The Syrian military is deploying reinforcements to northern Hama and eastern Idlib reportedly preparing to launch a military operation to clear the militant-held pocket there. According to pro-government sources, additional units of Liwa al-Quds and the Qalamoun Shield Forces have already been deployed there.
The liberation of the pocket will allow the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies to eliminate the ISIS threat in the area and to free additional resources for possible future operations in Idlib.
Kurdish YPG/YPJ forces have repelled another attack of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army on Birsaya Mount but lost the village of Abudan.
The YPG denounced a report by the Turkish General Staff that at least 260 Kurdish fighters have been killed as a result of Ankara’s Operation Olive Branch and in turn claimed that 260 members of pro-Turkish forces, including tens of TAF soldiers, have been killed. The numbers provided by the both sides are clearly overestimated.
The YPG also rejected reports that it had reached an agreement with the SAA that will allow government forces to enter Afrin helping the YPG to repel the Turkish advance.
On January 24, a TAF military convoy reportedly entered Syria via the Atma station and reached the village of Tellet el-Is and the nearby hill in the province of Aleppo. The formal purpose of the move is to establish an observation point in the area under the de-escalation zone agreement reached during the Astana talks. Some sources speculate that this force may participate in the advance on Afrin.
On the same day, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured the town of Gharanij from ISIS in the province of Deir Ezzor. ISIS reportedly lost 7 fighters, a vehicle and a bulldozer in the clashes there.
Clashes between the SDF and ISIS were also reported near al-Shaafah and Hajin where four SDF armoured vehicles were destroyed, according to the ISIS-linked news agency Amaq.
The US-led coalition also claimed that its airstrikes killed 140-150 ISIS members near al-Shaafah on January 20.
“The numbers provided by the both sides are clearly overestimated.”
“The US-led coalition also claimed that its airstrikes killed 140-150 ISIS members near al-Shaafah on January 20.”
The former quote needs to be applied to the latter quote. Why wasn’t it?
all they killed is 150 brain cells of every listener that had to endure US propaganda BS.
I am certain,the US coalition didn’t kill 150 ISIS headchoppers all-together since they came to
Syria (most of which was probably friendly fire)
Syrian Army Finds Terrorists’ Modern Equipment of European Origin – Russian MoD
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201801261061083237-syrian-army-european-equipment/
“During the search at the site of the fight with terrorists, the Syrian forces found modern radio-electronic equipment manufactured in Europe, ammunition for light weapons and Daesh literature,” the statement issued by the Russian Ministry of Defense said.
The Syrian forces have also found banners and emblems of the oppositional Forces of Martyr Ahmad al-Abdo group, trained by US instructors at the al-Tanf training camp to form ‘The New Syrian Army,’ the ministry said, adding that thus the US was trying to impede the Syrian peace process by forming a pro-Daesh armed opposition that it would control itself.
“These facts show the involvement of the US in the training and formation of a US-controlled armed opposition created from the defeated pro-Daesh forces,” the ministry said.
The ministry noted further, citing refugees who had managed to flee the US-controlled al-Tanf zone that “the militants were planning a breakthrough operation in the nearest future.”
“The main aim of the terrorists is to conduct sabotage operations in the provinces of Damascus, Homs and Deir ez-Zor to draw the attention of the Syrian army that is conducting an operation against al-Nusra in the Idlib province,” the ministry said.
“During patrolling the perimeter of the deconfliction zone in the At-Tanf area on January 24, Syrian military patrol detected a convoy of three vehicles belonging to militants and equipped with guns… as a result of the fight two vehicles were destroyed and five terrorists killed,” the statement read.”
The described ops being planned by the “new” daesh in the previous article are likely being coordinated with the Israeli op planned that is described here.
Israel Seeks to Use Free Syrian Army to Establish 40km Deep ‘Safe Zone’ in Southern Syria – Report
https://southfront.org/israel-seeks-to-use-free-syrian-army-to-establish-40km-deep-safe-zone-in-southern-syria-report/
“Israel is using several Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups in a three phases-plan to impose a 40km-deep ‘safe zone’ in southern Syria, the Intercept reported on January 23.
According to the report, Israel already accomplished the first phase of its plan and it is currently working with different Israeli and American NGOs to accomplish the second phase. The goal of this effort is to push Lebanese Hezbollah and the Iranian-backed forces 40km away from the Israeli border. An unnamed officer of the FSA told the Intercept that Israel is even willing to push these forces “as far back as Hama.”
Syria’s Permanent Delegation to UN: US claims against Syria and Russia on chemical
investigation aims at protrcting terrorists
https://sana.sy/en/?p=125440
Another false flag in Syria? There has been another “chemical attack” in Syria, and the
United States already knows who the culprit is: the Syrian government
https://www.veteranstoday.com/2018/01/23/false-flag-syria/