Russia Raids Syrian Desert Area to Secure Homs,Deir Ezzor Road

Sukhoi T-50 fighter climbing after takeoff (File photo: Reuters)
Sukhoi T-50 fighter climbing after takeoff (File photo: Reuters)
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Russia Raids Syrian Desert Area to Secure Homs,Deir Ezzor Road

Sukhoi T-50 fighter climbing after takeoff (File photo: Reuters)
Sukhoi T-50 fighter climbing after takeoff (File photo: Reuters)

Russian warplanes launched about a hundred raids on Aleppo, Hama, and Raqqa triangle governorates after four Syrian soldiers were killed in an ISIS ambush.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported the raids, saying Russian fighter jets flew over the Syrian desert and executed intensive airstrikes on ISIS positions in the Aleppo-Raqqah-Hama triangle and Deir Ezzor-Homs road.

The Observatory documented over 95 Russian airstrikes in 24 hours, which started after the ISIS attack in the desert that killed four members of regime forces, including a first lieutenant, and injured ten others.

SOHR indicated that the large-scale security campaign led by Russia and its affiliated forces continued in the Syrian desert to secure Deir Ezzor-Homs road, in the wake of ISIS increased operations.

Joint forces of the National Defense Forces, the Palestinian al-Quds Corps, and the 5th Corps combed the area from Kabajeb and al-Shawla in the west of Der Ezzor to al-Sukhnah.

State agency Sana announced that three soldiers were killed, and ten others were injured after terrorist groups targeted the bus carrying them.

The bus was “on Deir Ezzor–Palmyra road, in al-Malha –al-Shola area, and came under fire from the south side of the road by a terrorist group coming from al-Tanf area, claiming the lives of three soldiers and injuring ten others.”

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement published by its Amaq agency.

The agency quoted military sources as saying that ISIS members attacked a convoy of vehicles for the Syrian army, including buses carrying soldiers and several vehicles, some of which were equipped with heavy machine guns.

The Observatory confirmed in a statement that ISIS was responsible for the attack.

In 2014, ISIS controlled large areas of Syria and Iraq, before it was defeated in the two countries, however, sleeper cells continue to launch attacks.

In the previous months, the organization stepped up attacks against the Syrian regime forces, especially in the east of the country at the border with Iraq.

Syria has been witnessing a conflict since 2011, which killed more than 380,000 people and caused massive damage to the infrastructure. It led to the displacement of millions of people inside and outside the country.



Erdogan Warns Israel Over Repercussions of Attacks on Syria

A handout photo made available by the Turkish Presidential Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shaking hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani (R) during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, 15 January 2025. EPA/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
A handout photo made available by the Turkish Presidential Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shaking hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani (R) during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, 15 January 2025. EPA/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
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Erdogan Warns Israel Over Repercussions of Attacks on Syria

A handout photo made available by the Turkish Presidential Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shaking hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani (R) during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, 15 January 2025. EPA/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES
A handout photo made available by the Turkish Presidential Press Office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) shaking hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani (R) during their meeting in Ankara, Turkey, 15 January 2025. EPA/TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan preempted discussions with a Syrian government delegation in Ankara by announcing that the talks would focus on supporting Syria and reconstruction efforts.

Addressing parliament on Wednesday, Erdogan stated: “Israel must immediately cease its hostilities on Syrian territory; otherwise, the consequences will negatively affect everyone.”

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted Turkish-Syrian talks on Wednesday under the 3+3 format, involving Foreign Ministers Hakan Fidan and Asaad Al-Shibani, Defense Ministers Yasar Guler and Marhaf Abu Qasra, and intelligence chiefs Ibrahim Kalin and Anas Khattab.

According to sources in Türkiye, the discussions addressed developments in Syria, particularly the status of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the largest faction within the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The talks also covered the ongoing clashes between the SDF and the Türkiye-backed Syrian National Army factions in eastern Aleppo. Ankara aims to resolve the issue by disarming the YPG, expelling foreign fighters from Syria, and integrating Syrian fighters into a unified Syrian army.

Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the talks also explored cooperation in security, counterterrorism, energy, reconstruction, and development.

Additionally, the agenda included the “voluntary and safe return” of Syrian refugees and efforts to lift sanctions imposed on Damascus.

The sources noted that Türkiye would reiterate its support for the Syrian administration in various areas to ensure a successful transitional phase and achieve security and stability in Syria.

In a speech to the parliamentary group of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Wednesday, Erdogan declared: “We will not allow any form of chaos in Syria, nor will we permit seeds of discord to be sown between us and the Syrian people.” He also warned Israel against continuing its hostilities on Syrian territory.

“Everyone must withdraw their hands from the region. Together with our Syrian brothers, we are capable of crushing ISIS, the YPG, and all terrorist organizations in a short time,” Erdogan stated.

He described the YPG as the “biggest problem in Syria now, after the removal of former President Bashar al-Assad,” and warned that if the YPG fighters do not disarm, they “will not escape their inevitable fate.”

He also emphasized that Türkiye is committed to addressing the concerns of Syrian Kurds and guarantees their security.

Meanwhile, five SDF fighters were killed in drone strikes and artillery shelling by Türkiye on the Seri Tel axis near the Tishrin Dam in eastern Aleppo. The number of casualties among Turkish-backed factions rose to 13 over two days amid ongoing clashes between the two sides.

The fighting, now in its second month, has yet to alter territorial control. Türkiye-backed factions have taken over Tell Rifaat and Manbij but are facing stiff resistance from the SDF and its affiliated Manbij Military Council forces in attempts to breach the strategic Tishrin Dam axis.

Simultaneously, the US-led international coalition against ISIS conducted night drills with the SDF on Tuesday-Wednesday in the Qasrak base in western Al-Hasakah countryside. The exercises involved live ammunition and artillery shells to enhance coordination and combat readiness against potential threats in the region.