SYRIA UPDATE
President al-Assad receives Chairman of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission
President al-Assad stressed that since its inception, the relationship between Damascus and Tehran has been based on principles, morals, and respect for the will of the peoples to determine their fate and build their future away from any external interference, and this approach contributed to the independence of the two countries.
For his part, Falahatpisheh affirmed that the deep-rooted cultural heritage of the Syrian and the Iranian peoples forms firm grounds on which they stand, as opposed to the countries that are standing today on shaky grounds because they have adopted immoral policies that contradict international law, whether by using terrorism as an instrument to achieve their interests, or imposing sanctions on countries which disagree with them.
https://sana.sy/en/?p=155622
Over 15,000 industrial facilities in service in Aleppo
Director of Aleppo Industry Department Khalaf Shawakh said that during 2018, 129 textiles industry projects have been licensed with a cost estimated at SYP 3.687 billion, in addition to 32 food industries projects with a cost of SYP 589 million, and 39 engineering industries projects with a cost of SYP 505 million.
https://sana.sy/en/?p=155639
Russian Military Police Expanded Area Of Patrols Near Syria’s Manbij
Units of the Russian Military Police have reportedly expanded their area of patrils near the northern Syrian town of Manbij with the villages of Sayadah Kabirah and Sayadah Saghirah. This situation shows the developing security cooperation between the Syrian-Iranian-Russian alliance and the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which control the Manbij area. However, no significant progress has been achieved in this field so far.
https://southfront.org/russian-military-police-expanded-area-of-patrols-near-syrias-manbij/
Turkish Foreign Minister: Syrian Government, Its Allies Are To Blame If Idlib Becomes “Terrorist Nest”
The Syrian government and the countries that support it are responsible is to blame if Idlib becomes “terrorist nest”, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlet Cavusoglu said on January 14. The foreign minister blaimed the Syrian government and its allies for moving in terrorists from places as far as Daraa in the south.
He stressed that Turkey is doing what is required to maintain peace and prevent violations in the Idlib de-escalation zone. He even claimed that the Idlib deal reached between Turkey and Russia last September has been “successfully” implemented despite difficult conditions.
https://southfront.org/turkish-foreign-minister-syrian-government-its-allies-are-to-blame-if-idlib-becomes-terrorist-nest/
Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham Leader Declares His Support To Possible Turkish Operation Against YPG In Northeastern Syria
Already noted separately but posted for context to above article
https://southfront.org/hayat-tahrir-al-sham-leader-declares-his-support-to-possible-turkish-operation-against-ypg-in-northeastern-syria/
US Has Begun Pulling Equipment, Not Troops From Syria
“That includes planning for the moving of people and equipment, preparation of facilities to accept retrograde equipment,” the official said, noting that no troops had been withdrawn yet.
https://syrianobserver.com/EN/news/47917/us-has-begun-pulling-equipment-not-troops-from-syria.html
Syrian War Report – Jan. 14, 2019: Netanyahu Claims “Depots Full Of Iranian Weapons” Destroyed In Syria
https://southfront.org/syrian-war-report-jan-14-2019-netanyahu-claims-depots-full-of-iranian-weapons-destroyed-in-syria/
Political Leadership Of Syrian Kurds Paused Talks With Damascus Government
The political leadership of the Syrian Kurds has paused talks with the Damascus government, its official representative in Moscow, Rshad Bienaf, told the Russian state-run news agency RIA News on January 14. Bienaf claimed that the issue is the “democratic system”, which the Kurdish leadership demands. In turn, Damascus wants to restore a centralized rule of the country. The Kurdish official claimed that there was a “dialogue”, but no results were achieved because the Damascus government is not ready to change the constitution.
https://southfront.org/political-leadership-of-syrian-kurds-paused-talks-with-damascus-government/
Military Situation In Northwestern Syria On January 14, 2019 (Map Update)
https://southfront.org/military-situation-in-northwestern-syria-on-january-14-2019-map-update/