Despite the ceasefire, the Syrian government and Russia have bombed an important medical centre (Photo source AFP) By Harun al-Aswad Pro-Syrian government forces destroyed the al-Ikhlas hospital in Syria’s rebel-held Idlib province, part of a major military escalation by Damascus and its ally Russia in the country’s northwest. "The hospital, which serves 12 villages with a … Continue reading Assad’s forces destroy hospital as they step up attacks on Idlib
Military commander in Idlib and others living nearby describe eight helicopters swooping in at low altitude, multiple explosions and three-hour battle. (Photo source AFP ) By Harun al-Aswad in Syria-Turkey border Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, fugitive leader of the Islamic State (IS) group, was killed in a raid by US forces in Syria's northwestern Idlib province, US President Donald Trump … Continue reading Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi killed in US raid in Syria
While some activists welcome the imminent Turkish operation in eastern Syria, others fear it will put their city in danger (Photo Source AFP) By Harun al-Aswad The fate of Idlib province looms large in the minds of residents of the last opposition-held enclave in Syria, as Turkey prepares an offensive to clear Kurdish-controlled areas in northeast Syria. … Continue reading For Idlib’s residents, Turkey’s looming offensive throws future into doubt
Fighters express shock at the merger as opposition officials express support for Ankara's possible assault on Kurdish forces (Photo source AFP) By Ragip Soylu, Harun al-Aswad Turkey-backed Syrian rebel groups have merged under one command, two senior Syrian opposition officials announced in a news conference on Friday, raising expectations that they will aid Ankara in a looming … Continue reading Syrian rebel groups merge as Turkish offensive looms
After eight years in an increasingly intolerant Lebanon, a Syrian man travelled back to his war-torn country, hoping to find refuge in Turkey By Harun al-Aswad in Syria-Turkey border Samer Shamout has been here before. He has attempted to cross into Turkey from Syria's Idlib province a dozen times without success, and now he is waiting in a … Continue reading Desperate Syrians flee Lebanon to Turkey – via Syria