💬 Head of the Syrian armed opposition delegation to Sputnik: We seek normal relations with Russia and the international community

The Syrian opposition hopes for positive relations with the international community and its neighbors in order to build a civil, independent and democratic state on the basis of UNSC Resolution 2254, Ahmed Toma, the head of the Syrian armed opposition delegation to the Astana talks, told Sputnik.

"We have no obstacles to cooperation if these relations are based on the principle of mutual respect. We seek normal relations with everyone, including Moscow," he said.

Ahmed also stressed that the Syrian opposition will focus on rebuilding civilian infrastructure in the coming period.

"Our main task in the coming period is to preserve state institutions, ensure security and solve the problems and crises that affect our people, who have no electricity, no water, no administrative services and severe food shortages," he added.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

💩 Italian government is 'A pile of SH*T'

Italian activists laid a red carpet with manure on it at Milan's La Scala theater, topping everything with photos of PM Meloni, Israeli PM Netanyahu, and ministers Salvini and Giulia.

They held signs reading "War is a sh*t show" and "Genocide is a sh*t show."

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Trump: Zelensky wants peace, 'That is new'

In an interview with the New York Post, Donald Trump revealed details about his conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky.

"He wants to make peace. That's new. He wants a ceasefire. We didn't talk about the details. He thinks it's time," the president-elect said.

Trump, Macron and Zelensky had a 35-minute conversation in Paris during the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️ Trump nominates Alina Habba as his counselor

Alina Habba, who previously served as Donald Trump's campaign and transition advisor, will become counselor to the president in the White House.

📹 This is Alina commenting on the pardon of Hunter Biden earlier this week.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

💥 Israel enters Syrian territory beyond the Golan Heights

Sputnik's exclusive footage shows Israeli tanks and bulldozers breaching a wall on the border of the Golan Heights region, entering Syrian soil beyond the Golan Heights for the first time in more than 50 years.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Ukrainian military has no strategy for keeping the part of Kherson Region under its control — governor

The Ukrainian military has no strategic plan for holding the right bank part of the Kherson Oblast under its control in the long term, and there is no large-scale construction of fortifications there, Governor Vladimir Saldo told Sputnik.

"The Ukrainian actions in this direction are tactical rather than strategic. The enemy acts on the principle of short, episodic attacks aimed at achieving local goals. However, such actions create an illusion of activity without affecting the overall outcome of the conflict," Saldo said.

The governor stressed that the Ukrainian military may try to strengthen the right bank, but without a strategy their efforts are doomed to failure.

"A real victory is achieved not by individual successes, but by competent coordination of tactics and strategy. The Kiev regime lacks a basic strategy and is therefore doomed to defeat. In the long run, the same goes for the West," Saldo believes.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔥 TOS-1A strike obliterates Ukrainian positions in Kharkov Region

The Russian Ministry of Defense shared footage of a TOS-1A Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower system, operated by the Sever Group of Forces, targeting and destroying Ukrainian shelters in the Kharkov region.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Trump said Zelensky wants a ceasefire and a peace deal, adding that he is developing a plan to end the "ridiculous" conflict in Ukraine

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇸🇾❓ What is known about the Syrian crisis so far?

🔘 The Syrian opposition hopes for positive relations with the international community and its neighbors in order to build a civil, independent, and democratic state on the basis of UNSC Resolution 2254, Ahmed Toma, head of Syria’s armed opposition delegation to the Astana talks, told Sputnik.

“We have no obstacles to cooperation if these relations are based on the principle of mutual respect. We seek normal relations with everyone, including Moscow,” he said.

🔘 US CENTCOM reported over 75 airstrikes against ISIS* in central Syria “to ensure that ISIS does not seek to take advantage of the current situation.”

🔘 The Syrian armed opposition has informed Washington via Turkiye that it will not allow ISIS* to join their actions against the overthrown Syrian government, the NY Times reported, citing unnamed US and Turkish officials.

🔘 The UN Security Council will convene Monday afternoon for an emergency closed-door meeting regarding Syria at Russia’s request.

How has the world reacted?

▪️ US: Joe Biden said that Washington “will work with our partners and the stakeholders in Syria to help them seize an opportunity to manage the risk.”

▪️ Iran: Tehran respects Syria’s unity and national sovereignty and calls for “the swift end of military conflicts, the prevention of terrorist actions, and the commencement of national dialogue” with all sectors of Syrian society, the Iranian Foreign Ministry noted.

▪️ Lebanon: Units “tasked with monitoring and controlling the northern and eastern borders [with neighboring Syria] have been reinforced, in conjunction with tightening surveillance measures,” per the country’s military.

▪️ Israel: Upon seizing a buffer zone in the Golan Heights, Israel “will not allow any hostile force to establish itself on our border,” PM Benjamin Netanyahu said.

▪️ UN: “The future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine, and my Special Envoy will be working with them towards that end,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted.

*terrorist organization banned in Russia and other countries

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

South Korean police are considering whether to impose a travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol as they investigate him for treason and other charges related to last week's martial law declaration, Yonhap news agency reported.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

South Korean Justice Ministry imposes travel ban on President Yoon Suk Yeol, Yonhap news agency reported.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

What is known about the Syrian crisis so far?

EXCLUSIVE: Syrian armed opposition seeks normal relations with Russia, international community

VIDEO: Israel enters Syria beyond the Golan Heights

Russian Foreign Ministry slams Reuters for spreading fakes on Assad's 'highly likely' death

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

📹 Russia’s Federal Security Service cracks down on criminal call center

The Federal Security Service (FSB) announced it has uncovered an international call center network operating in Russia on behalf of former Georgian Defense Minister and Milton Group founder Davit Kezerashvili. Security forces detained 11 individuals, including leaders and employees of the network's Russian offices.

According to the FSB, in 2022, the leaders of the network, under orders from the Ukrainian Security Service, sent anonymous messages about alleged terrorist attacks supposedly being planned in Russia.

The FSB reported that the network's victims numbered around 100,000 people across more than 50 countries.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

The flag of the Syrian opposition has been raised at the country's embassy in Moscow.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🗣Russian forces in Syria are doing everything necessary to ensure the security of military bases, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The events in Syria have surprised the whole world, with Russia being no exception, Peskov said. The situation remains unstable and the country is currently undergoing a period of transformation, he added.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

💬 More key statements by Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

⚪️Vladimir Putin is to meet with CSTO parliamentary leaders on Monday.

⚪️Putin will informally talk to Russia's Heroes after official events in honor of Heroes of the Fatherland Day in the Kremlin.

⚪️The Astana format is always relevant as a mechanism for exchanging views, and consultations will continue in one form or another.

⚪️The Kremlin urged not to make hasty conclusions on the release of prisoners in Syria, saying all cases should be considered separately.

⚪️The security of Russian military bases in Syria is a very important issue.

⚪️ Russia firmly intends to support dialog on Syria, analyze the situation, and hold consultations.

⚪️The international situation is very turbulent, and this requires special attention, including from the Russian authorities.

⚪️There is still very high conflict potential in the world.

⚪️Putin's official schedule does not include a meeting with Bashar al-Assad.

⚪️On reports that Assad is in Moscow: Nothing to say on Assad's location.

⚪️The Russian authorities are doing everything necessary to get in contact with those in Syria who can deal with the security of military bases.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

📑What makes the Golan Heights crucial for Israel?

Amid the turmoil in Syria, which saw President Bashar al-Assad transfer power to the armed opposition, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) entered Syrian territory outside the Golan Heights for the first time in 50 years.

The Golan Heights in details

The Golan Heights is a mountain plateau of volcanic origin that stretches north to south, covering an area of 1,800 square kilometers. It lies about 60 km south of Damascus and is bordered by the Yarmouk River to the south and the Sea of Galilee to the west.

Why is this ground vital?

🔸 This is a key strategic area in military terms. The plateau’s hilly terrain offers a natural defense line against any ground military strike from Syria.

🔸 The high ground also gives Israel an excellent vantage point to observe troop movements in Syria.

🔸 With their well-developed hydro geographical network, the heights are a key source of water for the arid region.

🔸 Numerous rivers and streams from there flow into the Jordan River and Lake Tiberias – crucial sources of drinking water for Israel.

🔸 Three drilling sites on the Golan were claimed to have discovered potentially billions of barrels of oil in 2015.

🔸 The fertile volcanic soil is used for growing vineyards and orchards, as well as for raising livestock.

What is the history of the Golan Heights?

◾️ Israel seized a large portion of Syria's Golan Heights during the Six-Day War in 1967.

◾️ After the 1973 Arab-Israeli War (Yom Kippur War), Syria and Israel signed a disengagement agreement in May 1974.

◾️ The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 350, which established the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) there.

◾️ Israel formally annexed the patch of land in 1981.

◾️ The UN Security Council declared the annexation invalid. Most of the international community, including Russia, does not recognize Israel's sovereignty over the territory. During Trump’s tenure in 2019, the US administration officially recognized the Golan Heights as part of Israel.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇷🇺 Russia can never be ‘conquered’, Putin assures

The Russian president highlighted the contributions of those who served in Russia's special military operation while presenting them with awards at a ceremony dedicated to Heroes of the Fatherland Day.

“On our side, we hold the truth, the might of firepower, as well as the strength of spirit,” he stressed.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

The armed opposition that took power in Syria proposes dissolving all opposition associations and operating under a unified government, spokesperson told Sputnik.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt