German Court Imprisons Syrian Agent in Landmark Trial
A German court sentenced a former Syrian intelligence officer, Eyad al-Gharib, to four and a half years in prison for facilitating crimes against humanity, becoming the first court outside of Syria to rule on torture by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Al-Gharib allegedly delivered anti-government protesters to a detention center where they were tortured in 2011 (Washington Post)
UN Security Council Negotiations on Syria Fail
The UN Security Council failed to negotiate a joint declaration about Syria, reportedly after Russia blocked talks on the matter. The declaration was intended to revive deadlocked efforts to bring peace to Syria, where more than five hundred thousand people have died in a nearly decade-long conflict (Al Jazeera)
Car Bombings Kill Twenty in Northern Syria
At least twenty people, including several children, were killed and dozens more were injured in car bombings in parts of northern Syria controlled by Turkey, local sources said. No one has claimed responsibility for the bombings, but Turkey routinely blames fighters linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party for such attacks (Middle East Eye)
Syrian Delegations Meet in Geneva
Representatives of the Syrian government, opposition groups, and civil society gathered in Geneva for a fifth round of UN-mediated talks aimed at drafting a new constitution. Little progress has been made in the negotiations so far (Al-Monitor)
Watchdog: Israeli Strikes in Syria Killed Dozens of People
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Israeli air strikes in eastern Syria yesterday killed at least fifty-seven people. Israel has reportedly carried out four rounds of air strikes within two weeks targeting pro-Iran militias in Syria (Haaretz, Reuters)
U.S. Imposes Additional Sanctions on Syria
The United States imposed new sanctions on supporters of President Bashar al-Assad and blacklisted several businesses, as well as the Central Bank of Syria, in an effort to push Assad’s government back into UN-led negotiations on ending the country’s war (Reuters)
Suspected Russian Air Strikes Kill Dozens of Rebels in Syria
Air strikes believed to be carried out by Russia killed dozens of Turkish-backed rebels in Syria’s Idlib province, according to a rebel spokesperson. The attack could be a serious breach of Moscow’s cease-fire agreement with Ankara (Al Jazeera)
The death toll is unclear, but more than one hundred people are believed to have been killed or injured in the attack on the Faylaq al-Sham rebel group (New York Times)
In the past week, both Russia and Syria have escalated their aerial attacks in northwestern Syria (Washington Post)
U.S. Officials Held Talks in Syria to Free American Prisoners
Unnamed officials said a high-level U.S. delegation traveled to Syria in August to negotiate the release of American citizens held prisoner there, with little progress made so far. The talks focused on journalist Austin Tice and psychotherapist Majd Kamalmaz, both of whom the Syrian government has not acknowledged holding (New York Times)
U.S. Imposes More Sanctions on Syrians
The United States sanctioned six Syrian individuals and eleven entities connected with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government. The sanctions come on the third anniversary of air strikes by the Assad regime that killed more than thirty civilians (Al Jazeera)
Syria Considers Expanding Economic Ties With Russia
While meeting with Russian officials, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said he wants to deepen business ties with Russia to help offset U.S. sanctions. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said he expects an economic agreement to be finalized in December (Reuters)
UN Pauses Syria Talks Due to Coronavirus
The United Nations paused meetings of the Syrian Constitutional Committee, which aims to politically resolve Syria’s civil war, after three participants tested positive for coronavirus (Al-Monitor)
The body started its first session in nine months yesterday (Reuters)
Blackouts Across Syria After Pipeline Explodes
A natural gas pipeline exploded near Damascus, causing blackouts across Syria, state media reported. Oil Minister Ali Ghanem alleged that the explosion was a “terrorist attack.” No deaths or injuries were reported (Bloomberg)
Explosion in Syria Kills Russian General
A landmine explosion in eastern Syria killed a Russian major general and injured two other troops, according to the Russian Defense Ministry (National)
U.S. Forces, Regime Troops Clash in Syria
At least one Syrian soldier was killed and two others wounded in a clash between regime and U.S. forces in northern Syria, according to the Syrian regime and a UK-based war monitoring organization. Local media reported a U.S. soldier was also injured (CBS News)
Syrian President Condemns U.S. Sanctions
Addressing parliament, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad rebuked U.S. sanctions as an effort to “strangle the Syrian people” and pledged to crack down on corruption. Lawmakers vowed to “sacrifice” themselves for Assad after he paused his speech due to alleged low blood pressure (Agence France-Presse)
Syrian Camp for Islamic State Families Records First Coronavirus Case
A tent camp in northeastern Syria housing mostly women and children with allegiance to the Islamic State has recorded its first coronavirus case, according to humanitarian group Save the Children. The organization expects the virus to spread rapidly in the overcrowded camp (Al-Monitor)
Attack on Syrian Base Kills Fifteen
An air assault on a Syrian base used by Iran and its allies killed at least fifteen militants, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (Times of Israel)
Israel confirmed separate attacks in Syria yesterday and has been linked to previous strikes on Iranian bases in the country (Wall Street Journal)
U.S. Announces New Syria Sanctions
The United States imposed sanctions on fourteen additional entities and individuals in Syria, including influential businessman Wasim al-Qattan and President Bashar al-Assad’s teenage son. The crackdown is part of a push to cut off foreign investment to Syria, weaken Assad’s hold on power, and prevent him from rebuilding the country after nine years of war (Al-Monitor)
Russian and Turkish Soldiers Wounded in Syria’s Idlib
Russian and Turkish soldiers were wounded in Syria’s Idlib province when a joint military patrol was hit by an improvised explosive device. The soldiers were patrolling the M4 highway in the southern part of the de-escalation zone, where Russian and Turkish forces have been since March (Al Jazeera)
First Coronavirus Case Confirmed in Syria’s Idlib
The Idlib Governorate in Syria recorded its first coronavirus case, raising fears about the disease spreading in crowded camps for displaced persons (BBC)
UN Security Council Rejects Russian Plan for Syria Aid
The UN Security Council rejected a Russian proposal to limit aid to Syria from Turkey to just one border crossing after the United States urged members to vote against it. The current authorization for aid at two crossings ends tomorrow, but another council member will likely propose a six-month extension, diplomats said (Reuters)
UN Report Details Rights Abuses, War Crimes in Syria
A UN-mandated Commission of Inquiry said that Syrian civilians endured “unfathomable suffering” during a pro-government offensive launched last year. The report cited fifty-two attacks, including those targeting hospitals, schools, markets, and homes (United Nations)
The report noted that Russian airplanes carried out two of the attacks, while other attacks were launched by regime forces, pro-government forces, and militant groups (Reuters)
Additionally, Russia and China vetoed UN extension of cross-border aid to Syria from Turkey for the fifteenth time today since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011 (Al Jazeera)
U.S. Imposes New Sanctions on Syria’s Assad
On Wednesday, the U.S. State Department released thirty-nine new targets for sanctions to be imposed on Syrian individuals, including Bashar al-Assad and his wife, Asma. The new sanctions are aimed to pressure the Assad regime to agree to a political solution to the conflict, in accordance with UN Resolution 2254, and are part of the newly enforced Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act (CNN)
U.S. Sanctions on Syria Take Effect
The sanctions of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019 are set to take effect today, placing new economic and diplomatic pressure on any Syrian or non-Syrian actor aiding the government of Bashar al-Assad (Washington Post)
UN to Cut Aid to Northeastern Syria
Under pressure from Russia, UN aid agencies plan to halt funding to private humanitarian groups in northeastern Syria, according to a new report. The region is home to groups that oppose the Russia-allied Syrian government and some two million people in need of health aid (Foreign Policy)