Syria/Iraq update 2/14/2020...Erdogan has accused the Syria, Russian forces and Iranian militias of a ‘massacre’ in Idlib

Erdogan has accused the Syrian regime, Russian forces and Iranian militias of a ‘massacre’ in Syria’s Idlib province.

Second Syrian helicopter shot down by opposition rebels

Despite calls for a ceasefire, Idlib and Aleppo continue to witness heavy fighting between the forces of the Syrian Government and Opposition, with the increasing involvement of Turkish troops threatening to increase the geopolitical stakes.

Aerial footage shows the destruction caused by Syrian regime forces and their Russian allies in the village of Maaret al Naasan in Idlib.

Turkish forces and Syrian rebels clashed with Syrian government forces, Friday, February 14, in a continuing confrontation that saw the shooting down of a government helicopter, reports said.

Syrian and Russian military operations to regain control of Idlib from rebel groups has displaced more than 800,000 people since December, 80 percent of them women and children, according to the U.N.

WFP spokeswoman Elizabeth Byrs said heavy bombardment and armed clashes by rival forces continue to cause more people to flee. She says thousands of families are traveling in sub-freezing temperatures in search of safety in overcrowded camps.

“Many families were forced to flee on foot in the middle of winter, with temperatures at night reaching minus 10 degrees,” she said. “Over the past nine years of conflict, people across northwest Syria have already been displaced multiple times and rely heavily on humanitarian assistance.”

The situation in Idlib now remains one of the tensest in Syria. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the situation is escalating because of Turkey’s military hardware and armed forces formations, which are being sent to that de-escalation zone.

The Syrian army destroys Turkish armored vehicles through a failed attack by the Turkish occupation army and its militia on Kafr Halab

Heavy snow in Idlib leaves displacement camps worse off

Overview of the Battle for Idlib, Feb 2020

Turkey furious as Syria recognizes Armenian genocide

The Syrian Parliament has become the latest governmental body to recognize the Armenian Genocide, perpetrated by Turkey between 1915 and 1923. The gesture comes at the time of escalating violence between Turkish and Syrian forces in northeastern Syria.

Adventures Of Idlib Hipsters. American Waterloo In Khirbat Amu

Russian patrol easing tension in Syria, al-Qāmišlī after locals clashed with American invaders

Syria: Villagers speak out after local man killed by US forces

Locals in a village east of the town of Qamishli in north-eastern Syria spoke out on Thursday at the funeral of a young man killed during a confrontation with US troops the day before.

Othman Abu Asher, the former municipality officials describes the events: “Four American vehicles entered our village and started provoking the residents, so the residents of Khirbet Amo village confronted them with stones, children and women joined too, as you might have seen on TV. The martyr Faisal Khaled Mohammad confronted them with stones, and one American soldier shot him.”

The uncle of 22-year old Faisal Khalid Muhammad, who was killed in clashes with US troops in the village of Khirbet Amo on Wednesday says: “We will fight the Americans and resist them wherever they exist in Syria, even if it leads to martyrdom.”

“We reject the American occupation wherever it exists in Syria. We, in the village of Khirbet Amo, absolutely reject the presence of any occupier in Syria,” said a cousin of Muhammad.

According to official military spokesperson for Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), Myles Caggins, US-led coalition forces had encountered a checkpoint manned by pro-government forces. Caggins says the US patrol came under fire from unknown individuals. “In self-defence, coalition troops returned fire,” he said.

In an updated Twitter statement, Caggins said “Despite US troops de-escalation efforts, local militia members attacked US troops with small arms weapons; CJTFOIR [Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve] have the right to self-defense and fired back at armed aggressors killing an adult male combatant (20+ y/o).”

On Thursday, Myles Caggins said that “at the Qamishli incident, one U.S. Soldier had a minor superficial scratch while operating their equipment. The Soldier is back at work.”

Exclusive look inside US patrols in northeastern Syria

Israel launched a missile attack on military targets near Damascus on Thursday night, killing three Syrian and four Iranian fighters, a war monitor said.

Syria: direct destruction of an Israeli missile in the sky of Damascus

Women in Iraq Join Protests in Large Numbers to Support Movement