Ongoing Clashes, IS Advances, Deteriorating Conditions In Deir al-Zor, Syria: UNCHA
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has published an update on the situation in the eastern Syrian city of Deir al-Zor, which is under attack and siege by IS militants.
Here are some key points:
- As of today, IS has reportedly been pushed back from the Arwad area of the town but have advanced and gained control of al-Baghliyeh, the Ayyash ammunitions warehouses, the Mowazafeen neighbourhood, and some parts of brigade 137 (a military base).
- There have been heavy casualties on both sides.
- Living conditions in the city have deteriorated significantly due to the IS siege, which began in January 2015.
- Limited supplies of foods and other commodities are likely to diminish soon putting 200,000 individuals at risk of increased malnutrition.
- Those living in government-controlled areas are under threat should IS overrun the entire city.
- Russia announced on Jan. 19 that it had dropped 40 tons of aid from the air.
Russian FM Spokeswoman Zakharova Comments On Syria
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has made some comments on the situation in Syria in her latest press briefing.
Here is an overview of Zakharova's remarks:
- "Terrorists" in Syria have become more active ahead of planned peace talks and are "trying to change the situation in the theater of war to their favor. Attempted counter-attacks on government forces have been carried out by fighters from the Al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham. They have received serious support from Turkey in Aleppo province."
- "External forces" are continuing to "supply terrorists in Syria, including with weapons" ahead of the talks.
- Russia is concerned that militants may make use of the fortifications that Turkey is constructing along its border with Syria.
- Russia will continue to supply humanitarian aid to affected populations in Syria.
- Russia is "surprised" that the United States "does not see" Moscow's efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Syria. "This is very strange, all the more so because the State Department sees everything -- the Russian tanks, which are being flown or crept into the territories of other states, but it doesn't see humanitarian aid."
More from Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Russian humanitarian aid to Syria:
Ras Lanuf To Be Closed For "Long Time" After IS Attacks -- NOC Chairman
This morning's attacks by the IS group on oil installations at Ras Lanuf in Libya have caused four fires in oil storage tanks, National Oil Corporation chairman Mustafa Sanalla has told Reuters.
Sanalla said that the damage caused by this and other recent attacks means that the Ras Lanuf terminal will be closed for a "long time."
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has tweeted this photo of himself meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Davos today and noted that the meeting was an opportunity to discuss the United States' commitment to the destruction of the IS group.
Belgium Arrests 2 Suspects Over Paris Attacks
Belgium has arrested two more men suspected of having links to the November 13 attacks in Paris in which 130 people were killed, the Belgian federal prosecutor's office said.
The men, identified as Belgian national Zakaria J., born in 1986 and Moroccan national Mustafa E., born in 1981, were arrested during two house searches on Wednesday and Thursday morning in the Brussels district of Molenbeek, prosecutors said.
Syria's U.N. Envoy Bashar al-Jaafari Will Represent It At Peace Talks
Syria's U.N. envoy Bashar al-Jaafari will be the government's chief negotiator in upcoming peace talks, a government source has said. The delegation will be overseen by Foreign Minister Faisal al-Moqdad.
There is an ongoing dispute, however, over which opposition groups will be present at the talks and who will represent them, which is threatening to delay the negotiations.
The main coalition of opposition bodies has named a member of the Islam Army group as its chief negotiator. Damascus considers the Islam Army to be a terror group.
The U.S.-led coalition against the IS group in Syria and Iraq says that it has killed around 95 senior and mid-level IS leaders in air strikes since May.
Bosnia Arrests Man Suspected Of Fighting Alongside IS
Bosnian police have arrested a man on suspicion that he fought alongside IS militants.
The man, known only as M.K., is from Velika Kladusa and was arrested in the evening of January 20 at Sarajevo airport. He is thought to have fought alongside IS from November 2014 through June 2015.
Armed Militants Stealing British Food Parcels Destined For Starving Syrians: NAO
Armed militants are stealing British food aid parcels intended for starving Syrian civilians, Britain's National Audit Office (NAO) has said in a report published today.
According to the NAO, militants took £70,000 (nearly $100,000) worth of aid in a single raid.
Food baskets are particularly targeted by militants, the report said.