Breaking News, February 14, 2018

Ukrainian troops violated the ceasefire agreement seven times in the DPR for the past day, firing 92 shells across the territory of the Republic. Mortars, weaponry of the IFV, various types of grenade launchers and small arms were used in the shelling. The western part of Donetsk, a small village ‘Spartak’ to the north of DPR’s capital, the town of Dokuchaevsk and a small settlement ‘Zaitsevo’ in the suburb area of Gorlovka were under attack. Information about the victims and the destruction is being specified.

During the ongoing large-scale antiterrorist operation in the Sinai Peninsula, the Egyptian army liquidated 15 militants, 153 people were detained on the suspicion of terrorism and complicity with the extremists, among them were some foreigners. The beginning of the anti-terrorist operation was announced by the Egyptian Armed Forces during the last Friday. Over the past days, the army has liquidated about 40 terrorists.

Turkish army, together with Syrian opposition forces, continues the military operation in the north-west of Syria, advancing deep into Kurdish territory in the Afrin region. The pro-Turkish forces made significant progress in the south-west of the area, capturing the key village of Archala, which is located on the western approaches to the strategic city of Jandaris. They also occupied the villages of Omar Simo, Sarandjik and Sheikh Kurus to the southeast of the previously taken town of Bulbul. At the moment, Turkey controls about 10% of the territory of the Afrin region. Local sources say that Ankara does not establish direct control over the captured areas, but instead transfers them to the hands of Syrian opposition groups.

According to a military-diplomatic source of the TASS agency, Russia and Turkey, after completing the delivery of the first full set of anti-aircraft missile systems S-400 Triumph in May-June 2020, intend to sign a contract for the delivery of the second set in 2020. According to sources, the second delivery will be similar to the first contract. In addition, according to the new agreement, Turkey itself will be able to manufacture certain components of the S-400, «not of critical importance,» under a Russian license.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that since the beginning of the Operation »Olive Branch» in the north-west of Syria, the United States have only increased the volume of small arms supplied to the Kurds. According to him, Washington justifies these actions with the need to help their allied forces in their fight against ISIS. However, after the elimination of the ISIS threat in Syria, Washington’s desire for further cooperation with the terrorists is puzzling.

The secretary of State Rex Tillerson, after negotiations in Amman with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi, said that the confrontation between Israel and Iran in Syria destabilizes the security situation in the Middle East region, and this causes concern in Washington. He once again stressed that Iran is obliged to pull back its military forces from Syria and «give a way to a political decision.»