The operating environment is generally favorable for AF SAR. The Syrian army storms the city of Al-Mayadeen, capturing about 60% of the territory of the settlement. In the Karjatein area, government troops have captured the dominant height and are now holding the city under fire control. In southern Damascus, pro-American militants began to surrender to pro-government forces. Terrorist clashes continue in northern Hama Islamic State" And " Khayyat Tahrir ash-Sham". There was a triple terrorist attack in Damascus. There are dead and wounded. There was information that Syrian Democratic Forces» ( SDF) and the US military are negotiating with the leaders of the militants in Raqqa about the organization " green corridor ”and the evacuation of terrorists from Raqqa under the cover of leaving residents. You can find out more about the events taking place in Syria in our daily report.
- Deir ez-Zor Province:
Government troops, backed by VKS RF , are crowding out IS gangs in the administrative center of the province. Yesterday, Syrian units achieved another success by breaking through the ISIS defenses in the Al-Arfi area in the west of Deir ez-Zor. During this battle, the security forces captured several high-rise buildings in Al-Arfi and Al-Sinaa.
The operation to liberate the city of Al-Mayadeen continues. Assault groups " Tiger Forces”, with the support of Russian aviation, are methodically pushing the terrorists out of the settlement. Al-Balum, Al-Balthu, Al-Madiyah, Al-Taiba and half of the Al-Sinaa district are already occupied.
In addition, the Tigers captured the Al-Baloom roundabout, a power station and a school building. Thus, the enemy lost about 60% of the city, retreating to its northern part. ().
During the daily battles for Al-Mayadeen, the Islamic State lost about fifty militants killed. ringleaders ISIS, fearing falling into the hands of the security forces, fled to the neighboring town of Abu Kamal.
Video: Footage of the assault on Al-Mayadeen
Clashes erupt periodically in the vicinity of the recently liberated village of Khatla el-Sharqiya. The terrorists are trying to recapture it in order to break through the encirclement and restore communication with the main forces. However, all these attempts are doomed to failure, as the security forces have almost completed its cleansing and are strengthening the external defense of the settlement.
Video: Report from the village of Hatla al-Sharqiya: clash with IS fighters
- Aleppo Province:
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants once again fired mortars at government-controlled residential areas of Aleppo. The positions of the SAR Armed Forces on the line of demarcation were also covered with fire. In response, strongholds of jihadists in the area of the Al-Zahra Association were fired upon by large-caliber artillery.
Video: Army soldiers fired on Al-Nusra strongholds in the Al-Zahra area from large-caliber guns
- Idlib Province:
The Hayat Tahrir ash-Sham group is rapidly losing its leaders. Following the Russian Aerospace Forces, which destroyed the most odious leaders " al-Nusra”, “they said their word” to the US Air Force.
A US drone launched a missile attack on the headquarters of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham north of the city of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province. During the raid, 5 field commanders were eliminated, including " Abu al-Baraa Al-Aurdni ”, who was a high-ranking emir of al-Nusra from Jordan.
Civil war continues in Idlib. A suicide bomber blew up a "shahid's belt" in the city of Armanaz, while among the jihadists. As a result, 4 militants of the Khayyat Tahrir al-Sham group were killed, which had recently seized the village from their former allies from “ Harakat Ahrar ash-Sham". In addition, 4 members of al-Nusra and two civilians were injured.
- Hama Province:
In the north of Hama, active clashes between the militants of the Islamic State and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham continue. In n.p. Maarzit jihadists managed to seize a large ISIS weapons and ammunition depot.
Also, "al-Nusra" managed to recapture the settlement. Um Miyal and Talihan and stop IS fighters from infiltrating the village of Byudh among the refugees.
- Damascus Province:
City of Damascus
Three explosions rocked the Syrian capital yesterday. Two suicide bombers blew up martyr's belt ” on Khalid ibn al-Walid Street, before unsuccessfully trying to enter the building of the police headquarters. The third terrorist, noticing the pursuit, initiated a charge in front of the market. The explosions killed 9 and injured 10 people.
South Damascus
A group of Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters, part of the Ahmad Abdo brigade, defected to the Syrian army in the Badia al-Sham region. Former pro-American militants refused to participate in the fratricidal war and intend to return to civilian life. ).
Video: Footage of the liberated Syrian-Jordanian border in southeast Damascus
- Homs Province:
Government troops continue to besiege Karyatain. Over the past day, the Syrian military has made some progress.
Units of the 3rd and 18th divisions, supported by Russian helicopters, attacked terrorist strongholds around the city. During the ensuing battle, the dominant height of Jebel Jubail was liberated. As a result, most of Karjatein was under the fire control of the security forces.
Video: Operation to capture Jebel Jbeil
Zvezda publishes footage of the battles between the Syrian army and ISIS militants on the outskirts of the city of Mayadeen in the province of Deir Ezzor. Soldiers are firing at the identified enemy firing point in one of the villages occupied by terrorists. The militants dug in in one of the small houses - from there sniper fire was fired at the soldiers. After being hit by several Grad missiles and shelling, the firing point was suppressed.
* an organization banned in Russia
Turkish tanks stationed on the border with Iraq
Air bridge for the Kurds
Photographs of American military transport aircraft delivering weapons to the Kurds in Iraq and Syria.
Military transport aircraft CASA/IPTN CN-235 on .
Aircraft of this type are in service with the US Air Force, France, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE.
Below is a military transport aircraftCASA/IPTN CN-235 in flight, besieged by Kurdish militias.
In the event of an escalation in relations between the Kurds and their neighbors, it is the American military transport aviation that will be the main supplier of weapons and ammunition for the Kurdish formations in Syria and Iraq.
The presence of a network of airstrips, supply bases and developed logistics channels is the US investment in the next stage of the war, when the Caliphate as a state with a regular army will cease to exist.
It is worth noting that the SDF are consulting with the garrison of Raqqa regarding the withdrawal of ISIS from the city. Negotiations obviously went in view of the very protracted terms of the capture of Rakia and heavy losses.
The proposals voiced in the media that the "blacks" would be released through the territory of the SDF to Abu Kemal are not very realistic, because even Russia is not at all interested in getting these militants into Eastern Syria, so such a convoy with militants leaving Raqqa may become a priority target for air strikes and cruise missiles. The militants on this score, I think in the know. Therefore, fierce resistance continues in the central and northern quarters of Raqqa.
It is currently beneficial for Russia that it last longer, since the militants essentially tie up significant forces of the SDF and American special forces near Raqqa, which is important for the race for Deir ez-Zor oil.
Similar attempts to reach an agreement with ISIS in Mosul were thwarted by timely leaks of information about such negotiations. Let's see how it will be this time.
In any case, the United States is emphatically ignoring persistent questions from the Foreign Ministry and the Russian Defense Ministry about its goals in Syria, maintaining the maximum possible space for decisions in Syria and obviously relying on the SDF as the main instrument of its policy in this theater of operations.
Battle for Deir ez-Zor: The Syrian Army and the Russian Aerospace Forces have made great progress in the battles against ISIS (MAP)
This week, the Syrian Army mobilized its forces in the province of Deir ez-Zor for a decisive large-scale offensive aimed at driving ISIS out of the provincial capital.
The 4th and 17th divisions of the SAA, together with the 5th Army Corps, cleared the area around the Es-Sukhne - Deir ez-Zor highway in order to re-establish a strategic supply line from the province of Homs.
Once this supply line is completely secure, within the next 48 hours, the SAR Army and its allies must launch a decisive offensive to clear the remaining areas occupied by ISIS in the provincial capital of Deir ez-Zor.
On Tuesday, after launching a large-scale offensive, the Syrian Arab Army took another big step towards defeating the terrorists in Deir ez-Zor.
Backed by heavy Russian airstrikes, the SAA stormed ISIS positions in the Al-Arfi area, taking a number of buildings inside this terrorist stronghold.
Government troops took control most Al-Arfi district on Tuesday evening, while destroying dozens of ISIS fighters, including one of their field commanders.
As a result of this progress, the SAA was able to move inland from the strategic Al Siyasiyah Bridge, which had been used by the militants for several years as a crossing from the provincial capital.
The remaining areas that ISIS * gangs still hold in the city of Deir ez-Zor are Al-Haviqah, Al-Jubeileh, Sheikh Yassin, Al-Arji and Al-Kanamat.
Thanks to a large number tanks and infantry, the SAA is in a position to destroy and put to flight the remaining terrorists occupying these areas of the provincial capital in the near future.
* A terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation.
British terrorist White Widow killed in Syria
During the attack of an American drone in Raqqa, the British citizen Sally Jones, nicknamed the White Widow, who fought in the ranks of the ISIS terrorist group in Syria, was eliminated.
According to the British media, her 12-year-old son died along with the terrorist. Sally Jones converted to Islam and became the assistant to her husband Junaid Hussein. He served as the chief recruiter of ISIS * in Europe and was involved in the preparation of at least 12 terrorist attacks.
After the death of her husband, the woman promised to take revenge and become the first British suicide bomber under the name Imm Hussein. In addition, Jones publicly announced that she led a group of saboteurs who are planning a series of terrorist attacks in the West.
* a terrorist group banned in the Russian Federation
Russian military rush to help: Defense Ministry convoy arrives at former militant stronghold near Damascus (PHOTO)
Russian servicemen continue their mission to help Syrians who find themselves in a difficult life situation.
This is in the report "Russian Spring" from the scene.
The city of Muadamiya in the province of Damascus has played an important role in the restoration of peaceful life in Syria. It was there that militants first joined the reconciliation process. Representatives of the Syrian army and the armed group "Ajnad al-Sham" ("Warriors of Sham") signed a reconciliation agreement a year and a half ago. Many other cities followed suit.
On October 11, the Russian military delivered another humanitarian cargo to this settlement. More than 2 tons of humanitarian aid was distributed to local residents, which included: flour, rice, sugar and canned food. In addition, in addition to basic food, 137 families with young children were given baby food.
During the humanitarian action, Russian military doctors set up a temporary medical center. Assistance was provided to more than 150 people, including 62 children.
Similar actions are held at least twice a week. RV Russian officer of the Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria.
He said that last week the humanitarian cargo was delivered to the cities of Khirbat al-Shabab in the province of Damascus and Khan Arnaba in the province of El Quneitra. Refugees from Deir ez-Zor and other cities previously captured by ISIS* live there.
* A terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation.
It was this game that determined whether the SAR national team would play in Russia.
About 10,000 people gathered in Sadll Jabri Square in front of a big screen. All cafes and restaurants are literally crowded with fans. It seemed that winning this match was as important to the people of Aleppo as the liberation of the city itself.
And this is not surprising, because for more than 6 years of war, people are tired of endless shooting and bombing, and the ticket for the Syrian football team to Russia is a kind of another symbol of the return of the whole country to peaceful life.
We talked to the owner of one of the cafes where the match was broadcast.
My name is Hasan Fistok and I am the owner of the Stella cafe in the Mogambo area. I hope that we will win with the support of our president and our Russian friends. God willing, we will win the war and football. I hope Syria will always be free from bandits and terrorists. I hope that Syria will be strong until the end.
- Tell us how you feel during such an important match for Syria?
I want to say if the Syrian team wins, it will be a great reason for the joy of the Syrian people. As you know, the war is coming to an end, I hope that Syria will be as good as before and even better.
- If the Syrian team wins and advances to the playoffs, will you go to Russia for the 2018 World Cup?
Yes, of course, with pleasure, I will be happy to watch football in the most dear country to my heart and all the Syrian people. I would like to express my great gratitude to President Vladimir Putin and to every citizen of Russia for their support and assistance to our country.
Unfortunately, the SAR team lost to the Australians in extra time with a score of 1:2, but the selfless game of the Syrian football players rallied millions of people across Syria in the struggle for peace and independence of their country.
It seems that the temperature of Russian-American relations has risen to a critical point. First, the US military leadership announced its readiness to strike in Syria not only against Assad's army, but also against units that include Russian military advisers. And then the US diplomats announced that if the UN did not dare to strike at Damascus (and all because Assad undertook to clear the suburbs of his capital, Eastern Ghouta, from militants), then the Americans would do it themselves.
In general, the world hung in the balance from the bombing of the Syrian capital from US ships and aircraft.
I had to react.
And Moscow reacted. The Chief of the General Staff of Russia, General of the Army Valery Gerasimov, quite unequivocally splashed cold water on the brains of American hawks, as hot as coals. He made it clear that Russia is well aware of the scenario that the US is going to seize on as the reason for the attack on Damascus. And he warned against this, promising to respond to such a blow.
Chief of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov. Photo: Mikhail Metzel/TASS
We have reliable information about militants preparing a staged use of chemical weapons by government forces (Assad's army - ed.) against civilians. To this end, extras from women, children and the elderly have been assembled in Eastern Ghouta, who are to portray the victims. There are already White Helmets activists and film crews with satellite video broadcasting equipment, General Gerasimov said.
The chief of the General Staff said that, according to reports, after this provocation, the United States plans to accuse Assad's troops of using chemical weapons and launch a missile and bomb attack on the government quarters of Damascus.
At the same time, Russian military advisers and servicemen are in Damascus at the facilities of the Syrian Defense Ministry. military police, - General Gerasimov warned clearly (and no one had any doubts - to whom this warning was addressed). - Therefore, in the event of a threat to their lives, the Russian Armed Forces will take retaliatory measures against both the missiles and the carriers that will use them.
Russian servicemen at one of the checkpoints in the Damascus region. Photo: REUTERS
That is, if any US cruiser in the Mediterranean or a squadron of American aircraft that have risen from an air base in Turkey fire missiles at Damascus, they will be immediately sunk or shot down by return fire.
Much more understandable.
But why is this Eastern Guta so dear to America, which few people in the world have heard of before? The fact is that there the United States maternally takes care of more than 2,500 leftovers from the terrorist ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and other gangs banned in Russia. And the more the Syrian army squeezes the encirclement around this hornet's nest, the more the Americans whine. It is quite clear that they do not want to lose the last stronghold of their support, actually under the balcony of Assad. They understand that the elimination of the bandit foothold in Eastern Ghouta frustrates their plans to eliminate Assad. In addition, they say that American instructors may operate in Guta ...
The destroyed quarters of the Eastern Guta district. Photo: REUTERS
All this can have very serious consequences.
There may be a situation where for the first time in modern history eye to eye converge Russian and American military. Well, then it is easy to predict that this could lead not only to a regional clash in the Syrian region, but also to a global clash. Do the American military and diplomats really not understand what they are dealing with.
Apparently, they still understand, but they don’t want to lose face, as in a yard fight - to appear to the neighboring girls (the European Union, the Arab world, Turkey and other observers of the conflict in Syria) as “losing weaklings”.
At the same time, Americans should remember the advice of one wise military politician: do not mess with the Russians! They will turn all your attempts into useless. It would be nice if the Pentagon wrote this in meter-long letters on the wall at the entrance. as the main instruction.
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The Syrian army destroyed the factory for the production of shells in Deir ez-Zor
Syrian army fighters discovered and destroyed a large underground factory of the terrorist group "Islamic state" * for the production of mortar shells in the city of Mayadin in the province of Deir ez-Zor, an informed source on the spot told RIA Novosti.
“A workshop was discovered in the west of Meyadin, where shells for mortars of various calibers were produced. The underground production itself has been destroyed. There was a warehouse with thousands of ready-made shells,” the source said.
According to the source, some of the components of the shells, according to the markings, were delivered to terrorists from the Persian Gulf countries.
According to some Syrian military intelligence, IS militants delivered ammunition for mortars from Mayadin, with which terrorists daily fire at residential areas of the city of Deir ez-Zor, controlled by government forces.
* A terrorist organization banned in Russia.
The commander of the troops of the Southern Military District told how to counter the militants in Syria
© RIA Novosti / Mikhail Alaeddin The commander of the Southern Military District (SMD) Alexander Dvornikov told his Armenian colleagues about the tactics of the militants of the Islamic State* group in Syria, using underground catacombs and car bombs, as well as ways to counter it, Vadim Astafiev, head of the press service of the SMD, told RIA Novosti.
Dvornikov delivered a lecture at the Armenian Defense Ministry as part of the Interaction-2017 joint exercises, which he is the head of. Commander of the Southern Military District spoke about modern methods of warfare in local conflicts and features of countering illegal armed formations.
“Speaking about the specifics of the tactics of the actions of ISIS units * in the Syrian Arab Republic, Colonel-General Dvornikov spoke in detail about the methods of countering the “tunnel war”, ... stuffed with explosives vehicles", - said Astafiev. The commander also presented to the Armenian officers a variant of a modern command and control system for a grouping of troops, which makes it possible to effectively manage military operations.
In conclusion, Dvornikov suggested to his colleagues that they adopt the modern experience of command and control, which is currently implemented in the military districts of the armed forces of the Russian Federation. He also recommended to regularly conduct joint command and staff training with the participation of the operational groups of the General Staff of Armenia and the headquarters of the Southern Military District.
“This interaction system will ensure, among other things, the effective solution of common tasks as part of the Joint Group of Troops (Forces) on the territory of Armenia and the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces of the States Parties to the Collective Security Treaty Organization,” the Russian military leader said.
Joint exercises "Interaction-2017", held under the leadership of the commander of the Southern Military District, Colonel-General Alexander Dvornikov, will last until October 13. The theme of the exercises is "Preparation and conduct of a joint operation to localize the armed conflict in the Caucasus region of collective security." In total, more than 2.5 thousand military personnel and about 500 pieces of weapons and military equipment will be involved in tactical operations at the Russian Alagyaz training ground and the Armenian Bagramyan training ground.
*Terrorist organization banned in Russia
Moscow and Damascus plan to restore transport infrastructure in the SAR
Syria is discussing with the Russian side possible cooperation in restoring the country's transport infrastructure - airports, railways, the navy, SAR Minister of Transport Ali Hamoud told SANA.
“The ministry discussed with the Russian Federation the possibility of cooperation in the preparation (for the restoration of activity - ed.) of airports in the liberated areas, the construction of new airports, the preparation of the air fleet and the provision of new aircraft,” the minister told the agency by phone from Sochi, where he participates in meetings of the intergovernmental commissions (IPC).
Hamoud said that in the course of negotiations with the Russian side, the development of the Syrian navy, the construction of a floating dock for the repair of ships, as well as the restoration of bridges destroyed during the war years in the country, were discussed.
"A group of experts participating in the IPC ... studied the possibility of cooperation in the development of railway transport, the production of cars and trucks, tankers, as well as the establishment of regular communication between the coast of Syria and Russian ports," the minister's agency quotes.
The tenth meeting of the Permanent Russian-Syrian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation is taking place in Sochi. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin heads the Russian side of the intergovernmental commission, and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem heads the Syrian side.
Damascus, 12 October. At least 14 civilians were killed in an airstrike by the US-led coalition against Islamic State terrorists1 (banned in Russia) in the Syrian city of Raqqa. According to activists of the organization Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, as a result of the coalition strike, members of two families who had previously moved to Raqqa from the city of Tadmur in Homs province were killed.
According to Turkish Anadolu news agency, human rights activists in Syria have calculated how many civilians have died in several years of the actions of the US-led coalition in Syria: a total of 2,286 male civilians, 504 women and 674 children have died. RiaFan
Media: in Syria, a British woman, nicknamed the White Widow, who joined the ISIS, was killed
British woman Sally Jones, nicknamed "White Widow", who joined the Islamic State terrorist group, was allegedly killed in Syria during an air strike by the US Air Force, the Times writes, citing sources.
It is reported that Jones was liquidated in June on the border with Iraq. Her 12-year-old son was also believed to have died in the airstrike. "The reports that Sally Jones and her son are dead appear to be correct," a British government source told the newspaper.
Sally Jones, also known as Um Hussain Britaniya, or the "White Widow", converted to Islam and, under the influence of her immigrant lover, Junaid Hussein, left for Syria, where they both joined IS*. Jones also took her son to Raqqa. Hussein was killed in an air strike in 2015.
More than 60 militants surrender to Syrian army in northern Syria
Another 65 members of gangs surrendered to government forces in northern Syria through the mediation of the Russian military from the Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties, a RIA Novosti correspondent reports from the scene.
The gathering point in the territory not controlled by the Syrian army was the village of Abu Kahf. The transition took place at a checkpoint near the village of Taiha.
“We were waiting for these people here. They communicated through intermediaries that they were ready to leave. The Russian military helped us negotiate with them,” Amer Al-Ahmadi, a government official in charge of the reconciliation process in the area, told reporters.
According to the members of the gangs, they worked in the rear and did not participate in hostilities. The Syrian special services will have to check the biography of each of them, Al-Ahmadi specified. At the request of the Syrian authorities, representatives of the Reconciliation Center ensured the safe passage of the convoy with surrendered militants to the city of Aleppo. There, they will complete normalization applications, which will take approximately two weeks to review.
In accordance with the decree of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, all residents of areas controlled by the militants can go through the process of normalizing the status of the population, including those who took part in the hostilities on the side of the militants.
You can only normalize a status once. After this procedure, a Syrian citizen gets the opportunity to start life with clean slate. At the same time, he undertakes not to take part in bandit formations in exchange for an amnesty guaranteed by the president. To control this process, a Reconciliation Commission has been created in Damascus, the activities of which the Syrian president personally oversees. To date, more than 20 thousand citizens of the country have become participants in this process.
Russian sappers cleared mines in Deir ez-Zor 60 buildings per day
Russian sappers cleared 62 buildings in the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor in a day, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Earlier, the department reported that the forward detachment of the international mine action center of the Armed Forces (AF) of the Russian Federation was sent to Syria to work in Deir ez-Zor. In total, 175 military personnel of the international mine action center and 42 units of special engineering equipment will be deployed to Syria to participate in humanitarian demining. ”In a day in the city of Deir ez-Zor, Russian sappers cleared 62 buildings, checked 26 hectares of terrain and 7 kilometers of roads for the presence of explosive objects ," the agency said in a statement.
Russian military rush to help: Defense Ministry convoy arrives at former militant stronghold near Damascus
Russian servicemen continue their mission to help Syrians who find themselves in a difficult life situation.
This is in the report "Russian Spring" from the scene.
The city of Muadamiya in the province of Damascus has played an important role in the restoration of peaceful life in Syria. It was there that militants first joined the reconciliation process. Representatives of the Syrian army and the armed group "Ajnad al-Sham" ("Warriors of Sham") signed a reconciliation agreement a year and a half ago. Many other cities followed suit.
On October 11, the Russian military delivered another humanitarian cargo to this settlement. More than 2 tons of humanitarian aid was distributed to local residents, which included: flour, rice, sugar and canned food. In addition, in addition to basic food, 137 families with young children were given baby food.
During the humanitarian action, Russian military doctors set up a temporary medical center. Assistance was provided to more than 150 people, including 62 children.
Similar actions are held at least twice a week. RV Russian officer of the Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria.
He said that last week the humanitarian cargo was delivered to the cities of Khirbat al-Shabab in the province of Damascus and Khan Arnaba in the province of El Quneitra. Refugees from Deir ez-Zor and other cities previously captured by ISIS* live there.
* A terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation.
SYRIA
The Russian transport aircraft An-26 crashed in Syria while landing at the Khmeimim airfield.
Eyewitnesses said that the Russian An-26 transport aircraft, which crashed in Syria on Tuesday, March 6, behaved unusually during landing approach. WarGonzo reports this on its Telegram channel.
As noted, the plane banked very strongly and landed "almost sideways." Eyewitnesses also noted that there was a very strong wind in Latakia that day.
“The crash happened in this way - the plane, when landing, was sharply taken to the side, about seven seconds later it turned back, then it abruptly began to lose altitude, when it hit the ground, the ship turned over and the wing came off, it flew into the greenhouses local residents, the plane itself was carried further along the ground, the fire broke out instantly, ”an eyewitness reported the details of the disaster.
A major general, 26 officers, ensigns and contractors died in the crash of an An-26 aircraft in Syria, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
“As a result of the tragedy, 27 officers died, one of them with the rank of major general, as well as ensigns and contract servicemen. There was not a single civilian on board the An-26,” the Defense Ministry said.
The cause of the crash, according to preliminary information, could be a technical malfunction, the Russian military department said.
Crew commander, Major Smirnov S. G
Senior Lieutenant Safronov D.V.
Senior Lieutenant Panov M.A.
Senior Lieutenant Altunin K.N.
Sergeant Osipkin A.V.
Senior Sergeant Epifanov
Captain 1st rank Sachuk A.N.
Captain 1st rank Moiseev M.A.
Colonel Fedun S.V.
Major Morozov A.L.
Senior Sergeant Lushkov S.V.
Ensign Grigoriev M.A.
Captain Gorban K.A.
Captain Gaidarkhanov E.S.
Second Sergeant Belov A.I.
Senior Sergeant Bogatyrev Z. M.
Major Maunev M.I.
Captain Pylyonok A.A.
Captain Sheintsvit S.V.
Senior warrant officer Grabovsky S.V.
Major Chagin E.V.
Captain Trufanov A.V.
Major Kukushkin D.I.
Senior Lieutenant Shevchenko A. A.
Corporal Kolomoytsev I.K.
Major Mikryukov V.V.
Captain of the medical service Rasputin N.B.
Sergeant Serezhenkov E. A.
Junior Sergeant Chapdarov B.R.
Senior Lieutenant Levchuk G.S.
Major General Eremeev V. G.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to the families and friends of those killed in the crash Russian aircraft An-26 in Syria. This was announced by the press secretary of the head of state Dmitry Peskov.
“The President of the Russian Federation expressed deep condolences to the families and friends of those killed in the plane crash, as well as to the entire personnel of the Ministry of Defense in connection with the loss of comrades,” he said.
The Kremlin spokesman also said that the president had received a report from Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. “Putin, who is on a working trip to the Sverdlovsk region, listened by phone to the report of Minister Shoigu on the crash of the An-26 aircraft near the Khmeimim airbase, the president received all the latest on this moment information," Peskov said.
The weather conditions for the landing approach of the An-26 that crashed in Syria were simple, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"During the landing approach of the An-26 weather were simple. The plane was flying from Qvayres airbase (Aleppo) to Khmeimim. The crew commander is a pilot of the 1st class. Commander's raid on this type of the aircraft was more than 3 thousand hours, ”the Ministry of Defense said, noting that the pilot repeatedly landed at the Khmeimim airfield.
A criminal case has been initiated on the fact of the crash of the An-26 military transport aircraft in Syria. This was reported by the press service of the Investigative Committee of Russia with reference to the official representative of the department Svetlana Petrenko.
The case was initiated under Art. 251 of the Criminal Code of Russia (violation of flight rules or preparation for them, which entailed grave consequences).
According to the UK, the aircraft was performing a scheduled flight in Syria. According to preliminary data, the plane crashed 500 meters from Khmeimim airport.
A task force has been set up to investigate. The main military prosecutor's office of Russia began an investigation into the crash of the plane.
Relatives of those killed in the An-26 plane crash in Syria will receive all the necessary assistance. This was announced by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
“All the necessary assistance will be provided to everyone affected by this tragedy,” the official website of the Cabinet quoted the Prime Minister as saying.
“On my own behalf and on behalf of the Russian government, I offer deep condolences to the families of the victims and their colleagues. I sincerely sympathize and worry with you,” the prime minister said.
He also noted that the circumstances and causes of the An-26 crash in Syria will be studied and analyzed.
“I am deeply shocked by the terrible incident. This is a great sorrow for all those who lost their relatives and friends, their army comrades in the disaster, for Russian army woe for all of us. This loss is irreplaceable,” the official website of the Cabinet quoted the prime minister as saying.
“The circumstances of the incident will be thoroughly investigated,” Medvedev stressed.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressed condolences in connection with the crash of the Russian An-26 military transport aircraft in Syria. This was reported by the press service of the Kremlin.
“The situation in Eastern Ghouta was discussed in the context of the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2401. The importance of solving humanitarian problems and the need for a further uncompromising fight against terrorist groups in the area were noted.
Erdogan briefed Putin on the progress of the operation of the Turkish armed forces in Afrin.
Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Syria Staffan de Mistura on Tuesday discussed with representatives of Iran, Russia and Turkey the progress of the inter-Syrian negotiation process. This was reported by the press service of the UN.
“De Mistura discussed with the three guarantors of the [Astana process on Syria] the follow-up to the final statement of the forum in Sochi and the further advancement of the Geneva political process in order to fully implement the UNSC resolution,” the message says.
During the meeting, the need for de-escalation was emphasized in connection with the meeting of the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey and Iran on Syria scheduled for March 16 in Astana. In addition, the parties discussed the issue of transferring the bodies of the dead and searching for the missing.
The Syrian government "reaffirms its commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 2401 and expresses its readiness to contribute to international initiatives leading to an end to the bloodshed throughout the country." This, as reported by the SANA agency, is stated in the message of the Syrian Foreign Ministry, sent on Tuesday to the UN Secretary General.
The document emphasizes that "Syrian troops continue to conduct military operations in order to eliminate terrorist gangs in Eastern Ghouta in full accordance with international law." Damascus demands from the UN Security Council "to put pressure on the states that patronize the gangs in order to force the militants to comply with the terms of the truce and stop holding civilians as hostages."
“Syrian helicopters daily drop leaflets that indicate the exit routes to the humanitarian corridor near the Al-Wafidin refugee camp,” the message says. “However, for eight days, armed groups do not allow the population to leave the areas under their control and shell the humanitarian corridor and peaceful neighborhoods of Damascus.”
The document draws attention to the fact that "the United States, Great Britain and France, which sought a truce in Syria, did not say a word about these criminal actions of the militants and never condemned the shelling of Damascus, which entailed the death of civilians."
“The behavior of these states confirms that they, in seeking the adoption of UNSCR 2401, did not care about the protection civilian population, but sought to stop the advance of the Syrian army on terrorist positions in Eastern Ghouta,” the message says.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry, in a message to the UN Security Council, also warned that "states that support gangs have launched a new smear campaign against Damascus." The message notes that "the terrorists and their patrons staged a staging to accuse the Syrian troops of using poisonous substances in Eastern Ghouta."
“These fabrications mislead the international community and are part of a conspiracy to disrupt the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2401 to cease hostilities in Syria,” the document emphasizes.
The Al-Arabiya TV channel broadcast a report on Tuesday claiming that at least 30 residents of the village of Khamuriya in Eastern Ghouta were affected by the use of chlorine-laden shells. Responsibility for the shelling is attributed to government troops.
At least one thousand children have died since the beginning of 2018 in Syria as victims of fighting in that country. This figure on Tuesday, March 6, was announced by the representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Christophe Boullierac, Reuters reports from Geneva.
The largest casualties among Syrian minors over the past two months have been associated with military operations in the Eastern Ghouta region, a suburb of Damascus, where government forces are attacking various groups of Islamist militants.
According to Boulierac, "basement life has become the norm" for children in Eastern Ghouta.
It is also reported that the UN and International Committee On Thursday, March 8, the Red Cross plans to deliver a batch of humanitarian aid to a suburb east of Damascus after 14 out of 46 humanitarian aid trucks failed to enter the city of Douma, located in the administrative limits of Eastern Ghouta, last Monday.
Russia's offer of a daily five-hour humanitarian pause in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta is not enough to deliver humanitarian aid. This is stated in a statement by the head of EU diplomacy Federica Mogherini and European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Christos Stylianidis, released on Tuesday in Brussels.
“The Russian proposal for a five-hour daily pause is simply not enough to allow humanitarian workers to deliver aid to those who need it most and evacuate those who cannot be treated locally,” the statement said.
The parties to the conflict must ensure unhindered and sustainable humanitarian access to those who are trying to save lives, stressed the head of EU diplomacy and the European Commissioner.
Airstrikes by Russia and the US-led coalition in Syria resulted in large numbers of civilian deaths in 2017. This is stated in the report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations in Syria (OHCHR). In addition, the commission blamed forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad for chemical weapons attacks in Eastern Ghouta.
According to the report, in November 2017, “the Russian aircraft” struck a market in the city of Atarib, located west of Aleppo in the “de-escalation zone”. As a result, at least 84 people died.
Also in the report of the commission it is reported that as a result of coalition strikes on a school near Raqqa in March 2017, 150 civilians were killed. This figure is almost five times higher than the one called the Pentagon. Members of the UN commission did not find evidence of the presence of IS militants at the site of the strikes.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation called on the United States to fulfill its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2401 on a truce in Syria. This was announced by the official representative of the military department, Major General Igor Konashenkov.
“We call on the United States to fulfill its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2401, not to prevent representatives of international humanitarian organizations and the UN from accessing the controlled areas to assess the severity of the humanitarian situation and take urgent measures to provide the necessary assistance to the civilian population,” he said.
US-controlled Raqqa and the Rukban refugee camp remain the only areas in Syria where UN Security Council Resolution 2401 on a ceasefire in the SAR is not implemented.
“The only areas in Syria where the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2401 are completely ignored and no assistance is provided to the population are the US-controlled bombed city of Raqqa, as well as the Rukban refugee camp in the al-Tanf zone occupied by American troops,” he said.
“Since the entry into force of resolution 2401, not a single humanitarian convoy has been delivered there. The situation of the inhabitants of the bombed-out Raqqa and the Er-Rukban refugee camp is assessed as a humanitarian catastrophe," the general emphasized.
The White House last week discussed the possibility of applying military force against the Syrian authorities as punishment for the alleged use of chemical weapons by Damascus in Eastern Ghouta. This was reported on Monday by The Washington Post, citing unnamed officials.
The meeting was chaired by President Donald Trump earlier this week and included White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, Assistant to the President for National Security Herbert McMaster and Secretary of Defense James Mattis, they said.
According to the newspaper, "Trump has asked for options to punish the Assad government following reports that chlorine gas has been used in at least seven cases in current year— and possibly other toxic substances, resulting in civilian casualties in areas under opposition control.”
According to one of the officials, the publication continues, Trump “did not insist on military action” and the meeting participants “decided to continue to monitor the development of the situation.”
At the same time, the publication cites the words of Pentagon spokesman Dana White, who said that Mattis did not participate in any discussions regarding military operations against the Syrian government. However, one of the newspaper's sources claims that Mattis is "categorically" against the use of military force in response to the use of chemical weapons by Damascus, while McMaster, on the contrary, supports this idea.
The US military department does not intend to comment on reports that have appeared in the media that the Pentagon is allegedly preparing a new strike on Syria. It is reported by RIA Novosti with reference to the press service of the department.
“As a rule, we do not discuss future military plans,” Pentagon spokesman Adrian Rankin-Galloway said.
Jaish al-Izza militants shot down a Russian Eleron-3SV UAV.
The Turkish authorities will set up camps for Syrians at nine locations in the province of Idlib and in the zone of operation "Olive Branch" in northern Syria.
This was announced on Tuesday by the official representative of the Turkish Foreign Ministry Hami Aksoy, who was quoted by the Haber Turk TV channel.
“Camps with a total capacity of 170,000 people are being set up in nine different locations in the regions of Idlib and in the Olive Branch zone,” he said. These camps are believed to serve the needs of internally displaced persons in these regions who have fled their homes due to the fighting. Earlier, Turkey has already created several tent cities for Syrians near the border from Syria.
The camps will be located in the territories controlled by Ankara: in the Afrin region, where the Olive Branch has been going on since January 20, and in the northern part of Idlib province, where Turkey is monitoring the ceasefire as a guarantor of the Astana agreements.
Employees of the Russian FSB detained in Dagestan supporters of a cell of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization banned in the Russian Federation, who are involved in recruiting citizens and transporting them to Syria. This was reported to TASS in the Center public relations(TsOS) FSB.
“The Federal Security Service, together with the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, stopped the activities of a cell of supporters of the international terrorist organization ISIS, involved in the recruitment of radical residents of the Republic of Dagestan and their transfer to Syria to participate in hostilities as part of international terrorist organizations,” the FSB stressed.
On March 5, the organizer of this illegal activity and four of his accomplices were detained in Makhachkala. According to the FSB, they “persuaded at least four citizens to leave Russia who, after undergoing sabotage and terrorist training in the Islamic State field camps, became active participants in its armed formations.”
The FSB reported that as a result of the operation, a significant amount of explosives, firearms and ammunition illegally acquired by supporters of an international terrorist organization to commit terrorist crimes in the North Caucasus Federal District.
Aleppo. More than 40 Turkish soldiers were killed during the operation "Olive Branch" that began on January 20 in northern Syria.
This was stated on Tuesday by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during a speech in Ankara. “The number of neutralized terrorists during the Olive Branch operation reached 2,872. From our armed forces and gendarmerie, 41 of our servicemen were killed,” Haber Turk TV channel quotes him as saying.
There have been reports that Kurdish forces are seriously considering attacking Turkish-backed jihadist groups in the Manbij region in the north of the province to ease pressure on YPG units fighting in Afrin.
TFSA militants captured the settlements: Tell Hamo, Khirbet Sharran, Al-Sankari, Tellal Qatmah, Qatmah camp, Matli and Katma (Qatmah).
TFSA video from the Afrin area.
TFSA militants discovered an underground YPG tunnel on Mount Baflun (Baflun).
TFSA video from Shiran area.
Idlib. Militants of the Jabhat Tahrir Suriya group (Ahrar al-Sham and Harakat Nur al-Din al-Zenki) recaptured the settlements of Maar Shurin and Babila, located in the Maarat al-Numan district, from HTS (Maarat al-Numaan).
Hama. Hasan Soufan, the leader of Jabhat Tahrir Suriya, released a video statement of readiness to discuss the issue, a ceasefire and reconciliation with HTS. Soufan also said that Jabhat Tahrir Suriya is ready to join forces to fight the Syrian Arab army in the event of its offensive in the western part of the province of Hama.
Damascus. The head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties, Major General Yuri Yevtushenko, said that the situation in Syrian Eastern Ghouta remains tense due to the fact that terrorists continue to violate the ceasefire.
“Over the past 10 days, militants fired 272 mines and rocket projectile. 13 people were killed, 135 were injured, including three children,” Yevtushenko said.
According to him, the terrorists open fire on government troops to provoke them into retaliatory action. Also, 10 people were killed and 49 were injured during the shelling of the Tishrin hospital in the Syrian village of Dahiyat al-Assad on March 5, the report said.
Civilian victims of terrorist attacks in Damascus.
At least three civilians were killed and eight were injured in a rocket attack on the village of Jarman in the suburbs of the Syrian capital. This was reported on Tuesday by the SANA agency, citing sources in the Damascus police department.
According to the agency, the shelling was carried out by militants of the Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group (banned in the Russian Federation).
Earlier Tuesday, SANA reported five casualties in the shelling.
The CAA liberated most of the settlement. Al-Rahyan.
Al-Ashaari farms, as well as farms to the east of the settlement, have been cleared of militants. Mesraba, Jisreen and Beit Sawa are fighting on the outskirts of the three above-mentioned settlements.
The army regains control of the city of Hammouriyah in Eastern Ghouta.
Raising the flag of the SAR in the city of Hammouriyah, Eastern Ghouta.
SAA in Muhammadiyah, Eastern Ghouta.
SAA in the Harasta region.
SAR operations in Eastern Ghouta.
Raqqa. The international coalition led by the United States did not take proper measures to prevent the death of civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure during air strikes on a school building in Syrian Raqqa in 2017. As noted in the report of the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations in Syria, published on Tuesday, this is a violation of international humanitarian law.
“The Commission concluded that the international coalition should have been aware of the nature of the target and did not take all possible precautions to prevent or reduce the number of civilian casualties, as well as damage to civilian objects, contrary to international humanitarian law,” the report says.
According to the document, on the night of March 21-22, 2017, the building former school Three airstrikes were carried out in El Mansoura in the western outskirts of Raqqa, resulting in the death of at least 150 people. Later, the coalition claimed responsibility for this operation, but emphasized that the target was 30 militants of the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (IS, banned in the Russian Federation), allegedly hiding in the building. The military also said that they had no information about the presence of civilians there. At the same time, although the school was located in (at that time) IS-controlled territory, survivors claimed that the militants never entered the building.
Deir ez-Zor. A huge contingent of Kurdish fighters left their positions and bases in the provinces of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor in the Afrin region to help friendly forces that are currently fighting the Turkish army and pro-Turkish militants.
The departure of about 1,700 Kurdish fighters to Afrin is confirmed by official Kurdish sources.
Raqqa. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) units Jaysh al-Thuwar and the Northern Democratic Brigade announced the start of the redeployment of their units from the provinces of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor to the Afrin region to help the YPG against the Turkish-backed TFSA. According to reports, these units will send several hundred of their fighters to Afrin.
IRAQ
NATO will maintain a presence in Iraq and will continue to provide support to the country's armed forces in accordance with Baghdad's request.
As Al Sumaria TV channel reported on Tuesday, this was stated by the Secretary General of the alliance Jens Stoltenberg, who is on an official visit to the Arab country.
The Secretary General's statement was made a few days after the decision of the Iraqi parliament to demand from the government to set a deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country after the defeat of the terrorist group "Islamic State" (IS, banned in the Russian Federation).
“We are here because Iraq wants it,” Stoltenberg said, pointing out that the alliance had received a written request from Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi. At the same time, he assured that NATO "will not stay too long" in the republic and "will continue to train [Iraqi forces] to prevent the reappearance of ISIS."
As the Secretary General of the alliance explained, the NATO countries participating in the support program have focused their efforts on training local security officials, especially in the field of mine clearance and military field surgery. Their task includes the creation of "military academies and assistance in institutional reforms, including in the fight against corruption."
On Monday, the Iraqi prime minister held a meeting with Stoltenberg in Baghdad, at which he reaffirmed the importance of continuing cooperation with NATO. In mid-February, the alliance secretary general announced a new non-combat mission to train the Iraqi army.
IRAN
US will not allow Iran to create nuclear weapons. This was stated on Monday by Vice President Michael Pence, speaking at a conference of an influential lobbying organization - the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
"The US will never allow Iran to get a nuclear weapon," he said.
According to the Vice President, Tehran "hopes to recreate the ancient Persian Empire which would be headed by a modern dictator - the ayatollah". “Iran not only provides support for terrorism, but also continues to develop ballistic missiles that could threaten every inch of Israeli soil, threaten the lives of all of our citizens,” Pence continued.
“The disastrous nuclear deal negotiated by the previous [President Barack Obama] administration did nothing to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, but only delayed the day when the regime would have the deadliest weapon on the planet,” Pence said. President Donald Trump urged Congress and our European allies to really curb Iran's nuclear and missile ambitions<…>. If the nuclear deal is not renegotiated in the coming months, the US will pull out of it.”
The Vice President is referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - agreements reached with Iran by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia, UK, China, USA, France) and Germany in July 2015 and aimed at resolving the crisis around nuclear development Tehran. In response to the lifting of sanctions imposed earlier by the UN Security Council, the United States and the European Union, Iran pledged to limit its nuclear activities, placing it under international control. The agreement entered the implementation phase in January 2016.
In the new US nuclear doctrine released on February 2, the Pentagon indicated that Tehran, although it agreed to limit its nuclear program in the JCPOA, still "retains the technological capabilities to develop nuclear weapons for 1 year, if such a decision is made by [the country's leadership]." “Many of the limits set in the JCPOA will expire by 2031, reducing the time it may take for Iran to produce enough fissile material to build a nuclear weapon,” the document states.
The document, which will allow the formation of a free trade zone between Iran and the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), may be signed in May.
This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak at a meeting of the Russian-Iranian intergovernmental commission.
“The impetus for the further development of our bilateral trade, as well as the expansion of investment cooperation, will certainly be the conclusion of an interim agreement leading to the formation of a free trade zone between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union, work on which is at an advanced stage,” the minister said. “We hope that this document will be signed in May.”
Novak also noted that Russia had previously agreed on a memorandum on the supply of wheat to the republic. “Yesterday, the ministries of agriculture of both countries managed to preliminary agree on a memorandum on the supply of wheat to the Iranian market,” the minister said.
Earlier, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Alexei Gruzdev said that Russia is working to expand markets for domestic agricultural products and is ready to enter the Iranian market.
Russia discussed with Iran the possibility of supplying the Russian civil airliner Sukhoi SuperJet-100 (SSJ-100, Sukhoi Superjet-100) to Iran. This was announced by the Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Alexander Novak in an interview with the Russia 24 TV channel.
“We talked about the possibility of acquiring the Sukhoi Superjet-100 aircraft by Iranian partners and outlined a plan on how to implement this,” Novak said, commenting on the results of the meeting of the Russian-Iranian intergovernmental commission.
The minister also noted that during the meeting of the commission, the parties agreed to supply Iran with various types of Russian-made vehicles. “Today we discussed the supply of wagons, 1,200 wagons have already been delivered, and during 2018, about 3,000 wagons will be delivered. These are our additional deliveries of KamAZ, UAZ, buses,” he said.
Rotek JSC (a diversified industrial holding, part of the Renova group of companies) and Iranian Thermal Power Plants Repairs on March 6 signed a memorandum of intent to establish a joint venture in Iran.
The document was signed as part of a meeting of the Russian-Iranian intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, a TASS correspondent reports from the signing ceremony.
Rotec was founded in 2010. The holding's interests include power engineering, aircraft engine building, the automotive industry and other science-intensive industries.
In October 2017, it was reported that Russian companies intend to participate in tenders and competitions in Iran for the supply and service of gas turbine equipment, pipes, rolled metal, cars and railcars.
Russia and Iran will continue cooperation in the field of geological exploration, the corresponding memorandums were signed by the Russian Rosgeologiya and the geological structures of Iran. Rosgeo reports.
In particular, the documents provide for the possibility for the Russian company and its subsidiaries to carry out prospecting and appraisal work for solid minerals in Iran.
As previously reported, Rosgeo is preparing for a geological study of six sites in Iran. At the moment, all the technical preparatory part of the work has been completed, and tenders are expected to be announced. The total funding limit for projects for 2018 is set at $200 million.
ROSGEO is a Russian diversified geological holding providing a full range of services related to geological exploration, 100% of the capital is owned by the state.
After a two-year break, the Russian Federation is preparing to resume wheat exports to Iran. According to the estimates of the Russian authorities, the annual volume of deliveries can reach 1.5 million tons, at current prices, exports are estimated at more than $300 million. Iran needs grain for additional loading of flour mills, whose capacities are currently only half loaded.
The fact that Russia can resume wheat exports to Iran was announced on March 6 by Alexander Novak, co-chairman of the Russian-Iranian intergovernmental commission and head of the Russian Ministry of Energy. According to him, the relevant memorandum has already been preliminarily agreed upon by the ministries of agriculture of the two countries. Mr. Novak added that Russia plans to supply Iran with up to 1.5 million tons of wheat per year, the start of exports depends on the conciliation procedures. The issue of specific calculations for deliveries is being discussed by exporting companies. The Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad of Iran did not respond to requests from Kommersant.
Iran imposed a ban on Russian wheat imports in March 2016 to support local farmers. Then the country harvested a good harvest of its own grain and formed significant reserves through imports in previous years. Before the ban, Iran was the third largest buyer of Russian wheat after Egypt and Turkey, purchasing about 1.5 million tons per season, Arkady Zlochevsky, president of the Russian Grain Union, said.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates Iran's demand for wheat in 2017-2018 at a record 18.35 million tons, and its own production at 15 million tons. Andrey Sizov, director of Sovecon, clarifies that, taking into account the carry-over stocks of wheat of about 7 million tons, Iran is fully provided with grain this season and may even become a net exporter. But the country could buy Russian wheat for further processing and export of flour to third countries, primarily to Iraq. Apparently, there is no talk of a full return of Russian wheat to the Iranian market, grain will be purchased for processing in the customs zone for further export of flour, agrees Dmitry Rylko, director general of the Institute for Agricultural Market Studies. Mr. Zlochevsky notes that the opening of the Iranian market would cause significant damage to local producers, whose products are not able to compete with Russian wheat in price.
Russia at the expense of Iran could sell more stocks before the new season. According to operational customs data, as of February 21, Russia increased grain exports by 39.7% year-on-year, to 33.6 million tons, wheat supplies increased by 40.6%, to 26.3 million tons. As of February 1, Rosstat estimated grain stocks at 42.2 million tons, which is 18.7% more than a year earlier. Stocks of wheat exceeded last year's volume by 25% and reached 27.1 million tons.
In February, Secretary General of the Iranian Food Confederation Kaveh Zargaran suggested that Iran could buy 1 million tons of Russian wheat to process and export flour to Iraq and Afghanistan, Bloomberg reported. Iran's flour mills are only at 50% capacity, and the country's own harvest is expected to be lower than expected due to weak rains in 2017, an Iranian official said. Based on the average export prices for Russian wheat (12.5% protein) at $209.5 per ton (FOB) at the end of last week, the cost of 1-1.5 million tons of grain can be estimated at $209.5-314.25 million.
Iran is ready to provide its territory for the export transit of Russian grain, including to the countries of the Persian Gulf. Iranian Minister of Economy and Finance Masoud Karbasyan told journalists about this.
“We understand that the volume of wheat that is in Russia should be supplied to the markets of other countries. In particular, it will be placed in<…>countries that have access to the Persian Gulf,” he said.
Karbasyan noted that a corresponding memorandum was signed a few days ago, which spelled out the details of the agreements on the transit of Russian grain through the territory of Iran.
In turn, the co-chairman of the Russian-Iranian intergovernmental commission, Alexander Novak, told reporters that Russia expects to restore the volume of wheat supplies to Iran in the amount of 1.5 million tons per year.
Earlier on Tuesday, Novak said that the agriculture ministries of both countries managed to tentatively agree on a memorandum on the supply of wheat to the Iranian market.
In 2017, Iran imposed a ban on the import of a number of categories of agricultural products, including wheat.
Iran will continue to supply oil to Russia in 2018, the declared volumes of 5 million tons per year are maintained, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters in Moscow.
“Volumes of 5 million tons per year are maintained, we will strive for this figure,” he said.
So far, in exchange for goods, Russia received 1 million barrels in November as part of a single delivery. A delivery date for this year has yet to be agreed, Novak said.
In turn, Iranian Economy and Finance Minister Masoud Karbasian told reporters in Moscow on Tuesday that his country is doing everything possible to ensure that the second batch goes to Russia as quickly as possible and sees no obstacles for this.
Novak said earlier that Iran plans to spend up to 50% of its oil proceeds on Russian goods and services.
The Minister also said that Russian companies can sign contracts with Iran on oil fields until March 21.
“More than 10 different deposits. The companies are Gazprom, Rosneft, Gazprom Neft, Zarubezhneft, Tatneft, Lukoil. These companies are making pretty good progress in the negotiations. Our Iranian colleagues confirmed that specific contracts could be signed in the near future,” Novak said, adding that on March 21 there are all the prerequisites for signing them.
At the same time, the minister did not rule out that Russian companies would implement oil projects in Iran in a consortium with foreign partners. “I think such options are also possible. Everything will depend on a specific agreement,” the Russian minister said.
EGYPT
Air traffic between Moscow and Cairo may resume in April, but there is no exact date yet. This was reported to TASS by a source close to the negotiations.
“Discussed in April. There is no exact date,” he said.
The interlocutor of the agency also noted that employees of the Aeromash enterprise, which provides security at Sheremetyevo Airport, will ensure the safety of Russian passengers in Cairo.
As TASS was informed in the Russian Ministry of Transport, work on the resumption of air traffic between Russia and Egypt is in the active phase. “The parties have outlined concrete steps towards a speedy resolution of this issue. As soon as all the formalities are settled, air traffic will be resumed,” the ministry said.
In turn, Sheremetyevo noted that if all contracts are signed, employees of the Sheremetyevo Security company will work at Cairo airport. “The Sheremetyevo Security company, if the contracts are signed, will ensure its activities at the Cairo airport,” Sheremetyevo’s press service told TASS.
Earlier, Egypt Air CEO Safuat Muslim said that the company plans to open flights from Cairo to Moscow in April, this is due to the traditional transition to the summer schedule. According to him, Russian security personnel will be present at the Cairo airport.
Air communication between Egypt and Russia was terminated by decision of Moscow in November 2015 after the crash of the plane of the Russian airline Kogalymavia flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg over Sinai. On board were 217 Russian tourists and seven crew members, all of whom died. The FSB subsequently qualified the incident as a terrorist attack. To resume air traffic, Russia demanded from Egypt to strengthen aviation security measures.
On January 4, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the resumption of regular air traffic to Cairo. The next two months were spent on resolving technical issues, including booking slots and scheduling. To date, the sale of air tickets for flights of companies is not open.
A criminal court in Egypt's Red Sea province has sentenced 12 people accused of drug smuggling to death. This was reported by Al-Masry al-Youm.
It is noted that among those sentenced to capital punishment, there are seven citizens of Egypt and five immigrants from Yemen. All of them were detained for smuggling 113 kg of heroin.
"The accused were caught red-handed while smuggling 113 kg of heroin from Yemen to the Egyptian port of El Quseir," the newspaper quoted the Egyptian Prosecutor General's Office as saying.
The death penalty in Egypt must be approved by the country's Grand Mufti, who, according to local law, approves all execution decisions. The consent of the Mufti in this case was obtained.
SAUDI ARABIA
Russia and Saudi Arabia are preparing a visit to Moscow this year of the head of the Saudi Advisory Council, Abdullah bin Mohammed Ibrahim al-Sheikh, and are also developing a roadmap to implement the achievements highest level agreements. Vice Speaker of the Federation Council Ilyas Umakhanov told reporters on Tuesday following a meeting with Deputy Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Kingdom Yahya al-Samaan.
“Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko took part in the conversation and confirmed the invitation to visit Russia to the head of the Advisory Council Abdullah bin Mohammed Ibrahim al-Sheikh this year. The invitation was accepted,” Umakhanov said.
According to him, as part of the preparation of these contacts, it is planned to send a representative of the Parliamentary Cooperation Group to Saudi Arabia, the purpose of the trip is also to develop a roadmap for top-level agreements.
As the vice speaker noted, the culmination of bilateral contacts was the historic visit to the Russian Federation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia in October 2017. “This will give impetus to the development of relations in the trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields Umakhanov drew attention. “We agreed to find a niche for legislative support for agreements at the highest level.”
The parties also agreed to create a permanent mechanism for parliamentary interaction, which will be supported by the Cooperation Group and committees on international affairs. “The cooperation group will develop a roadmap, monitoring the implementation of the agreements,” he explained. “We agreed to prepare either a joint report or reports on what is hindering cooperation now.”
According to the deputy chairman of the upper house of Parliament, Russia expects to continue discussing trade and economic issues within the framework of the meeting of the Russia Group - Islamic world May 10-12 in Kazan.
According to al-Samaan, an agreement was reached at the meeting to intensify the role of the Russian-Saudi Friendship Group and prepare a roadmap for interaction in order to "promote the development of the entire range of relations between our countries."
“Russia is in the G20, Saudi Arabia is the largest market in the Middle East,” he said. “It is necessary to intensify efforts in this area for the development of economic cooperation.”
“As for the political sphere, we are working to strengthen security and stability in the region,” said the deputy head of the council. “We hope to intensify the role of Russia in this area.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on a visit to the United States, announced the agreement of Saudi Arabia to provide its airspace for direct flights between Israel and India. This was reported by the France-Presse agency, noting that such a step by the Saudi authorities will confirm the rapprochement of the largest Arab monarchy with the Jewish state.
Meanwhile, the national carrier Air India has not yet confirmed receipt of the relevant permission from Riyadh. A request has been sent to the Saudi side, but no official response has been received from it, representatives of the Indian airline say.
For the first time, a possible direct flight between India and Israel through the airspace of Saudi Arabia, which still does not have diplomatic relations with the Jewish state, became known last July, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tel Aviv on a visit, reminds AFP.
As reported EADaily, Earlier, the Saudi Civil Aviation Service denied some media reports that the authorities of the Kingdom had granted permission for direct flights to Israel through the airspace of the Arab monarchy.
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