PHOTO: Rebels in southern Aleppo Province


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State Media’s Myth of “Residents Returning to Palmyra”


Fighting spread across northwest Syria on Sunday, with rebels and Jabhat al-Nusra attacking pro-Assad forces in Aleppo, Latakia, and Hama Provinces.

The battles further dismantle the “cessation of hostilities”, brokered by the US and Russia, which was proclaimed on February 27.

Rebels and Nusra have moved on regime positions, mainly held by Iranian units and other foreign militia, in southern Aleppo Province for more than a week. They have regained some of the territory taken by last autumn’s regime-Russian-Iranian-Hezbollah offensive, including the town of al-Eis on the Aleppo-Damascus highway. Meanwhile, rebels north of Aleppo city have checked a regime attack.

See Syria Daily, April 10: Rebels and Nusra Press Offensive on South Aleppo Front

Over the weekend, rebels and Nusra began an attempt in northern Latakia Province to reclaim area in the Turkmen Mountains, capturing the tower and village at Burj al-Bayda and the al-Qala’a Mount. And on Sunday, the assault spread into the al-Ghab Plain in neighboring Hama Province, with the jihadist faction Jund al-Aqsa among the attacking forces.

Pro-Assad forces have attacked from the air and on the ground in Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, and two other provinces since the “cessation of hostilities”, but the rebel-Nusra offensives are the most sustained challenge to the ceasefire.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday that there was a need for more co-operation to maintain the cessation and advance in political talks, which are scheduled to resume in Geneva on April 13.

Rebels also have been battling the Islamic State in northern Aleppo Province on the Turkish border. Since the cessation of hostilities, the Free Syrian Army and other factions had been gaining territory in a war which began in January 2014.

However, the Islamic State counter-attacked over the weekend, moving into several villages. This morning claims are circulating that ISIS has regained the village of al-Rai — it is unclear if the Islamic State has also recaptured the nearby crossing on the Turkish border.

Syrian PM: We Are Preparing with Russia to Retake Aleppo City

Setting aside the latest developments in Aleppo Province, Syrian Prime Minister Wael Halqi proclaimed on Sunday that the regime military and Russian air force will soon capture Aleppo city, divided since July 2012.

“With our Russian partners we are preparing an operation to free Aleppo and block all illegal armed groups that have not joined or have broken the ceasefire deal,” Halqi told Russian lawmakers in Damascus, according to Interfax news agency.

Halqi did not explain how the Syrian military would carry out the operations when it is under pressure in southern Aleppo province and when many positions are manned by Iranian unit, Hezbollah, and foreign militias.

Instead, he said that, after regaining control of Aleppo, the regime forces would march across the country to seize Deir ez-Zor in northeast Syria from the Islamic State.

A pro-regime website declared on Sunday that Russian ground troops are now involved in operations. Al-Masdar News that “Russian marines” and “Iraqi paramilitary fighters” moved from Latakia to Aleppo “as part of an expeditionary force under the command of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps”.


Picture: Jabhat al-Nusra Releases Free Syrian Army Detainees

Men of the Free Syrian Army’s Division 13, released by the jihadists of Jabhat al-Nusra after a month-long detention:

DIVISION 13 FREED DETAINEES

Jabhat al-Nusra and Division 13 clashed near Maarat al-Num’an in Idlib Province in northwest Syria, following FSA raids on Nusra offices and homes. Public protests in Maarat al-Num’an subsequently called for the release of the men.


Regime to UN Envoy: Assad Must Stay

The Assad regime has told UN envoy Staffan de Mistura that the President must remain in power.

De Mistura visited Damascus on Monday, two days before he hopes to restart political talks in Geneva.

Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem told De Mistura that the regime is committed “to an intra-Syrian dialogue…without preconditions”.

President Assad has rejected a transitional governing authority, the centerpiece of international discussions since 2012. The opposition-rebel High Negotiations Committee insists that Assad must depart power in any settlement.

De Mistura said there was discussion of access to aid for besieged areas, including regime areas of Deir ez-Zor Province surrounded by the Islamic State.

The Assad regime is continuing to block assistance to several opposition-held towns across Syria.

The envoy implicitly rejected the demand of the Assad regime and Russia that the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Unity Party (PYD) be part of the talks, saying that Kurds are present in the delegations at Geneva.


Iranian Media Confirms 1st Deaths of Special Forces

Iranian media have confirmed the first deaths among Iran’s special forces.

The two casualties were both in the 65th Nohed Brigade, recently deployed to the southern Aleppo front: Colonel Zolfaghari Nasab and 2nd Lieutenant Mohsen Ghetaslu (pictured):

IRAN 65TH BRIGADE KIA SYRIA

The 65th Brigade is the first officially-announced deployment from the Iranian Army, joining units from the Revolutionary Guards and Iranian-led foreign militia.

Iranian media have posted the names of 228 commanders and troops killed since Russia and Iran stepped up military intervention last October.


Iran Supreme Leader’s Top Aide Repeats: “Keeping Assad Is Our Red Line”

As Iran puts in more troops into Syria, the Supreme Leader’s top aide has repeated that President Assad’s stay in power is a “red line” for Tehran.

Ali Akbar Velayati said on State TV on Saturday night, “The US says that Bashar Assad should leave, but Assad should remain in power as Syria’s legal president until the end of his presidential term and that is our red line.”

Velayati, a former Foreign Minister, said Iran will not leave Assad alone either on the battleground or in politics.

The aide has set out the red line repeatedly since November, soon after a Russian-Iranian military intervention to prevent the collapse of Assad and his armed forces, as he met Assad in Damascus.

See Iran Daily, Nov 20: Supreme Leader’s Aide — “Assad Stronger Than Ever”