province, now the last rebel bastion and refugee of millions of displaced people.

Syria's latest fragile ceasefire came into effect there earlier this month, and Turkish and Russian forces on Sunday kicked off joint patrols in Idlib, Russian and Turkish media said.

The first patrol was however very brief and largely symbolic, as the route was "shortened because of provocations", Russia's defence ministry said.

An AFP correspondent, covering a protest against the patrol some five kilometres (three miles) away, said it never arrived on that section of the M4 highway.

Around 200 protesters had gathered on the road near the town of Nayrab, some setting tyres alight or piling tree branches across the thoroughfare.

The March 5 ceasefire has for now stemmed a deadly Russia-backed military campaign on Idlib.

The assault has killed nearly 500 civilians since December, the Observatory says, and forced nearly a million to flee their homes and shelters, according to the United Nations.

Among those displaced, Siham Abs and seven of her children have been living for the past two months in a camp near Bardaqli, not far from the Turkish border.

Among the tents lined up along muddy paths, Abs said she and her family would like to wash, but don't know where.

"I am 50 years old and I've never known such difficult times," she said.

Many of those unable to find space in camps have been sleeping in fields or have sought shelter in schools, mosques and unfinished buildings.

The UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday said the enduring war was "proof of a collective failure of diplomacy".

"The suffering of the Syrian people during this tragic and terrible decade still defies comprehension and belief."

The Syrian conflict was born of unprecedented anti-government demonstrations in the southern city of Daraa.

The protests spread across Syria, but a violent crackdown soon saw rebels take up arms and wrest key areas from government control.

Jihadist groups also emerged, notably the Islamic State group which swept across large parts of the country and neighbouring Iraq in 2014.

Other foreign powers still operating in Syria include the United States whose troops, despite an announced withdrawal last year, are still stationed in the northeast, in a semi-autonomous Kurdish zone.

And Israel regularly carries out airstrikes on Syrian, Hezbollah and Iranian military positions.

The war has ravaged Syria's economy and infrastructure. The United Nations estimated in 2018 that the conflict had caused nearly $400 billion in war-related destruction.

Over half of all health facilities in Syria are non-functional, and two in five schools cannot be used, the UN children's agency says.

"Our message is clear: Stop hitting schools and hospitals," UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said. "Stop killing and maiming children."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote this week on Twitter that "a decade of fighting has brought nothing but ruin and misery.

"There is no military solution. Now it is the time to give diplomacy a chance to work."

Syria's brutal conflict entered its 10th year Sunday with President Bashar al-Assad's regime consolidating its hold over a war-wracked country where foreign powers are flexing their muscle.

Syria's brutal conflict entered its 10th year Sunday with President Bashar al-Assad's regime consolidating its hold over a war-wracked country where foreign powers are flexing their muscle. When Syrian anti-government demonstrators first took to the streets on March 15, 2011, they could scarcely have imagined their protests would turn into a complex war entangling rebels, jihadists and outside forces. Also read: East Syria strike kills 26 Iraqi fighters: Monitor At least 384,000 people have since died, including more than 116,000 civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor says. The war has left cities and villages in ruins, shattered the economy and displaced more than 11 million people internally and abroad, with many seeking refuge in neighbouring countries and Europe. Also read: Fragmented politics of Syrian refugee crisis jeopardises the future of millions "We've lost everything," said one of the displaced, Hala Ibrahim, a rights activist from Aleppo who now lives in Idlib province, the last rebel stronghold. "I left my university, my house which was bombed," said the woman in her 30s. "Nine years of revolution illustrate the extent of the suffering we have known, between exile, bombings and deaths." Assad, with the military support of Russia, Iran and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, has clawed back control of over 70 per cent of the war-torn country. × Neighbouring Turkey, which supports local armed groups, has deployed its troops across the border in Idlib province, now the last rebel bastion and refugee of millions of displaced people. Syria's latest fragile ceasefire came into effect there earlier this month, and Turkish and Russian forces on Sunday kicked off joint patrols in Idlib, Russian and Turkish media said. The first patrol was however very brief and largely symbolic, as the route was "shortened because of provocations", Russia's defence ministry said. An AFP correspondent, covering a protest against the patrol some five kilometres (three miles) away, said it never arrived on that section of the M4 highway. Around 200 protesters had gathered on the road near the town of Nayrab, some setting tyres alight or piling tree branches across the thoroughfare. The March 5 ceasefire has for now stemmed a deadly Russia-backed military campaign on Idlib. The assault has killed nearly 500 civilians since December, the Observatory says, and forced nearly a million to flee their homes and shelters, according to the United Nations. Among those displaced, Siham Abs and seven of her children have been living for the past two months in a camp near Bardaqli, not far from the Turkish border. Among the tents lined up along muddy paths, Abs said she and her family would like to wash, but don't know where. "I am 50 years old and I've never known such difficult times," she said. Many of those unable to find space in camps have been sleeping in fields or have sought shelter in schools, mosques and unfinished buildings. The UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday said the enduring war was "proof of a collective failure of diplomacy". "The suffering of the Syrian people during this tragic and terrible decade still defies comprehension and belief." The Syrian conflict was born of unprecedented anti-government demonstrations in the southern city of Daraa. The protests spread across Syria, but a violent crackdown soon saw rebels take up arms and wrest key areas from government control. Jihadist groups also emerged, notably the Islamic State group which swept across large parts of the country and neighbouring Iraq in 2014. Other foreign powers still operating in Syria include the United States whose troops, despite an announced withdrawal last year, are still stationed in the northeast, in a semi-autonomous Kurdish zone. And Israel regularly carries out airstrikes on Syrian, Hezbollah and Iranian military positions. The war has ravaged Syria's economy and infrastructure. The United Nations estimated in 2018 that the conflict had caused nearly $400 billion in war-related destruction. Over half of all health facilities in Syria are non-functional, and two in five schools cannot be used, the UN children's agency says. "Our message is clear: Stop hitting schools and hospitals," UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said. "Stop killing and maiming children." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote this week on Twitter that "a decade of fighting has brought nothing but ruin and misery. "There is no military solution. Now it is the time to give diplomacy a chance to work."

Syria's brutal war enters 10th year

Turkish drone strikes in Syria's northwestern Idlib province killed 19 government soldiers on Sunday, a war monitor reported, as tensions soared between Damascus and Ankara.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkish-forces-down-syrian-planes-over-idlib-report-283587">Turkish forces down Syrian planes over Idlib: Report</a>

The 19 died in strikes on a military convoy in the Jabal al-Zawiya area and a base near Maaret al-Numan city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/33-turkish-soldiers-killed-in-airstrike-by-syrian-regime-forces-in-idlib-283217"> 33 Turkish soldiers killed in airstrike by Syrian regime forces in Idlib</a>

The report came hours after Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes, in an escalating offensive against the Damascus government in Idlib, where Islamist fighters backed by Ankara pose the biggest obstacle to Damascus seizing back control over all of Syria.

Following weeks of violence in the province, Turkey confirmed a full military operation against Russian-backed Syrian forces after 34 Turkish soldiers were killed last week in an airstrike blamed on Damascus.

However Ankara has insisted it does not want to clash directly with Moscow.

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"One anti-aircraft system that shot down one of our armed drones and two other anti-aircraft systems have been destroyed, and two SU-24 regime planes that were attacking our aircraft have been downed," Turkey's defence ministry said.

Syrian state media said Turkish forces "targeted" two of its planes over Idlib. A rebel group and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, both said the planes had been downed.

The situation in Idlib was already volatile as the government supported by Russian air power pressed an assault on the region in a bid to retake the last opposition enclave in a nine-year civil war.

The confrontation between the Russia-backed Syrian forces and NATO-member Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels, has prompted worries over a wider conflict and a migrant crisis in Europe similar to 2015.

&nbsp;

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Migrant numbers have already surged along the rugged frontier after Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seeking to pressure the EU over Syria, said the country had "opened the doors" to Europe.

Greece said Sunday it has blocked nearly 10,000 migrants at its border with Turkey.

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar announced "operation 'Spring Shield'" for the first time, adding that it "successfully continues".

Turkish forces hit Syrian government positions after Erdogan warned Damascus would "pay a price" for the air strike.

Under a 2018 deal with Russia meant to bring calm to Idlib, Turkey has 12 observation posts in Syria, but several have come under fire from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

Turkey wants the international community to establish a no-fly zone over Idlib.

SANA Syrian state media reported that the government shot down a Turkish drone near the town of Saraqeb, publishing footage of an aircraft tumbling from the sky in flames. Those images could not be immediately confirmed.

But Turkish defence ministry confirmed one of its drones was shot down.

Earlier on Sunday, Istanbul police detained the editor-in-chief of the Turkish version of Russia's Sputnik website as its offices were being searched in Istanbul.

Three of its journalists were also taken to a courthouse in Ankara for questioning, likely related to a Sputnik article in English claiming that Turkey's Hatay province was "stolen" from Syria. Colonial power France ceded the southern region to Turkey in 1938.

The news website later said they had been released.

Turkish media said Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin would meet in Moscow on March 5. They already spoke by telephone last week when both expressed "concern" over the escalation.

The Russian and Turkish foreign ministers also spoke by telephone on Sunday, Moscow's ministry said, to discuss preparations for the meeting between the two leaders, and the safety of the Sputnik journalists.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said he "hoped" the meeting would be on Thursday or Friday, which he admitted would be "difficult" but was "important" nonetheless.

Some 13,000 migrants have amassed at the Turkey-Greece border, including families with young children who spent the night in the cold, the International Organization for Migration said.

An estimated additional 2,000 migrants arrived at the Pazarkule border gate Sunday, including Afghans, Syrians and Iraqis, according to an AFP reporter.

But as the crowds rushed to enter Europe, Greek police and soldiers blocked 9,972 "illegal entrances" from entering the northeastern Evros region in the past 24 hours, a Greek government source said.

The situation on the Greek island of Lesbos grew tenser on Sunday as local people blocked around 50 migrants, including children, from landing their boat after several hours at sea, AFP photographers witnessed.

Some also insulted a UN official and attacked journalists and photographers, while later on Sunday, residents set fire to a disused migrant centre.

The UN refugee agency spokesman Babar Baloch called for "calm and easing of tensions on the border" as he urged countries to "refrain from the use of excessive force".

The developments recalled events in 2015 when more than a million migrants fled to Europe, mainly via Greece, in what became the continent's worst refugee crisis since World War II.

EU foreign ministers are to hold an emergency meeting next week to discuss Syria mainly at Greece's behest, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Sunday.

Erdogan said Turkey, home to some 3.6 million refugees, did not plan to close the borders because "the (EU) should keep its promises".

He was referring to the 2016 deal with Brussels to stop the flow of refugees in exchange for billions of euros.

&nbsp;

Turkish drone strikes in Syria's northwestern Idlib province killed 19 government soldiers on Sunday, a war monitor reported, as tensions soared between Damascus and Ankara.

Turkish drone strikes in Syria's northwestern Idlib province killed 19 government soldiers on Sunday, a war monitor reported, as tensions soared between Damascus and Ankara. Also read: Turkish forces down Syrian planes over Idlib: Report The 19 died in strikes on a military convoy in the Jabal al-Zawiya area and a base near Maaret al-Numan city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Also read: 33 Turkish soldiers killed in airstrike by Syrian regime forces in Idlib The report came hours after Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes, in an escalating offensive against the Damascus government in Idlib, where Islamist fighters backed by Ankara pose the biggest obstacle to Damascus seizing back control over all of Syria. Following weeks of violence in the province, Turkey confirmed a full military operation against Russian-backed Syrian forces after 34 Turkish soldiers were killed last week in an airstrike blamed on Damascus. However Ankara has insisted it does not want to clash directly with Moscow. × "One anti-aircraft system that shot down one of our armed drones and two other anti-aircraft systems have been destroyed, and two SU-24 regime planes that were attacking our aircraft have been downed," Turkey's defence ministry said. Syrian state media said Turkish forces "targeted" two of its planes over Idlib. A rebel group and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, both said the planes had been downed. The situation in Idlib was already volatile as the government supported by Russian air power pressed an assault on the region in a bid to retake the last opposition enclave in a nine-year civil war. The confrontation between the Russia-backed Syrian forces and NATO-member Turkey, which supports Syrian rebels, has prompted worries over a wider conflict and a migrant crisis in Europe similar to 2015. Migrant numbers have already surged along the rugged frontier after Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seeking to pressure the EU over Syria, said the country had "opened the doors" to Europe. Greece said Sunday it has blocked nearly 10,000 migrants at its border with Turkey. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar announced "operation 'Spring Shield'" for the first time, adding that it "successfully continues". Turkish forces hit Syrian government positions after Erdogan warned Damascus would "pay a price" for the air strike. Under a 2018 deal with Russia meant to bring calm to Idlib, Turkey has 12 observation posts in Syria, but several have come under fire from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces. Turkey wants the international community to establish a no-fly zone over Idlib. SANA Syrian state media reported that the government shot down a Turkish drone near the town of Saraqeb, publishing footage of an aircraft tumbling from the sky in flames. Those images could not be immediately confirmed. But Turkish defence ministry confirmed one of its drones was shot down. Earlier on Sunday, Istanbul police detained the editor-in-chief of the Turkish version of Russia's Sputnik website as its offices were being searched in Istanbul. Three of its journalists were also taken to a courthouse in Ankara for questioning, likely related to a Sputnik article in English claiming that Turkey's Hatay province was "stolen" from Syria. Colonial power France ceded the southern region to Turkey in 1938. The news website later said they had been released. Turkish media said Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin would meet in Moscow on March 5. They already spoke by telephone last week when both expressed "concern" over the escalation. The Russian and Turkish foreign ministers also spoke by telephone on Sunday, Moscow's ministry said, to discuss preparations for the meeting between the two leaders, and the safety of the Sputnik journalists. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said he "hoped" the meeting would be on Thursday or Friday, which he admitted would be "difficult" but was "important" nonetheless. Some 13,000 migrants have amassed at the Turkey-Greece border, including families with young children who spent the night in the cold, the International Organization for Migration said. An estimated additional 2,000 migrants arrived at the Pazarkule border gate Sunday, including Afghans, Syrians and Iraqis, according to an AFP reporter. But as the crowds rushed to enter Europe, Greek police and soldiers blocked 9,972 "illegal entrances" from entering the northeastern Evros region in the past 24 hours, a Greek government source said. The situation on the Greek island of Lesbos grew tenser on Sunday as local people blocked around 50 migrants, including children, from landing their boat after several hours at sea, AFP photographers witnessed. Some also insulted a UN official and attacked journalists and photographers, while later on Sunday, residents set fire to a disused migrant centre. The UN refugee agency spokesman Babar Baloch called for "calm and easing of tensions on the border" as he urged countries to "refrain from the use of excessive force". The developments recalled events in 2015 when more than a million migrants fled to Europe, mainly via Greece, in what became the continent's worst refugee crisis since World War II. EU foreign ministers are to hold an emergency meeting next week to discuss Syria mainly at Greece's behest, the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Sunday. Erdogan said Turkey, home to some 3.6 million refugees, did not plan to close the borders because "the (EU) should keep its promises". He was referring to the 2016 deal with Brussels to stop the flow of refugees in exchange for billions of euros.

Turkish drones kill 19 Syrian government soldiers as tensions soar

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made a rare visit to a frontline of Syria's conflict on Tuesday (October 22), touring an area in war-torn northwestern Idlib province close to the last major bastion of Turkey-backed rebel forces.

Syria's Assad tours Idlib frontline near rebels

<a href="US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard officially declares 2020 presidential nomination">Democratic presidential aspirant and the first Hindu lawmaker in the Congress Tulsi Gabbard</a> has said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is "not the enemy" of the US and the war-torn country does not pose a "direct threat" to America.

Gabbard, 37, who recently announced her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, has previously been criticised for meeting with Assad in 2017. The Syrian leader is believed to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians in the ongoing brutal civil war.

"Assad is not the enemy of the United States because Syria does not pose a direct threat to the United States," Gabbard, elected to the House of Representatives from Hawaii, said Wednesday on MSNBC.

When pressed over whether Assad, who has been accused of using chemical weapons on his own people over the course of a more than five-year civil war, is an adversary of the US, Gabbard said "you can describe it however you want to describe it.

My point is that whether it is Syria or any of these other countries, we need to look at how their interests are counter to or aligned with ours," she said.

When asked if she thought Assad was a good person, Gabbard said, "No, I don't," and asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin was an adversary to the US, she responded, "Yes."

Gabbard has previously defended her 2017 meeting with Assad, saying American leaders must meet with foreign leaders "if we are serious about the pursuit of peace and securing our country."

She said last month that there is no possibility for a "viable" peace agreement in the war-torn country unless Assad is part of the conversation.

Democratic presidential aspirant and the first Hindu lawmaker in the Congress Tulsi Gabbard has said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is "not the enemy" of the US and the war-torn country does not pose a "direct threat" to America.

Democratic presidential aspirant and the first Hindu lawmaker in the Congress Tulsi Gabbard has said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is "not the enemy" of the US and the war-torn country does not pose a "direct threat" to America. Gabbard, 37, who recently announced her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, has previously been criticised for meeting with Assad in 2017. The Syrian leader is believed to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Syrian civilians in the ongoing brutal civil war. "Assad is not the enemy of the United States because Syria does not pose a direct threat to the United States," Gabbard, elected to the House of Representatives from Hawaii, said Wednesday on MSNBC. When pressed over whether Assad, who has been accused of using chemical weapons on his own people over the course of a more than five-year civil war, is an adversary of the US, Gabbard said "you can describe it however you want to describe it. My point is that whether it is Syria or any of these other countries, we need to look at how their interests are counter to or aligned with ours," she said. When asked if she thought Assad was a good person, Gabbard said, "No, I don't," and asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin was an adversary to the US, she responded, "Yes." Gabbard has previously defended her 2017 meeting with Assad, saying American leaders must meet with foreign leaders "if we are serious about the pursuit of peace and securing our country." She said last month that there is no possibility for a "viable" peace agreement in the war-torn country unless Assad is part of the conversation.

Syrian President Bashar Assad not enemy of US says Tulsi Gabbard

Displaced from her home in Syria's Eastern Ghouta, Umaima al-Sheikh and her family sought refuge in an abandoned house across the country in Afrin.

The traditionally Kurdish town had been emptied of its residents just weeks earlier after a brutal Turkish-led offensive forced tens of thousands to flee.

"No one wants to live in a house that isn't theirs, or use other people's belongings," said Sheikh.

After staying briefly in rebel territory elsewhere in northern Syria, the 25-year-old moved to Afrin around a month ago with her husband Firas and two young children.

"We all want to be in our own homes, our own towns, but the situation forced us to settle in a house that isn't ours," Sheikh told&nbsp;in a leafy park in the town.

"The homes we left behind are now being lived in by other people, too. This is the case for everyone in Syria, not just us," she said.

Since war broke out in 2011, half of Syria's population has been displaced, including more than five million outside the country and another six million internally.

Among them are rebels and civilians transferred en masse from one bombed opposition area to another under "reconciliation" agreements.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has used such deals to retake territory, prompting charges he is reshuffling the country's demographics.

His April capture of Ghouta was sealed with the transfer of thousands of people to the rebel-held north, with many going on to Afrin.

The offensive by Turkish-backed rebels sparked a wave of accusations that Ankara was guilty of ethnic engineering, by resettling Syrian Arabs into Afrin after pushing out Syrian Kurds.

As many as 35,000 people have taken refuge in the Afrin region, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Some live in a pair of refugee camps in a rural area, but many have moved into the town's empty and ruined homes.

Mehdi Haymur and his young son picked through the rubble and debris at the entrance of one bombed-out apartment for anything salvageable.

They lifted a mismatched pair of torn, dust-covered cushions from the smashed cinderblocks and headed inside.

"We left Ghouta and lost our homes, land, and work. We were forced to leave Ghouta, and we also came here in a forced way," said Haymur.

With help from rebel military police, he and his family have squatted in several Afrin homes but their owners have arrived and asked them to leave.

The owner of the abandoned block where he lives now has allowed them to stay temporarily, Haymur told.

Ahmad al-Buri, 19, was displaced to Afrin from the outskirts of Ghouta's largest town of Douma.

"This is a Turkish zone, protected from Syrian regime bombardment. That's why I came here," said Buri.

Rebels also helped his family find an empty home in Afrin's Mahmudiyah district, and Buri has enlisted in the Turkish-backed police.

"If the owner of this house comes back and we have to leave, I don't know what we'll do. We'll have to find another home or go to a camp," he shrugged.

Those camps house an estimated 10,000 people, according to the United Nations' humanitarian coordination office (OCHA), which also confirmed the house-squatting.

"While some are paying rent, reports of internally displaced people residing in empty houses without obtaining the permission of their owners continue to emerge," it said.

Around 135,000 of Afrin's original residents stayed in the region as fighting continued, more than a third in the town itself, according to OCHA

Othman Khalil, a 57-year-old metal worker, refused to leave his home on Villa Street during the fight.

"There are families from Ghouta that come to our neighbourhood. We talk to each other," he said.

"They can come into Afrin but people originally from here cannot enter," said Khalil, whose friends escaped the town during clashes but have been unable to return.&nbsp;

A pair of Turkish-backed rebels guard one access route, checking the vehicles coming in and out.

OCHA has expressed increasing concern over "protracted displacement" from Afrin as security operations continue.

Syria's leading Kurdish Party, the People's Democratic Union (PYD), and the Observatory have both accused Ankara of seeking to change Afrin's ethnic makeup by resettling Arab families in Kurdish homes.

"There are strangers living in my nephew's house who won't leave," said Mahmoud Hassan, 58, a farmer in Afrin.&nbsp;

"People from Ghouta are good people, we can talk to them and there's peace between us," he told.&nbsp;

"But this isn't your house, you came and lived in it, and if the owner comes back, you need to get out before he complains."

On Saturday, hundreds of Syrian Kurds demonstrated in the northeastern city of Qamishli in protest at Turkey's military presence in Afrin.

The traditionally Kurdish town had been emptied of its residents just weeks earlier after a brutal Turkish-led offensive forced tens of thousands to flee

Displaced from her home in Syria's Eastern Ghouta, Umaima al-Sheikh and her family sought refuge in an abandoned house across the country in Afrin. The traditionally Kurdish town had been emptied of its residents just weeks earlier after a brutal Turkish-led offensive forced tens of thousands to flee. "No one wants to live in a house that isn't theirs, or use other people's belongings," said Sheikh. After staying briefly in rebel territory elsewhere in northern Syria, the 25-year-old moved to Afrin around a month ago with her husband Firas and two young children. "We all want to be in our own homes, our own towns, but the situation forced us to settle in a house that isn't ours," Sheikh told in a leafy park in the town. "The homes we left behind are now being lived in by other people, too. This is the case for everyone in Syria, not just us," she said. Since war broke out in 2011, half of Syria's population has been displaced, including more than five million outside the country and another six million internally. Among them are rebels and civilians transferred en masse from one bombed opposition area to another under "reconciliation" agreements. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has used such deals to retake territory, prompting charges he is reshuffling the country's demographics. His April capture of Ghouta was sealed with the transfer of thousands of people to the rebel-held north, with many going on to Afrin. The offensive by Turkish-backed rebels sparked a wave of accusations that Ankara was guilty of ethnic engineering, by resettling Syrian Arabs into Afrin after pushing out Syrian Kurds. As many as 35,000 people have taken refuge in the Afrin region, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Some live in a pair of refugee camps in a rural area, but many have moved into the town's empty and ruined homes. Mehdi Haymur and his young son picked through the rubble and debris at the entrance of one bombed-out apartment for anything salvageable. They lifted a mismatched pair of torn, dust-covered cushions from the smashed cinderblocks and headed inside. "We left Ghouta and lost our homes, land, and work. We were forced to leave Ghouta, and we also came here in a forced way," said Haymur. With help from rebel military police, he and his family have squatted in several Afrin homes but their owners have arrived and asked them to leave. The owner of the abandoned block where he lives now has allowed them to stay temporarily, Haymur told. Ahmad al-Buri, 19, was displaced to Afrin from the outskirts of Ghouta's largest town of Douma. "This is a Turkish zone, protected from Syrian regime bombardment. That's why I came here," said Buri. Rebels also helped his family find an empty home in Afrin's Mahmudiyah district, and Buri has enlisted in the Turkish-backed police. "If the owner of this house comes back and we have to leave, I don't know what we'll do. We'll have to find another home or go to a camp," he shrugged. Those camps house an estimated 10,000 people, according to the United Nations' humanitarian coordination office (OCHA), which also confirmed the house-squatting. "While some are paying rent, reports of internally displaced people residing in empty houses without obtaining the permission of their owners continue to emerge," it said. Around 135,000 of Afrin's original residents stayed in the region as fighting continued, more than a third in the town itself, according to OCHA Othman Khalil, a 57-year-old metal worker, refused to leave his home on Villa Street during the fight. "There are families from Ghouta that come to our neighbourhood. We talk to each other," he said. "They can come into Afrin but people originally from here cannot enter," said Khalil, whose friends escaped the town during clashes but have been unable to return. A pair of Turkish-backed rebels guard one access route, checking the vehicles coming in and out. OCHA has expressed increasing concern over "protracted displacement" from Afrin as security operations continue. Syria's leading Kurdish Party, the People's Democratic Union (PYD), and the Observatory have both accused Ankara of seeking to change Afrin's ethnic makeup by resettling Arab families in Kurdish homes. "There are strangers living in my nephew's house who won't leave," said Mahmoud Hassan, 58, a farmer in Afrin. "People from Ghouta are good people, we can talk to them and there's peace between us," he told. "But this isn't your house, you came and lived in it, and if the owner comes back, you need to get out before he complains." On Saturday, hundreds of Syrian Kurds demonstrated in the northeastern city of Qamishli in protest at Turkey's military presence in Afrin.

Displaced from Ghouta, Syrians seek refuge in emptied Afrin

The White House on Friday backed top aides&#39; comments that the United States is not now focussed on making Syrian President Bashar al-Assad leave power, saying the US&nbsp;focus is on defeating Islamic State militants.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Thursday drew criticism for playing down a long-standing US goal of persuading Assad to leave power to help end the six-year-long Syrian civil war.

Tillerson said Assad&#39;s future is up to the Syrian people to decide, while Haley said &quot;our priority is no longer to sit there and focus on getting Assad out.&quot;

At his daily news briefing, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said that regarding Assad, &quot;there is a political reality that we have to accept in terms of where we are right now.&quot;

Spicer blamed the inability of Trump&#39;s predecessor,&nbsp;Democrat Barack Obama, to persuade Assad to step down.

The Obama administration,&nbsp;in its later years, was focussed on reaching a deal with Russia that would eventually see Assad go,&nbsp;though it also shifted its focus to the fight against Islamic State militants, who captured swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

&quot;We had an opportunity and we need to focus now on defeating ISIS,&quot; Spicer said. &quot;The United States has profound priorities in Syria and Iraq and we&#39;ve made it clear that counterterrorism, particularly the defeat of ISIS, is foremost among those priorities.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

The White House said the US?focus is on defeating the Islamic State

The White House on Friday backed top aides' comments that the United States is not now focussed on making Syrian President Bashar al-Assad leave power, saying the US focus is on defeating Islamic State militants. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and US ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Thursday drew criticism for playing down a long-standing US goal of persuading Assad to leave power to help end the six-year-long Syrian civil war. Tillerson said Assad's future is up to the Syrian people to decide, while Haley said "our priority is no longer to sit there and focus on getting Assad out." At his daily news briefing, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said that regarding Assad, "there is a political reality that we have to accept in terms of where we are right now." Spicer blamed the inability of Trump's predecessor, Democrat Barack Obama, to persuade Assad to step down. The Obama administration, in its later years, was focussed on reaching a deal with Russia that would eventually see Assad go, though it also shifted its focus to the fight against Islamic State militants, who captured swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria in 2014. "We had an opportunity and we need to focus now on defeating ISIS," Spicer said. "The United States has profound priorities in Syria and Iraq and we've made it clear that counterterrorism, particularly the defeat of ISIS, is foremost among those priorities." (AFP)

White House backs Nikki Haley, says US has to accept political reality of Syrian president

Syrian President Bashar al Assad said on Tuesday that he hopes to see&nbsp;an ally in US President-elect Donald Trump if he &quot;lives up to his promise&quot; of fighting terrorists.&nbsp;

&quot;What about the countervailing forces within the (US) administration?&quot; Assad told a Portuguese television channel in reference to lobbies&nbsp;within the administration which influence the president.&nbsp;

Unlike Obama&#39;s policy,&nbsp;Trump has questioned the idea of&nbsp;backing the rebels instead of Assad, noting that he didn&#39;t like him but &quot;Assad is killing ISIS&quot;.

&quot;That&#39;s why for us it&#39;s still dubious whether he (Trump) can do or live up to his promises or not,&quot; Assad said. &quot;That is why we are very cautious in judging him...but let&#39;s say if he is going to fight the terrorists, of course we are going to be ally, natural ally with the Russians, with the Iranians,&quot; he added.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

Trump has questioned the idea of?backing the rebels instead of Assad, noting that, while he didn't like him, 'Assad is killing ISIS'

Syrian President Bashar al Assad said on Tuesday that he hopes to see an ally in US President-elect Donald Trump if he "lives up to his promise" of fighting terrorists. "What about the countervailing forces within the (US) administration?" Assad told a Portuguese television channel in reference to lobbies within the administration which influence the president. Unlike Obama's policy, Trump has questioned the idea of backing the rebels instead of Assad, noting that he didn't like him but "Assad is killing ISIS". "That's why for us it's still dubious whether he (Trump) can do or live up to his promises or not," Assad said. "That is why we are very cautious in judging him...but let's say if he is going to fight the terrorists, of course we are going to be ally, natural ally with the Russians, with the Iranians," he added. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Syrian President hopes for 'natural ally' in Trump

Al Qaeda&#39;s powerful Syrian branch announced yesterday it was ending its relationship with the global jihadist network founded by Osama bin Laden and changing its name, to remove what it called a pretext used by world powers to attack Syrians. 
 
In the first known video statement ever to show his face, the leader of the Nusra Front, Mohamad al-Golani, announced that the group would re-form under a new name, with &quot;no ties with any foreign party&quot;. 
 
The move was being made &quot;to remove the excuse used by the international community - spearheaded by America and Russia - to bombard and displace Muslims in the Levant: that they are targeting the Nusra Front which is associated with Al Qaeda,&quot; he said. The group would now be called Jabhat Fatah al-Sham. 
 
Golani appeared in the video flanked by two other Nusra Front figures, in front of Jabhat Fatah al Sham&#39;s new white flag. Nusra Front&#39;s old flag was black, the colour used by ultra-hardline jihadist groups such as Al Qaeda and Islamic State. 
 
Earlier yesterday, bin Laden&#39;s successor as al Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, announced that he was giving the Nusra Front his blessing to break away. In his message, Golani thanked Zawahri for putting the interests of the Syrian people ahead of organisational interests. 
 
The move appeared to be an attempt to appeal to Syrians who have long had deep misgivings about Nusra&#39;s links with al Qaeda and the significant presence of foreign jihadists among its ranks, which set it apart from Western-backed rebel groups. 
 
It could alter the strategic alignment on the ground in Syria if the renamed Nusra gains acceptance among other rebel groups fighting against President Bashar al-Assad. 
 
But Assad and his Russian allies are unlikely to accept the rebranding as requiring them to halt military operations that have put the Syrian leader in the strongest position on the battlefield for years. 
 
The Nusra Front, long one of the most powerful rebel forces in Syria&#39;s five-year, multi-sided civil war, was excluded along with Islamic State from a US and Russian-backed ceasefire this year, a loophole other rebels blamed for the truce&#39;s collapse. 
 
Nusra is listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States and United Nations. Assad&#39;s other opponents have long said its presence gave the government and its Russian allies a pretext to abandon the truce and launch advances under the cover of anti-terrorist operations permitted under the ceasefire. 
 
Aleppo siege tightens 
 
The Nusra announcement came as Syria&#39;s government and its Russian allies launched what they called a &quot;humanitarian operation&quot; in the rebel-held sector of Aleppo, Syria&#39;s largest city before the war, which government forces have held under effective siege since early July. 
 
Although Moscow and Damascus described their new plans for rebel-held Aleppo as an operation to aid people trapped there, Western countries are worried that the real aim is to depopulate the area ahead of an offensive to storm it. 
 
Aleppo has been divided into rebel and government zones for years. Asserting full control would be the biggest victory for Assad&#39;s government so far, and a potential turning point in a civil war that has killed hundreds of thousands, spawned the world&#39;s worst refugee crisis and drawn in most regional and world powers. 
 
Rebel-held parts of Aleppo have been bombarded since Wednesday with air-dropped leaflets telling civilians they would be given safe passage out and providing maps to exit routes designated as safe corridors. Yesterday Assad ordered rebel fighters in the city to surrender within three months. 
 
Around 250,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in the rebel zone of Aleppo. The United Nations says food supplies will run out within weeks. 
 
Assad said rebels who surrender within three months would be given an amnesty. State television quoted the governor of Aleppo as saying three humanitarian corridors would be established so residents could safely leave. 
 
Russia said a fourth corridor would be set up in the north of the city for surrendering rebels, near the Castello Road, the main land route into the rebel sector, most of which the army seized to complete its encirclement. 
 
Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said: &quot;On behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, today, (we will) start a large-scale humanitarian operation together with the Syrian government to help civilians in Aleppo.&quot; 
 
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said helicopters over rebel-held areas dropped baby diapers and meal packs that had Russian-language labels. 
 
&quot;If it is a genuine humanitarian proposal then clearly it will be accompanied by an end to the bombing campaign and by Russian support for other aspects of this comprehensive approach to the humanitarian situation in Aleppo,&rdquo; British ambassador to the United Nations Matthew Rycroft told reporters in New York. 
 
&ldquo;Clearly the UN and the rest of us cannot be complicit in anything else, for instance an form of emptying of Aleppo or preparing for an onslaught of Aleppo or indeed any continuation of this medieval siege of Aleppo which is going on.&quot; 
 
The proposed safe corridors did not appear to be open so far. Two rebels and aid workers contacted in besieged Aleppo said the army fired at civilians in one of the safe corridors, in the Salah al Din district. A doctor for a medical charity that operates in Aleppo also said the army had fired artillery at families gathering near another humanitarian corridor, in the opposition-held Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood. 
 
Hael Asi Hilal, head of the Syrian Red Crescent in rebel-held areas, said no family so far had been able to leave via any corridor due to snipers firing at them. 
 
The army, backed by allied militia forces and air support from Syrian and Russian jets, has meanwhile taken more ground on the northern edge of the city. State television said the army had advanced in the Bani Zeid district, on the southern side of the Castello road. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said pro-government forces had taken full control of the district. 
 
A rebel source confirmed that the army had made advances. He said Kurdish forces from the nearby Sheikh Maqsoud district had also taken advantage of the fighting to advance into a housing complex in Bani Zeid. 
 
&quot;There has been a (rebel) withdrawal, but no one has surrendered,&quot; Zakaria Malahifji of the Aleppo-based rebel group Fastaqim group told Reuters. 
 
The United States and Russia are both leading separate military campaigns against Islamic State in Syria but are otherwise supporting opposite sides in the wider civil war, with Moscow backing Assad and Washington saying he must leave power. 
 
The Cold War-era superpowers jointly sponsored the ceasefire earlier this year that led to UN brokered peace talks. But that collapsed in May and since then government forces have been advancing with Russian support. 
 
US Secretary of State John Kerry has been holding talks with Russians with the aim of building a system of military cooperation that would allow them to jointly identify legitimate targets not covered by the truce. But so far the negotiations have yet to bear fruit. 
 
A Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said Washington&#39;s stance would allow militants to regroup since it would call for a ceasefire before distinguishing between terrorists and other opposition groups. 
 
&quot;There is an element here of a political ruse at least,&quot; Sergei Ryabkov said. 
 
One US national security official said it was difficult to negotiate with the Russians as long as the wider objectives of Moscow and Washington diverge. 
 
&ldquo;The Russians want to destroy ISIS to save Assad,&rdquo; the official said. &ldquo;We want to destroy ISIS to eliminate a terrorist threat and start a political process to remove Assad, whom President (Barack) Obama has said must go.&rdquo; 
 
(Reuters)

The leader of the Nusra Front, Mohamad al-Golani, appeared in a video in front of the group's new white flag and announced the split

Al Qaeda's powerful Syrian branch announced yesterday it was ending its relationship with the global jihadist network founded by Osama bin Laden and changing its name, to remove what it called a pretext used by world powers to attack Syrians. In the first known video statement ever to show his face, the leader of the Nusra Front, Mohamad al-Golani, announced that the group would re-form under a new name, with "no ties with any foreign party". The move was being made "to remove the excuse used by the international community - spearheaded by America and Russia - to bombard and displace Muslims in the Levant: that they are targeting the Nusra Front which is associated with Al Qaeda," he said. The group would now be called Jabhat Fatah al-Sham. Golani appeared in the video flanked by two other Nusra Front figures, in front of Jabhat Fatah al Sham's new white flag. Nusra Front's old flag was black, the colour used by ultra-hardline jihadist groups such as Al Qaeda and Islamic State. Earlier yesterday, bin Laden's successor as al Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, announced that he was giving the Nusra Front his blessing to break away. In his message, Golani thanked Zawahri for putting the interests of the Syrian people ahead of organisational interests. The move appeared to be an attempt to appeal to Syrians who have long had deep misgivings about Nusra's links with al Qaeda and the significant presence of foreign jihadists among its ranks, which set it apart from Western-backed rebel groups. It could alter the strategic alignment on the ground in Syria if the renamed Nusra gains acceptance among other rebel groups fighting against President Bashar al-Assad. But Assad and his Russian allies are unlikely to accept the rebranding as requiring them to halt military operations that have put the Syrian leader in the strongest position on the battlefield for years. The Nusra Front, long one of the most powerful rebel forces in Syria's five-year, multi-sided civil war, was excluded along with Islamic State from a US and Russian-backed ceasefire this year, a loophole other rebels blamed for the truce's collapse. Nusra is listed as a terrorist organisation by the United States and United Nations. Assad's other opponents have long said its presence gave the government and its Russian allies a pretext to abandon the truce and launch advances under the cover of anti-terrorist operations permitted under the ceasefire. Aleppo siege tightens The Nusra announcement came as Syria's government and its Russian allies launched what they called a "humanitarian operation" in the rebel-held sector of Aleppo, Syria's largest city before the war, which government forces have held under effective siege since early July. Although Moscow and Damascus described their new plans for rebel-held Aleppo as an operation to aid people trapped there, Western countries are worried that the real aim is to depopulate the area ahead of an offensive to storm it. Aleppo has been divided into rebel and government zones for years. Asserting full control would be the biggest victory for Assad's government so far, and a potential turning point in a civil war that has killed hundreds of thousands, spawned the world's worst refugee crisis and drawn in most regional and world powers. Rebel-held parts of Aleppo have been bombarded since Wednesday with air-dropped leaflets telling civilians they would be given safe passage out and providing maps to exit routes designated as safe corridors. Yesterday Assad ordered rebel fighters in the city to surrender within three months. Around 250,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in the rebel zone of Aleppo. The United Nations says food supplies will run out within weeks. Assad said rebels who surrender within three months would be given an amnesty. State television quoted the governor of Aleppo as saying three humanitarian corridors would be established so residents could safely leave. Russia said a fourth corridor would be set up in the north of the city for surrendering rebels, near the Castello Road, the main land route into the rebel sector, most of which the army seized to complete its encirclement. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said: "On behalf of the President of the Russian Federation, today, (we will) start a large-scale humanitarian operation together with the Syrian government to help civilians in Aleppo." The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said helicopters over rebel-held areas dropped baby diapers and meal packs that had Russian-language labels. "If it is a genuine humanitarian proposal then clearly it will be accompanied by an end to the bombing campaign and by Russian support for other aspects of this comprehensive approach to the humanitarian situation in Aleppo,” British ambassador to the United Nations Matthew Rycroft told reporters in New York. “Clearly the UN and the rest of us cannot be complicit in anything else, for instance an form of emptying of Aleppo or preparing for an onslaught of Aleppo or indeed any continuation of this medieval siege of Aleppo which is going on." The proposed safe corridors did not appear to be open so far. Two rebels and aid workers contacted in besieged Aleppo said the army fired at civilians in one of the safe corridors, in the Salah al Din district. A doctor for a medical charity that operates in Aleppo also said the army had fired artillery at families gathering near another humanitarian corridor, in the opposition-held Bustan al Qasr neighbourhood. Hael Asi Hilal, head of the Syrian Red Crescent in rebel-held areas, said no family so far had been able to leave via any corridor due to snipers firing at them. The army, backed by allied militia forces and air support from Syrian and Russian jets, has meanwhile taken more ground on the northern edge of the city. State television said the army had advanced in the Bani Zeid district, on the southern side of the Castello road. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said pro-government forces had taken full control of the district. A rebel source confirmed that the army had made advances. He said Kurdish forces from the nearby Sheikh Maqsoud district had also taken advantage of the fighting to advance into a housing complex in Bani Zeid. "There has been a (rebel) withdrawal, but no one has surrendered," Zakaria Malahifji of the Aleppo-based rebel group Fastaqim group told Reuters. The United States and Russia are both leading separate military campaigns against Islamic State in Syria but are otherwise supporting opposite sides in the wider civil war, with Moscow backing Assad and Washington saying he must leave power. The Cold War-era superpowers jointly sponsored the ceasefire earlier this year that led to UN brokered peace talks. But that collapsed in May and since then government forces have been advancing with Russian support. US Secretary of State John Kerry has been holding talks with Russians with the aim of building a system of military cooperation that would allow them to jointly identify legitimate targets not covered by the truce. But so far the negotiations have yet to bear fruit. A Russian deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said Washington's stance would allow militants to regroup since it would call for a ceasefire before distinguishing between terrorists and other opposition groups. "There is an element here of a political ruse at least," Sergei Ryabkov said. One US national security official said it was difficult to negotiate with the Russians as long as the wider objectives of Moscow and Washington diverge. “The Russians want to destroy ISIS to save Assad,” the official said. “We want to destroy ISIS to eliminate a terrorist threat and start a political process to remove Assad, whom President (Barack) Obama has said must go.” (Reuters)

Nusra Front renames itself Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, ends link to al Qaeda

Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for car and suicide bomb blasts that killed at least eight people and injured scores in a suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus today, the IS-affiliated Amaq news agency said. 
 
The Sayeda Zeinab suburb contains Syria&#39;s holiest Shiite shrine and is a base for Shiite militant groups from Lebanon and Iraq who are on the side of President Bashar al-Assad in the country&#39;s five-year-old civil war.

Amaq news agency said that in today&#39;s attack, militants detonated an explosives-laden car in Sayeda Zeinab while two suicide bombers blew themselves up nearby. Syrian state media showed footage of wide-scale damage in a busy marketplace.

A Shiite religious cleric said on the state-run Ikhbariyah TV channel that the car bomb blast was not far from the shrine area in the main al-Taen street.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, however, said the death toll was at least nine. The heavily garrisoned area is a well known stronghold of Lebanon&#39;s powerful Shiite Hezbollah group, a major backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Thousands of Iraqi and Afghan Shiite militia recruits, who volunteer to fight against the Sunni rebel groups trying to bring down Assad&#39;s government, normally come to the area before being sent to frontlines across Syria.

They say they come to Syria to defend the Sayeda Zeinab shrine from radical Sunni extremists.

The Sayeda Zeinab suburb contains Syria's holiest Shiite shrine and is a base for Shiite militant groups from Lebanon and Iraq

Islamic State militants claimed responsibility for car and suicide bomb blasts that killed at least eight people and injured scores in a suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus today, the IS-affiliated Amaq news agency said. The Sayeda Zeinab suburb contains Syria's holiest Shiite shrine and is a base for Shiite militant groups from Lebanon and Iraq who are on the side of President Bashar al-Assad in the country's five-year-old civil war. Amaq news agency said that in today's attack, militants detonated an explosives-laden car in Sayeda Zeinab while two suicide bombers blew themselves up nearby. Syrian state media showed footage of wide-scale damage in a busy marketplace. A Shiite religious cleric said on the state-run Ikhbariyah TV channel that the car bomb blast was not far from the shrine area in the main al-Taen street. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, however, said the death toll was at least nine. The heavily garrisoned area is a well known stronghold of Lebanon's powerful Shiite Hezbollah group, a major backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Thousands of Iraqi and Afghan Shiite militia recruits, who volunteer to fight against the Sunni rebel groups trying to bring down Assad's government, normally come to the area before being sent to frontlines across Syria. They say they come to Syria to defend the Sayeda Zeinab shrine from radical Sunni extremists.

Islamic State claims responsibility for bombings near Damascus Shiite shrine

At least eight people were killed and scores wounded in twin suicide and car bomb blasts today in a Damascus suburb that contains Syria&#39;s holiest Shiite Muslim shrine, state television said. 
 
State media, which flashed the news, did not give further details about the bombings in the Sayeda Zeinab area, where at least three bomb attacks claimed by Islamic State militants have killed and injured scores of people this year. 
 
A Shiite religious cleric said on the state-run Ikhbariyah TV channel that the car bomb blast was not far from the shrine area in the main al-Taen street. 
 
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, however, said the death toll was at least nine. The heavily garrisoned area is a well known stronghold of Lebanon&#39;s powerful Shiite Hezbollah group, a major backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. 
 
Thousands of Iraqi and Afghan Shiite militia recruits, who volunteer to fight against the Sunni rebel groups trying to bring down Assad&#39;s government, normally come to the area before being sent to frontlines across Syria. 
 
They say they come to Syria to defend the Sayeda Zeinab shrine from radical Sunni extremists.

A Shiite religious cleric was quoted saying that the car bomb blast was not far from the shrine area in main al-Taen street

At least eight people were killed and scores wounded in twin suicide and car bomb blasts today in a Damascus suburb that contains Syria's holiest Shiite Muslim shrine, state television said. State media, which flashed the news, did not give further details about the bombings in the Sayeda Zeinab area, where at least three bomb attacks claimed by Islamic State militants have killed and injured scores of people this year. A Shiite religious cleric said on the state-run Ikhbariyah TV channel that the car bomb blast was not far from the shrine area in the main al-Taen street. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, however, said the death toll was at least nine. The heavily garrisoned area is a well known stronghold of Lebanon's powerful Shiite Hezbollah group, a major backer of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Thousands of Iraqi and Afghan Shiite militia recruits, who volunteer to fight against the Sunni rebel groups trying to bring down Assad's government, normally come to the area before being sent to frontlines across Syria. They say they come to Syria to defend the Sayeda Zeinab shrine from radical Sunni extremists.

Suicide, car bomb blasts hit Damascus suburb, at least 8 dead, says Syrian state media

syrian-president

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Suicide, car bomb blasts hit Damascus suburb, at least 8 dead, says Syrian state media