Russian Soldier Killed in 'Mysterious Accident' in Syria's Tartous

Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighters gather as a military vehicle advances near the border town of Tal Abyad, Syria  (File photo: Reuters)
Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighters gather as a military vehicle advances near the border town of Tal Abyad, Syria (File photo: Reuters)
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Russian Soldier Killed in 'Mysterious Accident' in Syria's Tartous

Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighters gather as a military vehicle advances near the border town of Tal Abyad, Syria  (File photo: Reuters)
Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighters gather as a military vehicle advances near the border town of Tal Abyad, Syria (File photo: Reuters)

Three people, including one Russian soldier, were killed Wednesday in a “mysterious accident” in Tartous, western Syria.

Tartous police chief announced that three people, a Russian soldier and two Syrian civilians, were killed when a Russian military vehicle collided with a minibus on al-Qadmous-Banias road in Tartous countryside.

In addition, the accident also resulted in the injury of seven other persons, including two Russians.

A source in Damascus denied targeting the Russian military vehicle with an explosive device, explaining that the incident was a normal traffic accident. However, other sources said that what happened in Tartous was an ISIS operation against Russian army patrol aiming to assassinate a high-ranking Russian officer.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said Turkey wants to begin joint patrols with Russia along the M-4 road on Aleppo-Lattakia highway as of March 15.

“The negotiations [with Russia] continue in a positive and constructive way,” said Akar in Ankara.

Akar stressed that talks with the Russian military delegation about the technicalities of the truce were progressing in a constructive and positive manner, pointing out that the current situation in Idlib was calm after the signing of the ceasefire agreement between Ankara and Moscow last week.

The Minister indicated that Turkey will remain in Idlib, expressing his hope to achieve permanent ceasefire, stability, and security to ensure the voluntary return of Syrian civilians to their homes.

Russian and Turkish military delegations began talks in Ankara on Tuesday at the Ministry of Defense headquarters to agree on the details of the ceasefire in Idlib that was reached during the meeting between Presidents of Russia President Vladimir Putin and Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Moscow last Thursday.

Putin and Erdogan agreed to a ceasefire in Syria to end civilian suffering but did not elaborate on the details. The two presidents also said they will set up a 12-kilometer wide security corridor along the M-4 highway. It will be jointly patrolled by Russian and Turkish troops, starting March 15.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu phoned Akar Tuesday and discussed the situation in Idlib.

In a statement, the Turkish defense ministry said that Akar exchanged views with Shoigu on making the ceasefire permanent in Idlib. He also emphasized determination to continue efforts and fulfill commitments to achieve a lasting ceasefire.

“Akar and Shoigu exchanged views on the ceasefire in Idlib and on the issues of the return of more than one million refugees. The sides reiterated their commitment to the ceasefire, their liabilities under the agreement [on Idlib], and efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region,” the ministry said.



Sudan’s Ruling Council Reshuffles Cabinet amid Brutal Conflict

A damaged building in Omdurman, Sudan, 01 November 2024 (issued 04 November 2024). (EPA)
A damaged building in Omdurman, Sudan, 01 November 2024 (issued 04 November 2024). (EPA)
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Sudan’s Ruling Council Reshuffles Cabinet amid Brutal Conflict

A damaged building in Omdurman, Sudan, 01 November 2024 (issued 04 November 2024). (EPA)
A damaged building in Omdurman, Sudan, 01 November 2024 (issued 04 November 2024). (EPA)

Sudan's army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, at war with paramilitaries, has announced a cabinet reshuffle that replaces four ministers including those for foreign affairs and the media.

The late Sunday announcement comes with the northeast African country gripped by the world's worst displacement crisis, threatened by famine and desperate for aid, according to the UN.

In a post on its official Facebook page, Sudan's ruling sovereignty council said Burhan had approved replacement of the ministers of foreign affairs, the media, religious affairs and trade.

The civil war that began in April 2023 pits Burhan's military against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries under the command of his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

Since then, the army-aligned Sudanese government has been operating from the eastern city of Port Sudan, which has largely remained shielded from the violence.

But the Sudanese state "is completely absent from the scene" in all sectors, economist Haitham Fathy told AFP earlier this year.

The council did not disclose reasons behind the reshuffle but it coincides with rising violence in al-Gezira, south of the capital Khartoum, and North Darfur in Sudan's far west bordering Chad.

On Friday the spokesman for United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said he condemned attacks by the RSF on Gezira, after the United States made a similar call over the violence against civilians.

Among the key government changes, Ambassador Ali Youssef al-Sharif, a retired diplomat who previously served as Sudan's ambassador to China and South Africa, was appointed foreign minister.

He replaces Hussein Awad Ali who had held the role for seven months.

Journalist and TV presenter Khalid Ali Aleisir, based in London, was named minister of culture and media.

The reshuffle also saw Omar Banfir assigned to the trade ministry and Omar Bakhit appointed to the ministry of religious affairs.

Over the past two weeks, the RSF increased attacks on civilians in Gezira following the army's announcement that an RSF commander had defected.

According to an AFP tally based on medical and activist sources, at least 200 people were killed in Gezira last month alone. The UN reports that the violence has forced around 120,000 people from their homes.

In total, Sudan hosts more than 11 million displaced people, while another 3.1 million are now sheltering beyond its borders, according to the International Organization for Migration.