Russian jets launch first airstrikes since ceasefire in east Aleppo
ALEPPO, SYRIA (5:40 A.M.) - The Russian Air Force resumed their aerial campaign over east Aleppo last night, targeting Fatah Halab's positions in several districts.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russian-jets-.....st-aleppo/
This week, a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed to IRIN that there is no “policy restriction on the use of DU in Counter-ISIL operations” in either Iraq or Syria.
And while the US Air Force repeatedly denied that DU munitions have been used by A-10s during those operations, Air Force officials have given a different version of events to at least one member of Congress. In May, at the request of a constituent, the office of Arizona Representative Martha McSally – a former A-10 pilot with A-10s based in her district – asked if DU munitions had been used in either Syria or Iraq. An Air Force congressional liaison officer replied in an email that American forces had in fact shot 6,479 rounds of “Combat Mix” in Syria over two days – “the 18th and 23rd of Nov 2015”. The officer explained the mix "has a 5 to 1 ratio of API (DU) to HEI".
"So with that said, we have expended ~5,100 rounds of API," he wrote, referring to DU rounds.
Update: On 20 October 20, CENTCOM officially confirmed to IRIN that the US-led coalition had fired rounds of depleted uranium (DU) munitions at targets in Syria on the 18 and 23 November 2015. It said that the munitions were chosen due to the nature of targets on those days. A spokesperson for CENTCOM said earlier denials were due to "an error in reporting down range."
Those dates fell within an intense period of US-led strikes against IS oil infrastructure and transport vehicles, dubbed "Tidal Wave II". According to coalition press statements, hundreds of oil trucks were destroyed in the second half of November in Syria, including 283 alone on 22 November.
The content of the emails and the Air Force’s response were originally forwarded to local anti-nuclear activist Jack Cohen-Joppa, who shared them with IRIN. McSally’s office later confirmed the content of both. Reached this week, multiple US officials could not explain the discrepancy.
Syrian Army seizes West Ghouta farm area on the outskirts of Damascus
Following yesterday's territorial gains in the West Ghouta pocket, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) sliced through the rebels' defensive line once again and took control of the Buwydah farms, thus securing a further 400 meters on Saturday and establishing their frontline troops at a crossroad southeast of the town of Khan Al-Sheih.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-s.....-damascus/
Syrian Army approaches strategic West Ghouta town amid jihadist collapse
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (1:20 A.M.) - The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued their large-scale offensive in the West Ghouta region of rural Damascus on Saturday, targeting the farms outside the strategic town of Khan Al-Sheih.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-a.....-collapse/
Syrian Army foils major ISIS assault on Deir Ezzor Military Airport
DEIR EZZOR, SYRIA (2:50 A.M.) - The Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) launched another poweful assault at the Deir Ezzor Military Airport on Saturday, targeting the eastern entrance of this strategic installation.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-f.....y-airport/
Syrian Army retains control over key oil field in east Homs
HOMS, SYRIA (5:15 A.M.) - The Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) conducted another large attack in the northeastern countryside of the Homs Governorate on Saturday, targeting the strategic Al-Mahr Oil Field near the Sawwanah Hill.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-r.....east-homs/
ISIS fires US-made missiles at Syrian Army in Deir Ezzor
DEIR EZZOR, SYRIA (11:05 A.M.) - The Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) was pictured by their official media wing on Satuday firing a U.S. manufactured anti-tank missile towards a Syrian Arab Army vehicle in the Deir Ezzor Governorate.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-fires-us.....eir-ezzor/
Syrian Army, Hezbollah capture new territory in southern Aleppo
ALEPPO, SYRIA (12:15 P.M.) - The Syrian Arab Army (SAA), backed by Hezbollah, resumed their large-scale offensive in southern Aleppo on Sunday, targeting the rural area between Khan Touman and the 1070 Al-Hamdaniyah Housing Project.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-h.....rn-aleppo/
Kurdish forces ambush Turkish Army, rebels in northern Aleppo
ALEPPO, SYRIA (12:45 P.M.) - The Kurdish-led "Syrian Democratic Forces" (SDF) carried out a successful ambush against a group of Turkish Army soldiers and Islamist rebels near the key town of Mar'e in northern Aleppo.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/kurdish-force.....rn-aleppo/
Syrian Air Force kills more than 50 ISIS terrorists in Deir Ezzor
DEIR EZZOR, SYRIA (1:00 P.M.) - The Syrian Arab Air Force (SAAYF) reportedly carried out more than 20 airstrikes in the Deir Ezzor Governorate on Sunday, targeting several districts under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS).
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-air-fo.....eir-ezzor/
Syrian Army surrounds strategic West Ghouta town after major push
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (1:40 P.M.) - The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continued where they left off on Saturday night, capturing more territory from the jihadist rebels in the West Ghouta region of rural Damascus.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-s.....ajor-push/
Latest battle map of southern Aleppo
ALEPPO, SYRIA (2:00 P.M.) - The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Hezbollah resumed their large-scale offensive in southern Aleppo today, targeting the jihadist-held territory between Khan Touman and Aleppo City.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/latest-battle-map-southern-aleppo/
Syrian Army, Hezbollah intensify southern Aleppo assault
ALEPPO, SYRIA (12:40 P.M.) - The Syrian Arab Army (SAA), alongside Hezbollah and Harakat Nujaba, continued their large-scale offensive in the southern sector of Aleppo on Monday, targeting the area between the 1070 Al-Hamdaniyah Housing Project and Khan Touman.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-h.....o-assault/
Syrian Army prepares to storm key towns in northern Hama
HAMA, SYRIA (5:00 A.M.) - The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is planning to resume their large-scale counter-offensive in the northern Hama countryside in the coming hours, after a brief stopage of military operations by the High Command.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-p.....hern-hama/
Syrian Army renews East Ghouta offensive after failed peace negotiations
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (12:00 P.M.) - The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) resumed their large-scale offensive in the East Ghouta region of rural Damascus on Monday after the Islamist rebels of Jaysh Al-Islam (Army of Islam) rejected the government's reconciliation offer.
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-r.....otiations/
