Expansion of the ISIS Threat in Syria

In addition to the factors already mentioned that prompted the US to increase its grouping in #Syria, the activation of ISIS should also be noted. Until mid-December, there were isolated mentions of an increase in the militants' capabilities, but now their potential is beginning to take shape. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stated that ISIS militants have seized Syrian army weapons and are now reorganizing their units, expanding control in eastern and central Syria.

❗️ In reality, the situation with ISIS has become threatening. So far, these are isolated sorties or shelling, but the terrorist group's militants are penetrating deeper not only into the Syrian Desert, but also into the Raqqa province - a significant region for #ISIS. Over the past few days, shelling of SDF positions has been recorded in Marrat near Deir ez-Zor, in Dabib in the south of Raqqa province, and crucially in Abu Khashab at the junction of the Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah and Raqqa provinces.

The militants have not attacked so deeply for a long time. And this time they managed to kill three SDF members, confirming the concerns of the Iraqi Foreign Minister. The latter, by the way, also reported the escape of some ISIS prisoners from the largest prison for ISIS militants, Al-Hol on the border with Iraq, and ISIS plans to organize an attack on the facility.

Against this background, French servicemen have arrived in the border areas with Iraq from the vicinity of Khan al-Jabal (the Kurds call it Khana-Sere). They were present in the northeast of Hasakah province, as some oil fields were under their control.

UK counter-terrorism police alerted to potential ISIS return
British media said on Thursday that counter-terrorism police in the UK are on high alert for the potential return of British supporters of the Islamic State (#ISIS) following their release from prisons in Syria amid ongoing military developments in the region.

According to Sky News, counter-terrorism authorities are concerned that instability in #Syria’s future could heighten the risk of jihadist attacks within the UK. Vicki Evans, the UK’s national counter-terrorism coordinator, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “Events in Syria are certainly something that are a focus and something that all of us need to think about with our partners.”

Border authorities have reportedly declared a state of heightened readiness, preparing for the possibility that British ISIS supporters, recently released from Syrian prisons, may attempt to return to the country. Neither Evans nor Sky News specified which prisons the ISIS supporters had been released from.

Israeli Navy missile ships hit two #Syrian Navy facilities—Al-Bayda & Latakia, taking out 15 naval vessels.
The reason is to make sure no radical rebels will be able to use them against #Israel. Israel’s defense, always on point!

Reuters from 2 Syrian sources: There is a high possibility that #Assad was killed in a plane #crash

The news agency reports this morning that a #Syrian plane took off from #Damascus around the time the Syrian capital fell to the rebels. The plane reached the area of ​​the Syrian coast, but performed a U-turn and disappeared from the radar after a few minutes. Reuters has not been able to verify the news yet

Arabs in Syria celebrate IDF attacks on Hezbollah
How do #Arabs in embattled Syria feel about Israel’s communication attack on #Hezbollah
With the help of Hezbollah’s forces, the Al Assad regime oppresses and large parts of Syria, using the land for terrorism, while Syrians living there have expressed appreciation for Israel’s attack.

[JUST IN] U.S. base in eastern Syria attacked by drones

A US-controlled military base located near the Al-Omar oil field in the eastern Syrian region of Deir ez-Zor, was attacked by drones on Thursday, the Al Mayadeen television reported.

According to the report, the facility was attacked by three UAVs. Sounds of "powerful explosions" were heard. No information about potential damage is available at this point.

After the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip, rocket and drone attacks on U.S. military bases in Syria and Iraq have become more frequent. Shiite militias have warned that they will increase the number of armed operations in Syria and Iraq if the U.S. continues to provide military aid to Israel.

A large share of the Syrian provinces of Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa, located in the east and northeast of the country, is currently controlled by the US-backed Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces. Since 2015, the US command has established nine military bases in this area. At the end of 2019, then U.S. President Donald Trump approved a plan that would leave several hundred US troops in Syria. One of their main tasks was to ensure control of oil fields in the northeast and east of the country.

U.S. to respond to attack on its forces in Middle East, says White House

The U.S. government is now focused on responding to a recent strike targeting a US military base on the Jordanian-Syrian border, U.S. National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told reporters.

When asked whether the US was planning to act independently or in coordination with its partners to retaliate for the attack, Kirby replied: "We're focusing on US response, they killed American troops."

He also said the Islamic Resistance in Iraq group was responsible for the attack, which left three US service members dead and over 40 wounded. "We believe the attack in Jordan was planned, resourced and facilitated by an umbrella group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which contains multiple groups, including Kata'ib Hezbollah," he said.

When asked whether Kata'ib Hezbollah played a key role in the attack, the US official replied: "This certainly has the earmarks of the kinds of things Kata’ib Hezbollah does." However, he emphasized that "attribution that our intelligence community is comfortable with is that this was done by the umbrella group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq."

Fearing U.S. action, Iran evacuates Syrian positions

SOHR, a reliable source of news in Syria reported that for fear of American response after about 34 American soldiers killed and injured, Iranian-backed militias evacuated many Syrian positions.

Deir Ezzor province: The Iranian-backed militias continue to be on alert, repositioning and changing their locations along the Euphrates River strip from Al-Bokamal city to Al-Mayadeen city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, where Iranian-backed militias evacuated about 12 locations in the cities of Al-Bokamal and Al-Mayadeen and the areas surrounding them, and moved to alternative locations, for fear of the American response after three American soldiers were killed and 25 others were injured, following the attack that targeted an American military base in Jordan.

Yesterday, SOHR reported that four U.S. helicopters have flew over the U.S. base in Koniko Gas Field northern of Deir Ezzor City, coinciding with two U.S. cargo planes landing in the base.

This coincided with the repositioning of Iran-backed groups in Iran-held areas on the line of Euphrates River in Deir Ezzor, in addition to the Syrian Desert.

'All eyes look now to Joe Biden. Will his response be feeble, or strong? Will it be a "one-time event", or will it be a new policy?'

Syria on brink of being drawn into Middle East conflict, says Russian envoy to UN

Syria is teetering on the brink of being drawn into a large-scale conflict in the Middle East, Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, said at a meeting of the UN Security Council, devoted to the situation in that country.

"The difficult situation on the ground in Syria is aggravated by the sharp escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The country, like a number of its neighbors in the region, is literally balancing on the verge of being drawn into a large-scale confrontation," he said.

Nebenzya added that Russia supported the restoration of the Constitutional Committee's work "as part of the advancement of the Syrians-owned political process being conducted with UN assistance."

Syria has called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to inspect nuclear facilities in Israel and take them under control, the Syrian foreign ministry said on Sunday.

"The International Atopic Energy Agency (IAEA) must inspect nuclear facilities in Israel and take measures to establish control over them," the SANA news agency quoted its statement.

According to the agency, Damascus is concerned over Israel’s speculation on a possibility of the use of an A-bomb in the Gaza Strip "under the false pretext of self-defense."

The Syrian foreign ministry "strongly condemns such statements which prove that Israel has been hiding the fact of its possession of nuclear weapons for years," it said. "Israeli nuclear facilities are outside the system of international control thanks to the support offered by the American administration and Western countries to the Jewish state."

The Israel Hayom newspaper reported earlier that Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has suggested that Israel stops sacrificing its soldiers for the sake of releasing Hamas-held hostages but drop a nuclear bomb on Gaza instead.

When asked by a Kol berama radio host about a possibility of using a nuclear bomb in the Gaza Strip, Eliyahu said that "this is one of the options." Later, he said that it was a "metaphorical" suggestion but Israel "definitely needs a powerful and disproportionate response to terrorism."

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid demanded Eliyahu be sent to resignation for damaging Israel’s international authority. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu barred Eliyahu from taking part in cabinet meetings until further notice and rejected his words on the possible use of nuclear weapons in Gaza.