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Russia Strikes ISIS Positions in Eastern Syria

A picture taken during a press tour provided by the Russian armed forces shows Russian soldiers standing guard in a central street in Syria's eastern city of Deir Ezzor, as locals pass by, on Sept. 15, 2017. Photo by DOMINIQUE DERDA/AFP
A picture taken during a press tour provided by the Russian armed forces shows Russian soldiers standing guard in a central street in Syria's eastern city of Deir Ezzor, as locals pass by, on Sept. 15, 2017. Photo by DOMINIQUE DERDA/AFP
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Russia Strikes ISIS Positions in Eastern Syria

A picture taken during a press tour provided by the Russian armed forces shows Russian soldiers standing guard in a central street in Syria's eastern city of Deir Ezzor, as locals pass by, on Sept. 15, 2017. Photo by DOMINIQUE DERDA/AFP
A picture taken during a press tour provided by the Russian armed forces shows Russian soldiers standing guard in a central street in Syria's eastern city of Deir Ezzor, as locals pass by, on Sept. 15, 2017. Photo by DOMINIQUE DERDA/AFP

Hours after ISIS announced its responsibility for killing a Russian major general in Syria’s Deir Ezzor, a squadron of Russian warplanes attacked the terrorist group’s positions in the Syrian Desert.

The groups' Amaq News Agency said that a Russian patrol passed over a minefield planted by the militias in the city of Sukhnah, which lead to the death of one major general, while two servicemen were wounded.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that a Russian major general was killed in eastern Syria’s Deir Ezzor on Tuesday after a convoy hit an IED.

The IED attack reportedly took place near the At-Taim oil field, about 15km outside the city of Deir Ezzor.

The Ministry said that as a result of the explosion, three Russian servicemen were injured.

“During evacuation and while receiving medical assistant, a senior Russian military advisor with the rank of major-general died from the serious injuries sustained,” it wrote in a statement.

For its part, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a squadron of seven Russian jets flying over the Syrian Desert in Homs and Al-Suwaidaa executed several airstrikes, targeting ISIS positions.

Also, Observatory activists documented the killing of three regime soldiers and the injury of three others in an IED explosion in Sadd Al-Zalaf area in Al-Suwaidaa desert.

It said that since March 24, 2019, SOHR has documented the killing of at least 658 regime soldiers and loyalists of Syrian and non-Syrian nationalities, including at least two Russians, and 140 Iranian-backed militiamen of non-Syrian nationalities. All were killed in attacks, bombings and ambushes by ISIS west of Euphrates in the deserts of Deir Ezzor, Homs, and Al-Suwaidaa.

Meanwhile, the war-monitor quoted sources as saying that the large-scale campaign by regime’s intelligence service is still underway, targeting regime officers and soldiers, as well as employees and other individuals working in businesses and associations belonging to Rami Makhlouf, the cousin of Syrian regime president Bashar Assad.

SOHR activists have confirmed that 39 regime officers and soldiers were arrested in the past few days and weeks, while 15 others who had been arrested previously were released. The regime’s intelligence service also arrested 22 former fighters in “Al-Bostan Association”.

It said that in the past months, Syrian Intelligence service have arrested nearly 200 regime officers, soldiers and ex-fighters in Makhlouf’s “military wing.”

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Diplomatic Source: Germany Not Asked to Join Lebanon-Israel Monitoring Team

The German warship participating in UNIFIL fired missiles during exercises near Crete last month (dpa file photo)
The German warship participating in UNIFIL fired missiles during exercises near Crete last month (dpa file photo)
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Diplomatic Source: Germany Not Asked to Join Lebanon-Israel Monitoring Team

The German warship participating in UNIFIL fired missiles during exercises near Crete last month (dpa file photo)
The German warship participating in UNIFIL fired missiles during exercises near Crete last month (dpa file photo)

A Western diplomatic source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Germany has not been asked to join a proposed committee to monitor the implementation of UN Resolution 1701 if a ceasefire is reached between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel.

This clarification removes a potential obstacle to the US-brokered proposal, which Washington discussed with Lebanese officials after receiving their feedback.

The proposal suggests replacing the current monitoring mechanism—a military committee led by UNIFIL and involving Lebanese and Israeli army representatives—with a five-member committee including the US, France, Britain, Germany, and an Arab state.

Hezbollah opposes the inclusion of Germany and Britain.

The source confirmed that the nature of the proposed committee—whether military or civilian—has not been decided and depends on ongoing negotiations.

They also noted that Germany has no direct contact with Hezbollah, which it considers a terrorist organization.

Lebanese negotiators proposed expanding the existing tripartite committee to include the US and France, inspired by the April 1996 Understanding.

While Hezbollah objects to Britain and Germany, it appears to accept US involvement, likely due to Washington's influence over Israel and its mediating role in the talks.

Four European countries play key roles in UNIFIL operations in Lebanon. Germany leads the naval task force, Spain oversees the eastern sector, Italy manages the western sector, and France handles patrols in the operational area.

Since 2006, Germany has led UNIFIL’s Maritime Task Force, tasked with protecting Lebanon’s waters, preventing arms smuggling, and training the Lebanese Navy. It often heads the force, which includes countries like Türkiye and Greece, thanks to its expertise and resources.