Groups affiliated to the Islamic State have taken some areas of central Syria after two anti-ISIS coalitions, one led by the US and the other by Russia, announced last week the military defeat of ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
Thursday, 18 January, 2018
Saudi Arabia: 3 Saudi troops killed in clashes with Houthi fighters near Yemen border
At least three Saudi soldiers were killed in clashes with Houthi fighters near Saudi Arabia’s southern border with Yemen, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Thursday.
Prince Mohammad Bin Abdul Aziz, acting governor of the Saudi province of Jazan, where the soldiers were reportedly killed, conveyed his condolences to the slain soldiers’ families, the SPA reported.
Turkey: Turkey begins first wave of artillery fire on Peoples Protection Units (YPG) Syrian Kurds in Afrin
Turkey began its first wave of artillery fire targeting Kurdish fighters in Afrin, Syria on Tuesday night, said an Al Arabiya reporter.
This comes as a retaliation to the Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG) firing a large number of missiles targeting settlements in the Azaz region bordering Turkey and Syria, which is controlled by the Turkish-backed opposition Free Syrian Army, media reports said.
Sunday, 14 January, 2018
Iraq: 4 Islamic State (IS) militants killed in Kirkuk military operation
Four Islamic State militants were killed in a military operation in southwestern Kirkuk, a security source was quoted as saying.
Speaking to Alsumaria News on Sunday, the source said, “A joint force from the Iraqi army and al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) was carrying out a military operation in an area between Al-Abbasi and Hawija districts in southwestern Kirkuk.”
Monday, 8 January, 2018
Turkey: Turkish army ready to unleash military offensive in northern Syria
The Turkish army is preparing to unleash an offensive against the Kurdish-controlled Afreen region in northern Syria, pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV reported on Sunday.
The Turkish army has set up field hospitals in a Turkish border area of Kumlu close to Syria’s Idlib province in northwestern Syria as part of the preparation to wage an offensive on Afreen in the countryside of Aleppo province in northern Syria, said the report.