India demands to stop the shelling || Weekly News, 9th of March, 2019

The US military practically sabotaged the humanitarian operation, aimed to evacuate the refugees from the Rukban camp by the Syrian authorities by not giving the security guarantees to the bus columns heading in the area, controlled by the US — says the emergency joint statement made by the inter-agency coordination HQs of Russia and Syria — RIA NEWS reports. The US are trying to shift the responsibility for what is happening by misinforming the world community with allegations that the conditions for the return of refugees are unfit by the UN standards. The statement underlined that while the residents of the camp “are being held by the US-controlled gangs as hostages — there won’t be any humanitarian convoys sent to the camp”. Russia and Syria called on the world community, the United Nations, and the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent to «stop being silent and state their position. Take steps rather than limit themselves to statements of concern about the fate of the Syrian refugees»

The French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with an initiative to reform the EU law and political institutions. In particular, he proposed to make a European Security Council. The UK should be in that Council, according to his opinion. The Security Council will “prepare collective decisions of the EU in the defense matters”. The French president believes that the Council’s activities should be based on the “defense and security treaty” which defines the responsibilities of EU countries, based on their relations with the NATO — TASS reports with a reference to the Agence France-Presse. According to Macron — the commitments will be based on the increased military budget. The treaty will also include mutual assistance in defense in case of an invasion.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that he won’t cancel the purchase of Russian S-400 AA missile systems, and he considers the issue to be closed. “The talk about S-400 is over. No way we will give up on that deal. We have an agreement with Russia. Perhaps, there will be even a joint production» — TASS quotes Erdogan -«Maybe after the S-400s — we will also consider an option of S-500s» — the Turkish president added. If Ankara won’t refuse to acquire the Russian AA missile systems — the United States intend to reconsider the agreements on Turkish participation in the F-35 program. The US also threaten to impose sanctions on Turkey.

Syrian army launched an intense rocket and artillery bombardment on the terrorist groups in the north of Hama province, in response to a mortar shelling of the city of Jurin by the terrorists. According to the SANA agency — Syrian troops attacked the bases of the terrorist groups “Jabhat al-Nusra” and “Kataib al-Izza” in the area of Qalaat al-Madik, and in the Sahl al-Gab valley. From there, the terrorists constantly sneak into the province of Hama, and attack the positions of the government forces, TASS reports. As a result of the attack — the Syrian army destroyed the fortifications made by the terrorists, their command posts, and weapons storages. During the operation, two field commanders — Majid al-Sayyid and Abdel Hamid Sanjavi, and also a group of mercenaries — were eliminated.