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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.

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India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

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India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

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Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

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US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

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The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

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