Syria. A shelling from Turkey

1 Syria — Turkey

The Syrian newspaper «Al Watan» reported that on Saturday the Turkish artillery fired at the border villages near the city of Tell Abyad, in the north of the Raqqa province. The shelling damaged the civilian houses in the villages of Kazaali, Krunful, and Bir-Arab. No information about the victims was reported. The ‘Al Watan’ reported that earlier some clashes took place between the Turkish troops and the Syrian armed opposition, on one side, and the Kurdish troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces coalition, near the city of Tell Abyad. It was reported that a shoot-out between the Turkish troops and the Syrian Democratic Forces took place in the north of the Hasakah province. As a result, the civilians from the villages of Derbasia and Amuda moved to the city of Qamishli. The ‘Al Watan’ reported that on Saturday, the pro-Turkish militants took hostage 6 residents of the village of Abu Rasein. They were taken away in an unknown direction.

2 Syria — Russia

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in the Syrian capital, Damascus. His plane landed at the Damascus International Airport. It was reported that the Russian Foreign Minister met with the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad. There was also a meeting between Sergei Lavrov and the Syrian Foreign Minister, Walid Muallem. The meeting was held without the reporters. It was the first visit of Sergey Lavrov to Syria since February of 2012. Earlier the Syrian mass media reported that a delegation from the Russian government, headed by the Deputy Prime-Minister Yuri Borisov, had arrived in Damascus. The delegation also included the Russian presidential special envoy for Africa and the Middle East, as well as the Russian deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov.

3 Syria — Russia

During a press conference after his visit to Damascus, the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, stated that the terrorists that still remain in Syria are being destroyed, and they all will be wiped out. «The main feature of the current stage is the fact that Syria used help, including the help from Russia, to withstand the fight against the international terrorism and the forces that tried to destroy the Syrian statehood. The last terrorists, still remaining on the Syrian territory, are being destroyed, and they will be completely wiped out» — Sergey Lavrov concluded. During a meeting with the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, the parties stated that «a relative calm has been established in Syria, and we need to work to fortify this achievement».

4 Syria — Russia — Turkey

During a press conference after his visit to Damascus, the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, stated that Moscow believes that some work should be done together with Ankara in order to draw the line between the terrorists and the opposition in the Idlib DMZ. «The most important area of ​​application of the efforts of Russia and Turkey is the Idlib DMZ. There are extremely specific agreements and distribution of the responsibilities that provide the delimitation of the moderate opposition from the terrorists. And also — the liberation of the M-4 highway, and the creation of a safety corridor at that route. All of this is being carried out slowly but surely. There is a reason to believe that we will complete this work» — Sergei Lavrov concluded.

5 Syria

The Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Emigrants Affairs, as well as the Syrian Deputy Prime Minister, Walid Muallem, stated during a joint press conference made after the talks with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Yuri Borisov, that Russia and Syria, during the negotiations in Damascus, agreed to continue the implementation of economic projects. Walid Muallem underlined that the negotiations with the Russian delegation were constructive. Yuri Borisov stated that in December, Russia and Syria can sign a new version of the agreement on the trade, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation.

6 Iraq

The news website ‘Shafaq News’ reported while citing their sources in the Iraqi security forces that the Baghdad International Airport came under a rocket fire on Sunday evening. It was reported that 3 rockets were fired at the airport from the Abu Ghraib district. One of the rockets fell in a parking lot in the civilian area of the airport. 4 cars were damaged. There was no information about the victims. It was noted that the possible target of the attack was a military airfield located on the territory of the airport, in which some American and Iraqi military personnel are being stationed. Constantine Reztsov, specially for ANNA NEWS.