President Assad says Syria is in dire need of reconstruction

During a meeting in Damascus on Monday with the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Walid Muallem, and various diplomats, President Bashar al-Assad announced that the primary effort should of the government will be the reconstruction of the nation and its infrastructure. President Assad stated that, “Reconstruction is the top priority in Syria, backed up by the continued […]

Israeli airstrike targets Syrian military site as tensions rise

Syria accused Israel on Thursday of bombing a military site that has been linked to the production of chemical weapons, as well as missiles bound for the Hezbollah militant group, marking an escalation of cross-border incursions by Israeli jets. Syria’s army command said the attack occurred at 2:42 a.m. near the western town of Masyaf, […]

As ISIS retreats in Syria, U.S. and Iran scramble for control

BEIRUT — U.S.- and Iran-backed forces are locked in a race to take Islamic State strongholds in southeastern Syria and seize a stretch of land that will either cement Tehran’s regional ambitions or stifle them. The scramble for pole position in Deir al-Zour province is likely to be one of the most consequential fights against the extremist […]

Four Russian servicemen killed by roadside bomb in Syria

BEIRUT — Four Russian servicemen were killed by a roadside bomb in western Syria last week, according to the Russian military. The defense ministry said in a statement that the Feb 16. attack had targeted a Syrian military convoy close to Tiyas, an air base from which Russian war planes have launched raids on Islamic […]

Syrian Rebels Brace for a Trump Cutoff, and Look for a Silver Lining

The hours are ticking down to what the Syrian government and its main ally, Russia, say could be the most devastating aerial assault yet on besieged rebel-held districts in the Syrian city of Aleppo. The Obama administration has offered no military lifeline even to rebel groups it has vetted and backed. But Donald J. Trump, the […]

SOFREP editor-in-chief interviews President Assad in Syria

Jack Murphy, SOFREP’s Editor-in-Chief, is currently in Syria participating in a conference held by the British Syrian society. Yesterday, Jack was given the rare opportunity to interview President Bashar al-Assad. After being escorted into the atrium of the presidential palace we were told that we could walk upstairs to meet the president. I walked up the white […]

US Special Forces to back Turkish troops in Syria

The special forces deployment comes as Washington accused Damascus of blocking aid to besieged cities and warned it will not boost military cooperation with Russia unless Moscow is able to convince President Bashar al-Assad both to halt attacks on rebel groups and allow humanitarian access.

Turkey fires on U.S.-backed Kurdish guerrillas in Syria offensive

Ankara views the YPG as a threat because of its close links to Kurdish militants waging a three-decade-old insurgency on its own soil. It has been alarmed by the YPG’s gains in northern Syria since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, fearing it could extend Kurdish control along Turkish borders and fuel the ambitions of Kurdish insurgents in Turkey.