The UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously approved a resolution supporting a Russian-Turkish peace initiative for Syria, including an ongoing ceasefire and talks next month in Kazakhstan. The resolution aims to pave the way for the new talks under the aegis of key Syria government backers Russia and Iran, and of Turkey, which backs rebel …
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December 31, 2016It is fervently to be hoped that the cease-fire will hold. This is quite the most charitable construct that can be placed upon Vladimir Putin's announcement of a “truce deal” between the Syrian regime and the opposition groups. Even the Russian President is scarcely confident about the agreement, brokered by Russia and Turkey and effective …
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December 30, 2016Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday confirmed that a "fragile" agreement was reached on a ceasefire in Syria and the start of peace talks. "This agreement we've reached is very fragile, as we all understand. They require special attention and patience, professional attitude, and constant contact with our partners," Putin said at a meeting with …
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December 29, 2016The Syrian conflict "has become a cancer on a global scale", incoming UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said, while hoping Washington and Moscow overcome their differences to help end the crisis. The war has caused "not only the suffering of the Syrian people" but also sparks "violent reactions which in some cases lead to …
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December 29, 2016At least 22 persons were killed in airstrikes in an area controlled by the Islamic State terrorist group in the Syrian province of Deir al-Zor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday. They were killed on Tuesday in the bombings in Al Hajna area, Efe news reported. According to the observatory, the number …
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December 28, 2016Syria has been undergoing a four-year battle over its largest city, Aleppo.
December 24, 2016At least 47 people were killed, including 14 minors and nine women, in Turkish air strikes against the Syrian city of al-Bab, controlled by the Islamic State terrorist organisation, media reports said. Britain-based information office Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that there are serious injuries and people trapped in the rubble and it does …
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December 23, 2016Aleppo is a synonym for hell. That succinct observation of the UN Secretary-General just about sums up the tragedy of this Syrian city, indeed the worst that the Arab region has witnessed since the Jasmine Revolution was ignited in 2011. The fact that the deal to free the remaining civilians fizzled out on Sunday is …
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December 19, 20163,500 people have left government-besieged areas in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo since the evacuation resumed.
December 19, 2016The UN Security Council on Sunday will vote on a French draft resolution to monitor the evacuation process of civilians and rebel fighters from the Syrian city of Aleppo. Diplomatic sources said that the vote was scheduled for 10 a.m. in New York, Efe news reported. The initiative required UN staff to coordinate and observe …
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December 18, 2016Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Friday for all sides to respect the ceasefire deal in Syria’s Aleppo so that the evacuation of people from the city’s devastated east could resume. “I urge all parties and the international community to abide by the ceasefire agreement and support the implementation of the evacuation process,” the …
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December 16, 2016US President-elect Donald Trump says that after taking office he will build safe zones in Syria to protect the civilian population and will get the Gulf states to pay for them. “I will get the Gulf states to give us lots of money, and we’ll build and help build safe zones in Syria so people …
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December 16, 2016The evacuation of civilians and fighters from the Syrian city of Aleppo was stalled and medical NGOs were forced to leave the area.
December 16, 2016Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos said here on Thursday that Syrian refugees could be taken back to safe areas in Syria, Austria Press Agency reported. Kammenos made the comments to the media following talks with his Austrian counterpart, Hans Peter Doskozil, Xinhua news agency reported. “We are in agreement that a solution would be to …
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December 16, 2016Syrian President Bashar al-Assad congratulated Syrians on Thursday following his government’s recapture of Aleppo, where an operation is underway to evacuate rebels and civilians. In a video published by local media, al-Assad said there would be a “before and after in Aleppo”, Xinhua news agency reported. On Thursday morning, the warring parties reached a ceasefire …
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December 15, 2016Bollywood celebrities including Priyanka Chopra, Varun Dhawan and Esha Gupta have prayed for peace and humanity to be restored in Allepo, Syria, where renewed fighting has put at risk a truce deal to evacuate people and rebel fighters. Here’s what Bollywood celebrities had to say: Priyanka Chopra: My heart cries for humanity. The feeling of …
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December 15, 2016US President Barack Obama has asked his top aides to take steps to de-escalate the violence and push for humanitarian access in Aleppo, hours after the UN said pro-government forces have killed at least 82 civilians including women and children in the besieged Syrian city. “He directed his team to take all steps, in concert …
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December 14, 2016