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Assad — “North Korea and Syria Are Among Few Countries Who Enjoy Real Independence”

US-led coalition airstrikes apparently have again hit positions of the Islamist faction Jabhat al-Nusra in northwest Syria, killing civilians.

Sunday’s attacks were on Atmeh in Idlib Province, near the Turkish border. The missiles — up to six, according to activists — struck a few hundred meters from a large refugee camp.

Almost all claims from activists and rebels pointed to a coalition assault; however, one held out the possibility that the Syrian Air Force could have attack with MiG-29 jets.

Meanwhile, the “monitoring group” Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported the Americans targeted an Islamic State oil refinery in Tal Abyad, much further to the east along the Turkish border. It claims up to 30 people were killed.

The US has yet to comment on Sunday’s airstrikes.

Washington targeted Jabhat al-Nusra positions in Idlib and Aleppo Provinces on the first day of the American intervention last September, killing at least 14 civilians. There have been further strikes on the Islamist faction in northwest Syria since then.

American officials have claimed that they were striking the “Khorasan” group of fighters within Jabhat al-Nusra, whom it claims were planning an “imminent” terrorist attack in the US or Europe.

See Syria Developing: US Renews Attacks on Mysterious “Khorasan Group” — But Is It Actually Targeting Insurgents?

Sunday’s attack came days after four Jabhat al-Nusra leaders, including the general military commander Abu Hommam al-Shami, were killed in an air raid. The Syrian military has claimed responsibility, and the US denied that coalition planes were within 200 miles of Idlib Province.


Rebels Detonate Several Regime Buildings Near Aleppo Citadel

In their second underground bombing in a week in Aleppo, rebels have destroyed several regime buildings near the Aleppo Citadel.

The attack took place near Sabaa Bahrat Square (see map>, northwest of the historic Citadel. It follows last week’s damaging of the Air Force Intelligence headquarters in the al-Zahraa district.

Reports: Rebels Make Key Advances North of Aleppo, Take Handarat Village

Continuing to reverse the tide of battle north of Aleppo, rebels have made notable gains on Tuesday, according to reports.

Sources say opposition fighters have moved into Handarat village (see map), long held by the regime, near a key route to insurgent-held east Aleppo.

Latest reports indicate rebels have also taken Mazari’ Duwayr al-Zaytun, to the north of Handarat, and are using heavy artillery to shell a regime missile base. The opposition may now be able to take another village, Sayfat, from Syrian forces

Further to the north, Bashqwy — the only village taken by regime forces in a failed offensive last month — is now cut off.

For months, the regime had held the upper hand in the area, threatening to isolate rebels in eastern Aleppo. The reversal of fortunes, combined with operations such as the underground bombing of the Air Force Intelligence building in northwest Aleppo last week and today’s detonations near the Citadel (see above), raises the prospect of pressure upon President Assad’s forces in Syria’s largest city, divided since July 2012.

Report & Analysis: Rebel Brigade in South Damascus Defects to Regime

The rebel Anfal Brigade, based in south Damascus, has reportedly defected to the Syrian regime.

The commander and 60 fighters are said to have moved after months of negotiations, taking advantage of rebel in-fighting in southern Damascus suburbs (see below) to make their way across opposition lines.

Anfal was made up of local fighters from a-Dhiyabiya in southern Damascus. Pushed out of the town by a regime advance last year, they were based in Babila, which had agreed to a truce with the regime in early 2014.

Analyst Thomas Pierret comments:

This is unsurprising given military situation in south Damascus. It is the usual pattern in protracted civil wars. Probably more to come in regions with similar situation. Rebels starving, Iran probably paying good money [for defections].

Still unlikely to happen on large scale cause few places where rebels as weak as south Damascus.

Anfal Brigade in S. Damascus defect to regime. 1st case of defection by whole rebel unit?

Rebel Faction Mediates Ceasefire Between Jabhat al-Nusra and Local Group South of Damascus

The leading rebel faction Jaish al-Islam has mediated a ceasefire between Jabhat al-Nusra and a local opposition group in suburbs south of Damascus.

Activists said the fighting was halted between Jabhat al-Nusra and Liwa Sham al-Rasoul brigade in Babila and Beit Sahem after two days of fierce infighting that killed dozens of fighters and civilians.

The clashes arose amid local protests against claimed abuses by Jabhat al-Nusra in its operations in the suburbs, which have been besieged by the Syrian military for years and agreed to ceasefires with the Assad regime in early 2014.

On Friday, activists said 1500 people demonstrated after Friday Prayers protesting against Jabhat al-Nusra’s practices. Six marchers were reportedly wounded when Islamist members fired on the crowd.