SYRIA UPDATE
President al-Assad receives President of Sudan, discusses with him developments in Syria and region
During the talks, President al-Assad and President al-Bashir affirmed that the circumstances and crises affecting several Arab countries require finding new approaches for Arab action that are based on respecting the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs, which should improve inter-Arab relations and serve the interests of the Arab people.
https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=153684
Turkey says would work with Syria's Assad if he won 'democratic election'
Asked whether Turkey would consider working with Assad, Cavusoglu said there must first be an election in Syria and “if it is a democratic and credible one, then everybody should consider that [working with Assad].”
“It has to be very credible, transparent, democratic and fair elections. At the end, Syrian people should decide who is going to rule the country after the elections,” Cavusoglu added.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/12/16/583106/Turkey-would-consider-working-with-Syrias-Assad-if-he-won-democratic-election-Cavusoglu
Car Bomb Explosion Rocks Center Of Afrin City, Casualties Reported
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. However, Syrian opposition sources are already accusing the People’s Protection Units (YPG). The Kurdish group is not known for carrying out such random attacks.
The Turkish military and its proxies imposed their control of Afrin earlier this year following a rapid attack. Most YPG fighters were forced to withdraw to few villages in the southern Afrin countryside and to the Kurdish-held areas in northeastern Syria.
The new attack comes amid high tension between Kurdish forces and Ankara, which vowed to launch an attack in northeastern Syria within a few days.
https://southfront.org/car-bomb-explosion-rocks-center-of-afrin-city-casualties-reported-photos/
Map Update: Turkish Air Force Pounds PKK Targets In Northern Iraq Amid Preprations For Attack On Kurdish Forces In Northern Syria
The Turkish military continues to pressure the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Syria and Iraq.
https://southfront.org/map-update-turkish-air-force-pounds-pkk-targets-in-northern-iraq-amid-preprations-for-attack-on-kurdish-forces-in-northern-syria/
==
Senior YPG Commander Accuses Russia Of Supporting Planned Turkish Attack On Northeastern Syria
UPDATE: Polat Can deleted his twitter account (source) after his statements had been widely circulated in the media.
Polat Can, head of the information center of the of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), said that Russia is “encouraging” and ”pushing” Turkey to launch a military operation in northeastern Syria.
“The Russians froze the campaign on Idlib in exchange for Turkey’s pledge to fight the Kurds in Manbaj and East Euphrates. The Russian did it in Afrin and they want to repeat the same scenario again,” Polat said on Twitter on December 16.
The YPG’s commander went on to accuse Russia of using the remaining ISIS and Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters to take revenge on the Kurds, create problems for the US-led coalition and distance Turkey from the West.
Polat added that Russia wants to “turn the Kurds into a common enemy of all.”
https://southfront.org/senior-ypg-commander-accuses-russia-of-supporting-planned-turkish-attack-on-northeastern-syria/
The ISIS Massacre in Sweida: A Story of Torment and Resilience for an Uninterested World
“Imagine that this were your village, or your neighborhood! Imagine that one of those were your house! Imagine that the same thing happened to you! Imagine that you lost a family member, or maybe two, or maybe more! Imagine that your mother, sister, daughter or son is still kidnapped and now in the hands of … ISIS!” — Syrian Wissam Sliman
Interesting read use link
https://www.globalresearch.ca/the-isis-massacre-in-sweida-a-story-of-torment-and-resilience-for-an-uninterested-world/5663072
17 civilians killed in US-led international coalition’s airstrikes in Deir Ezzor
17 civilians were martyred in a new massacre committed by the US-led international coalition on Hajin town in Deir Ezzor countryside under the pretext of fighting Daesh (ISIS) terrorist organization.
Civil sources told SANA that warplanes of the US-led international coalition shelled on Sunday the locals’ houses in al-Bou Khatir village to the southeast of Hajin town in Deir Ezzor southeastern countryside, claiming the lives of 17 civilians , among them women and children , and causing material damage to houses and properties.
https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=153661