2/4/2016

Turkey, in violation of The Treaty on Open Skies, denied a Russian observation flight over Turkish territory bordering Syria: https://www.rt.com/news/331206-turkey-russian-observation-flight/
- The Russian Defense ministry said that Turkey’s actions have set “a dangerous precedent”.
A Reuters article that does a good job summing up some of the local and international conflicts that are currently developing from the war, many of which are developing as result of the offensive being carried out on rebel-held northern Aleppo: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKCN0VC169
- Some of the issues covered are:
- Russia’s Defense Ministry said that it suspects Turkey is planning on carrying out a military incursion into Syria after noting “a growing number of signs of hidden preparation of the Turkish Armed Forces for active actions on the territory of Syria”.
  - Turkey responded by accusing Russia of trying to divert attention from the crimes it has been committing in Syria and that Turkey has “all the rights to take any measures to protect its own security.”
- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that he called Sergei Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, and that they agreed on the need to discuss how to implement a ceasefire in Syria.
- Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, a Saudi who is also the spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition currently fighting in Yemen, said that Saudi Arabia would be willing to participate in any ground-operations against the Islamic State conducted by the US-led coalition.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran is accused of coercing undocumented Afghans in Iran into fighting in Syria in support of the Syrian government: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/iran-accused-coercing-vulnerable-afghans-fight-assad-syria
A Reuters slideshow of photos from Aleppo: http://www.reuters.com/news/picture/streets-of-aleppo?articleId=USRTX256H3
A SMART News report on a polio vaccination campaign in rebel-held northern Homs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-npciCuTRY
A SMART News report on risks facing people working on small-scale refineries in Hasakah province: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVIuk9VRJvY
Russia announced that a Russian military adviser died in a hospital on February 1st after being injured by Islamic State shelling on a training center in Homs province, which also killed 4 Syrian Army cadets: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/05/world/europe/shelling-kills-russian-military-adviser-in-syria.html?smid=tw-nytimesworld&smtyp=cur&_r=0
An Al Monitor article on the return of Jabhat al-Nusra to Aleppo city: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2016/01/syria-war-aleppo-jabhat-al-nusra-return.html
Fighting from the government offensive continued north of Aleppo: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.379970&lon=37.073879&z=13&m=b
- Russian and government airstrikes hit the area.
- Pro-government forces captured Kafr Naya: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.418865&lon=37.074995&z=14&m=b
  - Rebels are reported to have retreated from Mayer, although it doesn’t appear that pro-government forces have moved forward to capture it yet: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.383978&lon=37.024441&z=14&m=b
- The YPG captured the villages of Khuraybah and Ziyarah from rebel forces: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.425012&lon=37.008219&z=14&m=b
  - Russian airstrikes targeted rebels in Ziyarah shortly before it’s capture by the YPG.
  - The YPG claimed that local civilians were calling for them to take the villages in order to increase the security of the area.
  - The YPG stated that the groups they fought for control of the villages were Ahrar al-Sham, Jabhat al-Nusra, and Liwa Sultan Murad.
  - http://www.hawarnews.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A/
- At least 21 Iranians have been killed.
  - Iran is playing a crucial role in the offensive, which is being spearheaded by Hezbollah and Iranian fighters, as well as other foreign militias, fighting alongside the Syrian Army.
- There is now a huge wave of refugees fleeing from the area towards the Afrin canton to the west and Turkey to the north:
  - Turkey said up to 70,000 refugees may be heading to the border, while other estimates have put the current number at 40,000.
    - Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that the country, which currently has 2.5 million refugees, would remain open to all Syrians.
    - Thousands of people are currently massed in Azaz and around the Bab al-Salama border crossing.
    - Refugees attempting to flee to Turkey:
  - The Afrin Canton issued a general call for help to humanitarian and international relief agencies due to the large influx of refugees fleeing the fighting: http://cantonafrin.com/ar/news/view/1659.%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9.html
- In response to the government advances, rebels in northern Aleppo announced the formation of a United Military Council: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX7DYGUZtNQ
- Articles and reports:
  - A CNN report on the the Syrian Civil Defense’s work in the area right now: http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2016/02/03/syria-pkg-amanpour-elbagir-white-helmets.cnn/video/playlists/amanpour/
  - Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that the humanitarian corridor between Turkey and Aleppo has been cut-off, and accused the government of planning to besiege and starve the area similarly to what it is doing in other areas of the country: http://news.yahoo.com/turkish-pm-davutoglu-says-humanitarian-corridor-aleppo-cut-175242887.html?nf=1
  - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-04/us-demands-russia-stop-syria-bombing-after-talks-suspended/7142104
  - http://syriadirect.org/news/amidst-north-aleppo-chaos-thousands-of-displaced-syrians-pour-into-%E2%80%98relative-safety%E2%80%99-of-kurdish-held-afrin/
  - http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35495157
  - https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/syrian-rebels-are-losing-aleppo-and-perhaps-also-the-war/2016/02/04/94e10012-cb51-11e5-b9ab-26591104bb19_story.html
  - http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-assad-turkey-syria-rebels-aleppo-2016-2?r=DE&IR=T
- Khuraybah and Ziyarah: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.425012&lon=37.008219&z=14&m=b
  - YPG fighters capturing the villages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_MqeN-2BhE
- Al-Zahraa and Nubbol: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.377621&lon=37.019119&z=13&m=b
  - Reda al-Basha, an Al Mayadeen reporter, reuniting with his family for the first time in 3 years: https://twitter.com/Hamosh84/status/695249644348170240
  - Residents celebrating pro-government forces who managed to end the siege on the towns yesterday:
  - Fighting:
    - A TOW hit on a bus transporting pro-government fighters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHz_5tFZ8YA&feature=youtu.be
  - Rebel shelling:
- Mu’arrasat al-Khan: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.379279&lon=37.076969&z=14&m=b
  - Fighting:
    - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRKxcq6q6BI&feature=youtu.be
    - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuUgh3mgRpQ
  - A rebel captured by pro-government forces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daJhOgi61Ak
- Hardatnin: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.369742&lon=37.105293&z=14&m=b
  - Rebel shelling:
    - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QyOf44PnsE
    - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxzbOlw-4yA&feature=youtu.be
- Rityan: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.348107&lon=37.093835&z=15&m=b
  - A report by Jabhat al-Nusra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbbdEVSqHXw&feature=youtu.be
  - A report from the front: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJzvZIWlc6I&feature=youtu.be
- Hayyan:
  - Airstrikes:
    - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjEyAQ87DxY
  - Syrian Civil Defense members recovering cluster munitions used in the airstrikes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFLgxYdm6FQ
- Haritan: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.285519&lon=37.088213&z=14&m=b
  - Airstrikes:
- Anadan: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.295550&lon=37.052937&z=14&m=b
  - Airstrikes:
    - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhoQKd54IcE
      
      A map showing government control over Mayer, although it’s still not clear if pro-government forces have captured it
      
      Children killed by a Russian airstrike on Anadan.
      
      Residents of Nubol and Zahra welcome Afghan Fatemiyoun fighters who broke through to the besieged towns of al-Zahraa and Nubbol.
      
      Residents in al-Zahraa and Nubbol celebrating pro-government forces who managed to break the siege on the towns yesterday.
      
      Pro-government forces being welcomed after reaching the besieged towns of al-Zahraa and Nubbol.
      
      Iraqi fighters from the Badr Brigade with soldiers from al-Zahraa and Nubbol.
      
      Jabhat al-Nusra fighters on the front around Rityan.
      
      Jabhat al-Nusra fighters on the front at Rityan.
      
      Jabhat al-Nusra fighters on the front at Rityan.
      
      Jabhat al-Nusra fighters on the front at Rityan.
      
      Jabhat al-Nusra fighters on the front at Rityan.
      
      Pro-government forces along the road connecting Mu’arrasat al-Khan and Misqan.
      
      A fighter from the Sultan Murad Brigade fires a TOW at a bus transporting pro-government fighters near al-Zahraa and Nubbol.
      
      Rebels shelling al-Zahraa and Nubbol.
      
      Rebels shelling al-Zahraa and Nubbol.
      
      Rebel commanders who have been killed in the offensive.
      
      Materials captured from Iranians in the fighting around Rityan.
      
      A rebel injured in the fighting.
      
      A rebel injured in the fighting.
      
      Refugees attempting to flee the fighting into Turkey.
      
      Refugees fleeing the area stuck on the Syrian side of the border with Turkey.
      
      Refugees fleeing the area stuck on the Syrian side of the border with Turkey.
There was fighting on the front along the al-Ameria and Ramouseh Industrial districts of Aleppo: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.165839&lon=37.134261&z=15&m=b
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEG_EBwDwxs&feature=youtu.be
Russian airstrikes hit the al-Sha’ar, Khallaseh, and al-Ansari Mashhad districts of Aleppo: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.195110&lon=37.160740&z=14&m=b&gz=0;371374797;361819131;0;0;85831;100446;469494;259749
- 8 people were killed in the al-Sha’ar district.
- 6 people, including 1 child and 1 woman, were killed in the Mashhad district.
- Al-Sha’ar:
  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQKsunAMz-g
  - Rescue and recovery efforts:
- Mashhad:
  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQKsunAMz-g&feature=youtu.be
- Khallaseh:
  - Rescue and recovery efforts:
    - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXXtpF3kZ2U
    - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_MhZLlWnvQ
- Rebel AA fire:
  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Zl1mjdU1c
    Syrian Civil Defense members rescuing a child after a Russian airstrike on the Kallaseh district of Aleppo.
There was fighting around Khan Tuman, south of Aleppo: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.125050&lon=37.050533&z=14&m=b
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1AEmdGWw0
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlUBmvcdgpY
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsNGOGGth8U
- Videos of the rebel assault that captured Khaladiyeh yesterday:
Pro-government forces launched an assault on the Islamic State-held village of Teibah, east of Aleppo: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.185827&lon=37.439089&z=14&m=b
- Pro-government forces capturing al-Sin and the al-Sirhan farms: http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=36.264207&lon=37.511101&z=12&m=b&search=sirhan
  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeF5uqb0QGY