Moscow court arrests Syrian militants in absentia over murder of Russian servicemen

Moscow's Basmanny Court has sanctioned arrest in absentia of Syrian citizens complicit in the murder of Russian Su-24 fighter jet pilot Oleg Peshkov and Russian Marine Alexander Pozynich who took part in the 2015 operation in rescuing pilots, a source close to the investigation told TASS on Tuesday.

"In regard to Syrian citizens complicit in the death of Russian marine in Latakia and in the death of a Russian pilot, the Basmanny Court chose a preventive measure in the form of imprisonment for two months, with the term starting from the moment of their extradition or from the moment of their arrest on the territory of Russia. 

They are now wanted at the national and international levels," the source said without specifying the number and names of Syrian citizens in the case.

The source said that the court rulings were made in the summer and in September 2018. Investigators are working on identifying other individuals complicit in the crime.

Russian Aerospace Defense Forces' Su-24M fighter jet was downed by Turkish aircraft over Syria on 24 November 2015. The pilots managed to evacuate, but commander Oleg Peshkov was killed by the fire from land, while other pilot Konstantin Murakhtin was rescued by Russian servicemen and brought to the Russian air base in Syria. A Mi-8 helicopter was lost in the rescue operation, and Russian marine Alexander Pozynich was killed in the operation.

Over 6,000 US-controlled terrorists remain in Rukban refugee camp : Russian MoD

The conditions of al-Rukban camp’s residents near the Syrian-Jordanian borders in al-Tanf area are reminiscent of the World War II concentration camps, Head of Russia’s National Defense Control Center Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev said on Friday.

the Russian General called on the United States to end its occupation of the area where the Camp is located.

“We are urging the United States of America to immediately stop the illegal occupation of the 55km zone around al-Tanf, which is the sovereign territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. This will automatically resolve the al-Rukban problem itself and help residents staying there return to their homes,” he said.
In the same context, the Russian Defense Ministry said over 6,000 militants of the so-called Maghawir al-Thawra group controlled by the US are currently in the Rukban refugee camp along with 50,000 refugees,

“One of the most pressing issues today is the situation in the Rukban refugee camp, where a dire humanitarian situation has emerged. It is noteworthy that the total number of temporarily displaced individuals there is around 50,000. Of these, about 6,000 are militants from the US-controlled Maghawir al-Thawra group,” said Yuri Tarasov, the Russian Defense Ministry’s Envoy to the Ceasefire and Humanitarian Task Forces in Geneva

US-backed forces strengthen defenses around Raqqa amid rebel mobilization

The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have strengthened their positions around the Al-Raqqa province as the Turkish-backed rebels continue to mobilize their troops.

According to local activists, the Syrian Democratic Forces were seen on Wednesday fortifying their positions around Raqqa city and several other areas in the province.

This move by the Syrian Democratic Forces comes just days after the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) and their rebel allies began mobilizing their troops in northern Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated last month that his nation’s army and their rebel allies are preparing to launch a big operation east of the Euphrates.

Despite the presence of U.S. Coalition troops in northern Syria, the Turkish regime will not accept the Syrian Democratic Forces maintaining any posts along the border.

Furthermore, the aggressiveness of the Turkish military along the border has forced the Syrian Democratic Forces to redeploy several units from the Deir Ezzor front to the provinces of Al-Raqqa, Aleppo, and Al-Hasakah.

YPG claims 42 Turkish soldiers and rebels killed in October attacks

The Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG) released a new statement this week that detailed their operations in northern Syria last month.

According to the YPG, their forces killed at least 42 Turkish soldiers and rebels during their operations in October.

Of the 42 killed, at least three were Turkish soldiers and the remaining were rebels loyal to Ankara.

Furthermore, the YPG said they destroyed eight military vehicles that belonged to the Turkish-backed rebels.

All of the YPG’s operations were conducted inside the Afrin region of northwest Aleppo; this area was captured by the Turkish-backed rebels in early March of this year.

+18 Video | Northern Syria: FSA rebel shoots dead his sister for having sex with Turkish officer

A Syrian rebel fighter brutally executed his sister after learning that she had had sex with a Turkish Army officer in northern Syria.

In details, Bashar Bseis, a militant fighting for a Turkish-backed rebel group in northern Syria found out that his sister, Rasha, was involved in a sexual relationship with an officer from the Turkish military.

Bashar’s discovery was made after Rasha’s nude photos went viral on social media.

The incident is classified in Islamic and Middle Eastern countries as  ‘Shame Killing’ where the perpetrator believes that the victim has brought shame or dishonor upon the family, or has violated the principles of a community or a religion.

The crime was filmed in a sickening video by the one of Bashar’s friends who encouraged him to ‘restore his honor’.

Asking the victim to show her face to the camera, Bashar fired around 90 Ak-47 bullets into his sister’s body.

More than 122,000 terrorist facilities destroyed by Russian air force in Syria - Shoigu

Russian Aerospace Defense Forces have made over 40,000 flights, including 21,000 flight in the nighttime, over the course of the operation in Syria and delivered strikes at around 122,000 terrorist facilities, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said.

"Over the course of military actions, strikes were delivered at around 122,000 terrorist facilities. Most militants were eliminated," Shoigu said. 

"We acquired extensive military experience in Syria, and we are ready to share it," he noted adding that peaceful life is being actively restored in Syria.

"As a result of concerted efforts of the Russian center for reconciliation of the conflicting sides, over 2,500 settlements from all over the country have already joined the reconciliation process," the defense minister said. 

Special attention is paid now to resolving humanitarian issues in Syria and assisting refegees in returning to their homes, he concluded.

Source: TASS

Several civilians killed & injured by terror attacks in Aleppo city

One civilian was killed , and material damage was caused to houses when terrorist groups positioned in southwestern countryside of Aleppo fired shells on residential neighbourhoods in Aleppo city.

The terrorists on Thursday evening fired a rocket shell on al-Sabil neighbourhood in Aleppo, killing one civilian and causing material damage to a number of houses.

Also, the terrorist groups attacked with a rocket shell al-Mokambo neighborhood , causing only material damage.

Units of the Syrian Arab Army have responded to the attacks by targeting the areas from which the shells were launched, inflicting heavy losses upon the militants in personnel and arms.

Jihadists in Idlib buffer zone continue attacks against Syrian military: Russian MoD

The deadline for the jihadist rebels to withdraw from the Idlib buffer zone has expired and the militants are still inside this designated de-escalation area. 

According to the Russian Reconciliation Center, the jihadist rebels inside the Idlib buffer zone have continued their attacks against the government forces.

While the Russian Reconciliation Center did not specify where the attacks took place, pro-government activists in the northern countryside of the Hama Governorate have reported some militant activity within this part of the Idlib buffer zone.

The Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem has already issued a stern warning to the jihadist rebels in Idlib about not abiding by the Idlib agreement.

Muallem said this afternoon that the Syrian Armed Forces are already deployed near the front-lines and prepared for any action.

Syrian national flag hoisted over Golan Heights border as Quneitra Crossing reopens for first time in years

The Syrian national flag was hoisted over the Golan Heights border this afternoon, as the government announces the reopening of the Quneitra crossing.

The Syrian government recently decided to reopen the Quneitra crossing after restoring much of the area that was once controlled by the jihadist rebels.

Israel also agreed to reopen the crossing after a discussion with the Russian Ministry of Defense.

With the Quneitra crossing open to the public, several Syrians living in Golan Heights can visit their families on either side of the border.

Several rebels resolve legal status with Syrian gov’t in Quneitra

The Syrian authorities continued the process of resolving the legal status of rebel fighters in the towns of Breka and Bir Ajam in Quneitra’s western countryside, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported on Sunday.

According to the SANA report, the rebels that settled their cases with the government had previously agreed to remain in the Quneitra Governorate after a large number of militants left for northern Syria.

The SANA report said that the authorities resolved the legal status of dozens of armed people in Breka and Bir Ajam who handed over their weapons and pledged not to do any act that disrupts public safety.

Many other rebels have settled their cases with the Syrian government since the battle for the Daraa and Quneitra governorates concluded in August.

BREAKING: Jihadists in Syria's Idlib vow to continue fight as deadline looms

Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham known as HTS published a statement today officially rejecting Idlib agreement that was signed between Russia and Turkey.

In the statement which was published across the social media, HTS stated that they will not hand in any of their heavy weapons adding that their weapons is a red-line for them and there is no negotiation regarding their red-line.

Idlib agreement was signed by Russia and Turkey at a meeting in Sochi on Sept 17

Russia and Turkey agreed to a diplomatic solution for Syria’s northern Idlib province at a meeting in Sochi on Sept. 17.

The deal sets up a demilitarized zone running 15-20 kilometers (9-13 miles) deep into rebel territory that must be evacuated of all heavy weapons and all jihadist groups by Monday, Oct. 15.

The deadline for Jihadists to retreat from the demilitarized zone ends by tomorrow.

Jordan-Syria border to reopen Monday for first time in 3 years

The border crossing between Jordan and Syria will reopen on Monday after being closed for three years, the two countries said Sunday after weeks of talks.

According to the Jordanian government spokesperson Jumana Ghunaimat, Amman’s decision to reopen the Nassib Crossing was a crucial decision to boost trade between the neighboring countries.

“This was a crucial artery of trade between Jordan and Syria and transit to other countries,” she said.

This move to reopen the Nassib Crossing on Monday comes at the same time both Syria and Israel agreed to restore the Golan Heights Crossing.

The Nassib and Golan Heights crossings were both closed in early 2015 after the Syrian Arab Army lost several imperative areas along the southwestern border of the country.

Militants violate the ceasefire, shell Latakia, Aleppo - Russian MoD

Over the past 24 hours, militants have violated the ceasefire several times in Syria’s Latakia region and in some districts of the city of Aleppo, Lieutenant General Vladimir Savchenko, the chief of the Russian center for reconciliation of conflicting sides in Syria, said on Friday.

"In spite of the cessation of hostilities regime, violations are ongoing by illegal armed groups operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone. 

For example, in the past 24 hours, shelling was documented in the populated localities of Safsada (twice), Iqqo, Rois-Almilq, Ruyset-Iskander in Latakia, the western outskirts and Castello districts in the city of Aleppo," he said.

Savchenko added that in the past 24 hours, the Russian center for reconciliation of conflicting sides distributed 1.29 tonnes of aid consisting of 300 food kits and 300 pieces of warm clothing in Kodna, Quneitra province.

The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria. The center’s officers regularly travel around the country's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation. 

The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes and evacuation of civilians from de-escalation zones.

Afrin region: Turkish backed FSA Rebels killed in sleep

Kurdish YPG sleeper cells continue their behind enemy lines operations targeting enemy forces in Afrin region - north Syria

On October 11th, YPG sleeper cell carried out a military operation in the village of Qeretepe of Shera district, targeting the members of the Sultan Murad Division. YPG fighters managed to sneak into FSA fighters bedroom killing two of them during sleep.

At same time on October 10th, YPG carried another attack targeting a member of al-Waqas Brigade on the road leading to Senare village in Shiya district. As a result, 1 FSA rebel named Hammoud al-Juma was killed.

Turkish-backed FSA rebels withdraw all heavy weapons in Idlib buffer zone

The Turkish-backed FSA rebels fully removed their heavy weapons from the Idlib buffer zone on Monday.

According to the Syrian military, the Turkish-backed National Liberation Front (NLF) withdrew all of their heavy weapons from the northern Hama part of the Idlib buffer zone.

Among the heavy weapons withdrawn on Monday was the National Liberation Front’s plethora of tanks that were positioned near the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) front-lines in northern Hama.

While the Turkish-backed rebels have honored the Idlib buffer zone agreement, the jihadist groups have not.

The jihadist rebels have continued to use the Idlib buffer zone to attack the Syrian Arab Army and their allies in the Hama and Latakia governorates.