Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani has been in the United States for meetings at the United Nations, where he raised the three-star flag of Syria’s uprising. Damascus is keen to hear a realistic path forward from the United States for permanent sanctions relief while conveying a realistic timeline to deliver on Washington’s demands for the lifting of the sanctions (Read more at Arabnews).
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) returned from an official visit to Syria this month with more cautious optimism about the country’s new government than Washington and Jerusalem have mustered. Al-Sharaa has engaged the West, indicating openness to joining the Abraham Accords, and Stuztman and the Syrian leader discussed commerce and Syria’s potential to become a central trade and tourism hub (Read more at JNS).
In the four-page document, Syria pledges to set up a liaison office at the foreign ministry to find missing US journalist Austin Tice and details its work to tackle chemical weapons stockpiles, including closer ties with a global arms watchdog. But it had less to say on other key demands, including removing foreign fighters and granting the US permission for counterterrorism strikes (Read more at Business Standard).
The U.S. wants Syria's authorities to fully renounce and suppress terrorism, adopt a policy of non-aggression to neighboring states, exclude foreign terrorist fighters from any official roles, prevent Iran and its proxies from exploiting Syrian territory, destroy weapons of mass destruction, assist in the recovery of U.S. citizens disappeared in Syria, and ensure the security and freedoms of all Syrians (Read more at MSN).
“Israel is opposed to the US withdrawing from northeast Syria,” one former U.S. official told MEE. “They want to see the US extract concessions from Türkiye on demilitarisation before any American boots leave Syrian soil.” The Trump administration’s decision is aimed at shifting from a military presence to a political role in the region (Read more at Turkiye Today).
A Christian businessman said he raised the issue of US sanctions and the need for them to be removed. “Like all Syrians, Christians also want the prosperity of Syria,” he said. He added that the Christians of Sednaya have been stigmatised because they did not join the anti-Al Assad revolt, unlike the surrounding Sunni cities and towns (Read more at The National).
The two are U.S. Representatives Cory Mills of Florida, who serves on the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees, and Marlin Stutzman of Indiana. Both are members of President Donald Trump's Republican Party. Mills met new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Friday night. They discussed U.S. sanctions and Iran during a 90-minute meeting. Asked about meeting a leader still sanctioned by Washington, Stutzman cited examples of Trump’s administration engaging with Iranian and North Korean leaders (Read more at Yahoo News).
The U.S. military has about 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria across a number of bases, mostly in the northeast. One of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that consolidation could reduce the number of troops in Syria to about 1,000. Another U.S. official confirmed the plan for a reduction, but said there was no certainty on numbers and was skeptical of a decrease of that scale at a time when President Donald Trump's administration has been negotiating with Iran and building up forces in the region (Read more at AOL).
The demands included the removal of foreign fighters from key governing positions, the destruction of remaining chemical weapons and cooperation on counterterrorism efforts. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Levant and Syria engagement in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Natasha Franceschi, delivered the list to Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani on the sidelines of a Syria donor conference in Brussels. This meeting marked the first direct high-level interaction between Damascus and Washington since President Donald Trump’s inauguration (Read more at Daily Sabah).
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which helped the US defeat Daesh in 2019, has since then been overseeing Ghuwayran prison, Al-Hol camp and Al-Roj camp, which hold about 56,000 Daesh fighters, their wives and their children. Even with US support, the camps and prisons had been starved of sufficient funding and manpower. “In the worst-case scenario, this could lead to security vulnerabilities that Daesh cells may attempt to exploit, particularly as the group remains active in the Syrian desert and continues efforts to infiltrate” northeastern areas controlled by the autonomous administration (Read more at Arabnews).
The deal aims to stitch back together a country fractured by 14 years of war, paving the way for Kurdish-led forces, which hold a quarter of Syria, to merge with Damascus, along with regional Kurdish governing bodies. Key details of how this will happen have yet to be spelled out, however (Read more at Japan Times).
"The United States welcomes the recently announced agreement between the Syrian interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces to integrate the northeast into a unified Syria," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement, referring to the Kurdish-led, US-allied SDF force (Read more at Barrons).
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it conducted the strike Saturday in Northwest Syria targeting and killing a senior finance and logistics official in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate (Read more at France 24).
USAID distributes billions of dollars of aid worldwide. Trump has ordered a freeze on most U.S. foreign aid. Aid cuts could destabilise Al-Hol, Roj camps. People suspected of IS affiliation are held at the camps (Read more at Reuters).
Russia shipped a diesel cargo to the Syrian Arab Republic onboard a tanker under US sanctions, the first known such direct supply to the Middle Eastern country in more than a decade. The Barbados-flagged vessel Prosperity was loaded with about 37,000 metric tons of ultra-low sulfur diesel. The tanker is anchored near the Syrian port of Banias (Read more Arab News).
The US says it has shouldered the burden of Syria camps for too long. The US urges countries to quickly repatriate nationals. Al-Hol camp is widely viewed as a breeding ground for extremism (Read more at Reuters).
President Donald Trump and officials close to him recently expressed interest in pulling U.S. troops out of Syria, leading Pentagon officials to begin drawing up plans for a full withdrawal in 30, 60 or 90 days (Read more at NBC News).
SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami warned of the potential consequences of such a move, emphasizing that “ISIS and other malicious actors are closely watching for an opportunity to exploit a U.S. withdrawal, aiming to regain their foothold and return to the 2014 situation.” (Read more at Kurdistan 24).
Sharaa, declared Syria’s interim head of state last week, also noted that US troops were in Syria without government approval, adding that any such presence should be agreed with the state. He described US sanctions still imposed on Syria as “the gravest risk” to the country. “I believe that President Trump seeks peace in the area, and it is a top priority to lift the sanctions. The United States of America does not have any interest in maintaining the suffering of the Syrian people,” Sharaa said (Read more at Middle East Monitor).
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria targeting and killing Muhammad Salah al-Za’bir, a senior operative in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate (Read more at Centcom).
Trump has conditioned the pullout on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan restoring ties with Israel. Turkey has long opposed the US military presence in Syria due to Washington’s support for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The US has recently doubled its troop presence in Syria, increasing the numbers from 900 to around 2,000, following the December 8 ousting of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (Read more at Turkish Minute).
the Trump administration floated a similar withdrawal plan in 2018-2019, though it did not fully materialize. Observers note that the security landscape in Syria has changed since that time, with regime change in Syria eliminating the Russian and Iranian presence. A US departure from eastern Syria could reshape alliances, affect Kurdish-held areas and open the door for possible moves by Turkish-backed forces (Read more at Turkish Minute).
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Friday from Damascus that his country was engaged in an active dialogue with Europe and the U.S. to help lift economic sanctions imposed on Syria (Source: Yahoo News).
“We are confident that he is the leader to bring peace to the Middle East and restore stability to the region,” Ahmed Al-Sharaa said (Read more at Arabnews).
The mother of American journalist Austin Tice, who was taken captive during a reporting trip to Syria in August 2012, arrived in Damascus on Saturday to step up the search for her son and said she hopes she can take him home with her (Read more at Arabnews).
The head of an American organisation focused on hostage releases said on Monday he believes U.S. journalist Austin Tice was still being held in Syria by people loyal to toppled leader Bashar al-Assad in order to do an exchange or a deal (Read more at Reuters).
A senior Syrian Kurdish official indicated that talks are underway on the possibility of US and French troops securing a border area in northern Syria. Ankara has warned it will carry out a cross-border offensive in northeast Syria against the Kurdish YPG militia if the group does not comply with Turkish demands (Read more at Atalayar).
Sebastian Gorka, the president-elect's deputy assistant on national security, suggested the UK-US relationship had been weakened. It signals the incoming Trump administration aims to apply greater pressure on its allies. "Any nation which wishes to be seen as a serious ally and friend of the most powerful nation in the world should act in a fashion that reflects that serious commitment," he said. Around 70 Britons are thought to be held by US-backed Kurdish-led forces in detention camps - including 20 women and up to 40 children (Read more at Middle East Eye).
"I welcome the recent issuance of a new temporary General License by the United States government. But much more significant work in fully addressing sanctions and designations will inevitably be necessary," the U.N. special envoy on Syria, Geir Pedersen told the Security Council (Read more at USNews).
it is issued for six months after the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule in an effort to ease the flow of humanitarian assistance. The exemption, known as a general license, also allows some energy transactions and personal remittances to Syria until July 7. The action did not remove any sanctions (Read more at Reuters).
Armed clashes between militants affiliated with the Assad regime and policemen affiliated with the new administration took place last week in the city of Tartus. Fourteen policemen and several militants were killed, according to the Syrian Interior Ministry (Read more at Axios).
Official tells The National Washington wants to see new Syria rebuilt 'in spirit' of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and Syria's elections “should be free and fair, and carried out in a transparent and inclusive manner”. The response comes after Mr Al Shara stoked concerns at the weekend when he told Al Arabiya that Syria would not hold elections for another four years, and that it may not ratify a constitution for three years (Read more at The National).
Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is using media appearances to spell out well-scripted scenarios ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Sharaa seemed to be speaking from professionally-prepared talking points as he relaxedly answered even tough questions trying to reassure his domestic and foreign audiences while at the same time making no secret of his intent to cement his hold on power for the time being (Read more at Arab Weekly).
The US military convoy, including 50 trucks carrying armored vehicles, military equipment, and logistics, is on its way to one of the US military bases in the east and north of Syria through the Al-Waleed border crossing (Read more at News.AZ).
Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) has accused the United States and the United Kingdom of plotting 'terrorist attacks' on Russian bases in Syria to remove its forces from the country. In a statement released on Saturday, the intelligence agency accused the UK's MI6 and US CIA are directing commanders of the Islamic State to carry out the attacks using drones (Read more at New Arab).
The US called on all parties in the Eastern Mediterranean to avoid actions that could escalate tensions, emphasizing the need for regional resource development to foster collaboration, energy security, and economic stability (Read more at Ekathimerini).
the reality is that the sanctions on HTS are a drop in the bucket, compared to an overlapping sanctions regime on Syria that was five decades in the making, predating even the 2011 Arab Spring and Syrian civil war. American exports to Syria were all but prohibited, except for food and basic medicines. US sanctions on Syria ramped up massively after Assad's brutal crackdown on protesters and as the civil war raged. In 2020, a US company was awarded a sanctions waiver to develop oil fields in the region, but that project withered. (Read more at Middle East Eye).
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham introduced the "Countering Turkish Aggression Act of 2024" in the hope the sanctions threat would move the parties toward a ceasefire. But they said Washington should work with Turkey diplomatically to facilitate a sustained ceasefire and demilitarized zone between Turkey and Syria (Read more at Reuters).
Washington has stepped up military action against the jihadist group since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government earlier this month, hitting areas that were shielded by Syrian and Russian air defenses before a lightning offensive by rebels who now control the country. The strike took place Thursday in Deir Ezzor province in eastern Syria, killing IS leader “Abu Yusif” and another operative (Read more at Defense Post).
The Pentagon claimed it had over 2,000 military personnel in Syria to target Islamist rebels before the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Washington has for years said it has some 900 military personnel in Syria as part of international efforts against Islamist groups, which seized swathes of territory there and in neighbouring Iraq before being defeated by local forces backed by a US-led air campaign (Read more at New Arab).
The US, however, had designated HTS a “terrorist” organisation in 2018. Al-Sharaa — also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani — is the group’s leader and was once aligned with al-Qaeda. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf said “Based on our discussion, I told him we would not be pursuing the Rewards for Justice reward offer that has been in effect for some years” (Read more at Aljazeera).
They met with the leader of the opposition group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) Ahmad al-Sharaa. A U.S. official said the meeting with al-Sharaa was "good and productive." U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs Barbara Leaf said al-Sharaa committed to not allowing terror groups to operate in Syria and threaten the U.S. or neighboring countries. Leaf said that as a result, the U.S. made clear it won't pursue the $10 million "reward for justice" on al-Sharaa (Read more at Axios).
When, in January, Donald Trump is sworn in for his second, and final, term as president of the United States, he will find the Middle East undergoing tectonic geopolitical shifts that his Israel-firsters and neocon supporters could not have imagined, even in their wildest dreams. Trump must seize this opportunity and accept that lasting peace in the Middle East can only be achieved through a comprehensive approach that leaves nobody behind (Read more at Middle East Eye).
Unnamed US officials have warned that Washington is increasingly concerned that Turkiye and its allied militias in northern Syria – predominantly under the umbrella of the Syrian National Army (SNA) – are preparing for a large-scale military incursion into Syrian territory controlled by US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Citing a reported significant Turkish military build-up and presence – including the deployment of uniformed Turkish commandos, artillery units and allied militias to strategic positions along the border – near the town of Kobani, or Ayn Al-Arab, the officials told the paper that the movements resembled those seen ahead of Turkiye’s 2019 incursion into northern Syria, with one warning that “a cross-border operation could be imminent” yet again (Read more at Middle East Monitor).
An international war crimes prosecutor said on Tuesday that evidence emerging from mass grave sites in Syria has exposed a state-run "machinery of death" under toppled leader Bashar al-Assad in which he estimated more than 100,000 people were tortured and murdered since 2013 (Read more at Reuters).
The ceasefire around the northern Syrian city of Manbij has been extended until the end of this week. Washington brokered an initial ceasefire last week after fighting that broke out earlier this month. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "We continue to engage with the SDF, with Turkey about a path forward." (read more at Reuters)
He added Turkey wanted control of Syria 'for thousands of years' and now they have it. "He's a very smart guy and he's very tough. But Turkey did an unfriendly takeover without a lot of lives being lost. I can say Assad was a butcher, what he did to children," Trump said during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, adding that he didn't know what the outcome of Assad's collapse would be (Read more at Middle East Eye).
“The problem is, what comes next?”, said Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Republican and Democratic US senators say it is too soon to consider lifting sanctions on Syria (Read more at Arab Weekly).
Travis Timmerman, 29, was imprisoned in Syria after crossing into the country on a Christian pilgrimage in June. United States officials have revealed that Travis Timmerman who disappeared into the Syrian prison system seven months ago, has been released and taken out of the country (Read more at Aljazeera).
Washington sees this moment as an opportunity to further push back Iran’s influence in the region. Blinken visited the US embassy in Baghdad and said he spoke to Sudani about the situation in Syria. Blinken and Sudani discussed “the conviction of so many countries in the region and beyond that, as Syria transitions from the Assad dictatorship to hopefully a democracy, it does so in a way that, of course, protects all of the minorities in Syria that produces an inclusive, non-sectarian government,” Blinken said, adding that Syria should not become a “platform for terrorism” (Read more at Arab Weekly).
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Jordan’s King Abdullah in the Red Sea town of Aqaba on Thursday as he arrived in the region for talks on Syria following the ousting of Bashar Al-Assad, Reuters has reported. He will also meet Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi today before heading for Turkiye (Read more at Middle East Monitor).
The US is mounting a fresh diplomatic effort in the Middle East, hoping to end the war in Gaza and push rebels who have taken power in Syria to form a “credible, inclusive, and non-sectarian governance” (Read more at Guardian).
The clashes in Manbij, an Arab-majority city, have killed 218 combatants since Turkish-backed groups launched offensives in the north following the ouster of Assad on Sunday. Syrian Democratic Forces commander Mazloum Abdi said, “Our goal is to reach a ceasefire across Syria and start a political process for the future of the country” (Read more at Defense Post).
Two-pronged diplomatic push sees Blinken covering Jordan, Turkiye, while Sullivan holds talks in Israel, Qatar and Egypt. Washington has acknowledged Ankara’s right to defend itself from what it perceives as a security threat, but has also said it will continue working with the SDF (Read more at Aljazeera).
U.S. troops will be staying in Syria after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad as part of a counter-terrorism mission focused on destroying Islamic State militants, a top White House official said on Tuesday (Read more at USNews).
Washington was caught off guard by the rapid overthrow of Assad by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-aligned forces, which occurred in just 11 days. Reports suggest that US officials had been attempting to negotiate a deal with Assad that would have normalised his position in exchange for severing ties with Hezbollah and Iran. The US has expressed concern over Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) operations targeting the SDF, a US partner force (Read more at Middle East Eye).
The lawmakers wrote that while keeping sanctions on former government officials was important, they believed "that other parts of the legislation - such as sectoral sanctions and sanctions related to reconstruction - should be suspended". The letter said the U.S. must issue waivers and general licenses to encourage economic development and foreign investment and "build good will" without impacting sanctions on designated terrorist groups (Read more at New Arab).
He said, the US would recognize a future Syrian government that amounts to a credible, inclusive and non-sectarian governing body. It is the clearest definition outlined by Washington since Syria's opposition militias overthrew President Bashar al-Assad. Blinken's statement did not mention HTS (Read more at Reuters).
The US Justice Department announced charges against two former Syrian intelligence officials, Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud, for war crimes related to their roles in the torture of detainees during the Syrian civil war. The charges stem from their actions at Mezzeh Military Airport, near Damascus, where they oversaw brutal treatment of prisoners, including US citizens (Read more at Anadolu Agency).
Meanwhile, Jordan's King emphasised importance of covert US support for the Syrian Free Army during his Washington DC visit. Ahmed al-Sharaa, commonly known as Jolani, has been designated as a terrorist by the United States since 2013, whilst his organisation, HTS, was proscribed by the Trump administration in 2018 when a $10m bounty was placed on his head (Read more at Business Standard).
The Biden administration is reaching out to partners in the region such as Turkey to help kick start informal diplomacy. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been working the phones and speaking with regional leaders and has twice over the past four days spoken with Hakan Fidan, the foreign minister of Turkey, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said (Read more at USNews).
But he said the United States is determined not to let that happen. Mr Blinken said Syrians have to choose their future, adding that statements by rebel leaders towards building inclusive governance are welcome but that the real measure will be in the action they take, not just what they say (Read more at Strait Times).
Just a day after opposition fighters led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group took control of Damascus, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday that finding missing journalist Austin Tice is a “top priority”, while State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that an envoy had been sent to Beirut as part of “intensive efforts” to find Tice. Austin Tice has been missing since 2012 when he was abducted in Damascus while reporting on the popular uprising against al-Assad (Read more at Aljazeera).
The United States and Turkey reached an agreement to ensure the safe withdrawal of U.S.-backed Kurdish Syrian forces (SDF) from the northern city of Manbij after an advance by Turkey-backed rebels. The Turkey-backed Syrian opposition groups had earlier taken control of Manbij from the SDF, a Turkish security source said, a day after rebels in the southern capital of Damascus declared Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's ouster (Read more at Reuters).
"We are aware that the chaotic and dynamic circumstances on the ground in Syria could give ISIS space to find the ability to become active, to plan external operations, and we're determined to work with those partners to continue to degrade their capabilities," Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro said (Read more at USNews)
"There was no reason for Russia to be there in the first place," Trump wrote. "They lost all interest in Syria because of Ukraine ... a war that should never have started, and could go on forever." (Read more at Daily Star)
President Joe Biden called the toppling of Syria's dictatorship a "historic opportunity" for Syrian people. He also warned about some risks posed by the uncertainty, such as a resurgence of ISIS. The U.S. will support Syria's neighbors, including Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel, during the transition period and send senior officials to the region, Biden said (Read more at CNBS).
He argued that Syrian President Bashar Assad did not deserve U.S. support to stay in power. In his post, Trump said Russia “is so tied up in Ukraine” that it “seems incapable of stopping this literal march through Syria, a country they have protected for years.” He said rebels could possibly force Assad from power (Read more at AP).
The top Biden diplomat said a weakened Syrian government will make it difficult for Iran to transfer weapons to Hezbollah (Read more at Aljazeera).
Jeffrey, former U.S. Ambassador to the Coalition to Defeat Islamic State under the previous Trump Administration, said President-elect Donald Trump was likely to ramp up pressure on Syria's ally Iran both there and across the region. "Such a dramatic change in the balance of power in Syria makes everybody nervous because everybody has a chunk of Syria," (Read more at AOL).
It is the main border crossing with Iraq on Friday, taking effective control of Syria's vast eastern desert in two rapid moves. SDF head Mazlum Abdi told reporters earlier on Friday at a press conference in Hasakeh city that his forces had "channels of communication with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)," particularly in order to protect Kurds living in Aleppo city (Read more at USNews).
The mother of Austin Tice, a US journalist captured over 12 years ago in Syria, said on Friday that her family had information that he is still alive. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Tice's family in the afternoon (Read more at NewArab)
They accused each other of supporting terrorism during a Security Council meeting convened over a sudden escalation of fighting in Syria. In remarks directed at Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Robert Wood, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said: "You were unable to summon the courage to condemn a clear terrorist attack undertaken against peaceful civilians in peaceful Syrian cities." "There are no illusions that Washington will ever be willing to sincerely combat international terrorism," he said. "To be frank we are pleased that we are on opposite sides of the barricades right now from you." (Read more at Reuters)
A Turkish foreign ministry source with knowledge of the call stated that Fidan assured Blinken of Ankara’s opposition to developments that could destabilize the region. He expressed support for a “finalized” political solution to formally end hostilities between the different rebel factions and Assad’s government while also reiterating Turkey’s stance on concerns surrounding Kurdish terrorist threats (Read more at Media Line).
"The current escalation only underscores the urgent need for a Syrian-led political solution to the conflict, in line with UNSCR 2254," read a statement issued by the US State Department, referencing the 2015 UN resolution that endorsed a peace process in Syria (Read more at Barron's).
Various commentators suggest that Donald Trump will withdraw US forces from northeastern Syria. On 8 November, Robert F. Kennedy Jr told political commentator Tucker Carlson that Trump intends to pull American troops from the region to prevent them from becoming “cannon fodder”. Four days later, Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler stated in an interview, “Trump gave instructions to withdraw troops from Syria three times during his presidency.” He expressed confidence that Trump would prioritise this issue and remove US forces from Syria and the broader region (Read more at medyanews).
US Central Command said nine targets were hit at two locations in Syria in response to an attack on US forces over the previous 24 hours. “These strikes will degrade the Iranian-backed groups’ ability to plan and launch future attacks,” CENTCOM said (Read more at Aljazeera).
Donald Trump intends to withdraw US troops from northern Syria to prevent them becoming “cannon fodder” in potential Turkish-Kurdish conflicts, according to revelations by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a Tucker Carlson interview. Kennedy, expected to play a key role in Trump’s administration, said that during a recent flight, Trump had sketched a map of the Middle East, highlighting 500 US troops positioned along the Syria-Turkey border at a vulnerable outpost that had recently faced attacks. He quoted Trump’s direct command: “Get them out!” (Read more at Medyanews)
The US Central Command on Saturday said its forces had conducted air strikes against "multiple known ISIS camps in Syria", adding that the strikes were aimed at disrupting the ability of the group to conduct attacks against the United States and its allies (Read more at France 24).
U.S. Central Command said it struck northwestern Syria on Tuesday (September 24, 2024), targeting a senior militant from the al-Qaeda-linked Hurras al-Deen group and eight others. They say he was responsible for overseeing military operations (Read more at Hindu).
The transfer was conducted under US supervision with strict security measures in place to prevent any security breaches, following the escape of five foreign prisoners last week, of whom the SDF managed to recapture only two (Read more at Almayadeen).
U.S. troops and the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led coalition, captured ISIS facilitator Khaled Ahmed al-Dandal days after "five ISIS Foreign Terrorist Fighter detainees (Two Russians, two Afghans, and one Libyan) escaped from the Raqqah Detention Facility," per a CENTCOM statement. The SDF recaptured two of the escapees, but CENTCOM said three remained at large (Read more at Axios).
A drone strike in northwestern Syria killed a Saudi militant from an al-Qaeda-linked group as he was riding on a motorcycle. The U.S. Central Command said in a statement that its forces had killed Abu Abdul Rahman Makki, a senior leader in the group Horas al-Din, or “Guardians of Religion." (Read more at The Hindu).
They were wounded in a drone attack in Syria, in the second major attack in recent days against U.S. forces amid soaring tensions in the Middle East. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said the United States would not tolerate attacks on U.S. personnel but Washington was also trying to de-escalate tensions in the region (Read more at USNews).
The US accused Samir Ousman Alsheikh, 72, of lying about his past in an attempt to secure U.S. citizenship. He oversaw severe physical abuse of inmates while head of the Adra prison, located in a Damascus suburb, from 2005 until 2010. Alsheikh was later appointed by Assad as governor of the Deir Ez-Zor province in eastern Syria. He had been living in South Carolina when he was arrested last month after purchasing a one-way ticket on a flight to Beirut (Read more at USNews).
U.S. troops in northeastern Syria at Rumalyn Landing Zone were attacked by a drone. Initial reports do not indicate any injuries. This is the second attack in recent days against U.S. forces in the Middle East (Read more at USNews).
Recent resistance operations in eastern Syria have established new rules of engagement that constrain both Washington and Tel Aviv’s once-untethered freedom to operate in this strategic theater. The re-establishment of the Tehran–Beirut road, was perceived by the US and Israelis as a strategic geopolitical setback to their goal of severing relations and routes between Iran and the Mediterranean (Read more at TheCradle).
The repatriation was the largest Washington has carried out from the camps to date. Five of the 11 citizens brought back were children, and one non-U.S. citizen child. The camps are run by local authorities affiliated with the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (Read more at Stripes).
A US strike in Syria last year killed a civilian who was misidentified as an Al-Qaeda leader, the military command responsible for the region said (Read more at Defense Post).
The base at the Kharab al-Jir airport in the town of Al Ya'rubiyah in Al-Hasakah province in northeastern was targeted with unidentified kamikaze drones and rockets (Read more at Anadolu Agency).
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fear their US patrons will abandon them in favor of closer relations with Turkiye. Turkiye has escalated its airstrikes on areas in northeast Syria occupied by the SDF in recent months. SDF would simply have to cut a deal with Damascus if the US pulls out, returning northeast Syria and its oil and wheat resources to Syrian government control (Read more at The Cradle).
It’s bad for many partners, but especially Turkey. While Ankara may favor a future US withdrawal from Syria, it desires US coordination. An uncoordinated withdrawal leaves the country alone against Tehran, Moscow, Damascus, and the YPG. They would probably aim to expel Turkey from Syria (Read more at Atlantic Council).
