Syria

KHAN SHAYKHUN/Syria/, September 18. /TASS/: A swift operation to liberate Khan Shaykhun, a city in Syria’s Idlib Governorate, was carried out thanks to the Syrian military's elite Tiger Forces, President of the Center for Strategic Communications Dmitry Abzalov told reporters.

16 Sep 2019; MEMO: Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad yesterday issued an amnesty that reduces sentences and pardons draft dodgers if they report for duty within three to six months, Reuters reported.

The pardon, which was published by the official Syrian news agency, is related to all crimes committed before 14 September 2019.

According to Reuters, the pardon reduces the death penalty to a life sentence and life sentences to 20 years.

DAMASCUS, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday received Russian president's Special Envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev and discussed with him the tripartite summit that will take place Monday in Ankara, according to the Syrian presidential media office.

Lavrentiev informed Assad about the work schedule of the tripartite summit that will take place among Turkey, Russia, and Iran.

The discussion also touched upon the Russian efforts to surpass obstacles placed by "some countries in the region and abroad that aim to prolong the Syrian war."

DAMASCUS, Sept 16 (NNN-SANA) – At least 11 people were killed Sunday, when an explosive-laden truck went off in a rebel-held town in the countryside of Aleppo province in northern Syria, a war monitor reported.

The truck exploded in the town of al-Rai, in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo. The bombing took place near a hospital, which led to partially destroying the building.

The bombing also left big damage to houses and properties in the area. The death toll could likely rise due to the number of critically wounded people.

DAMASCUS, Sept 16 (NNN-XINHUA) – Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, received Russian president’s Special Envoy to Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev and discussed with him the tripartite summit that will take place today (Monday), in Ankara.

Lavrentiev informed Assad about the work schedule of the tripartite summit that will take place among Turkey, Russia, and Iran.

The discussion also touched upon Russian efforts, to surpass obstacles placed by “some countries in the region and abroad, that aim to prolong the Syrian war.”

ALEPPO /Syria/, September 15. /TASS/: Officers of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Parties in Syria delivered over three tonnes of food and clothing to the settlement of Maaret Um Haush in the Aleppo province, Denis Shatailo, a spokesman for the center, informed reporters.

DAMASCUS, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Shells fired by the Syrian army slammed near a Turkish observation point in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib on Friday, a war monitor reported.

The shells fell in the surrounding of the Turkish observation point in the southern countryside of Idlib, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Britain-based watchdog group said the rebels also fired on government positions in the town of Khan Shaykhun in southern Idlib countryside.

The Observatory said there are no reports on casualties yet.

DAMASCUS, Sept 14 (NNN-SANA) – At least 25 people were killed and wounded, when a car bomb went off in Syria’s rebel-held Afrin city, in northern Syria on Friday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, a violent explosion rocked Afrin, which is controlled by Turkey-backed rebels, in the northern countryside of Aleppo province, when a car bomb went off near the rebels’ headquarters.

It said that at least one person was killed while the rest are wounded, some in critical conditions.

RAQQA, Syria (AP) — The neighbors reported a foul smell coming from the house next door. The house, which the Islamic State group had used as a school for its “cubs,” had been untouched ever since the militants were chased out of the Syrian city two years ago. Weeds grew around an abandoned car in its courtyard.

Even before the first responders felt the soft ground of the courtyard, they knew what was underneath: the latest mass grave in Raqqa, the former capital of the Islamic State group’s self-declared “caliphate.”

DAMASCUS, Sept 10 (NNN-SANA) – At least 18 pro-government fighters were killed in eastern Syria, by airstrikes after mid-night, a war monitor reported on Monday.

Unknown warplanes carried out airstrikes against Iranian-run military bases and weapon depots in the Al-Bukamal city and nearby areas in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria near the Iraqi border.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, the slain fighters were Iranians and allied fighters, noting that, the warplanes are yet to be identified.