Discontent in Damascus due to Russian Police-Regime Forces Tension

Discontent in Damascus due to Russian Police-Regime Forces Tension
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Discontent in Damascus due to Russian Police-Regime Forces Tension

Discontent in Damascus due to Russian Police-Regime Forces Tension

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) revealed Thursday that there is rage and discontent among the regime supporters due to a tension between the Russian and Syrian forces by which its consequences haven’t ended yet. The reason behind the tension is that members of the Russian military police attacked an officer in the regime forces and other members in Babbila.

Meanwhile, the southern part of the capital Damascus is witnessing continued violent clashes between terrorist ISIS members and regime forces who are supported by militiamen loyal to them from Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities.

This is taking place in areas of Yarmouk Camp and the areas between it and Al-Hajar al-Aswad and in Al-Tadamon neighborhood, where the fighting between both parties is accompanied by intensive shelling from the regime forces on ISIS controlled areas, which caused further destruction amid raids by warplanes on the same areas, in an attempt by each party to further advance at the expense of the other side.

This ongoing fighting in south of Damascus left a lot of human casualties on both sides, where SOHR monitored the rise of human losses in the ranks of the both parties.

Since Thursday the 19th of April 2018 the number of losses reached up to 227 persons from regime forces and militiamen loyal to them, while at least 212 ISIS members have been also killed in the shelling and clashes that further left tens of wounded in the ranks of the both parties.

The death toll is expected to rise because of the continued combat operations and the presence of injured cases who are in critical situation.

The Syrian Observatory published Thursday that it monitored the regime forces being able to advance with the support of their allies, and forcing the organization to withdraw from the remaining areas it used to control in al-Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood, where the regime forces imposed their control over the entire neighborhood of al-Hajar al-Aswad.



Israel Renews its Readiness for War... Lebanon Says Doors are Not Shut

Smoke rises from the border village of Kafr Hamam in South Lebanon following the Israeli bombing (AFP)
Smoke rises from the border village of Kafr Hamam in South Lebanon following the Israeli bombing (AFP)
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Israel Renews its Readiness for War... Lebanon Says Doors are Not Shut

Smoke rises from the border village of Kafr Hamam in South Lebanon following the Israeli bombing (AFP)
Smoke rises from the border village of Kafr Hamam in South Lebanon following the Israeli bombing (AFP)

The Israeli army informed the political leadership that it has completed exercises for a major ground maneuver in Lebanon, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation announced, adding that preparations were underway for strong air operations.
Speaking from the Ramat Air base, Israeli Air Force Commander Tomer Bar, spoke of surprises, saying: “We are ready for war. The responsibility of the Air Force to implement all operational plans is full... There will be surprises," the Israeli commander said.
These threats came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s escalatory stances before the US Congress, and the announcement of the army’s end of training exercises simulating battles with Hezbollah on Lebanese territory.
The Israeli authorities have also issued a decision to suspend classes in the settlements and border towns with Lebanon for the next academic year, and informed students of the necessity of enrolling in other schools.
Parliamentary sources in the Development and Liberation bloc, headed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, did not downplay the importance of these threats, but called for “not being overly optimistic and not giving in to pessimism.” The sources noted that this amount of threats “may indicate an escalation, but without reaching the extent of a great war.”
“The doors are not shut. There are constant communications and movement away from the spotlight. In addition, Lebanon does not need new resolutions, and International Resolution 1701 must be implemented, and pressure must be exerted on Israel to implement it,” they added.
The Israeli decision regarding the school year points to negative indicators and an expanding possibility of war, and raises the question about the fate of the next academic year in Lebanon, specifically in the border areas. A large number of Lebanese students had moved to safe areas within designated schools to complete their educational curricula.
Lebanon’s minister of education in the caretaker government, Abbas al-Halabi, will hold extensive meetings on Monday and Tuesday with the country’s educational authority to discuss preparations for the next academic year, the ministry’s sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Ministry of Education statistics showed that nearly 11,000 students forcibly left their schools, while 44 educational institutions permanently closed their doors in the border villages, including 12 secondary schools.
Meanwhile, confrontations continued at a varying pace between Israel and Hezbollah, which mourned a member and announced that air defense units had fired “anti-aircraft missiles at enemy warplanes inside Lebanese airspace in the southern region, forcing them to retreat.”
On Thursday, Hezbollah said it attacked and hit a building used by Israeli soldiers in the Manara settlement in response to an attack on Kafr Hamam village on Wednesday. The group said it also targeted military buildings in Shtula and Hanita, and “espionage equipment at the Birkat Risha site ... leading to its destruction.”
The party mourned Abdullah Mohammad Fakih from Rab Al-Talatheen in South Lebanon, after the Israeli bombing targeted the town. The National News Agency reported that one person was killed and two were wounded in the attack.