Category: World

US President Joe Biden has announced that the United States has carried out airstrikes in Syria to prevent the Islamic State from regaining power following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Source: The New York Times; AP, based on Biden's Sunday evening address

Details: Speaking from the White House, Biden described Assad's downfall as a "fundamental act of justice" and expressed hope that, after decades of repressive rule, the Syrian people could build a freer society. However, he cautioned that this was also a "moment of risk and uncertainty" and his administration would work to prevent terrorists from regaining strength.

Quote: "We’re cleareyed about the fact that ISIS will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish its capability… We will not let that happen.

Just today, US forces conducted a dozen precision strikes, airstrikes, within Syria targeting ISIS camps and ISIS operatives."

Details: AP reported that Biden stated that the United States is unsure of Assad's whereabouts but is monitoring reports that he is seeking refuge in Moscow.

Biden highlighted US and allied efforts that have weakened Syria's supporters – Russia, Iran and Hezbollah. He remarked that "for the first time," they can no longer protect Assad's regime.

"Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East," Biden said.

He also emphasised that the US would "remain vigilant" regarding Syrian rebel groups.

Quote: "Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses.

But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions."

Background:

• On the morning of 8 December, Syrian insurgents declared the liberation of Damascus. Assad fled the country.
• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the regime change in Syria "good news", while French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the fall of a "barbaric state." UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer celebrated the downfall of Assad's "barbaric regime".
• In the evening, Russian state-owned news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti reported that ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family are in Moscow and Russia has granted them asylum.

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The US president expressed support for the transfer of power in Syria after the overthrow of the Assad regime. Washington plans to strengthen cooperation with regional allies and contribute to the development of a democratic Syria.

US President Joe Biden announced Washington's readiness to cooperate with the Syrian opposition in the process of transferring power after the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad. This is reported by CNN, reports UNN.

Details

The American leader stressed that this moment is crucial for the future of Syria, opening up opportunities for change.

According to Biden, the situation in Ukraine remains dangerous and unstable, but right now the Syrian people have a chance for a better future. The United States also plans to strengthen support for allies in the region, such as Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon, in the face of potential threats from Syria.

The US president called the overthrow of the Assad regime a "fundamental act of justice" that gives Syrians a chance for a new life and development. Washington expressed its determination to contribute to building a stable and democratic Syria that could put years of suffering and repression behind it.

The US does not plan to send its troops from SyriaDec 8 2024, 10:42 AM • 18863 views

TASS, Russian state-owned news agency, has reported that ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family are in Moscow and Russia has granted them asylum.

Source: TASS, citing a Kremlin source

Quote: "Assad, along with members of his family, has arrived in Moscow. Russia, guided by humanitarian considerations, has granted them asylum."

Details: The Kremlin source also informed TASS that leaders of the Syrian opposition have guaranteed the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions in Syria. At the same time, it is reported that the national flag and the sign with the name of the diplomatic mission was removed from the building of the Syrian embassy in Russia.

Background:

• On the morning of 8 December, Syrian insurgents declared the liberation of Damascus. Assad fled the country.
• Reuters reported a "very high probability" that Assad might have perished in a plane crash on 8 December.
• Meanwhile, Russia claimed that following negotiations with the rebels, Bashar al-Assad decided to step down from the presidency and leave the country, ordering a peaceful transfer of power.
• Defence Intelligence of Ukraine described the crash of a plane carrying the ousted Syrian president as disinformation.

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The Israeli military attacked a Research Center in Damascus, where Iranian long-range missiles were allegedly being developed. The headquarters of Customs and military intelligence in the Kafr Souza area was also shelled.

Israel launched airstrikes on a Research Center in Damascus, which is allegedly developing Iranian missiles. This is reported by Reuters with reference to its sources, reports UNN.

Details

Sources said the Israeli military bombed a Research Center in the Syrian capital that is suspected to have been used by Iran to develop long-range guided missiles.

Israel also shelled the Customs headquarters and military intelligence at a security complex in the Kafr Souza area of Damascus, two regional security sources told Reuters.

addition

Syrian rebels, who have made significant progress in their offensive since last week, announced on December 8 the capture of the capital Damascus and reported the fall of ruler Bashar al-Assad.

The Syrian Air plane used by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad disappeared from radar . There is a version that the plane could have been shot down and Assad died in a plane crash.

Israeli forces took control of the buffer zone in the Golan Heights after the fall of the Assad government. Netanyahu said it was necessary to capture due to the retreat of Syrian troops.

US President-elect Donald Trump has admitted that he could reduce US aid to Kyiv after he returns to the White House on 20 January.

Source: Trump in an interview with NBC News, as reported by European Pravda

Details: In response to the journalist's direct question on whether Ukraine should expect a decrease in US military aid whenever President Trump comes to the White House, the Republican said, "Probably. Sure."

Prior to the November election, Trump chastised Joe Biden's administration for overspending on Ukraine aid. However, his administration was unable to bring the Russian-Ukrainian war to an end.

Following his victory, Trump largely avoided discussing his administration's approach on the Russian-Ukrainian war, instead emphasising the need for it to stop.

To the journalist's statement that Trump vowed to stop the war between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours, even before becoming president, he responded, "I am trying."

Trump also stated that he did not interact with Vladimir Putin, the head of the Kremlin, after winning the election. However, he swiftly clarified that he hadn't "spoken to him recently."

When asked if he spoke with Putin after the election, Trump declined to comment, citing his desire not to jeopardise the discussions.

Trump also stated that there had been hundreds of thousands of dead on both sides, and that the war "would never have happened."

Background:

• Trump, after meeting with Zelenskyy in Paris and amid the fall of the Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, revealed Kyiv's desire to reach an agreement to end the war.
• President Zelenskyy argued that Ukraine required a just and steady peace that the Russians would not destroy in a few years, as they have previously done.

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Peskov commented on Trump's statement about the need for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin recalled Putin's conditions and accused Kiev of banning contacts.

Press secretary of the Russian dictator Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin "carefully read" the statement of US President-elect Donald Trump calling for negotiations to start ending the war in Ukraine. This is reported by the Russian media, reports UNN.

According to him, Putin has repeatedly said that Russia is "open to negotiations on Ukraine and welcomes peace initiatives" that come primarily from the countries of the Global South and BRICS partners.

"Our position on Ukraine is well known. The conditions for an instant cessation of hostilities were set out by President Putin in June of this year in his speech at the Russian Foreign Ministry," Peskov said.

According to him, to reach a peaceful trajectory, it is enough for Zelensky to lift the ban on negotiations with the Russian Federation and instruct him to return to a dialogue based on "Istanbul".

He also commented on Trump's statements about the losses of both sides. According to Peskov, these data "are set out in the Ukrainian interpretation and reflect the official position of Ukraine," while the real figures of losses are "completely different.

addition

Donald Trump after meeting with Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron, called for an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine and the start of negotiations. He said that "about 600 thousand Russian soldiers were injured or killed in a war that should never have started and can last forever.

recall

In June, Putin announced the conditions for the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine. He demanded that the Ukrainian authorities withdraw troops from the entire territory of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, as well as refuse the country's entry into NATO. Vladimir Zelensky called it"an ultimatum that cannot be trusted.

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has stated that for negotiations with the Russian Federation to begin, President Volodomyr Zelenskyy should lift his prohibition on negotiations with Moscow and return to the Istanbul agreements "taking into account the realities."

Source: TASS; Astra

Quote: "It is vital to remember that Ukraine opposed negotiations and continues to refuse. Furthermore, Zelenskyy's own decree prohibits him and his administration from having any interaction with the Russian authorities. Their stance does not change.

Meanwhile, to resume the peaceful path, Zelenskyy only needs to rescind this decision and issue an instruction to resume talks based on the Istanbul agreements and taking into consideration the reality on the ground."

Details: Peskov confirmed that "Russia is open to negotiations on Ukraine" (as soon as Ukrainian soldiers withdraw from four illegally-annexed regions) and emphasised the "catastrophic situation for the Ukrainian army."

Background: US President-elect Donald Trump said that Ukraine and Russia need to hold an immediate ceasefire and start negotiations, and Zelenskyy wished to "make a deal and stop the madness."

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Syrian rebels have discovered a large number of luxury cars in President Bashar al-Assad's garage after the capture of Damascus. Among the confiscated cars are Ferrari, Audi, Mercedes and other luxury brands.

A large fleet of luxury cars was found in the garage of the Syrian President, who fled his country. Bashar al-Assad's garage was seized by opposition forces. Now the network has got video frames where you can see Ferrari, Audi, Mercedes and many other luxury cars.

Reports UNN with reference to Ensonhaber Tv.

Syrian rebels have taken control of Damascus and the government palace. Recently, video footage appeared on the network, which was discovered by oppositionists in the garage of Bashar al-Assad, who had previously mysteriously disappeared.

The Rebels went down to Assad's garage and felt a second shock. Those who entered Assad's garage encountered many luxury cars.

– according to the report of the Turkish channel Ensonhaber.

In the video, you can see a large number of luxury cars.

There were rows of Ferrari, Audi, Mercedes and many luxury cars that looked like this.

It is indicated that Bashar al-Assad's luxury cars were confiscated by opposition forces.

Syrian President Assad disappeared from Damascus amid rebel offensiveDec 7 2024, 07:11 PM • 23991 view

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has revealed that 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since 24 February 2022.

Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram

Quote from Zelenskyy: "I said [in France – ed.] that we need a just and strong peace that the Russians will not ruin in a few years, as they have already done…

Our people are defending their home with their lives, and every life of our soldiers and our civilians is precious to us.

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Ukraine has lost 43,000 soldiers who have been killed in action. There have been 370,000 cases of assistance to the wounded, which is taking into account that in our military, approximately 50 per cent of the wounded return to service, and all wounds, including light and repeat ones, are recorded.

One of the key differences between the Russian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian defence forces is the level of development of frontline medicine, which is much higher in our military. We in Ukraine are grateful for this to everyone who helps develop medicine in our military, rescues our wounded and provides rehabilitation."

Details: Zelenskyy noted that Russian losses have exceeded 750,000 personnel, with 198,000 killed and more than 550,000 wounded.

The president added that since September 2024, Russian forces have been losing personnel on the battlefield at a ratio of at least 5 to 1 compared to Ukrainian defenders.

President Zelenskyy recalled that Russia is holding thousands of soldiers and civilians in captivity, some of whom have been there since 2014, along with deported children.

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Therefore, when we talk about effective peace with Russia, we must first of all focus on effective guarantees of peace. Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else. Russia brought the war to our land. And it is Russia that most of all wants to disrupt the possibility of peace.

… This cannot be ended with a piece of paper and a few signatures. A ceasefire without guarantees can be broken again at any time, as Putin has already done. To ensure that no more Ukrainians are lost, the reliability of the peace must be guaranteed and the occupation must not be tolerated.

We all know Putin very well – he is addicted to war. He started his career with a brutal war against Chechnya and is constantly fomenting other wars. He can only be stopped by force, by the power of the global leaders who can become leaders of peace. We are counting on America and the whole world to stop Putin. The only thing he is afraid of is America and the unity of the world.

It is peace through strength that we are talking about with all our partners – real peace and the steps and guarantees that people and the state that Russia has attacked need for this.

War should not be endless, only peace should be permanent and reliable."

Background: Earlier, US President-elect Donald Trump claimed that Ukraine had lost 400,000 people killed and severely wounded.

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The Pentagon has confirmed that it will not withdraw troops from eastern Syria to fight ISIS. Rebels captured Damascus, and the plane carrying President Assad disappeared from radar while fleeing the capital.

The US armed forces stationed at military bases are not planned to be withdrawn from Syria.

This was stated by Deputy Assistant to the US Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro, reports UNN.

Details

The United States will remain present in eastern Syria and take the necessary measures to prevent the resurgence of ISIS

Shapiro said.

He called on all parties to protect civilians, especially minorities, and to adhere to international standards.

recall

To date, it has become known about the likely collapse of the fall of the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. The Rebel Alliance, which has made significant progress in its offensive since last week, announced the capture of the capital Damascus and reported the fall of ruler Bashar al-Assad.

the Syrian Air plane used by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad disappeared from radar. There is a version that the plane could have been shot down and Assad died in a plane crash.