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☆ Hunter Biden pardon fallout and strategic timing behind Syria's reignited civil war: Morning Rundown
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Elizabeth Robinson | Elizabeth Robinson Is A Newsletter Editor For Nbc News | Based In Los Angeles. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

Donald Trump could use Joe Biden’s pardon of Hunter Biden for his own gain, some worry. Hunter Biden pardon gives Trump political coverPresident Joe Biden’s decision to pardon his son Hunter Biden was a move by a father to protect his son that some lawmakers said they could understand. “I’ll put it this way — if it was my son, I’d pardon him too,” Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville said. What hasn’t resonated as widely is Biden’s stated reason for pardoning Hunter Biden. Yesterday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended Biden, telling reporters he believes “Hunter was singled out.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden’s, Hunter Biden, Trump, “ I’ll, I’d, Republican Sen, Tommy Tuberville, pardoning Hunter Biden, Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, “ Hunter, “, ”, Chris Kofinis, Ty Cobb, Democratic Sen, Gary Peters, It’s, Pete Hegseth, Jamie Raskin, Jerry Nadler, Bashar al, Hayat Tahir al, Assad, haven’t, Hannah Kobayashi, Jim McDonnell, Kobayahsi, Kobayashi “, ” McDonnell, Kobayashi, they’re, Elon Musk, Russell Wilson, Leila, Alpha, you’ve, — Elizabeth Robinson Organizations: Oxford University Press, Republican, White, Democratic, Department of Justice, Justice Department, Trump White House, Committee, Syrian, Human Rights, ISIS, Congress, GOP, Los Angeles Police, Police, LAPD, Indiana University, Netflix, The Denver Broncos, NBC, Oxford Locations: Los, Hawaii, Paris, Syria, Aleppo, Russian, Russia, Iran, Lebanon, ”, U.S, Mexico, L.A, Los Angeles, San Diego, Carolina, Colorado

☆ Israel threatens to ‘go deeper’ into Lebanon as strikes strain ceasefire
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-03 | by ( Mick Krever | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Were the ceasefire to collapse, he said, “there will no longer be any exemptions for the State of Lebanon. The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, said Israel had breached the ceasefire agreement “approximately 100” times since the truce went into effect. “Both the French and the Americans didn’t really like it,” Smotrich said, referring to Israeli strikes on Lebanon since the truce. Under the agreement, Lebanon would implement a more rigorous supervision of Hezbollah’s movements south of the country’s Litani River, to prevent militants from regrouping there. “We will act with full force to enforce all the understandings of the ceasefire agreement, and we will respond with maximum response and zero tolerance,” Katz said.

Persons: ” Israel Katz, Israel Katz, Elad Malka, Matthew Miller, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s Kan, Israel, didn’t, ” Smotrich, Benjamin Netanyahu, Smotrich, Mount Dov, ” Katz Organizations: CNN, 146th Division, Israel Defense Forces, State, –, Israeli Defense, Division, Ministry of Defense, United, Israeli, United Nations, Lebanese Health Ministry, IDF Locations: Israel, Lebanese, Lebanon, “, State, Beirut, Dahiyeh, retaliating, United States, UNIFIL, ”, Israeli, Syria

☆ What’s happening in Syria? How an old conflict in the Middle East erupted again
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Alex-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Alexander Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

In the messy patchwork of conflicts raging across the Middle East, one country has been absent from the spotlight: Syria. That he has survived was largely because of the intervention of Russia, Iran and Hezbollah, Iran’s Lebanon-based proxy. In all, the U.N. has documented more than 350,000 deaths but says this is “certainly an undercount.”Today, however, Russia, Iran and Lebanon are distracted and depleted. All of this “puts Assad in a much weaker position.”But “the Syrian regime, in coordination with the Russians and less so the Iranians, will hit them with everything they’ve got,” he added. “Much as I oppose the Assad regime, its atrocities and abuses, what is happening in Aleppo right now is terrifying.

Persons: Bashar al, ”, Omar Haj Kadour, Assad, It’s, Abu Mohammed al, Robin Yassin, “ It’s, “, Aaref Watad, Abbas Araghchi, Dmitry Peskov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s, Aleppo . Omar Haj Kadour, Hellyer, they’ve, Donald Trump, —, Charles Lister, ” Chris Doyle Organizations: Royal United Services Institute, Getty, Pentagon, Syrian, Human Rights, United Nations, State Department, ISIS, Observatory, Syrian Civil Defence, Middle East Institute, Foreign Relations, Council, Arab Locations: Syria, Syrian, Aleppo, Russia, London, AFP, Idlib, Hama, U.K, Qaeda, U.S, Golani, Russian, Aaref, Iran, Iraq, Iran’s Lebanon, Omar, Homs, moonscapes, ”, Lebanon, Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Washington, Kyiv, Moscow, Assad, Aleppo . Omar, Israel, Gaza, Cairo, Washington, Deir el, Monday, British

☆ Rebel groups have taken Syria’s second-biggest city. Here’s who they are
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The rebel coalition consists of well-established armed Islamist factions who, despite their differences, are united in fighting Assad, ISIS and Iran-backed militias. Hayat Tahrir Al ShamThe most prominent and formidable one of those rebel groups is Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), also known as the Organization for the Liberation of the Levant. Rebel groups were delivered a severe blow after the loss of Aleppo to the Syrian regime in 2016. Hall said Syrian groups relying on Turkey has become “problematic” as it sets its target on Kurdish controlled areas instead of the Assad regime. “Being entirely reliant on Turkey, rather than fighting the good fight for the Syrian people they’re fighting the fight for the Turkish government.

Persons: Bashar Al, Assad’s, Assad, Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, Abu Mohammad al, al, Jolani, ”, ” Natasha Hall, Hall, Bashar al, Mahmoud Hassano, Sham who’s, Al Sham, Ahmed al, Dalati, …, ” Hall Organizations: CNN, ISIS, Hayat, Organization for, Terrorist Organization, PBS, Middle, Washington DC, Strategic, International Studies, Syrian National Army, Liberation, Sharia, ”, Kurdistan Workers ’ Party Locations: Russian, Aleppo, Syrian, Iran, Hayat Tahrir, al Qaeda, United States, Iraq, Syria, Qaeda, Idlib, …, Assad, Turkey, Turkish

Syrian rebels shocked the country with a lightning offensive on its biggest city and the surrounding region starting last week, upending a 13-year-old civil war that had been dormant for several years. By seizing that city, Aleppo, occupying large stretches of the countryside and advancing on the western city of Hama, the rebels have been able to expand their territory to include much of the northwest corner of Syria. The fighters opposed to President Bashar al-Assad’s autocratic rule always included a motley patchwork of rebel factions who were often at odds with each other. Now the group may extend its control to a much larger zone. Here’s a primer on how it formed, how it evolved and why it staged this attack.

Persons: upending, Bashar al, Hayat Organizations: Al Locations: Aleppo, Hama, Syria, Hayat Tahrir, Al Qaeda

☆ US left facing a difficult situation in Syria as rebels make massive advances against Assad regime
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

And despite efforts by HTS to distance itself from al Qaeda, the US designated the group a terror organization in 2018, saying it evolved from the original group, Jabhat al-Nusrah. “As you know, they are formerly known as ‘Nusrah Front,’ an al Qaeda affiliate in Syria, but bottom line is: still a designated terrorist organization,” Ryder said Monday of HTS. Amid the renewed unrest in the country, roughly 900 US service members are deployed in Syria as part of the anti-ISIS mission. And on Friday, he said, US forces conducted a “self-defense strike near MSS Euphrates,” taking out a potential threat to the US base. Ryder said that was “completely unrelated to the ongoing situation in northwestern Syria.” He added that there have not yet been any US force posture changes in Syria.

Persons: Pat Ryder, Hayat Tahrir, ”, Jake Sullivan, Assad, ” Sullivan, we’re, Abu Mohammad al, ” Ryder, Matthew Miller, Bashar al, —, Ryder, “, CNN’s Jennifer Hansler, Michael Conte Organizations: Washington CNN, ISIS, Pentagon, CNN, State, State Department Locations: Aleppo, Syria, Syria’s, United States, Russia, Iran, al Qaeda Syrian, al Qaeda, Moscow, Idlib, Iraq

☆ Syria's 13-year frozen war has ignited again after allies Russia and Iran let down their defenses
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

It comes as Syria's powerful allies, Iran and Russia, are distracted with other conflicts. With Russia and Iran distracted by regional conflicts, a stagnant 13-year-long civil war in Syria has exploded into renewed violence. It's the most intense outbreak of fighting in the war since Syrian government forces, backed by Iran and Russia, drove rebels back to their strongholds in the north eight years ago, and a stalemate developed. "Israel has changed the balance of power in the region by going on this all-out war on the axis of resistance." Meanwhile, Russia, whose 2015 entry into the Syrian Civil War was crucial in propping up the Assad regime, has problems of its own.

Persons: Tahrir, Sham, Bashar al, Assad, who've, that's, Joshua Landis, Charles Lister, it's Organizations: Rebels, Syrian Observatory, Human Rights, University of Oklahoma, New York Times, Middle East Institute, Turkey Locations: Syria, Hayat, Aleppo, Iran, Russia, Hama, Idlib, Sunday, Israel, Syrian, Tunisia, Egypt, Gaza, Lebanon, Tehran, Ukraine

CNN —For the first time since a ceasefire went into effect last week, Hezbollah has fired two projectiles toward Israeli-occupied territory, responding to repeated Israeli strikes since the agreement. Hezbollah had fired two projectiles, which landed in an open area on Monday, according to the Israeli military, which said no one was injured. A senior Israeli official said Friday that the military intends to aggressively and unilaterally act against any ceasefire violations by Hezbollah. Under the agreement, Lebanon would implement a more rigorous supervision of Hezbollah’s movements south of the country’s Litani river, to prevent militants from regrouping there. United Nations peacekeeping troops, the Lebanese military, and a multinational committee will be tasked with supervising the Iran-backed group’s movements.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Gideon Sa’ar, Sa’ar, ” Sa’ar, “, Israel, Har Dov, Mount Dov, Matthew Miller, ”, ” Miller, Amos Hochstein Organizations: CNN, Lebanese Ministry of Health, Israeli, Israel Defense Forces, Kan, United Nations, Lebanon “, Hezbollah, IDF, US State Department, State Department, UN, Lebanese Locations: Israel, Lebanon, ”, Beqaa, Syrian, United States, UNIFIL, Beirut, Shebaa, Syria, U.S, France, Iran

☆ Syrian Opposition Demands Assad Commit to Transition of Power
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( Aryn Baker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Russian and Syrian fighter jets struck targets across territory seized by rebels in northwestern Syria on Monday, according to Syrian state media and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The forceful response made clear that Russia, one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s staunchest allies, intended to keep supporting him in the face of a sudden rebel advance. It is not yet clear whether they will be able to help hold off the rebels. On the other side, the rebels’ startling gains appeared to embolden the opposition in exile, with one of its leaders demanding on Monday that Mr. al-Assad commit to a political transition. The opposition leader, Hadi al-Bahra, spoke from Turkey as rebels continued their advance through Aleppo, once Syria’s largest city, and the surrounding areas.

Persons: Bashar al, Assad’s, Al, Assad, al, Hadi al Organizations: Syrian, Human Rights, Mr Locations: Syrian, Syria, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Aleppo

☆ Oil inches up on upbeat China data, shaky Israel-Lebanon ceasefire
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices edged up on Monday supported by upbeat factory activity in the world's second largest oil consumer China and as Israel resumed attacks on Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement, stoking tensions in the Middle East. Oil prices edged up on Monday supported by upbeat factory activity in the world's second largest oil consumer China and as Israel resumed attacks on Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement, stoking tensions in the Middle East. "China data is helping, but I think it is also coming on concerns the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire may not hold," IG's Sydney-based market analyst Tony Sycamore said. A truce between Israel and Lebanon came into effect on Wednesday but both sides have accused each other of breaching the ceasefire. The Lebanese Health Ministry said in a statement several people were wounded in two Israeli strikes in south Lebanon.

Persons: Donald Trump, Tony Sycamore, Bashar al, Assad, Sycamore, Brent Organizations: Brent, West Texas, Lebanese Health Ministry, Air, of, Petroleum, Reuters Locations: China, Israel, Lebanon, East, Sydney, Syria, Aleppo, OPEC

☆ Freezing weather threatens post-Thanksgiving travel, GOP readies priorities for Trump's second term: Weekend Rundown
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | Josh Feldman | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

More than 100 National Guard troops were staged in western New York “to support local communities,” she said in a statement. Erie, Pennsylvania, has recorded 30 inches of snow, the highest total so far, according to the NWS. President-elect Donald Trump’s second-term agenda has some Americans worried about the impact on their lives and livelihoods. Notably, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago after Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian goods. I still watch that film even as I’m turning 24, and she’s still one of my favorites today,” Cravalho said.

Persons: Kathy Hochul, Joe Biden’s, “ I’ve, ”, Steve Scalise, Donald Trump’s, Justin Trudeau, Trump, Abbas Araghchi, ” MUHAMMAD HAJ KADOUR, Tahrir, Jake Sullivan, Bashar al, Assad, Press Sen, Bill Hagerty, ” Hagerty, “, Kristen Welker, we’ve, Kashyap, Kash ” Patel, they’ll, Saquon Barkley, Ric Tapia, Barkley, Auli‘i Cravalho, she’s, ” Cravalho Organizations: Weather Service, Florida . New York Gov, National Guard, NWS, Republicans, Trump, Canadian, Mar, Getty, Observatory, Human Rights, Aleppo International Airport, White House, NBC, Press, ., FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, North, NBC News Locations: Midwest, Great, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Georgia, Florida, Lake Ontario, Erie , Pennsylvania, Iran, Syria, Aleppo, Iranian, AFP, London, Canada, Mexico, United States, Inglewood , Calif, North America

☆ Meet the Press – December 1, 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +56 min

ANNOUNCER:From NBC News in Washington, the longest-running show in television history, this is Meet the Press with Kristen Welker. He credited President-elect Trump with this ceasefire, Jake, saying, quote, "Everyone is coming to the table because of President Trump." The second dynamic to watch is, Kash Patel is on the record for the retribution agenda that Donald Trump ran on. I will never forget when you asked former President Trump – President-elect Trump and President Biden during that last presidential debate in 2020 about 545 children who were still separated from their parents. And before we go, the newest member of the Meet the Press family, Frankie Alice Katz was born at 12:23 a.m. on Wednesday.

Persons: KRISTEN WELKER, Donald Trump, Christopher Wray, Kash Patel, KASH PATEL, I’d, FBI Hoover, Trump, PRES, JOE BIDEN, JUSTIN TRUDEAU, He’d, Bill Hagerty, Chris Murphy, Jake Sullivan, JONATHAN WHITE, Oscar, Errol Morris, NBC's Jacob Soboroff, Jonathan Allen, Kimberly Atkins Stohr, Matt Gorman, Sahil Kapur, it’s, Kristen Welker, Patel, “, STEVE BANNON, Bannon, DONALD TRUMP, Justin Trudeau, Trudeau, he'd, Biden, Edan Alexander, YAEL ALEXANDER, Jake, JAKE SULLIVAN, Kristen, we're, that's, Mike Waltz, President Trump, we've, Joe Biden, Bashar al, Assad, it's, I'm, They're, Chris Wray, Joe Biden didn't, Hagerty, SEN, BILL HAGERTY, Let's, I've, Kash, Colin Kahl, Kamala Harris, You've, Rob Malley, He's, Ariane Tabatabai, It's, Hunter, Hunter Biden, Kash Patel's, – SEN, –, Bill Barr, Tony Blinken, Israel, That's, Trump's, Tulsi Gabbard, she's, Tulsi, – KRISTEN WELKER, Murphy, Press . SEN, CHRIS MURPHY, Donald Trump's, Adam Schiff, Marco Rubio, Marcio Rubio, Donald Trump carte, who's, they're, you've, Harris, Nancy Pelosi, Tim Scott, Hope, Jon, John Bolton, JONATHAN ALLEN, John Bolton's, Matt Gaetz, SAHIL KAPUR, he's, doesn't, tweeting, MATT GORMAN, Gaetz, it's Tulsi, Betsy Devos, Matt Gaetz didn't, DOJ – didn’t, Pete Hegseth, Jr, KIMBERLY ATKINS STOHR, Matt, Claudia Sheinbaum, Biden's, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, We've, Yitzhak Rabin, YITZHAK RABIN, Jacob Soboroff, JACOB SOBOROFF, ERROL MORRIS, Errol, Jacob, Adam Serwer, haven't, Jacob – ERROL MORRIS, Jonathan White, Pope, hadn't, Frankie Alice Katz, Sally Bronston Katz, Michael, Frankie Alice, Fredalee, Adrien, We'll Organizations: FBI, Senate, Democratic, Connecticut, National Security, Trump, Boston Globe, NBC, Press, Bureau, Canadian, Hezbollah, Hamas, National, Lebanese Army, Rebels, UN, Republican, The Press, DOD, Department of Justice, China, United States, Depot, Walmart, Communist, Press ., of Justice, White, Wall Street, Republicans, of Commerce, Treasury, Education, Biden White House, Communications, AG, RFK, DOJ, Heritage, U.S ., Mar, Democrat, Clean Energy, U.S, Supreme, Palestine Liberation Organization, Israeli, Oscar, NBC News, Human Rights, American Academy of Pediatrics, Department of Homeland Security, Trump –, MSNBC, Refugee, . Locations: Tennessee, Israel, Gaza, Washington, Mexico, Canada, China, Mar, United States, U.S, Lebanon, Iranian, France, Lebanese, Syria, Aleppo, Iran, Russia, American, Japan, Europe, –, Connecticut, America, States, Trump, Oslo Accords, Eastern Europe

☆ Iran throws its support behind Assad as rebels expand their shock offensive in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( Freddie Clayton | Freddie Clayton Is A Freelance Journalist Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

“The Syrian army will once again be victorious over these terrorist groups as in the past,” he added. In his first public comments released by the state news agency Saturday evening, Assad said Syria will continue to "defend its stability and territorial integrity against terrorists and their supporters." Iran’s support for Assad mirrors that of Russia, which helped to turn the tide of the war during 2016's battle for Aleppo between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters. The victory helped Assad to secure Assad's hold on strategic areas of Syria, with opposition factions and their foreign backers controlling areas on the periphery. The U.S., for its part, opposes Assad, opposes Russia, and opposes Iran, but has allied itself with Syrian Kurdish forces despite their fight against U.S.’ NATO allies Turkey.

Persons: ”, Abbas Aragchi, “, Hayat Tahrir, Sham, Bashar Assad's, Assad, Iran’s, BAKR Organizations: Human Rights, Fighters, Getty, Kurdistan Workers ’ Party, U.S, NATO, Humanitarian Affairs Locations: Iran, Aleppo, Syria’s, Damascus, London, Syria, Hama, U.S, Turkey, Tehran, Lebanon, Russia, AFP, Tartus, Kurdish, Ankara, Syrian Kurdish, The U.S, Sham

☆ Trump taps Tiffany Trump's father-in-law as his advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementPresident-elect Trump has picked Massad Boulos to be his advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs. By tapping Lebanese American businessman Massad Boulos as his senior advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs, Trump is bringing on board a key campaign surrogate whose son Michael is also married to his daughter Tiffany. "Massad is a dealmaker, and an unwavering supporter of PEACE in the Middle East," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. During the 2024 campaign, Boulos traveled throughout Michigan to promote Trump's candidacy among Arab American and Muslim voters, The New York Times reported. Ivanka Trump, a senior advisor in Trump's first term, is not expected to be a part of the second administration.

Persons: Trump, Massad, Boulos, Michael, Donald Trump's, Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump, Massad Boulos, Tiffany, —, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden's, Harris, who'll, Charles Kushner, Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Trump's Organizations: Trump, Democratic, Arab, Associated Press, The New York Times, Saturday Locations: Gaza, United States, reverberating, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Israel, Arab American, Michigan, France

☆ Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo, Russia conducts strikes in support of Assad
▼ + stars: | 2024-12-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Anti-government fighters brandish their guns as they ride a vehicle in Syria's northern city of Aleppo on November 30, 2024. Russia's Defence Ministry said its air force had carried out strikes on Syrian rebels in support of the country's army, Russian news agencies reported. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, once known as the Nusra Front, is designated a terrorist group by the U.S., Russia, Turkey and other states. Acknowledging the rebel advance, the Syrian army command said insurgents had entered much of Aleppo. The rebels also took control of Aleppo airport, according to a statement by their operations room and a security source.

Persons: Jihadists, Hayat Tahrir, Sham, Bashar al, Assad, Sean Savett, Savett, Assad's, Aleppo, Ali Jumaa, Bassil al, Fighters, Maraat al Numan Organizations: Russia's Defence Ministry, White House National Security Council, Security, Reuters, for Locations: Aleppo, Turkish, redeploy, Hayat, U.S, Russia, Turkey, Moscow, In Washington, Iran, Syria, Russian, Damascus, al, Aleppo's Basel, Idlib, Aleppo's, Maraat, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, Lebanese

CNN —Syrian and Russian jets have carried out strikes on opposition forces in northern Syria in retaliation for the sudden offensive that has cost the regime control of the country’s second largest city, Aleppo. The rebels consolidated their gains Sunday capturing key military sites in the east of Aleppo city. The opposition forces’ control of Aleppo means that the regime counteroffensive promised by the Syrian defense ministry would be very difficult to carry out. Government aircraft – along with Russian planes based in Syria – have carried out bombing raids against opposition positions in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. “Should they be cheering the opposition taking over Syria’s second-largest city Aleppo, or should they actually worry about the city falling under Islamist rule?” she said.

Persons: Bashar al, Assad, ’, Hayat Tahrir, Asli, “, Aydintasbas, ” Organizations: CNN, Military Operations Command, Government aircraft, Saturday, Nusra, US, Brookings Institution Locations: Syria, Aleppo, Idlib, Iran, Russia, Syrian, Turkey, Qaeda

☆ What to know about sudden rebel gains in Syria’s 13-year war and why it matters
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-30 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The 13-year civil war in Syria has roared back into prominence with a surprise rebel offensive on Aleppo, one of Syria’s largest cities and an ancient business hub. The push is among the rebels’ strongest in years in a war whose destabilizing effects have rippled far beyond the country’s borders. Assad has been at war with opposition forces seeking his overthrow for 13 years, a conflict that’s killed an estimated half-million people. The roughly 30% of the country not under Assad is controlled by a range of opposition forces and foreign troops. Turkey has forces in Syria as well, and has influence with the broad alliance of opposition forces storming Aleppo.

Persons: Bashar Assad, Assad, Robert Ford, Israel Organizations: Russian, Islamic Locations: Syria, Aleppo, Russia, Iran, Iranian, Israel, Gaza, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Europe, U.S, Islamic State, Turkey

☆ What’s happening in Syria? A simple guide
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-30 | by ( Lauren Kent | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The offensive is the first time opposition forces have seized territory in Aleppo since 2016, shattering the stalemate of a war that never formally ended. Extremist Islamists including al Qaeda took an interest in Syria, taking up a common cause with the moderate Syrian opposition who did not welcome jihadist involvement. Analysts told CNN that the Syrian rebels are using a vacuum left by the group to advance in Syria. The new grouping is made up of a broad spectrum of opposition forces, from Islamist factions to moderates. The backbone of the SDF are Kurdish fighters from a group known as the Peoples’ Protection Units (YPG), which has previously fought other Syrian opposition groups.

Persons: CNN —, Bashar al, Assad, Assad –, Syria’s, al Qaeda, al, CNN’s Eyad Kourdi, Ben Wedeman, Mostafa Salem, Christian Edwards Organizations: CNN, Saudi, United Arab, Guard, Syrian Air Force, Russian, ISIS, Syrian Democratic Forces, Operations Command, ”, Iranian, Analysts, Nusra, Peoples ’ Locations: Aleppo, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States, Iran, Russia, Kurdish, Idlib, Ukraine, Israel, Syria’s, Hayat Tahrir, Qaeda, al Qaeda

☆ Syrian rebels take control of most of Aleppo city
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-30 | by ( Eyad Kourdi | Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Syrian opposition forces have taken control of much of the country’s second largest city Aleppo, according to video verified by CNN and residents in the city. It is the first time Syrian rebels have set foot in Aleppo since government forces regained control during the Civil War in 2016. By Saturday morning, rebel fighters had taken control of large swathes of the city, according to footage geolocated by CNN. In response to the rebel advance, the Russian air force on Friday launched an aerial offensive against Syrian armed opposition forces in Aleppo and Idlib provinces, Russian state media reported. Prior to this week’s attack they held two Kurdish neighborhoods but have now moved into areas that the Syrian regime used to control.

Persons: “, Bassel, Assad, Bashar al, Muhammad Haj Kadour, Hassan Abdelghani, ”, –, Russia – Organizations: CNN, Rebel, Rebels, Operations Command, US, Free Syrian Army, United Nations Locations: Aleppo, reigniting, AFP, Idlib, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, United States, Russia

☆ In a shock offensive, insurgents breach Syria’s largest city for the first time since 2016
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The advance on Aleppo followed a shock offensive launched by insurgents Wednesday, as thousands of fighters swept through villages and towns in Syria's northwestern countryside. A ceasefire in Hezbollah's two-month war with Israel took effect Wednesday, the day the Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Turkish security officials said Thursday that Syrian opposition groups initially launched a long-planned "limited" offensive toward Aleppo, where attacks targeting civilians originated. Besides backing opposition forces, Turkey has also established a military presence in Syria, sending troops into parts of the northwest. The opposition groups also seized heavy weapons and military vehicles belonging to the government forces, the agency said.

Persons: Hayat Tahrir, Robert Ford, Israel, Dareen Khalifa, It's, Hezbollah's, Bashar Assad's, Dmitry Peskov, Rami Abdurrahman, Abbas Araghchi Organizations: Syrian Observatory, Human Rights, International Crisis Group, Islamic, Anadolu Agency, Iranian, U.S, Zionist Locations: Rashidin, Aleppo, Hayat, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, Russia, Iran, U.S, Syria, Hayat Tahrir, Hezbollah's, Ukraine, Turkey, Syrian, United States, Syrian Kurdish, Idlib, Damascus, Turkey's, Palestine

☆ The illusion of Assad’s grip on Syria shatters, as Russia, Iran and Hezbollah let their guard down
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-30 | by ( Ben Wedeman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

There were moments when the Bashar regime’s survival looked in doubt. Once shunned by his fellow Arab autocrats, Bashar al-Assad was gradually regaining the dubious respectability Arab regimes afford one another. Had Bashar al-Assad won? A Syrian opposition flag above a market square in central Aleppo on November 30, 2024. Muhammad Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty ImagesThe obvious explanation is that Syria’s key allies – Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah – are all under pressure and let their guard down.

Persons: CNN — “, ”, Hafez al, Assad, today’s, Bashar al, Bashar, Russia –, autocrats, Ali Jarekji, Sham –, Muhammad Haj Kadour, –, Israel Organizations: CNN, Reuters, Muslim, Getty Locations: Syria, Aleppo, autocrats, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Iran, Russia, Damascus, Turkish, Israel, Idlib, Hama, AFP, – Russia, shoring, Ukraine

BEIRUT — Islamist rebels breached neighborhoods in Syria’s second-largest city of Aleppo and clashed with government military forces after detonating two car bombs Friday. The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, the monitoring organization, said fierce clashes were underway between the attacking insurgents and regime troops. Syrian armed forces were repelling attacks, the Syrian Defense ministry said Friday, adding government forces involved in combat operations were able to regain control over some areas. "Our armed forces have inflicted heavy losses on the attacking organizations, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries among the terrorists," Syria's general command of the army and armed forces said in a statement translated by NBC News. The Syrian civil war started in early 2011 with a wave of protests against the authoritarian rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

Persons: Bakr, Witnesses, Bashar al, Assad, Assad's, Matt Bradley, Daniel Arkin Organizations: Associated Press, Syrian Observatory of Human, Fighters, Getty, AP, Syrian Defense, NBC News, Syrian Observatory, Human Rights Locations: BEIRUT, Syria’s, Aleppo, Russia, Iran, Rashidin, AFP, Syrian, Beirut, Atlanta

☆ Rebels in Syria Reach Outskirts of Aleppo, in Biggest Advance in Years, Monitor Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-29 | by ( Raja Abdulrahim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Syrian rebels reached the outskirts of the major city of Aleppo on Friday, according to the fighters and a war monitor, raising fears that the nation’s long-running civil war is reigniting with an intensity not seen in years. The Russian government confirmed that it was bombing Syrian rebels, but did not specify where. On the ground, the rebel fighters did not appear to meet much resistance from government forces, according to the rebels, Syrian media and the Observatory. The rebel offensive launched on Wednesday is the most serious challenge to President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in years. And the timing of it has raised questions about whether the rebels are trying to take advantage of weakness across an alliance with Iran at the center, and groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Syrian regime closely aligned with it.

Persons: Bashar al Organizations: Government, Human Rights Locations: Aleppo, Russian, Idlib, Syrian, Iran, Lebanon

CNN —Syrian armed rebels have entered Aleppo just three days into their surprise offensive, marking the first time they have set foot in the country’s second largest city since government forces recaptured the city in 2016. Rebel forces launched a surprise attack this week, sweeping through several villages outside the city and reigniting conflict that had been largely static for years. “Our forces have begun entering the city of Aleppo,” said the newly formed rebel coalition, the Military Operations Command. Earlier Friday, the rebel group said it seized control of the Syrian government’s Military Scientific Research Center on the outskirts of Aleppo city after “intense clashes with the regime forces and Iranian militias.” It later shared a video of Syrian regime tanks leaving Aleppo as rebel forces advanced. Syrian opposition fighters enter the village of Anjara, west of Aleppo, on Thursday.

Persons: God, ”, Bashar al, Assad, “, Bassel al, President Assad, Omar Albam, SANA, Hassan Abdulghani, General Kioumars Pourhashemi, Abbas Araghchi, He’s, Dmitry Peskov, –, Russia – Organizations: CNN, Rebel, Military Operations Command, Syrian government’s, Scientific Research Center, Aleppo University, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Free Syrian Army, United Nations Locations: Aleppo, Abidine, Anjara, ”, Aleppo University, Idlib, United States, Israel, Iran, Syrian, Russia, Syria, Saudi Arabia

☆ What a Deadly Offensive in Syria Means for a Stalled Civil War
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-28 | by ( Raja Abdulrahim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The largest offensive in years by Syrian opposition fighters against government forces has stirred fears of reigniting a civil war that has been mostly frozen for years. The new rebel push began Wednesday in Aleppo Province in northwestern Syria. On Thursday, the opposition forces advanced, capturing several new villages, according to a British-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The offensive aims to stop attacks by government forces and their Iran-backed militia allies, a rebel commander said. The group gathers information from a network of activists and others across Syria, and its numbers could not be independently verified.

Organizations: Syrian, Human Rights Locations: Aleppo Province, Syria, British, Iran

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