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Syrian territory under US, Turkey attacks, over 400 killed

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Syrian territory under US, Turkey attacks, over 400 killed

The Damascus regime headed by President Bahsar al-Assad is being sandwiched by US and Turkey, the allies turned hostile in the complex situation. More than 400 deaths are reported from two different sectors: Afrin in north-west and Al-Shafah in the east, close to Iraqi border.

US coalition forces have claimed of killing approximately 150 Daesh (IS) fighters in Al-Shafah, in eastern Syria close to Iraq border while Turkish forces have claimed of killing 260 Kurdish YPG fighters and IS militants in Afrin region, north-west Syria, close to its border.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has recently announced Washington’s intention of maintaining forces in Syria. US forces were neither invited by legitimate Damascus government nor  enjoy UN consent for any operations in that country.

US administration has been claiming of fighting against Daesh (IS) and supporting anti-Assad groups including Jubhat-al-Nusra (an Al-Qaeda ally) and separatist Kurdish group YPG.

Syria’s separatist Kurdish YPG is also considered to be a threat for Turkey. Ankara considers they were supporting separatist Kurds known as PKK in Turkey.

According to CNN, US-led coalition killed approximately 150 IS fighters in a Saturday airstrike, Col. Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the coalition told on Tuesday. Target was “IS headquarters and command and control center” and the strike involved “over a week’s worth” of intelligence work and information from US backed Syrian Democratic Forces fighting IS on the ground.

The strike took place in the Syrian town As-Shafah, near Iraqi border, an area where remnants of the IS continue to operate. It was carried out by US Navy F/A-18 and unmanned drone aircraft. The report say that aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is currently operating in the Gulf supporting strikes against IS in Syria.

Dillon further said, “It looked like they were massing for a movement. When they do congregate.. like that we want to take advantage of it.”

Meanwhile Maj. Gen. James Jarred, the commander of the US-led  coalition’s Special Operations Joint Task Force in Syria said in a statement, “The strikes underscore our assertion that the fight to liberate Syria is far from over.”

Jarred further said that the coalition forces and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces “are still finding, targeting and killing IS terrorists intent on keeping their extremist hold on the region. We cannot take our focus off our mission, and we must not lose our momentum in taking these terrorists off the battlefield and preventing them from resurfacing somewhere else.”

In late November 2017 Chief of General Staff of Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov had announced that his country was set to reduce its troops in Syria by the end of the year after finishing up the remaining “few” missions there.

Russian jets were conducting air raids against Daesh and other terrorist groups inside Syria at the Damascus government’s request since September 2015. Russian military personnel were operating from the Russian naval facility in the Tartus port and their airbase in Hmeimim.

According to Russian official news agency TASS, President Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday, spoke with his Turkish counterpart to discuss the situation in Syria, including near Afrin. Both leaders stressed the importance of further joint efforts towards crisis settlement based on the “principles of respect to Syria’s national integrity and sovereignty.”

On December 11, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a short visit to Hmeimim airbase and declared mission accomplished for Russian forces in Syria. After meeting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Putin told Russian air force, “Friends, the motherland is waiting for you. You are coming back home with victory.”

Meanwhile, Reuters has reported that Turkish military has killed at least 260 Syrian Kurdish fighters and IS militants in its four day old offensive into the Kurdish-dominated Afrin region, considered to be dominated by YPG.

The agency further said that US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan were expected to discuss the latest developments through a phone call on Wednesday.  Trump administration official has said that Ankara had sent “conflicting signals” about the scope of the offensive. He was further quoted saying, “We would urge them to limit incursion as much possible”. Turkish foreign minister has also confirmed that the two leaders will speak on Wednesday.

Meanwhile official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reports that thousands of civilians have fled their houses and villages in Afrin city and the surrounding areas in the northern countryside of Aleppo as the Tukrish troops continue their attacks and “random bombardment of the city”.

Quoting civil sources, the agency said, that Turkish Aggression resulted in the death of dozens and injury of many others and caused huge material damage, not to mention forcing families to leave the area.

UN report said that an estimated 5000 people have been displaced from Afrin city as of Monday.

Meanwhile, Russia Today (RT) reports that Moscow has sent invitations to a number of countries, including US, China, Britain and France,  to attend Syrian National Dialogue Conference to be held in Sochi on January 29-30.

Russian President’s Special Representative for Syria Alexander Lavrientyev, told on Tuesday,  “The invitations were sent by the name of the guarantor states Russia, Iran and Turkey to Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon and Kazakhstan.”

On January 22, Syrian President’s advisor Buthaina Shaban, while meeting with a Chinese delegation in Damascus, said that Turkish offensive is part of US plan of establishing an illegal army to vitiate and continue the Syrian crisis.

Earlier, Syrian foreign ministry had condemned Turkish attack in Afrin calling it a violation of its sovereignty.

Interestingly, Ruben Safrastyan,  Director of National Academy’s Institute of Oriental Studies, based in Yerevan, Tuekey, believes that the developments in and around Syria on a phase of diplomatic process were drastically changed with Turkish military aggression. He also blamed US and Russia for a “silent consent” over the recent actions in Afrin.

Latest world news

Trump says Iran agrees to never have nuclear weapons, rejects $300 billion fund claim

Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to never possess nuclear weapons under a proposed framework, while dismissing reports that the US would provide Tehran with a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

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Donald Trump statement

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has agreed to a commitment that it will never develop or possess nuclear weapons, describing it as a central element of a proposed understanding between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking about the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Trump also rejected reports suggesting that the United States planned to provide Iran with a reconstruction or investment package worth $300 billion. He described such claims as false and said no such arrangement had been agreed.

The remarks come as discussions continue over a broader framework aimed at easing tensions between the two countries. According to Trump, the understanding would ensure that Iran remains without nuclear weapons while opening the door for future engagement if the terms are respected.

Questions remain over final agreement details

Despite Trump’s comments, several aspects of the proposed arrangement remain unclear because the full text of the agreement has not yet been made public.

Reports indicate that negotiations have involved discussions on sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and potential economic measures linked to Iran’s compliance with future commitments. However, the exact scope of these provisions has not been officially confirmed.

Another key issue is how compliance would be monitored. Details regarding inspections, verification mechanisms and the handling of Iran’s existing nuclear materials have yet to be fully explained.

Further negotiations expected

Officials have suggested that discussions on technical nuclear matters could continue even after the signing of an initial memorandum of understanding. Such talks would likely focus on implementation and verification measures.

The proposed framework is being closely watched internationally, as any agreement between the United States and Iran could have significant implications for regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts.

For now, Trump has maintained that the core objective remains clear: ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon while denying reports that Washington has committed to a multibillion-dollar reconstruction fund.

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LATEST SPORTS NEWS

USA start FIFA World Cup 2026 with dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay

The USA opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with a dominant 4-1 victory against Paraguay, earning three valuable points in Group D.

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The United States kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, securing a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their Group D opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, the hosts delivered an attacking display to collect all three points and make an early statement in the tournament. The match also marked a significant occasion as the USA hosted part of the World Cup opening festivities before turning attention to the action on the pitch.

The Americans took control early and maintained pressure on Paraguay throughout the contest. Their attacking movement and clinical finishing helped them establish a comfortable lead, while Paraguay struggled to contain the hosts’ pace and creativity in the final third.

USA seize control after fast start

The United States settled quickly and found success going forward, creating several opportunities through quick passing and aggressive pressing. Their attacking approach paid off as they built momentum and gradually stretched Paraguay’s defence.

Paraguay attempted to respond and managed to get on the scoresheet, but the South American side found it difficult to match the intensity shown by the hosts. The USA continued to create chances and added further goals to put the result beyond doubt.

With the victory, the United States moved to the top section of Group D and gained an important boost in confidence ahead of their upcoming fixtures in the tournament.

Strong opening result for hosts

A winning start is particularly important in a World Cup campaign, and the USA achieved exactly that with a comprehensive performance. The result gives the hosts valuable momentum as they prepare for the next stage of group play.

For Paraguay, the defeat means they will need a strong response in their remaining group matches to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds alive.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the tournament featuring an expanded format and more participating teams than previous editions.

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Latest world news

Jaishankar raises deaths of three Indian sailors with Marco Rubio, lodges strong protest

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed India’s strong protest to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over an attack that killed three Indian sailors, stressing that lethal action against commercial shipping is unjustified.

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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday spoke with Marco Rubio and conveyed India’s strong protest over recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf that resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors.

According to reports, Jaishankar told Rubio that the use of lethal force against commercial shipping was not justified and underlined India’s serious concerns regarding the safety of civilian seafarers operating in the region. The conversation came days after three Indian mariners were killed in an attack on the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello near the Oman coast.

The incident has triggered diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Washington. India had earlier summoned a senior US diplomat to register its concerns and seek accountability following the attack. The Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized that actions endangering civilian shipping undermine maritime safety and stability in a strategically important region.

India reiterates concern over maritime safety

India has stressed the importance of protecting civilian seafarers and ensuring the security of international maritime commerce. Officials have expressed concern over multiple incidents involving Indian crew members in West Asian waters in recent days.

The deaths of the three sailors have also sparked calls within India for stronger diplomatic efforts to safeguard Indian nationals working aboard commercial vessels in conflict-affected maritime zones.

Background of the incident

The attack involved the tanker Settebello, which was operating near Oman when it was struck during ongoing tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran and maritime operations in the Gulf region. Initial reports indicated that Indian crew members were among those affected, and later confirmations established that three Indian sailors had died in the incident.

India has maintained that civilian shipping should not become a target and has continued diplomatic outreach to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers working across global shipping routes.

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