Chronicle of the civil war in Syria 2019
The 2019 Chronicle of the Syrian Civil War captures the events of the Syrian civil war in 2019.
January
On January 1, activists from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported fighting between rebel factions near Aleppo . The groups Haiʾat Tahrir asch-Scham (HTS) and Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki (part of the National Liberation Front) fought each other in several villages in the region.
On January 5, fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported that two British soldiers were seriously wounded by a missile launched by IS fighters during a mission near Deir ez-Zor and one Kurdish fighter was killed.
On January 6, the United States announced that it would make the withdrawal of its troops announced in December 2018 dependent on a Turkish security guarantee for Kurdish fighters in the People's Defense Units (YPG) and the Women's Defense Units (YPJ). Turkey had previously announced an offensive against the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria for the time after this withdrawal .
Also on January 6th, Islamist HTS rebels conquered al-Atareb ( 36 ° 08'12 "N 36 ° 49'46" E ) from Nureddin-al-Zenki rebels in the factional struggles since the turn of the year in Idlib . These were severely weakened because their ally, Turkey, had previously withdrawn some of the rebel fighters for a possible offensive against the Kurds in northern Syria. The Islamists controlled about two thirds of the area not controlled by the Syrian army in the region.
On January 8, the Russian military police spokesman Yusup Mamatov announced that the Russian military police had started patrols in the area around Kurdish-controlled Manbij west of the Euphrates in support of the Syrian army units in the city.
On January 10, the jihadist terrorist organization HTS announced that it had signed an agreement with the rebel alliance National Liberation Front on a ceasefire and taking control of the areas of Idlib governorate not controlled by the Syrian army.
On January 11, Israeli fighter planes attacked targets in Syria and hit a suspected arsenal of Iranian troops at Damascus airport . Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the Israeli attack. According to the Israeli press, the same building was destroyed by the Israelis in 2016, but was rebuilt by the Iranians.
On January 13, Donald Trump announced that he would "destroy" Turkey economically if it attacked the Kurds.
On January 16, a suicide bomber in Manbij, according to witness statements, set off a bomb near a restaurant where US soldiers and local militias were meeting at the time. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. Two US soldiers, a civil servant of the US Department of Defense and a mercenary were killed and at least three other people were injured.
On January 19, dozens of soldiers were killed in skirmishes between the fourth corps of the Syrian armed forces under the command of the Iranian-influenced brother of the president, Mahir al-Assad , and the Russian-equipped fifth corps under the command of Suhail al-Hasan .
On January 20, Israeli officials said they had intercepted a medium-range missile launched by Iranian units from a suburb of Damascus towards Israel at around 3:00 p.m. - apparently in response to an alleged Israeli attack that was said to have occurred a few hours earlier to avenge. The Iranian missile was intercepted by a battery of the Iron Dome air defense system over the Israeli-occupied Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights . According to Israeli assurances had been received that no Iranian troops would be in the area from which the Iranian missile was launched.
On the night of January 20-21, Israeli fighter planes attacked several targets in Syria in three waves, the main target again being facilities used by Iranian troops. Arms depots, targets at Damascus airport, a secret service facility and a training camp were attacked according to Israeli information. The Syrian air defense was also the target of the attacks. The Iranians reported 11 deaths as a result of the attack, four of them Syrian soldiers, according to Russian sources. SOHR activists gave the number of victims a day later as twelve Iranians, six Syrians and three from other nations.
On January 24, it is estimated that up to 39 civilians were killed in an air strike in the IS-held town of al-Baghuz Fawqani when they apparently tried to escape with vehicles.
On January 27, the US and SDF military announced that ISIS would soon have lost all of its territory in Syria. The remaining area held by IS consisted of only 10 km² around the villages of Marashida ( 34 ° 30'13 "N 40 ° 55'47" E ) and the neighboring town of al-Baghuz Fawqani.
February
On February 1, a news agency reported that the German Islamist Martin L., who joined IS in 2014, and two of his wives had surrendered to the SDF at al-Baghuz Fawqani .
On February 7, Israeli media reported the discovery of the construction of an Iranian guided missile factory north of the Lebanese border near Safita .
After more than 20,000 civilians had been evacuated in the region , the SDF, dominated by the People's Defense Units (YPG) and with US support, launched an offensive on February 9 against the last remaining IS positions, with a focus on al-Baghuz Fawqani. At the beginning of the Battle of Baghuz it was assumed that 600–1000 jihadists who belonged to the loyal core of the terrorist organization were still in and around the place. According to Kurdish estimates, most of them were IS fighters with foreign roots. Coalition troops with French CAESAR artillery took up position on the Iraqi side of the border to support the offensive and prevent a possible breakout of IS fighters into Iraq.
On February 11, the Syrian state media reported that Israeli ground troops had fired tank shells at Quneitra from the Golan Heights . There were no losses. SOHR activists reported that the Israelis had fired rockets at Iranian militiamen at Quneitra and Jubata al-Khashab and that several people had been injured.
On February 16, SDF fighters claimed to have taken the village of al-Baghuz Fawqani and thus reduced the remaining area that is under IS control in Syria to 5 km². 440 IS fighters had been captured within a week, according to SOHR estimates.
On February 19, the US-backed SDF fighters interrupted their offensive against the remnants of IS again to give fighters and civilians the opportunity to surrender. According to the SDF, dozens of civilians and some fighters were picked up from the last IS area with trucks provided for this purpose and transported to the SDF prison camps. Meanwhile, according to SOHR, Syrian government troops shelled the rebel areas around Idlib with rockets, killing four civilians.
On February 20, according to SOHR, government troops fired at targets near the villages of Kafr Zita ( 35 ° 22'26 "N 36 ° 36'4" E ) and Hasraya north of Hama , as well as several targets around Idlib. Islamist fighters attacked government troops at Jabal al-Akrad ( 35 ° 39'5 "N 36 ° 12'2" E ).
On February 21, it was reported that after the evacuation of civilians in the area , US, British and French special forces were preparing to support the storming of the remaining IS positions by the SDF and to free any surviving human shields .
On February 22nd, other IS fighters gave up in the enclosed area and allowed themselves to be transported to camps with families by the SDF on at least 36 trucks during a break in the fire. In addition to Syrians and Iraqis, French, Poles, Chinese Uyghurs , Bengalis , Egyptians , Tajiks and Moroccans were captured. It is estimated that around 300 IS fighters are still holed up in part of Baghuz.
On February 26, SOHR activists reported increased activity by the Syrian Air Force. Targets in Idlib along the Damascus-Aleppo road were preferably attacked, including targets near Hama. There were 13 attacks on February 26 alone, and more on the two previous days. Syrian state television stated that extremists had previously fired surface-to-surface missiles from the region around Hama government territory.
March
On March 1, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) released a statement that investigators believe that chlorine gas was used in Duma on April 7, 2018 . After a veto by Russia in the UN Security Council against the extension of a corresponding mandate, the determination of those responsible for the attack is no longer the subject of the OPCW investigation. SDF fighters resumed their offensive against the remnants of IS near the village of al-Baghuz Fawqani on March 1, after the last people willing to flee had been removed that morning. According to press reports, the remaining IS fighters only held half a square kilometer of land near the river bank.
On March 3, fighters of the Islamist Ansar al-Tawhid, coming from Idlib, attacked the Syrian army garrison in Massasneh ( 35 ° 17'31 "N 36 ° 39'56" E ) in a series of suicide bombings and killed them according to estimates by the SOHR 21 soldiers and militiamen.
On March 4, SDF units released 283 Syrian men who had been captured fighting ISIS but were not charged with serious crimes. The release had been negotiated with Arab tribal leaders from north-east Syria. According to SOHR, another 150 IS fighters gave up in the pocket near Baghuz and surrendered to the SDF.
On March 6, about 2,000 other people from the rest of the IS area near Baghuz gave up and allowed themselves to be transported away by the SDF. The majority were women and children, plus Yazidis whom IS had previously abducted in Iraq and around 400 IS fighters.
On March 13th, after heavy artillery fire and air strikes on the remaining IS positions and a counterattack by IS with suicide bombers protected by a sandstorm, SDF reports that around 3,000 IS fighters surrendered near Baghuz within 24 hours. According to SDF estimates, however, IS fighters were still in the area. Also on March 13th, the United Nations Refugee Agency published its financial requirements for 2019 to support the Syrian refugees in Syria itself and in neighboring countries. According to this, 5.5 billion US dollars are to be raised for the refugees in neighboring countries and a further 3.3 billion US dollars for Syria by donor countries as part of a conference in Brussels. According to the UNHCR, only 65% of the funds required were actually received for 2018. Russian fighter jets took part in the Assad government's air offensive and attacked targets in the Idlib region in the largest attack of the year to date. According to Russian information, targets of the Islamist HTS militia have been met in coordination with Turkey .
On March 15, ISIS suicide bombers again attacked Baghuz. Six people who tried to flee the town were killed. On March 17, coalition planes had bombed the trapped remains of the IS for a week. According to SDF estimates, 1,300 enemy fighters had been killed in the Battle of Baghuz by then.
According to the SDF, the IS fighters trapped in Baghuz attempted to break out of the pocket on March 18, and 157 mostly foreign IS fighters were captured.
On March 19, SDF fighters claimed to have penetrated the rest of the terrain with the tent city, which IS fighters had defended to the last. According to SDF announcements, victory is now imminent.
On March 21, according to SDF estimates, the last IS fighters may have been in the caves that were dug a few hundred meters into the east bank of the Euphrates near Baghuz. It is unclear how far the tunnels extend.
On March 23, an SDF spokesman announced the fall of Baghuz and the end of the IS caliphate.
April
On April 4, the Syrian state-affiliated news agency Almasdar reported that IS fighters who had escaped from Baghuz across the Euphrates had attacked Syrian troops in Palmyra , 250 km to the west, and that they were now in the Syrian desert near pumping station T2 ( 34 ° 22'48 ″ N 40 ° 09′10 ″ E ) kept hidden.
On April 13, Syrian state media reported that an Israeli air strike had hit targets near Masyaf . The attackers launched missiles from Lebanon's airspace that hit three targets. SOHR observers reported 17 soldiers wounded and an unknown death toll.
On April 14, the Syrian government blamed US sanctions for a chronic fuel shortage in the country. Oil tankers (from Iran) had been denied passage through the Suez Canal for months . According to press reports, domestic production in Syria, from oil fields under state control, is insufficient to meet domestic demand.
On April 15, the Syrian state media reported a rocket attack on Aleppo. According to SOHR, insurgents from Idlib launched 20 rockets on the city, eleven dead and eleven wounded were reported by the SANA news agency .
On the night of April 25, SANA reported an Israeli air strike on targets near Damascus. According to SOHR, hits on the Iranian allies' ammunition depots triggered severe explosions in an industrial area near the airport.
May
On May 2, US officials continued their negotiations in Turkey, during which, according to press reports, Turkish demands for a 32-kilometer-deep security strip (under Turkish control) on Syrian territory along the Turkish-Syrian border will be discussed. The US had offered a 10-kilometer-deep strip to which Turkish troops should not have access. Furthermore, the purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system by Turkey is said to be the subject of discussions, the US would like to sell the Turks their Patriot system , which is one billion US dollars more expensive and less advanced.
On May 4th, fighting broke out between Syrian Kurdish militias and troops of the Turkish president near Tall Rifaat . Diplomats and journalists speculated that, through Russian mediation, parts of Idlib province should fall to Syria by rebels loyal to Turkey, while in return the Kurdish area around Tall Rifaat was promised to the Turks.
According to SOHR, Russian and Syrian warplanes attacked targets in the Idlib region on May 5. A hospital in Has ( 35 ° 37'01 "N 36 ° 35'30" E ) had been hit. Two other medical wards were also hit, the coordinates of all these medical facilities had been given to the government beforehand, according to rebel information, in order to avoid attacks. Russian fighter planes were reported in December 2019 by journalists from the New York Times of the attacks on the hospitals on May 5th a. a. assigned via intercepted radio traffic.
Fighting between ground forces has been reported on the southern edge of the Idlib region. Troops loyal to the government had conquered a village, according to SOHR, while rebel groups objected and reported a defensive success. Artillery fire hit one of the twelve Turkish observation posts in the region, and Syrian government agencies reported that the Turks had previously vacated the post. Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay publicly speculated about a threat to Turkish forces from Kurds from Tall Rifaat.
On May 6, elite units of the Syrian government advanced near Kafr Nabuda ( 35 ° 25'54 "N 36 ° 39'34" E ), Syrian state media reported land gains and the start of the expected major offensive. Rebels denied the land gains.
On the night of May 17-18, Syrian authorities reported that Israeli attacks on targets near Damascus had been shot down near Quneitra . SOHR activists reported that the attack targeted an Iranian militia base near al-Kiswah , from where several explosions were reported.
On May 18, Syrian state media reported another Israeli attack. SOHR activists reported three rockets, one of which was shot down by the Syrians, while the other two hit Syrian troops near Quneitra.
On May 19, the Russian Defense Ministry announced a unilateral ceasefire for Russian troops in Syria.
Also on May 19, according to US reports, Syrian troops may have carried out an attack with chlorine gas in Idlib. The US announced an investigation and, if necessary, a quick response. According to the US, Russia and the Syrian government are launching a disinformation campaign regarding the use of chemical weapons, with which they are trying to blame the rebels for the use of such weapons.
On May 20, Russian fighter jets attacked targets near Kafr Nabuda, apparently suspecting a missile battery being deployed against their Hmeimim air base . According to SOHR, 10 civilians were killed in the attack and an infirmary was so badly damaged that it had to cease operations.
On May 21, the UN Human Rights Commissioner published a statement according to which the Syrian government in Darʿā , whose defenders surrendered in July 2018, are apparently carrying out arrests and murders. Eleven people have been murdered and around 230 have so far been permanently imprisoned.
On May 26th, Kafr Nabuda changed hands again and was reoccupied by Syrian government troops, which had been ousted from the town by a counterattack four days earlier. According to the insurgents, the conquest was preceded by an eight-hour bombardment.
On May 27, Fawaz Hilal, chairman of the rebel administration in Idlib, described the offensive by government forces and their Russian allies as devastating. If the defense lines in northern Hama and southern Idlib were broken, nothing could stop Assad's troops in front of the Turkish border. He called on Turkey to increase its presence in Idlib and effectively defend its military posts there in order to prevent the Russian and Syrian air forces from attacking. At the same time, he called on civilian workers from the administration to help with the defense effort. Any help, from donations to digging work, to serving as a fighter, is welcome. An American non-governmental organization has counted 229 dead and 727 wounded civilians in air strikes in Idlib since the offensive began at the end of April 2019.
Also on May 27, Israeli troops attacked Syrian army personnel in the border region in the Golan Heights. Syrian state media reported that an army vehicle was hit by an Israeli missile near Tel al-Shaar. Israeli authorities said they shot a Syrian anti-aircraft missile launcher that had previously attacked an Israeli fighter jet.
On May 28, Russian and Syrian air strikes killed 21 civilians in Idlib, according to SOHR estimates. In an attack on a lively neighborhood in Kafr Halab ( 36 ° 03'35 "N 36 ° 52'18" E ), nine people died. Artillery fire destroyed a hospital in Kafranbel , according to the UN .
Activists estimate that 14 civilians were killed in air strikes by Russian and Syrian warplanes on May 29. The villages Zarya ( 35 ° 34'52 "N 36 ° 55'31" E ), Bara ( 35 ° 41'12 "N 36 ° 32'23" E ) and Hbeit were hit. State media reported on a civilian who died in rebel fire in Hama province.
June
On June 1, Syrian aid organizations from Idlib reported that since the offensive against the region began at the end of April 2019, around 300,000 people had fled towards the Turkish border, where in many cases they would now camp out in the open. Only 103,000 people were accommodated in camps.
On June 2, Israeli fighter planes again attacked Syrian positions near Quneitra . According to the Syrian state television, three Syrian soldiers were killed. The Israeli military admitted the attacks on Twitter; artillery positions, observation posts and an anti-aircraft position were attacked. Previously, according to Israeli information, two projectiles had been fired from the region in the direction of Israel.
Around three hundred people had been killed within 40 days in the Idlib region by the beginning of June. On-site press research reinforced the impression that hospitals and medical wards were deliberately targeted.
On June 5, Russian and Syrian warplanes again attacked targets in Idlib. According to press research and SOHR information, Kansafra ( 35 ° 39'31 ″ N 36 ° 29′04 ″ E ) and three other villages in the region were hit , five people were killed.
On June 6, fighters from the Islamist HTS launched a counterattack near Jibeen ( 35 ° 20'24 ″ N 36 ° 30′48 ″ E ). According to information from the government, attacks on Jibeen and Tal Maleh ( 35 ° 18′21 ″ N 36 ° 31′10 ″ E ) were repulsed. Air strikes in the region continued. The rebel commander Abdul Baset Al-Sarout was fatally wounded in Tal Maleh.
On June 10, the village of Jabala was bombed by Russian Sukhoi bombers from great heights, according to residents , and at least 13 people were killed.
On June 11, the United Nations World Food Program announced that supplies in Idlib could not be maintained and that 7,000 people could no longer be reached because of the fighting in the Qal'at al-Mudiq region .
On June 12, Syrian state media announced that the military had repulsed an Israeli missile attack near Tell al-Hara ( 33 ° 03'46 "N 35 ° 59'32" E ), a strategically important mountain near the Golan Heights. Nobody was harmed.
On June 13, the Turkish Ministry of Defense reported the deliberate shelling of an observation base in Idlib by Syrian troops. 35 mortar shells were fired at the facility and three Turkish soldiers were wounded. They complained about the incident in Moscow.
According to SOHR estimates, 41 government soldiers and 89 rebels were killed in fighting in the vicinity of Tal Maleh on June 18 and 19.
On June 22, an investigation into oil leaks revealed damage to underwater pipelines in at least six places, according to Syrian government agencies. According to Energy Minister Ali Ghanem, terrorists are responsible. The pipelines are laid in front of the coastal town of Baniyas , where an important oil refinery is located.
July
On the night of July 1st, according to SOHR, Israeli forces attacked targets near Homs and around ten targets near Damascus from sea and land . The target were facilities of Iranian troops and allied militias. 15 dead, including six civilians, were reported. A missile fired during the attack, apparently an anti-aircraft weapon launched by the defenders, hit an uninhabited area on the island of Cyprus , 15 kilometers northeast of Nicosia and more than 200 kilometers from the Syrian coast.
On July 4th, a command unit of the British Royal Marines in cooperation with police units boarded the Panamanian flagged supertanker Grace 1 off Gibraltar and brought the ship under control. The tanker had previously come from Iran around Africa at the Cape of Good Hope and wanted to pass the Strait of Gibraltar. The ship is suspected of undermining EU sanctions against the Assad government as a blockade breaker and of having been on its way to Syria with around 274,000 tons of Iranian oil.
On July 9, US officials announced that the United Kingdom and France had agreed to send additional ground troops to northern Syria to replace the US units there. Other nations, such as Germany , had either rejected a request or responded evasively.
On July 13-14, activists reported air strikes by Russian and Syrian forces in Idlib. 19 people were killed accordingly. Kafarya ( 35 ° 59'26 "N 36 ° 40'44" E ) and Khan Shaichun ( 35 ° 26'24 "N 36 ° 39'01" E ) were hit.
On July 22nd, according to SOHR, at least 20 people died in air strikes on Maarat an-Numan and 50 others were injured. Despite Russian denials of involvement, journalists for the New York Times documented in early December 2019 that it was a pilot from the Russian Federation who attacked the same target in the city center twice within a few minutes on July 22, and then attacked two other buildings in town attack.
On July 26, the UN issued a statement that 103 civilians had been killed in attacks on Idlib in the past 10 days. Since the end of April, the attacks by Syrian units, allied militias and troops of the Russian Federation have displaced 400,000 people in the region. Also on July 26th, the release of the American globetrotter Sam Goodwin, who was arrested by Syrian security forces when he had entered the area under government control from the Kurdish regions 62 days earlier, was announced.
August
According to the Syrian state media, on August 1, Israeli forces attacked a target near Quneitra in the Golan Heights with rockets. There were several injured. Arab media speculated that Hezbollah fighters were the target of the attack.
On August 2, the Syrian state media reported that the government had agreed to a ceasefire in Idlib. The agreement is tied to the condition that the insurgent fighters withdraw 20 kilometers from the borders of the demilitarized zones that surround the rebel area. The ceasefire was due to take effect on the afternoon of August 1, but SOHR activists continued to report fighting in the area on the morning of August 2.
On August 5, Syrian warplanes continued their air strikes on targets in Idlib. According to information from the opposition, Khan Sheikhun was hit along with other villages . According to state media, insurgent fighters were the first to violate the ceasefire. Russian authorities also announced that the Hmeimim military airfield had been shot at from the Idlib region, but that no damage had occurred.
On August 7th, representatives of the USA and Turkey agreed to set up an operations center in Turkey, which will coordinate the establishment of a "security zone" in northern Syria and will later manage this zone.
On August 11, Syrian government troops advanced into al-Hobeit.
On August 14, insurgents and media close to the opposition reported that a Syrian Air Force Su-22 bomber had been shot down over Khan Sheikhun. The pilot has been captured.
On August 16, a Russian fighter aircraft with the radio code "464" attacked the refugee accommodation "Quaryat al Rahma" near Has ( 35 ° 37'01 "N 36 ° 35'43" E ) in Idlib. 19 civilians were killed.
On August 19, Syrian or Russian fighter jets attacked targets near a Turkish military convoy that was approaching Khan Shayhun from the north with battle tanks and heavy weapons. According to Turkish information, the vehicles were on their way to the Turkish observation post at Morek, south of Khan Shaichun. According to the Syrian state media, however, the Turks had tried to get supplies to Khan Sheikhun, which was under heavy pressure from the west and east by Syrian ground troops. According to an Al Jazeera reporter, the aim of the attack was to deter the Turks from continuing their journey. The Turkish Defense Ministry condemned the air strike, alleging that three civilians were killed and several were wounded.
On August 20, opposition sources reported the withdrawal of the remaining HTS fighters and members of other groups that had defended Khan Sheikhun. According to an HTS statement, they want to reposition themselves south of the city. SOHR activists reported that the HTS fighters had withdrawn to the Turkish observation post near Morek.
On August 23, the Syrian state media announced the encirclement of the area around the Turkish observation post near Morek, which also includes several villages. According to SOHR observers, the village of Kafr Zita was also taken by government troops.
On August 24th, there were several air strikes on Iranian facilities near Damascus by Israeli forces. According to Israeli sources, the aim was to thwart a drone attack on Israel by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and militias allied with them. According to their organization, two Hezbollah militiamen were killed. At the same time, two Israeli drones loaded with explosives were used against a Hezbollah facility in Beirut. A day later, a drone attack, also attributed to Israel, killed a commander of the Shiite PMF militia in the Iraqi-Syrian border town of al-Qa'im .
On August 30th, thousands of Syrian civilians protested in Idlib on the Turkish border and demanded entry. Some were able to gain entry, the rest were driven out by the Turkish side with warning shots and tear gas. Also on August 30, Russian authorities announced a unilateral ceasefire for Idlib, which should come into force on August 31.
The Central Command of the US Armed Forces announced that on August 31, a training camp near the city of Idlib was attacked with missiles, in which fighters close to al-Qaeda were located. SOHR activists confirmed a meeting of various Islamist groups. According to estimates by observers, around 40 fighters were killed.
September
According to SOHR, air strikes on vehicles and facilities of pro-Iranian militias near Abu Kamal took place on the Syrian-Iraqi border on the night of September 8th to 9th . 18 fighters were killed, neither side took responsibility for the attacks. According to press research, the goal was a new building complex near Abu Kamal, which is called "Imam Ali Complex" in press reports and is apparently controlled by Iranian troops.
On September 9, supporters of pro-Iranian Shiite militias fired several rockets from a suburb of Damascus in the direction of Israel, according to Israeli sources, but the bullets fell on Syrian territory before the border was crossed.
On September 30, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the downing of an unknown drone in the Turkish-Syrian border area on September 29. F-16 fighter-bombers shot down the drone and the debris was found near the border in Kilis province .
October
On October 4th, several artillery shells struck a Save the Children- supported hospital in Maarat an-Numan . According to the organization, seven people were injured.
On October 7, the United States withdrew its troops from northern Syria, clearing the way for a military offensive announced by the Turkish government against the area held by the Syrian Democratic Forces . Shortly before, President Trump had given the Turkish leader Erdoğan the green light to invade northern Syria by telephone. According to press reports, Turkish armed forces began to rally in the border towns of Akçakale and Ceylanpınar for the attack on the Syrian Kurdish region.
On October 9, the Turkish President Erdoğan announced the start of the offensive against the northern Syrian Kurdish region via Twitter. He called the military operation " Operation Peace Source ".
The Americans continued their withdrawal from Syria and on October 15 they gave up their presence in the largest city in northern Syria, ar-Raqqa and at the Tabqa dam . The assembly point of the US ground troops in northern Syria was an airfield south of Kobanê ( 36 ° 38'53 "N 38 ° 18'13" E ), from where they were to be flown out. Immediately after their withdrawal from the Lafarge cement factory between Kobanê and Ain Issa , the Americans deployed two F-15 planes that dropped precision bombs on the American ammunition bunker in the complex in order to render it unusable and to destroy any ammunition stocks and equipment left behind.
On October 17, the United States announced that Vice President Mike Pence had reached an agreement with Turkey on a 120-hour ceasefire in northern Syria. Turkey is avoiding the economic sanctions that the US had previously threatened for agreeing to the ceasefire.
Kurdish troops withdrew from Ras al-Ain on October 20 . The Americans, meanwhile, gave up their presence in Kobanê .
At a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, an agreement was reached that Turkish troops would remain in northern Syria and that the Kurdish armed forces would withdraw from a 30-kilometer-wide border strip with Turkey. Russian and Syrian troops are to take control of the area of the strip that is not yet occupied by Turkish troops. Then Turks and Russians are supposed to jointly monitor the area.
The US Department of Defense announced on October 24 that it had decided not to leave Syria entirely. They want to keep the oil fields in the previous SDF area under control in order to prevent them from falling back into the hands of “destabilizing actors”. 30 main battle tanks and other soldiers are supposed to prevent ISIS or the government of President Assad from regaining control of the raw material deposits. The Russian Defense Ministry then accused the Americans of "international gangsterism" and designated the oil wells as the property of the Syrian Arab Republic. The Americans would move Syrian oil out of the country under the protection of US soldiers and mercenaries. The Russians estimated the monthly income they would earn from selling the oil at 30 million US dollars.
On October 27, US President Donald Trump announced that IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi had died in Operation Kayla Mueller near Barischa, not far from the Turkish border. The action was prepared by the secret service CIA and carried out by soldiers of the Delta Force .
On October 29, Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that Kurdish associations had withdrawn completely from the 30 km security corridor on the Syrian-Turkish border before the deadline agreed with Turkey. His Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar , however, claimed that YPG fighters were still in the zone. According to estimates, 34,000 fighters withdrew from the safety zone.
On October 30, the Syrian state news agency SANA reported fighting between Syrian and Turkish troops and called on Kurds and Arabs to fight Turkey.
On October 31, there were skirmishes at Ras al-Ain and Tell Tamer when advancing FSA militias, loyal to Turkey, clashed with Syrian government reinforcements. A car bomb also exploded in Turkish-occupied Afrin, killing around 30 visitors to a market.
November
On November 4th, the Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu declared that his country would ignore the revocation of the citizenship of IS fighters by European countries and also bring the prisoners with unresolved citizenship taken back to their supposed home countries. Around 1200 foreign prisoners assigned to IS are currently in Turkish custody.
In the first week of November, Russian and Syrian planes again attacked targets south of the city of Idlib. According to journalists, the intention is to expel insurgent fighters from the villages in the southern part of the rebel area. Several civilians were killed and a hospital destroyed. On November 6th, the hospital in Maarat an-Numan was attacked and hit three times at five-minute intervals by a fighter plane from the Russian Federation, the pilot of which was using the code "31" in radio communications.
According to SOHR, four Syrian soldiers were killed and others wounded in the fighting over Um Shaifa near Ras al-Ain between Turkish militias and Syrian government troops. According to the Syrian state media, the village was subsequently captured by government troops.
On November 11th, three car bombs exploded in Qamishli, which is held by Kurdish and Syrian troops . According to a Kurdish news agency, six people were killed and 21 wounded in the explosions. At the same time, a Catholic priest who was on his way to Deir ez-Zor from Qamishli was murdered. The IS confessed to the assassination attempt.
On November 12, Israeli forces apparently tried to kill a leader of the Islamic Jihad group in Palestine in Damascus and shot at the house where he was suspected with two cruise missiles. The target person, Akram al-Ajouri, survived, according to his organization, but his son was killed.
On November 16, a car bomb exploded at a bus station in al-Bab, which was occupied by Turkey, killing 10 civilians and wounding 15 others, according to the Turkish military.
On November 19, Israeli batteries of the Iron Dome system intercepted four rockets that, according to the Israeli military, had been launched from Syria towards Israel.
On November 20, Israeli fighter planes attacked dozen Syrian and Iranian facilities in Syria with cruise missiles. According to a statement by the Israeli army, it was a response to the four rockets from the previous day. Syrian air defense systems, the Iranian command center at Damascus Airport and logistical facilities from Iran-related groups across Syria were among the targets. Air defense systems manned by Russian troops were not attacked.
On November 21, an artillery attack hit a refugee camp near Qah ( 36 ° 17'47 "N 36 ° 43'31" E ) near the border with Turkey. A surface-to-surface missile, which was apparently equipped with cluster munitions , killed 16 people, according to aid organizations, another hit a hospital ward and killed eight more, according to an NGO.
On November 23, militia loyal to Turkey attacked the city of Ain Issa, according to the state news agency SANA .
On November 24th, the militia loyal to Turkey apparently withdrew from Ain Issa, but Turkish drones attacked targets in the village and in the surrounding villages. According to SOHR, Syrian troops have since captured the village of Mushrafa in Idlib from HTS rebels.
On November 29, Syrian opposition and government officials failed in an attempt to agree on an agenda for drafting a future Syrian constitution at a meeting in Geneva .
December
As a result of the shortage of US dollars in the context of the banking crisis in Lebanon in 2019 , Syrians in Lebanon were no longer able to send money to Syria in American currency. Syrian workers were paid in the local currency, the Lebanese pound . Fuel smuggling from Syria to Lebanon also decreased, as it was not possible to pay in dollars. Without the support of hard currency from Lebanon, the value of the Syrian lira fell sharply in November / December. The Syrian government blamed the sanctions against the country for the loss of purchasing power.
In the week before December 19, according to local activists, around 90 people were killed in the insurgent part of Idlib governorate by air strikes and artillery shelling of the Syrian-Russian military offensive , and 12,000 people had fled the city of Maarat an-Numan .
At the end of December, Syrian forces , supported by air strikes, advanced further on Maarat an-Numan. According to estimates by the Syrian Response Coordination Group, 200,000 people fled the contested areas of Idlib towards the Turkish border between November 1 and December 23, 2019 under the influence of Russian and Syrian air strikes . According to the UN estimate at the end of December, there were already around one million refugees on the Syrian side near the border.
On the night of December 23, facilities near Damascus were apparently attacked from the air. Syrian state media reported an Israeli air strike with cruise missiles. SOHR activists reported three explosions near the capital.
According to SOHR, a school in Jubas ( 35 ° 50'09 "N 36 ° 45'35" E ) near Saraqib was hit by rockets on December 24th . Five children and three other people were killed. Syrian troops loyal to the government have also advanced to within four kilometers of the city limits of Maarat an-Numan, according to the opposition.
On December 25, an Iranian militia base in Abu Kamal on the border with Iraq was apparently attacked by drones. According to SOHR activists, five fighters were killed. Hezbollah statements made Israel responsible for the attack.
On December 29, US forces attacked five Hezbollah-affiliated facilities in Iraq and Syria from the air. The attacks came in response to an alleged Hezbollah attack on December 27 on a US base near Kirkuk , Iraq, in which a US civilian was reportedly killed. The American attacks targeted the missile and drone cages involved in the attacks on US forces.
On December 30, SOHR activists reported 19 Russian air strikes that hit the villages of Zammar ( 35 ° 53'34 "N 36 ° 58'59" E ), Tal Hadya ( 35 ° 59'47 "N 36 ° 56'28 ″ E ) To Atabah, Sheikh Ahmed and the area of the ICARDA facility near Aleppo. Syrian government forces launched 16 attacks on targets in and around Maarat an-Numan at the same time.
Individual evidence
- ↑ 2019 in Aleppo begins with a strife between factions caused human casualties in clashes between Tahrir al-Sham and the National Front after more than 2 months on their consensus. syriahr.com from January 1, 2019.
- ^ Adam Forrest: Two British soldiers seriously injured in Syria after Isis missile attack. The Independent from January 6, 2018.
- ↑ Trump Adviser: US to Leave Syria Once IS Beaten, Kurds Safe . In: New York Times . January 6, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- ↑ Inga Rogg: Extremists are on the rise in Idlib, Syria. Neue Zürcher Zeitung from January 7, 2019.
- ↑ Syrian province of Idlib: The jihadists conquer, Turkey is watching. Spiegel Online, January 9, 2019.
- ↑ Syria: Russian military police begin patrols around the Syrian city of Manbij. Zeit Online, January 8, 2019.
- ↑ Extremism: Jihadists from Hajat Tahrir al-Sham apparently take control of Idlib. Welt Online, January 10, 2019.
- ↑ Satellite photos show Iranian missile depot allegedly leveled by Israeli strike. Times of Israel, January 13, 2019.
- ↑ Trump threatens Turkey with “economic destruction”. Tages-Anzeiger, January 14, 2019.
- ^ At least four US troops killed in Syria blast claimed by Isis. The Guardian January 16, 2019.
- ^ Karen DeYoung: Killing of 4 Americans in Syria throws spotlight on Trump's policy. Washington Post January 16, 2019.
- ↑ Not allies - cooperation is limited to Syria. Novaya Gazeta, January 28, 2019.
- ↑ a b Juda Ari Gross: IDF: Iranian troops fired missile at Israel as a warning against future attacks. timesofisrael.com from January 21, 2019.
- ↑ a b Israel attacks Iranian targets in Syria again. Neue Zürcher Zeitung from January 21, 2019.
- ↑ Iran threatens to "eliminate Israel from the Earth" as tensions escalate over Syria airstrikes. The Independent of January 21, 2019.
- ^ Judah Ari Gros: Monitor: 21 died in Israeli strikes in Syria Monday, 12 of them Iranian fighters. Times of Israel, January 22, 2019.
- ↑ a b Liz Sly: The once vast ISIS “caliphate” is now reduced to a pair of villages in Syria. Washington Post January 27, 2019.
- ↑ Kurds arrest German jihadist Martin Lemke. The standard of February 1, 2019.
- ↑ Christian Fuchs, Yassin Musharbash and Holger Stark: From welder to butcher. Zeit.de of December 13, 2017.
- ↑ Israel said to find new Iranian precision missile factory in northwest Syria. timesofisrael.com on February 7, 2019.
- ↑ US-backed Syrian forces launch attack on final Isis stronghold. The Guardian, February 10, 2019.
- ↑ In Syria, US backed forces launch battle for last Islamic State foothold. Washington Post, February 10, 2019.
- ^ US-backed Fighters Launch Final Push to Defeat IS in Syria. VOA News, February 9, 2019.
- ↑ Maya Gebeily: "Heavy clashes" as US-backed forces make final push against IS. timesofisrael.com on February 10, 2019.
- ^ Syria reports Israeli artillery attack on Quneitra. Times of Israel, February 11, 2019.
- ↑ After about 3 weeks of tension at the Syrian border with the occupied Golan… Israeli rocket strikes target militiamen loyal to the regime forces in Al-Quneitra countryside leaving human losses. SOHR of February 12, 2019.
- ↑ Chris Baynes: Isis caliphate "reduced to just 700sq m" as US-backed forces close in on last enclave in Syria. The Independent on February 16, 2019.
- ↑ US-backed fighters launch final push to defeat ISIS in Syria. SOHR of February 16, 2019.
- ↑ Jihad Darwish and Rouba El Husseini: Dozens of Civilians, fighters quit Syria jihadist holdout, say US-backed forces. timesofisrael.com from February 20, 2019.
- ↑ The regime forces target today evening more than 11 towns in both Hama and Idlib countryside by shells leaving a woman dead and others wounded. SOHR on syriahr.com from February 21, 2019.
- ^ Endgame for the Isis "caliphate" looms in small Syrian town. The Guardian, February 21, 2019. (English)
- ^ Sarah El Deeb: Told to leave, IS 'caliphate' holdouts in Syria stay devoted. timesofisrael.com from February 23, 2019.
- ↑ Stephen Kalin and Sarah Dadouch: Air Strikes Up Sharply in Rebel-Held Northwest Syria: Monitors. New York Times February 26, 2019.
- ↑ Mike Corder: Watchdog confirms chlorine used in 2018 attack on Syrian rebel town of Douma. Times of Israel, March 2, 2019.
- ↑ Rouba El Husseini: Kurdish-led Syria force resumes assault on last IS holdout. Times of Israel, March 1, 2019.
- ↑ At 33 casualties in the ranks of the regime forces in 2 attacks targeted them within the areas of Putin - Erdogan agreement in Hama and Latakia Mountains in about 12 hours. SOHR of March 3, 2019.
- ↑ Bethan McKernan: The caliphate is a hellscape of smoke and fire - Isis has now there left to go. The Guardian March 3, 2019.
- ^ Richard Hall: Hundreds of Isis prisoners with "no blood on their hands" released in Syria. The Independent of March 5, 2019.
- ^ Hundreds of ISIL fighters surrender in Syria's Baghouz: SDF. aljazeera.com from March 6, 2019.
- ↑ Tony Gamal-Gabriel and Rouba El Husseini: 3,000 IS fighters surrender as defeat looms in Syria. timesofisrael.com from March 13, 2019.
- ↑ United Nations calls for sustained support to Syrians and the region ahead of the Brussels conference. UN.org of March 13, 2019.
- ↑ Patrick Wintour: Russian and Syrian airstrikes intensify on rebel-held Idlib. The Guardian March 14, 2019.
- ^ AFP: Syrian fighters say "thousands" still inside last ISIL pocket. aljazeera.com from March 18, 2019.
- ↑ a b Richard Hall: Isis caliphate on brink of defeat as Syrian forces take control of jihadist tent city. The Independent.co.uk of March 19, 2019.
- ↑ Anchal Vohra: "Suffocating smell of death" as SDF attacks last ISIL pocket. aljazeera.com from March 22, 2019.
- ↑ Richard Hall: Isis caliphate defeated: Victory declared as Islamic State loose last of its territory. The Independent of March 23, 2019.
- ↑ Dozens of ISIS fighters escape Baghouz to launch big assault on Syrian Army troops near Palmyra. almasdarnews.com of April 4, 2019.
- ↑ Syria says Israeli air attack injures six soldiers. aljazeera.com from April 13, 2019.
- ^ Sanctions On Damascus And Tehran Have Led To Serious Fuel Shortages In Syria. radiofarda.com/AFP of April 14, 2019.
- ↑ Rockets kill 11 in Syria's northern city of Aleppo: Reports. aljazeera.com from April 15, 2019.
- ↑ Syria says Israeli jets carry out airstrike near Aleppo. timesofisrael.com from April 26, 2019.
- ^ Philipp Mattheis: US delegation discusses Syria policy in Ankara. The standard of May 2, 2019.
- ↑ Gudrun Harrer: At the expense of the Kurds: War and horse trading in Syria. The May 7, 2019 standard.
- ↑ a b Martin Chulov: Russia and Turkey landgrab "behind fresh Syria bombardment." The Guardian of May 8, 2019.
- ↑ a b Syrian troops attack the last large rebel area. The standard of May 6, 2019.
- ↑ a b c Inga Rogg: Asad's troops attack Idlib. NZZ from May 7, 2019.
- ↑ a b c d Video report Christiaan Triebert, Evan Hill, Dimitry Khavin, Malachy Browne and David Botti: "Sent Candy": Cockpit Tapes Show Russian Pilots Bombing Syrian Civilians. New York Times December 1, 2019.
- ↑ Syria says Israel carried out strike, claims to intercept missiles. Times of Israel, May 17, 2019.
- ↑ Syria says air defenses intercept Israeli missiles, in 2nd incident in 24 hours. Times of Israel, May 18, 2019.
- ↑ Russia announces unilateral ceasefire by Syrian forces in Idlib. aljazeera.com from May 19, 2019.
- ↑ US accuses Syrian government of fresh chemical weapon attack. The Guardian of May 22, 2019.
- ↑ Russian air raids "kill five children" in Syria's Idlib. aljazeera.com from May 21, 2019.
- ^ "Targeted killings" and wave of arrests in Syria's Deraa. aljazeera.com from May 21, 2019.
- ↑ Syrian forces pound rebel targets in the besieged northwest. Al Jazeera on May 26, 2019.
- ↑ a b Top Idlib official urges defense against Syrian government forces. aljazeera.com from May 27, 2019.
- ^ Israel and Syria exchange fire amid soaring regional tensions. aljazeera.com from May 28, 2019.
- ↑ More than 20 civilians killed in attacks on Syria's northwest. aljazeera.com from May 30, 2019.
- ^ At least 14 civilians killed in air raid on Syria's Idlib. aljazeera.com from May 30, 2019.
- ↑ Syrian NGOs warn of mass displacement in last rebel-held area. aljazeera.com from June 1, 2019.
- ^ Colin Dury: Three soldiers killed after Israel attacks Syrian military positions near Golan Heights. The Independent of June 2, 2019.
- ^ Syria, Russia air attacks hit Idlib's hospitals. AlJazeera, June 4, 2019: "at least 26 medical facilities have been hit" / "the (deescalation) agreement has been constantly violated by the Governement of Syria and Russia".
- ^ Syrian air strikes kill civilians in besieged Idlib. Aljazeera on June 6, 2019.
- ↑ Syrian attacks on civilians continue amid rebel counterattack. Aljazeera on June 7, 2019.
- ↑ Christian Weisflog: Syria's “singer of the revolution” is killed in battle and plunges the opposition into mourning. NZZ of June 11, 2019.
- ↑ a b Syria escalation hampers food delivery to affected areas: WFP. Aljazeera on June 11, 2019.
- ↑ Syria says it 'thwarted' Israeli missile attack. Al Jazeera on June 12, 2019.
- ↑ Turkey says Syrian forces hit observation tower in Idlib. Al Jazeera on June 13, 2019.
- ^ Dozens killed in heavy fighting in northwest Syria. Al Jazeera of June 20, 1019.
- ^ Tzvi Joffre: Underwater oil pipelines sabotaged near Syria. Jerusalem Post dated June 24, 2019.
- ^ Judah Ari Gross: 15 said killed, 9 of them foreigners, as Israel strikes Iranian sites in Syria. Times of Israel, July 1, 2019.
- ↑ Alessio Perrone: "Stray" missile crashes near Cyprus capital. The Independent from July 1, 2019.
- ^ Royal Marines help seize tanker suspected of carrying Iranian oil to Syria. The Guardian July 4, 2019.
- ↑ Gibraltar Detains Syria-Bound Tanker with Iranian Oil. VOA of July 4, 2019 (2,000,000 bbl * 0.137 = 274,000 tons).
- ^ Dan Sabbagh: UK and France to send further forces to Syria in aid of US withdrawal. Guardian July 9, 2019.
- ^ At least 22 civilians killed in government air attacks in Syria. Al-Jazeera on July 14, 2019.
- ↑ 20 people die in air strikes in Syria. Tagesspiegel.de of July 22, 2019.
- ↑ More than 100 killed in Syria air raids in past 10 days, UN says. aljazeera.com from July 26, 2019.
- ↑ Vivian Yee: An American Aimed to See Every Country in the World. Then he hit Syria. nytimes.com on July 26, 2019.
- ↑ American "worldwide traveler" freed in Syria. bbc.com of July 26, 2019.
- ↑ Netanyahu appears to confirm Israeli missile fire at Syrian Golan. timesofisrael.com from August 2, 2019.
- ↑ Albert Aji znd Edith M. Lederer: Syria says it Agrees to cease-fire in rebel stronghold. timesofisrael.com from August 2, 2019.
- ↑ AFP: Syrian army resumes operations in rebel-hero Idlib. aljazeera.com from August 5, 2019.
- ↑ Tessa Fox: Turkey, US agree to set up operation center for Syria safe zone. aljazeera.com from August 7, 2019.
- ↑ a b Syrian insurgents report the downing of a Su-22 fighter plane. derstandard.at of August 14, 2019.
- ^ Turkey says military convoy targeted in northern Syria. aljazeera.com from August 19, 2019.
- ↑ Rebels withdraw in key Syrian town as pro-Assad troops advance. The Guardian August 20, 2019.
- ^ Gemma Fox: Syrian regime set to retake town in key rebel-held area after years of opposition control. The Independent of August 20, 2019.
- ↑ Syria's army encircles rebels in Hama, imposing 'choking siege'. aljazeera.com from August 23, 2019.
- ^ Iraq paramilitary: Israel behind drone attack near Syria border. aljazeera.com from August 25, 2019.
- ^ Iraqi bloc calls for US troop withdrawal after Israeli air raids. aljazeera.com from August 27, 2019.
- ↑ More than 500 refugees arrive on Lesbos in one day in record high since migrant crisis. The Telegraph dated August 30, 2019.
- ↑ Syria was: Russia announces ceasefire in Idlib rebel stronghold. bbc.co.uk of August 30, 2019.
- ↑ Syria's was: US “targets al-Qaeda leaders” in rebel-held Idlib. aljazeera.com from September 1, 2019.
- ^ A b Judah Ari Gross and TOI staff: IDF says pro-Iran militia fired rockets at Israel, amid reports of Syria strike. timesofisrael.com from September 9, 2019.
- ^ Judah Ari Gross: Strike attributed to IDF destroys Iranian storehouses on Syria-Iraq border. timesofisrael.com from September 9, 2019.
- ^ Turkey "downs" unidentified drone on Syria border. Aljazeera on September 30, 2019.
- ↑ Syria: Artillery shells hit charity-backed hospital in Idlib. aljazeera.com from October 4, 2019.
- ↑ USA clear the way for Turkish military offensive . In: ZEIT ONLINE . October 7, 2019. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
- ^ Erdogan's army gathers on the border with Syria. Tagesspiegel from October 7, 2019.
- ↑ Erdogan starts offensive in northern Syria. Tagesspiegel.de of October 9, 2019.
- ^ US Coalition: Forces Have Left Syrian Cities of Raqqa, Tabqah, Lafarge Factory. New York Times October 16, 2019.
- ↑ US conducts airstrike on weapons storage site as troops pull out of Syria. CNN October 16, 2019.
- ↑ Trump lavishes praise on "tough man" Erdogan over Syria ceasefire as Turkey claims it is just a "pause". The Independent of October 17, 2019.
- ^ Germany and France against NATO support for Turkey. Tagesspiegel from October 20, 2019.
- ↑ Russia targets 500 escaped IS fighters. Welt.de from October 23, 2019.
- ↑ USA want to secure Syrian oil fields with additional troops. The daily mirror of October 25, 2019.
- ↑ Russia accuses USA of massive oil theft in Syria. Handelsblatt.de of October 26, 2019.
- ^ Special Operations Raid Said to Kill Senior Terrorist Leader in Syria. New York Times October 27, 2019.
- ↑ This is what it looks like after the US secret operation against al-Baghdadi. World October 27, 2019.
- ↑ Kurd fighters complete pullout from Turkey-Syria border: Russia. aljazeera.com from October 29, 2019.
- ↑ a b Heavy fighting between the Turkish and Syrian military. The standard of October 30, 2019.
- ↑ Fierce clashes erupt between Syrian army, Turkish-led forces. aljazeera.com from October 31, 2019.
- ^ Turkey "to send back" ISIL prisoners even if citizenships revoked. Aljazeera.com from November 4, 2019.
- ↑ Hashem Ahelbarra: Civilian deaths as Idlib hospital struck by Russian air raids. aljazeera.com from November 6, 2019.
- ^ Four Syrian soldiers killed in clashes with Turkish-led forces. alarabiya.net from November 9, 2019.
- ↑ Three blasts kill at least 6 in Syrian town near Turkey. aljazeera.com from November 11, 2019.
- ↑ a b 4 rockets fired at Israel from Syria, shot down by Iron Dome, IDF says. Times of Israel, November 19, 2019.
- ↑ Deadly car bomb blasts rip through bus terminal in Syria's al-Bab. aljazeera.com from November 16, 2019.
- ^ Judah Ari Gross: IDF girds for response after attacking dozens of Iranian, Assad targets in Syria. timesofisrael.com from November 20, 2019.
- ↑ Syrian regime targets hospital and refugee camp, killing at least 22. The Guardian of November 22, 2019.
- ↑ a b Turkish drones target Syria's Ain Issa, nearby villages. alarabiya.net of November 24, 2019.
- ↑ No consensus on agenda in Syria constitution talks held in Geneva. aljazeera.com from November 29, 2019.
- ↑ Lebanon's economic crisis fueling Syria's currency fall. Aljazeera on December 7, 2019.
- ↑ Emma Graham-Harrison: Syria faces winter crisis as bombs bring food, fuel and aid shortages. The Guardian December 19, 2019.
- ^ Tens of thousands flee as Syrian forces continue Idlib advance. aljazeera.com from December 23, 2019.
- ↑ Syria reports Damascus air attacks; three explosions heard. aljazeera.com from December 23, 2019.
- ^ Children among eight killed in Syria as missile hits school. aljazeera.com from December 24, 2019.
- ^ Syria missile attack kills pro-Iran fighters: Monitor. aljazeera.com from December 26, 2019.
- ↑ US targets pro-Iran militia bases in Iraq, Syria raids. aljazeera.com from December 30, 2019.
- ↑ US Launches Airstrikes on Iranian-Backed Forces in Iraq and Syria. New York Times December 30, 2019.
- ↑ Usual calm prevails “Putin - Erdogan” zone along with the cessation of Russian and regime aerial operations. syriahr.com from December 31, 2019.
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