Going long on the latest from Syria: 1-Syria, aided by Russian Intel, dismantle CIA linked espionage ring connected to the assassination of Soleimani. It seems the tip off for the US for the assassination came from within Syria. Link and Link
Flashback: The US Assassinates An Iranian General
"Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russian Intelligence reports, has dismantled an espionage network, including top security and army officers, a well-informed source told Zaman Al-Wasl Saturday. Maj. General Ma'an Hussein, one of Assad's top aides and the head of the army's communication department, has been arrested amid high security procedures. The arrest campaign has included senior Intelligence officers, the source said.The source said the espionage network is most probably linked to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The main mission of the communication department, which coordinates with security and military services, is to spy on the Syrian telecommunications, and monitoring local TV channels, social media accounts.The State Intelligence, backed by information and data from the Russian intelligence, has tracked the network following the death of Iran’s Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani on Jan. 7, 2020, in Baghdad.At the time, intial reports accused a Syrian agent of providing information about the Soleimani’s movements inside Syria and the exact time of his departure from Damascus airport before his death in a US drone attack two hours later."
2 -Israel has been continuing airstrikes into Syria
Israel’s Air Force reportedly acted against multiple Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and pro-Iranian military sites in Syria over two waves of airstrikes on June 24.
Syrian state news agency (SANA) confirmed the death of two soldiers and the wounding of four others at one of the locations hit by the airstrikes. “One of our military positions was targeted near the town of Salkhad in the southern city of Sweida, resulting in the death of two martyrs and the wounding of four other soldiers,” the SANA news source stated.
Furthermore, additional positions were targeted during the overnight attack as SANA reported “several hostile missiles were fired at our military positions in Kababej.”Approximately an hour after the initial attack, a second wave of airstrikes targeted the Hama Governorate in the area of al Salamiyah. It is believed an ammunition cache housed inside an onion dehydration plant was the intended target of the attack. The attacks came less than a month after reported airstrikes attributed to Israel destroyed a weapons facility in Masyaf, Syria.
2 (a) Arutz Sheva
9 Iranian fighters killed in a second wave of airstrikes in Syria attributed to Israel, observer group claims, bringing death toll to 15.
3- Usrael Kurds Storm Syrian Government Offices in Hasaka
"The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have stormed on Saturday Syrian government institutions in the northeastern province of Hasaka, state news agency SANA reported.The SDF stormed the headquarters of the Grain Establishment, the Electricity Company, and the Sport City, the Industry Directorate, the Commercial Bank and others.Hasaka Province and the city of Qamishli are controlled by both the Syrian government and the Kurdish forces, the latter of which have bigger parts.It is still unclear how the Syrian regime will respond to the new escalation."
3(a) SANA- Make no mistake this is an escalation
"Hasaka, SANA- For the second consecutive day, Workers of Hasaka’s Electricity Company on Monday protested in front the company in al-Nashwah neighborhood in condemnation of US-backed Qasad (SDF) groups , which occupied the building by force, and they are preventing the workers from entering it now.
SANA reporter in Hasaka said that protestors demanded to neutralize centers and service facilities so that they can continue providing services for the benefit of all citizens, affirming they will continue their protest until they return to their workplace in the company.
On Saturday, Qasad group occupied headquarter of the Hasaka Electricity Company in al-Nashwah neighborhood, headquarter of the Syrian General Grain Administration in Ghweiran neigborhood, , the sports city, parts of the Youth Housing Complex, the Syrian Computer Society, Directorate of Tourism and Industry, and Environmental Affairs, headquarters of the Traffic Police, Directorate of the Civil Registry and the Commercial Bank in Hasaka city and expelled the employees from these offices."
4- Usrael Kurds apologize for slaughter- Public Relations in Advance of...
In other news, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi announced his forces’ complete willingness to apologize and compensate the victims of the Amuda massacre during a meeting with a committee tasked with achieving reconciliation with the north Hasakah town residents of Amuda.Abdi tweeted that there was a meeting between the SDF leadership and families of the dead of Amuda tragedy (2013).The SDF "offered apologies and moral and material compensation to the affected and the families of the dead of our people in the city of Amuda."
2013. Yes that’s how long the Usrael Kurds have been slaughtering and displacing the indigenous populations of Syria. Non cooperative Kurds and lots of Arabs. Wonder why 7 years later they are amends making? What might be on the horizon? Come on back for Part 2.5- Is Hayat Tahrir al-Sham doing Turkey’s job in Idlib? I’ve never been 100 percent convinced of this claim, however abundantly the claim has been made. The increased presence of Turkish military in the region would obviously be unnecessary if all these rebels were truly doing Turkey’s bidding. Additionally rebels wouldn’t be blocking the M-4 and doing all they can to impede Turkish/Russian cooperation, if they were truly doing Turkey’s bidding? It’s clearly a realpolitik situation. That is the reality.
"Turkey has remarkably increased its military presence in the region, while its plans to force radical groups to toe the line have given rise to some intriguing developments in jihadi ranks.The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham pragmatist wing has prevailed in the in-house rift that followed the Turkish-Russian deal, hammered out in Moscow in March, but those who remain bent on fighting have turned to alternative alliances. In mid-June, the al-Qaeda-inspired Hurras al-Din, Ansar al-Din, Tansiqiyat al-Jihad, Ansar al-Islam and Muqatileen al-Ansar formed a joint operations center, dubbed Fathbutou (Be Steadfast). Since then, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has moved to undermine the new alliance, which not only challenges Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's authority by fanning divisions, but also provides a justification for Russia to resume military operations.Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is said to be under growing pressure from Turkey to prevent attempts to block the M4 road, slated as a route for Turkish-Russian patrols, and rein in radical factions. Its rivals have come to accuse Hayat Tahrir al-Sham of taking orders from foreign powers, chiefly Turkey.Jihadi groups have always sparred with each other, but their rows are now attributed to steps taken under the Russian-Turkish deal. Hence, moves to redesign Idlib cannot be seen independently from the intentions and initiatives of Turkey, which has markedly increased its military and intelligence presence on the ground. Yet Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s conciliatory attitude is turning the radical camp into a new center of attraction. And the resolve of radical factions is increasing the potential for confrontation.
5 (a) Following clashes between groups in Idleb, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham have banned the formation of any groups or the deployment of any checkpoints Go way back to what I've written about Idlib and the situation therein. One of the last reports: Russia and Turkey "Flexible Rivals" or BREAKING: Russia & Turkey Agree on Common Document... and many, many more... 6: Canada- HRW wants Canada to bring the ISIS lackies home.
"An unknown number of Canadians travelled abroad to fight for the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, as the militant group took over territory in Iraq and Syria and implemented a harsh form of Islamic law."
It’s not likely an “unknown number”- The gov wants to wait until they can either sneak them in unnoticed, or dress it up as some type of humanitarianism? Which looks to be the way this news is being spun.