Rocket attack on Damascus

1 Syria

The ’SANA’ news agency reported that the Syrian air defenses have repelled several Israeli missile attacks on the Damascus area. The attack came from Golan Heights and from the Galilee. It was noted that the Syrian air defenses managed to shoot down most of the incoming missiles. There is no information about the victims and the destruction.

2 Syria

The deputy head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Warring Parties in Syria, Rear-Admiral Vyacheslav Sytnik, stated during a briefing that the terrorists from the illegal groups are preparing a provocation in order to accuse the Syrian troops of attacking the settlements in the Idlib DMZ. It was reported that a terrorist activity of the ’Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’ group was spotted near the village of Foa’a, in the province of Idlib. A group of activists of the pseudo-humanitarian organization «White Helmets» have also arrived in there with professional video equipment. Vyacheslav Sytnik underlined that the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Warring Parties in Syria calls on the commanders of the illegal groups to abandon their provocations, and take the path of a peaceful settlement of the situation in the areas under their control.

3 Syria

The ’Al Hadath’ TV reported that the US-led international anti-terrorist coalition started to gear up a new military base in north of Syria. It was reported that the base will be located near the borders of Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. The construction of the base takes place near the village of Ain-Davar, in the province of Hasakah. Earlier, 50 coalition trucks were sent to the area. The convoy entered the province of Hasakah from the Iraqi territory. There are about 8 US bases in north-east of Syria. The largest of them are located near the oil-bearing regions in Rumeilan and Al-Shaddadi.

4 Libya

The ’Al Arabiya’ TV reported while citing their sources that on Sunday, the head of the Libyan National Accord Government, Faiz Sarraj, left Libya. The ’Al Marsad’ news website reported that he has assigned the leadership over the Presidential Council to the Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmed Maityg. The ’Al Marsad’ mentioned a document, stating that Faiz Sarraj instructed Ahmed Maityg to carry out the tasks and duties of the head of the Presidential Council of Libya from 14th of February, 2021, until his return from the trip. A number of Libyan political analysts believe that Faiz Sarraj will no longer return to the country, since earlier, during his trips, he did not instruct anyone to replace him.

5 Russia — the EU

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated after talks with the Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto that Russia is ready to discuss with the EU all problems that have accumulated in relations. Sergei Lavrov stressed that the framework of relations was deliberately destroyed at the initiative of Brussels. He added that Russia will be ready to restore relations with the EU if Brussels decides that relations need to be restored, and reverses actions to break them.

6 Russia

The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov, stated that Moscow had discussed with Washington and Beijing the Chinese initiative to hold a meeting to bring the USA back to the nuclear deal with Iran. Moscow can take part in the meeting as well. Sergei Ryabkov reminded that according to a new Iranian law, on 21st of February Iran stops their implementation of an additional protocol with the IAEA, if the USA won’t lift the sanctions. «We call on the USA to demonstrate their political will, and send a signal to Iran and other members of the international community about the readiness of the USA to return to the treaty. In order to do so, it would be important to lift all the sanctions, which were imposed due to the policy of so-called ’maximum pressure on Iran’ during Trump’s administration» — the ’TASS’ news agency quotes Ryabkov. He noted that the meeting proposed by Beijing on the return of the USA to the atomic deal can be organized if all parties agree on it. Constantine Reztsov, specially for the ’ANNA NEWS’.