Syria/Iraq update 12/01/2019..Turkish-Backed Syrian Fighters Seen Near Ain Issa

Turkish-Backed Syrian Fighters Seen Near Ain Issa

Turkish-backed Syrian fighters are seen along a road in the countryside outside Ain Issa in Syria’s northern Raqqa province, Saturday, November 30.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch claims it has “damning evidence” showing the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army is engaged in summary executions, pillaging, seizing properties, and preventing the return of people to their homes. “Turkey is turning a blind eye to the reprehensible behaviors displayed by the factions it arms,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “So long as Turkey is in control of these areas, it has a responsibility to investigate and end these violations.”

Last month Turkish forces and the SNA launched an offensive in northeast Syria against Syrian Democratic Forces, which are made up mainly of the Kurdish militia the YPG. Turkey has said the offensive was to push terrorists, which it considers the YPG, from the Syrian border areas with Turkey.

Syrian Arab Army shakes dens of terrorist groups in Hish village of Idlib countryside

The moment of the Syrian ground defenses confront the enemy drone near Hama military airport.

The moment of a missile explosion,was fired by warplanes,on al-Qaeda militias on the outskirts of the city of Saraqib, east of Idlib.

November 30th 2019 Jihadi offensive in Idlib province

Refugee Camp Renovation In Syria

Shots and tear gas: Iraqi security forces disperse protesters in Najaf

A number of people were injured in the holy cit of Najaf in southern Iraq on Sunday as security forces opened fire and used teargas to disperse protesters gathered near the shrine of a Shiite religious leader who was killed in 2003.

Demonstrators were seen scattering for cover as security forces opened fire, while teargas filled the air with smoke. Several protesters were injured in the ensuing chaos and were taken to a medical tent, where they received treatment.

The protest took place despite Iraq’s parliament approving the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi on Sunday.

At least 400 people have died since the leaderless uprising shook Iraq with thousands protesting in Baghdad and the predominantly Shiite south to decry corruption, poor services, and the lack of jobs, and call for an end to the post-2003 political system.

FarsNews Agency – Syria Blames US for Meddling in Constitutional Committee’s Work

The Syrian Arab Republic accused the United States of interfering in the constitutional committee’s work and attempting to impose its own agenda, the foreign ministry said in a statement, according to SANA news agency.

“The US State Department’s statement on the Geneva meetings of the constitutional committee definitely confirms Washington’s attempts to meddle in other states’ affairs and impose its own agenda on the constitutional committee,” the document read.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry emphasized that the dialogue in Geneva is “inter-Syrian and no one has any right to meddle in it or back any side under any pretext”.

The role of the United Nations, which is represented by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy Geir Pedersen is just to “facilitate discussion in the committee”, the document added.

According to the Syrian Foreign Ministry, “any views or statements of the US or other countries don’t have value and neither influence the constitutional committee’s work nor the nature, form and content of its dialogues.”

The US State Department stated on November 30 that the Syrian government’s delegation, which attended the second round of the committee’s consultations, requested preconditions which, according to Washington, “clearly violate the constitutional committee’s rules of procedure, and are a blatant attempt to delay the work of an important effort that is supported by both the Small Group and Astana Group”.

The second meeting of the Syrian constitutional committee in Geneva, which ended this week, failed to yield any fruit. The representatives of the government and the opposition, who attended it, were unable to agree on its agenda and hold a general meeting.