Syria

DAMASCUS, Sept 9 (NNN-SANA) – The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the joint U.S.-Turkish patrols in northeastern Syria, saying, such a move is a flagrant violation to international law.

Such a move is condemned, as it constitutes a blatant violation to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, said the ministry in its statement.

The joint patrols are also regarded as an act of aggression, that aims to prolong the Syrian civil war, following the progress made by the Syrian army, in the battles against the rebels, said the statement.

DAMASCUS, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- A cautious calm prevails Syria's northwestern province of Idlib as a cease-fire entered into force last Saturday, the pro-government al-Watan newspaper reported Wednesday.

The cease-fire, which was unilaterally announced by the Syrian army, was announced in the de-escalation zone, which includes Idlib as well as nearby countryside areas of Hama, Latakia and Aleppo provinces in northern Syria.

DARBASIYAH, Syria (AP) — A senior Syrian Kurdish official says the creation of a so-called “safe zone” in northeastern Syria is off to good start, with U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces pulling back from an initial part of the border with Turkey.

But she says calm can only prevail if Turkey also removes its troops.

Ilham Ahmed of the U.S-backed Syrian Democratic Council says details are still being worked out but an understanding was reached last month between Ankara and Washington.

DAMASCUS, Syria, Sept 3 (NNN-SANA) – Chinese companies taking part in the ongoing Damascus International Fair, see a promising market in Syria, in the post-war era, Chinese business representatives said.

At the Chinese pavilion in the Damascus’ fair, several companies showcased their products, which are mainly related to the reconstruction process in Syria.

Jing Zhichun, business manager of Shanghai Shangqi Group, said, she is optimistic about her business in Syria.

1 Sep 2019; MEMO: A delegation of at least 40 businessmen from the United Arab Emirates attended a state-backed trade fair in Syria’s capital, defying US warnings against doing business with the government and associates of President Bashar al-Assad, according to a report by Reuters.

DAMASCUS, Syria, Sept 1 (NNN-SANA) – At least 50 rebels, mainly commanders, were killed on Saturday, by U.S.-led airstrikes, that targeted a meeting of rebel commanders, in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, the meeting grouped commanders of the Hurras al-Deen and Ansar al-Tawhid groups, both allied with the al-Qaeda.

It said, the death toll exceeds 50, noting that more bodies are being discovered.

30 Aug 2019; MEMO: Russia and its Syrian army ally stepped up aerial raids on northwest Syria as they sent reinforcements from elite army units and Iranian-backed militias to bolster a major offensive against the last big rebel stronghold, opposition sources, army defectors and residents said on Friday, Reuters reports.

30 Aug 2019; MEMO: A delegation of three French Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) was received by Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad yesterday, as they embarked on an official visit.

DAMASCUS, Aug 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Syrian army on Friday fully secured the entire northern countryside of the central province of Hama for the first time since 2012, the state media reported.

After capturing the strategic town of Khan Shaykhun in the southern countryside of Idlib province in northwestern Syria, the Syrian army succeeded to fully secure several adjacent towns in the northern countryside of Hama, the official SANA news agency reported.

DAMASCUS, Syria, Aug 20 (NNN-SANA) – The rebel groups withdrew, today (Tuesday), from the town of Khan Shaykhun, in the northwestern province of Idlib, one of their key bastions, a war monitor reported.