Syria opposed the new safe zone

The Syrian authorities loudly opposed the agreement between the US and Turkey on the creation of the so-called ‘safe zone’ in north-east of the country. “Syria absolutely rejects the agreement, announced by the US and Turkey, on the creation of the so-called ‘safe zone’. The agreement is a gross violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, as well as the principles of the international law, and the UN Charter» — the SANA agency quoted the Syrian authorities. Recently it became known that Turkey and the US have reached an agreement on the establishment of a coordination center for the joint operations, and on the planned security zone in the northern Syria.

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Ankara will conduct a military operation against the Kurdish opposition forces in Syria, on the eastern bank of the Euphrates — the Interfax reports while citing the Anadolu agency. According to the Anadolu — the US and Russia are informed about these plans. Earlier, the Turkish troops have already entered the cities of Afrin, Jerabulus and Al-Bab in northern Syria. Soon they will enter the territory east of Euphrates, Erdogan explained. He reminded that Turkey had previously conducted anti-terrorist operations in Syria. In August of 2016 in Aleppo, and in January of 2018, in the Afrin region. Currently, the areas east of the Euphrates River are being controlled by the Kurdish «People’s Self-Defense Forces» and the militants of the «Kurdistan Workers Party.» Both groups are supported by the US. Ankara considers those organizations to be terrorist.

The DPRK launched several missiles once again — the Yonhap news agency reported with a reference to the South Korean military command. According to their data, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of ​​Japan. The missiles were similar to the ballistic missiles, tested previously by the DPRK on 25th of July. The missiles were launched at 5:24 a.m. and 5:36 a.m., from the North Korean southwestern district of Quil, in the southern province of Hwanhe. Both missiles flew for about 450 kilometers, at an altitude of about 37 kilometers — the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea specified. This was the fourth case of missile tests, conducted by the DPRK in less than 2 weeks.

The US treasury department announced that the new anti-Russian sanctions, made due to the poisoning of the former GRU officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia in the British town of Salisbury, will enter into force on 26th of August, after a period of notice to the Congress. This was reported on the department’s website. Earlier, the US State Department announced the introduction of a second set of anti-Russian sanctions made due to the ‘Skripals case’. The US Treasury department also explained that these sanctions won’t apply to the state-owned companies. They concern only the ministries, agencies, and the sovereign fund.