Intense Russian Bombing of Northwest Syria

Smoke rises near a Turkish military checkpoint south of Idlib after Russian bombing (Idlib News)
Smoke rises near a Turkish military checkpoint south of Idlib after Russian bombing (Idlib News)
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Intense Russian Bombing of Northwest Syria

Smoke rises near a Turkish military checkpoint south of Idlib after Russian bombing (Idlib News)
Smoke rises near a Turkish military checkpoint south of Idlib after Russian bombing (Idlib News)

Russian warplanes are bombarding the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo governorates in northwestern Syria. They struck a Turkish checkpoint in Idlib at a time the Syrian and Russian armies are conducting joint patrols in northeastern Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that Russian airstrikes continued to pound de-escalation zones in southern Idlib.

On Monday morning, Russian jets staged 15 air raids targeting the Deir Sunbul area and the vicinity of al-Bara town.

In the town, located in southern Idlib, Russian planes struck the vicinity of a Turkish military point. No casualties were reported.

Other raids that targeted areas in western Aleppo injured a local and damaged civilian property.

“Russian warplanes launch air raids on a daily basis on the areas of Jabal al-Zawiya, south and west of Idlib,” said Ayham al-Hassan, who is a local NGO activist.

Hassan added that Syrian regime forces, backed by ally militias, also have struck the same areas.

According to the activist, Russian and Iranian reconnaissance drones were also spotted flying over opposition-held areas in Idlib’s southern countryside.

Since the beginning of June, about 520 pro-regime attacks targeted the city of Jericho and the villages of Al-Bara, Ahsem, Marian, Kansafra, Falifel, Efes, Deir Sunbul, Al-Fatirah, Al-Mozara and Ain Larouz.

All the areas targeted fall within the de-escalation zone south of Idlib.

Hassan reported that the attacks killed more than 142 civilians, including more than 70 children and women. They also destroyed homes and local properties.

The activist pointed out that Syrian opposition factions targeted, with heavy artillery, a military position of the regime forces in the village of Kafr Batakh.
The attack came in response to the bombing of civilian areas.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had demanded working towards a ceasefire in Idlib.

Idlib is the only Syrian governorate that is still largely controlled by militant groups. A de-escalation zone was set up in Idlib in 2017, where militants reluctant to lay down their arms moved from the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta and the country’s south. The Turkish army has observation points in Idlib.



Lebanese Govt. to Seek New IMF Program, Policy Statement Says

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas//File Photo
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas//File Photo
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Lebanese Govt. to Seek New IMF Program, Policy Statement Says

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas//File Photo
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas//File Photo

Lebanon's new government will negotiate with the International Monetary Fund for a new program and will work to deal with the country's financial default and public debt, according to a policy statement approved by the cabinet late on Monday.

The statement, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters, said the government would work for an economical revival that could only be achieved through restructuring the banking sector.

Lebanon has been in deep economic crisis since 2019, when its financial system collapsed under the weight of massive state debts, prompting a sovereign default in 2020 and freezing ordinary depositors out of their savings in the banking system.

Beirut reached a draft funding deal with IMF in 2022 - contingent on reforms that authorities failed to deliver.

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, who took office as part of a new government agreed earlier this month, told Reuters an IMF mission is expected to visit Lebanon in March.

Jaber said he had met the IMF's resident representative in Lebanon, Frederico Lima, and confirmed that the government plans to move ahead with reforms.

Lebanon's political landscape has been turned on its head since the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah, long a dominant player in Lebanese politics, was badly pummelled in last year's war with Israel.

Reflecting the shift in the power balance, the government policy statement did not include language used in previous years that was seen to legitimize a role for Hezbollah in defending Lebanon, saying instead "we want a state that has the decision of war and peace".

The statement said it was required to adopt a national security strategy and a foreign policy that works to 'neutralize' Lebanon from conflicts.

In the field of energy, the Lebanese government will seek to resume work in oil and gas exploration, according to the cabinet statement. It said the government planned to establish a Ministry of Technology and Artificial Intelligence.

With a new administration in neighboring Syria, the statement said the Lebanese government believed it has an opportunity to start a serious dialogue aimed at controlling and demarcating the borders and working to resolve the issue of displaced Syrians in Lebanon.