Russia Carries Out 157 Sorties In Syria In Past 4 Days: TASS
Russian warplanes have carried out 157 sorties in Syria against 579 "terrorist infrastructure targets" in the past four days, Defense Ministry official Igor Konashenkov has said, according to the TASS news agency.
The strikes hit in Aleppo, Deir al-Zor, Homs, Hama, Raqqa and Latakia provinces, Konashenkov said.
Russian Air Strikes Helping Syrian Army Make Gains In Latakia
Russian Defense Ministry official Igor Konashenkov indicated today how Russian air strikes are helping Syrian government forces capture territory from rebels in Latakia province and push battles into the heart of rebel-controlled areas.
Konashenkov said that a Russian Su-24 jet targeted militant positions in Al-Qabaqliyah in the Latakia mountains, killing 20 rebel fighters and taking out four SUVs equipped with machine guns.
Al-Qabaqliyah is a village near Mount Kazbar in the Jabal al-Turkmen area of Latakia (here is a link to a map showing the location of the village.) It is one of a cluster of villages that Syrian government forces have taken in the past several days, as pro-government Twitter user Hassan Ridha reported here on January 17:
The biggest gain in Latakia for Bashar al-Assad's forces has been the January 12 capture of the rebel stronghold of Salma.
Russia Parachuted Over 40 Tons Of Aid To Besieged Syrian Areas: Defense Ministry
Russia has parachuted over 40 tons of humanitarian aid to areas in Syria blockaded by "terrorists," Defense Ministry official Igor Konashenkov has said.
The aid included dry rations and other non-perishable foodstuffs provided by the Syrian government, according to Konashenkov.
Konashenkov said that the aid was brought to the Hmeymim air base in Latakia and loaded onto P-7 heavy-drop platforms before being transported by the Syrian air force. The aid was delivered to Deir al-Zor, which is blockaded by the IS group, he said.
Riyadh Says Its Up To Syria Who Represents It At Peace Talks
Saudi Arabia has said that no one should dictate to the Syrian opposition who represents them at peace talks.
The UN Security Council said yesterday that it will not issue invitations for a proposed January 25 meeting until major powers reached agreement over which rebel groups should attend.
Kurdish YPG To Try Fighters Accused Of Damaging Property In Syrian Village
The Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) says it has arrested and intends to prosecute four of its fighters who are accused of damaging property in a Syrian village recaptured from IS militants.
Amnesty International accused YPG fighters of committing abuses in Arab villages retaken from IS in northern Syria.
IS Militant's Sister Says She Doesn't Know Why He 'Changed,' Joined IS
The sister of Siddhartha Dhar, a British man who left the UK to join the IS group in Syria, has said that she does not know why her brother "changed" and joined the IS group.
Dhar is believed to be the masked IS militant who appeared in IS's recent killing video released earlier this month.
Dhar's transformation into an IS militant was "tragic," Konika Dhar said.
IS Imposing Stricter Conditions In Raqqa, Activist Says
The IS group is imposing even stricter conditions inside its Syrian stronghold of Raqqa, Hani a-Rawi of the pro-opposition activist group Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently has told Syria Direct.
A-Rawi said that civilians in Raqqa are facing "persistent violations," that travel from the city has been banned, including for people who are sick, and there has been an increase in execution-style killings and stonings.
Russia's Defense Ministry has shared this video of a Russian Su-24M jet carrying out an air strike against "terrorist targets" in Syria.
The text accompanying the video says that the jet takes off from the Hmeymim air base in Latakia province but does not say where the air strike took place or which group was targeted.
A second video purports to show an air strike destroying "terrorist" armored vehicles in Syria, though again no location is given.
Canada Not Invited To Anti-IS Coalition Meeting
AP reports that Canada has been excluded from a meeting of defense ministers in Paris to discuss the fight against the IS group.
Ministers from the Netherlands, France, Australia, Germany, Italy and the UK will take part in the talks. Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has said that he will remove Canada's six fighter jets from the U.S.-led coalition.
Syrian Government Forces Using Motorbikes In Fight Against Rebels
As well as relying on Russian air strikes, Syrian government forces adapted a tactic used by their allies in Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and by rebel forces to help them recapture the rebel stronghold of Salma in Latakia province last week -- motorbikes.
AFP cites Syrian army soldiers as saying motorbikes had been key to the retaking of Salma because bikes are faster, more agile, harder to track and are too light to set off landmines.