Russia Carries out Dozens of Strikes against ISIS in Syria

A Syrian army soldier stands next to a Syrian flag in Umm al-Mayazen, in the countryside of Daraa, Syria, July 10, 2018. (Reuters)
A Syrian army soldier stands next to a Syrian flag in Umm al-Mayazen, in the countryside of Daraa, Syria, July 10, 2018. (Reuters)
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Russia Carries out Dozens of Strikes against ISIS in Syria

A Syrian army soldier stands next to a Syrian flag in Umm al-Mayazen, in the countryside of Daraa, Syria, July 10, 2018. (Reuters)
A Syrian army soldier stands next to a Syrian flag in Umm al-Mayazen, in the countryside of Daraa, Syria, July 10, 2018. (Reuters)

Russian jets carried out on Sunday a series of strikes against ISIS targets in Syria's desert Badia.

It launched over 30 strikes in the al-Rasafah area in Raqqa's western countryside, the Palmyra desert, al-Sukhna in Homs' eastern countryside, and the desert in Jabal al-Bishri in southwestern Deir Ezzor.

No human casualties were reported.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said ISIS has executed eight regime soldiers. Contact was lost with them in a desert region in Syria's east as they were headed to the al-Sukhna region on March 26.

The rights monitor did not say when they were killed.

Air raids against ISIS have been intensified after the terrorist group also increased its attacks in areas held by the government. It has also been carrying out more executions against its forces.

The Observatory confirmed the execution of 14 soldiers in the past 48 hours.

The Observatory has tallied the death of over 200 soldiers and pro-regime and Iran-backed fighters in various ambushes and attacks in the desert region stretching from Deir Ezzor, to Homs, Raqqa, Hama and Aleppo.

The attacks have also left 37 civilians dead. The government forces and their allies have killed 24 terrorists during that time.



France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
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France Declines to Comment on Algeria’s Anger over Recognition of Morocco’s Claim over Sahara

French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)
French President Emmanuel Macron and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. (AFP file)

Paris declined to comment on Algeria’s “strong condemnation” of the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s claim over the Sahara.

The office of the French Foreign Ministry refused to respond to an AFP request for a comment on the Algeria’s stance.

It did say that further comments could impact the trip Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune is set to make to France in late September or early October.

The visit has been postponed on numerous occasions over disagreements between the two countries.

France had explicitly expressed its constant and clear support for the autonomy rule proposal over the Sahara during Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne’s visit to Morocco in February, reported AFP.

The position has helped improve ties between Rabat and Paris.

On Thursday, the Algerian Foreign Ministry expressed “great regret and strong denunciation" about the French government's decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region "within Moroccan sovereignty”.

Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added.

The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible.