SYRIA UPDATE
11th round of Astana meeting on settling crisis in Syria kicks off
In statements to journalists, head of the Russian delegation, Russian President’s Special Envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev stressed that participants in the current round of Astana meeting will discuss a number of issues including the situation in Idleb and the return of the displaced Syrians to their homeland, in addition to combating terrorism and the situation related to the committee which will discuss the current constitution.
https://sana.sy/en/?p=152230
Putin, Erdogan discuss situation in Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed in a phone conversation with Turkish President RecepTayyip Erdogan the situation in Syria.
The Kremlin said in a statement on Wednesday that “It has been agreed to beef up joint efforts aimed at the implementation of a memorandum on stabilizing the situation in Idlib, signed in Sochi on September 17, including the fight against terror groups.”
https://sana.sy/en/?p=152256
Lavrov calls on international community to accelerate finding political solution to crisis in Syria
“We informed our partners in Switzerland on the Russian efforts with other guarantor states (Iran and Turkey) in the framework of Astana process with the aim of finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria through developing dialogue among various Syrian parties,” said Lavrov.
Lavrov indicated that “a new round of Astana talks began today and it will last for two days”, hoping that this round will achieve further advance in terms of the political settlement in Syria.
Lavrov called on the international community to provide further support for accelerating the return of the displaced Syrians to their home country following the necessary conditions adopted by the Syrian government to facilitate their return.
https://sana.sy/en/?p=152267
YPG Cells Destroy Several Military Vehicles In Afrin With IEDs And ATGMs
(YPG) announced that its cells destroyed a vehicle of the Turkish-backed Hamza Division on a road between the city of Afrin and the town of Basuta with an Improvised explosive device (IED). As a result of the attack, which took place on November 26, four militants were killed and two others were injured.
Hours after the first attack, members of the YPG destroyed a vehicle of the Levant Front, which is also backed by Turkey, in the village of Gubele near Afrin with an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). The attack killed a militant who was standing next to the targeted vehicle.
https://southfront.org/ypg-cells-destroy-several-military-vehicles-in-afrin-with-ieds-and-atgms-videos/
Syrian Army Thwarts Attack, Kills Several Al-Qaeda Militants In Northern Lattakia
On November 27, the “Wa Harid al-Muminin” operations room said that its fighters had stormed the “biggest operations room” of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the northern Lattakia countryside. According to the operations room’s claims, “many” Syrian soldiers and officers were killed in the operation.
Contrary to these claims, the Ministry of Defense of Syria announced that the army had foiled the attack and killed five militants, some of whom were wearing suicide belts. The ministry released photos of the dead militants confirming its claims.
In response to this violation of the Russian-Turkish deconfliction agreement, the SAA artillery pounded the militants’’ positions in the towns of Kabani and Bidama in the northern Lattakia countryside on November 28. Syrian pro-government sources described the shelling as “intense.”
https://southfront.org/syrian-army-thwarts-attack-kills-several-al-qaeda-militants-in-northern-lattakia-photos/
Russian MoD: Daesh Plans to Use Chemical Weapons Against US-Backed Kurdish Units
'The manufactured chemical munitions are intended for firing on positions of the Kurdish SDF, which are conducting, with the support of the United States, military operations against terrorists in the area of the settlement of Hajin in Deir ez-Zor province’, the statement read.
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201811281070214881-daesh-deir-ez-zor-mortars-toxic-agents/
US Military Says It Can’t Take Out Remaining ISIS Fighters Because They’re Hiding In Tunnels
When asked about why the numbers had not changed, Ryan told Task & Purpose in an email there could be a variety of factors: “In October, Gen. Dunford stated new followers were arriving, mostly over the Turkish border, at a rate of about 100 a month.”
“The early estimates from December probably did not take into account the elaborate industrial strength tunnels where many ISIS were hiding in the MERV and the size of the area. The 3,000 may have been conservative and currently, we believe it is around 1,500-2,000, and more difficult to reinforce now with stricter border security throughout the region.”
https://taskandpurpose.com/syria-isis-avoids-annhilation/