Syria is being attacked from Cyprus. Eastern Ghouta came completely under the control of the Syrian authorities Syria on April 12

Eastern Ghouta came completely under the control of the Syrian authorities. A statement about this was distributed by the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties.

In accordance with it, Assad’s troops managed to capture the last militant stronghold in the province - the city of Duma, which, according to international organizations, had previously been subjected to a chemical attack.

The situation in Syria today, 04/12/2018: Eastern Ghouta has completely come under the control of the authorities

The Syrian army has established absolute control over the territory of Eastern Ghouta, which is located in close proximity to Damascus. Russian military police have already begun working on the liberated land. The national flag was hoisted over the city hall of the Duma. This event means that the province is already under the control of the authorities.

Yesterday, Viktor Poznikhir, First Deputy Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, spoke about the entry of Russian units into the city of Duma, the website reports. According to him, restoration work has already started. “The Syrian government has launched large-scale work to restore civilian infrastructure in Eastern Ghouta,” he noted. It is known that fighting, and fierce fighting, has been going on in Eastern Ghouta since the beginning of February of this year. Yesterday, over 4 thousand militants left the territory. They were taken through the humanitarian corridor from Duma to Idlib.

Let us recall that earlier it became known about a chemical attack in the city of Duma, which was allegedly carried out by Bashar al-Assad’s troops against civilians. The Russian military did not find any evidence of the use of chemical weapons. But the World Health Organization provides scary data. It follows from them that 70 people died, another 500 ended up in hospital beds. The world froze in anticipation of the US strike on Syria, which was previously announced by Donald Trump.

The end of fighting in Syria today April 12, 2018

IS tried to blow up an ancient citadel in Iraq, SAA is preparing an operation in Idlib

Syria,11 April. IS1 attempted to blow up an ancient citadel in the province Nineveh. The SAA is preparing to resume its offensive in southern Idlib. A batch of Jaysh Al-Islam fighters evacuated from Ghouta has reached Aleppo province, a military source reports. Federal News Agency (FAN) in Syria Ahmad Marzouq.

Briefly about the results of the confrontation

Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and allied forces: transferring military aircraft to an air base near the city Aleppo; carried out airstrikes on Nusra strongholds*** in the southern part Idlib.

"Islamic State"1: tried to organize a terrorist attack in the province Nineveh V Iraq.

"Tahrir Al-Sham": came under fire from the SAA near the village of Farhaniya in the northern part Homs; came under attack from the SAA near the village of Khasraya in the north of the province Hama.

Jaysh Al-Islam: arrived in the province Aleppo as part of the evacuation of the city of Duma in Eastern Ghouta.

Map of military operations in Syriaopenstreetmap.org / Federal News Agency

Aleppo Province

A military source on Twitter (emaannewscenter1) reports that the sixth batch of militants evacuated from the city of Duma in Eastern Ghouta, together with their families, arrived in the area of ​​​​the village of Abu Zandin. Next, buses with radicals will head to Al Bab. The Islamists were forced to accept the terms of a peace agreement with the Syrian government after the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) began to rapidly advance, occupying the outskirts of Duma. According to official figures, more than 12,000 Army of Islam fighters fled Douma in April, and at least 167,000 people have been evacuated to safe areas since the start of the military campaign to liberate Ghouta. Once all Jaysh Al-Islam units are removed from Duma, the oasis will come under full control of the Syrian military for the first time since 2011.

Meanwhile, as the Twitter channel (markito0171) reports, SAR forces are transferring military aircraft to a military airfield near the administrative center of the province. The same source reports that pro-Assad militias are transporting heavy artillery from the area of ​​Tal Azzan. Local activists claim that this is due to false accusations from the United States that a chemical attack was carried out in Douma. Let us remind you that a similar situation already took place in the SAR on April 7 last year. Then the US Air Force attacked the Shayrat airbase in the south of Homs province, unprovenly accusing the SAA of using chemical weapons in the city Khan Sheikhun in Idlib.

Homs Province

In the northern part of Homs, armed clashes between the government army and the forces of the terrorist coalition Tahrir Al-Sham, formed around Jabhat Al-Nusra1, continue. According to a military source on Twitter (emaannewscenter1), artillery divisions of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), stationed near the city of Jaburin, opened fire on Islamist strongholds on the outskirts of the village of Farhaniya. Earlier, there were also reports of shootings near the village of Al-Hula. There have been no reports of casualties on either side yet.

Idlib Province

The information portal Masar Press Net, controlled by the armed opposition, reports that Syrian military aircraft have resumed combat missions in Idlib province. According to the Twitter channel (emaannewscenter1), the Syrian Air Force targeted the fortifications of the jihadists of the anti-government association Tahrir Al-Sham, led by Jabhat Al-Nusra, in the vicinity of the village of Nakir. In addition, opposition media report air attacks by SAR forces near the cities of Sheikh Mustafa and Khan Sheikhoun. Information about the damage inflicted on the militants is currently being clarified. As reported by the Al Masdar News agency, government units are preparing to launch a new offensive against Islamists in the Al-Gaab Plain, located in the south of the province. From here, militants regularly fire into neighboring Latakia.

Hama Province

To the northwest of the provincial capital, fierce firefights continue between soldiers of the SAR army and radicals of the armed opposition. As a military source (Syrianow10) reports on Twitter, government troops hit one of the militant checkpoints near the village of Hasraya. These territories are occupied by jihadists of the terrorist group Jabhat Fatah Al-Sham1, who often shell peaceful settlements controlled by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), including the Christian cities of Mhard and Skalbiya.

Iraq

Iraqi armed forces prevented a major terrorist attack by underground Islamic State groups in the province Nineveh. According to the Iraqi News news agency, the militants intended to blow up an ancient citadel near the city of Tal Afar. Four barrels filled with explosives were discovered near the fortress. Before these areas were cleared of ISIS, the building was used as a prison. On the eve of leaving the city, members of a terrorist group plundered an ancient monument. However, despite the constant special operations of the Iraqi government forces, the so-called “sleeper cells” of ISIS still pose a threat to the civilian population of the country. Let us recall that Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi stated that the Islamic State ceased to exist as a paramilitary force at the end of last year.

1 The organization is prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Syria today, latest news: Two OPCW expert groups will go to Duma at the end of the week

Two OPCW expert missions are due to head to Syria to investigate the incident in the city of Douma (Eastern Ghouta) at the end of the week, said Russia's permanent representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya.

“According to our information, two expert groups of the OPCW mission should head to Syria at the end of this week,” Nebenzya said at a meeting of the UN Security Council.

He emphasized that if OPCW experts for some reason are unable to get to the Duma, this will again become evidence that “dirty geopolitical games” are hidden behind “speculation on chemical attacks.”

“If experts, under some pretext, do not get into the Duma as a result of the opposition of those who continue to speculate on the chemical topic to denigrate Syria and Russia, then this will be yet another evidence that dirty geopolitical games are hidden in this completely false story,” - concluded the Russian permanent representative.

Syria news today 04/12/2018: NI named the weapons that Russia and the USA can use in Syria

In the event of an attack on Syria, the United States can use cruise missiles, as well as stealth aircraft and strategic bombers, while Russia can respond with its own cruise missiles, writes The National Interest.

The United States, as the publication notes, can strike targets in Syria with Tomahawk and AGM-86 cruise missiles, which are supposed to be able to bypass the Russian S-300V4 and S-400 air defense systems deployed in Syria.

In addition, the Pentagon has at its disposal B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, which, however, are capable of detecting Russian air defense systems.

Russia, in turn, as The National Interest writes, may strike back at the bases of the United States and its allies in the Middle East and Europe. For this purpose, the Russian military has at its disposal the Kh-101 cruise missiles, which are armed with the Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers, as well as sea-based Caliber cruise missiles.

Earlier it became known that the US Navy strike group led by the aircraft carrier Harry Truman was moving from its permanent deployment point in Virginia to the Mediterranean Sea. It also includes a guided-missile cruiser and several guided-missile destroyers, and the group is expected to also include a German Navy frigate.

Earlier, the media reported that two American ships were heading to the shores of Syria - USS Donald Cook and USS Porter. They carry several dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The deployment of an aircraft carrier group became known amid reports of the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian city of Douma. Western countries blamed official Damascus for the incident, which, like Moscow, denies these accusations.

US authorities announced that they are exploring the possibility of a “military response” to the actions of the Syrian authorities. On Monday, Donald Trump announced that he would make a decision on measures against the SAR authorities in the next 48 hours. Russia warned Washington against starting hostilities, warning that this could lead to “the most dire consequences.”

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Government troops established control over a number of strategically important heights south of Palmyra. Military aircraft carried out more than 120 strikes on militant positions in Hama province in one day in preparation for the offensive of the Syrian army. A military source reports this Federal News Agency (FAN) in Syria Ahmad Marzouq.

The Syrian Air Force, together with the Russian Aerospace Forces, attacked columns of IS* terrorists heading from the cities of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and As-Sukhna (Homs province) to the territories of Iraq. As a result, several radicals' vehicles were destroyed in the Al-Wair and Mahir areas near the border between the two states. This was reported by the information portal Damascus Now.

Damascus Province

Protests are taking place in the Syrian capital for the second day in a row in response to US strikes on the Shayrat military airfield in Homs province.

Dozens of citizens demonstrated outside the Department of State Affairs building, expressing their opposition to military aggression from Washington.

Let us recall that on the night of April 7, American warships attacked Donald Trump 59 military strikes on Shayrat airbase. The reason for the attack was reports of the use of poison gas by Syrian aircraft during the bombing of the city of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province. Damascus and Moscow categorically deny these accusations. Today UN Security Council will vote again on the draft resolution to investigate the incident.

In the eastern outskirts of the capital, meanwhile, clashes continue between the Syrian army on the one hand and the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (Levant Liberation Organization) coalition formed around the Jabhat Fatah al-Sham group*** and its allies on the other.

According to the Damascus Now information portal, fierce fighting is taking place in the northern part of the Al-Qaboun neighborhood. Government troops are launching missile attacks on radical targets. Activists also report clashes in the Tishreen neighborhood.

According to media reports, the day before the forces Bashar al-Assad managed to gain control of four buildings and four farms in Al-Qabun.

In Eastern Ghouta of Damascus, government forces continue their offensive against the city of Douma, the largest stronghold of Jaysh al-Islam in the region.

Fierce fighting was recorded by activists in the area of ​​the villages of Khosh ad-Dawahira and Al-Midaani. Bashar al-Assad's forces attacked militant positions in the vicinity of Duma and near the village of Otaya.

Sources close to the opposition claim that a T-72 tank and a Shilka self-propelled gun of the Syrian army were destroyed in the Khosh ad-Dawahira area, but this information cannot be considered reliable.

According to incoming reports, Russian military personnel were stationed at the Al-Sin military airfield in the vicinity of the city of Ad-Dumair, northeast of Damascus. This was reported by the Lebanese information portal Al-Masdar News.

Military experts suggest that this step may be aimed at improving the security of a strategically important facility in light of the US military strikes on the Shayrat air base last Friday.

In addition, the Al-Sin military airfield has been repeatedly attacked by IS militants operating in the mountains of Eastern Qalamun. High terrorist activity in the area led to the conclusion of a temporary truce between the troops of Bashar al-Assad and the armed opposition in the area.

92 buses prepared for the militants safely reached the entrance to the villages of Madaya and Al-Zabadani, northwest of Damascus. Media sources report this.

According to the Syrian news agency SANA, the evacuation of radicals and members of their families from villages who refused to lay down their arms has already begun.

Let us recall that at the same time, in the province of Idlib, the evacuation of eight thousand Shiite Muslims living in the villages of Al-Fua and Kefraya, surrounded by Islamists, is taking place. As a result of the exchange, the settlements of Madaya and Az-Zabadani will be transferred to the government, and Al-Fua and Kefraya to the militants.

Aleppo Province

In the northwestern outskirts of Aleppo, hostilities are taking place between the Syrian army and illegal armed groups, the largest of which is the Levant Liberation Organization.

Government forces, which established control over the village of Khirbat al-Anadan the day before, continue to advance from several directions towards the city of Anadan, the largest Islamist stronghold in the region.

The information portal ARA News reported, citing a source in the so-called. “armed opposition” about violent clashes in the vicinity of Shuweikhan Heights, in the industrial zone in the Al-Lermoun quarter, as well as in the area of ​​the settlements of Al-Mallah and At-Tamura. Russian aviation carried out dozens of strikes on militant positions.

Activists close to Islamists claim that more than 20 Syrian army soldiers died in an ambush set up by radicals in the vicinity of the village of Khirbat al-Anadan. The offensive of Bashar al-Assad's troops was stopped in all directions. However, there was no reliable confirmation of this information. Fierce fighting in the area continues.

Homs Province

In the northern part of Homs province, illegal armed groups shelled the village of Jaburin, which is under government control. There were no casualties, but the homes of local residents suffered serious damage.

Government forces, in turn, neutralized several groups of Jabhat Fatah al-Sham militants in the village of Burj Qai, south of the village of Tell Bisa and in the vicinity of the city of Ar-Rastan.

In addition, the Syrian army also attacked concentrations of ISIS militants in the village of South Al-Mushairifa, in the Al-Barida area, south of liberated Palmyra and east of the city of Al-Qaryatein in the eastern part of the region. This was reported by the Syrian news agency SANA, citing a military source.

At the same time, Bashar al-Assad’s forces are expanding the buffer zone around Palmyra. The Syrian army's offensive is unfolding in the direction of the IS terrorist-held settlement of Huneyfis, southwest of the ancient city. The day before, government troops established control over Mount Jabal al-Abtar and a number of other strategically important heights. Detachments of sappers managed to secure the highway connecting Palmyra with Damascus.

In addition, the Syrian army recaptured a number of important positions southeast of the “pearl of Syria” from terrorists. A military source reported this to the Lebanese information portal Al-Masdar News.

Syrian Army seizes control of strategic hills near Palmyra - YouTube– April 12 2017

Deir ez-Zor Province

In Deir ez-Zor, protracted fighting continues between the Syrian army and the Islamic State, which is conducting its largest offensive in the area of ​​the city in the past year.

Government forces attacked terrorist concentrations in the Al-Arfi, Al-Muwazzafin and Al-Khweika neighborhoods, in the Khweijat Saqr area, as well as in the vicinity of the military airfield and in the village of Al-Bagiliya, west of the provincial capital. As a result, at least eight terrorists and an IS truck were killed. This was reported by the Damascus Now information portal, citing a military source.

The humanitarian situation in settlements captured by militants remains critical. According to the Sharqiya Voice information portal, radicals are seizing the houses of local residents in order to place their militants in them.

Daraa Province

In the city of Daraa, the Syrian army is fighting heavy battles with illegal armed groups in an attempt to maintain control over the last fortified points not captured by Islamists in the Al-Manshiya quarter.

Government troops, together with military aircraft, are carrying out dozens of strikes on radical positions in the Daraa al-Balyad area. Activists report this.

In the northern part of the province, the Syrian army yesterday destroyed a militant vehicle equipped with a heavy machine gun on the Inhil-Al-Saraya highway using a remotely activated explosive device. The Military Media information portal published a video that captured the moment of the explosion.

‎ - YouTube– April 12 2017

Idlib Province

Four children and eight women, previously released by militants from prisons in Idlib, were safely taken to a safe area in Aleppo province. Currently they are receiving the necessary medical care in hospitals. This was reported by the information portal Damascus Now.

In addition, the Islamists handed over to the authorities the bodies of 12 dead Syrian army soldiers.

Let us recall that in response, government forces released 19 militants of the Jaysh al-Fatah coalition who were captured during fighting in the vicinity of the villages of Al-Fua and Kefraya in the northeastern part of Idlib province.

Raqqa Province

In the central square of Raqqa, IS terrorists took the lives of four captured Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters****. Those executed were beheaded to intimidate the local population. This was reported in the press center of the Kurdish National Council.

The “democratic forces”, however, suffer losses not only due to the actions of militants. According to the Sharkiya Voice information portal, 14 SDF fighters were killed as a result of an erroneous strike by the international coalition air force on their positions. The details of the incident are being clarified.

Hama Province

In the northwestern part of Hama province, full-scale hostilities continue between the Syrian army and illegal armed groups.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), over the past 24 hours, the Syrian Air Force, together with the Russian Aerospace Forces, carried out more than 120 strikes on militant positions in the vicinity of the settlements of Halfaya, Suran, Al-Latamina, Tibat al-Imam , Kafr Zita, Morek and other areas captured by Islamists.

Fierce fighting is taking place in the area of ​​the strategically important city of Suran. Local residents are leaving the war zone en masse. Activists report this.

Media sources also report that the Tigers, an elite unit of government forces, killed during the fighting the field commander of Jaysh al-Izza, one of the units of the Free Syrian Army (FSA)** Uday al-Khattabi.

Iraq

Government troops continue the operation to liberate the western part of Mosul from IS. The advance of security forces in the Old City slowed due to fierce resistance from terrorists.

The Anatolian News Agency reported, citing a military source, that 34 soldiers from the Iraqi army and its allied forces have been killed in fighting in Mosul over the past 18 days. Another 76 servicemen were injured of varying degrees of severity.

* The organization is prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Trump sent an aircraft carrier to Syria, Russia is preparing to bomb Tartus, Pompeo promised to be harsh, and Romania denied autonomy to the Hungarians

1. I’ll start with the latest news on the Syrian topic. Today, which ships Donald Trump sent to the Eastern Mediterranean for a likely strike on Syria. In addition to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Harry Truman, there is a guided-missile cruiser and four destroyers. I'm guessing there are another submarine or two lurking around somewhere. All this stuff is ready to unleash a sea of ​​fire on Syria, unless Trump, of course, changes his mind. But he can!

2. Today the US President tweeted that he never set a date for the start of strikes on Syria. “It may be very soon, or it may not be very soon,” Trump said, confusing everyone even more. One thing is clear: until the ships reach the Syrian shores, there will be no serious blow. I think that even then there will be only a large-scale show, and not a real defeat of Bashar al-Assad. Trump has said many times that he does not want to start a full-scale war in Syria, so he has no point in bombing this country for a long time and tediously.

3. Meanwhile, Russia confirmed that its warships. Retired general Vladimir Shamanov explained that this is a “standard tactic”: “When the possibility of an attack threat arises, ships compactly located at the berths move into the close maneuvering zone so that more than one ship is not destroyed by one ammunition.” In general, he said what many had guessed: if the United States wanted, it could crush the entire Russian Black Sea Fleet with a couple of salvos.

4. US NATO allies are not yet unanimous about the need to bomb Syria. Canada will not take part in such an operation. The British are still deliberating, and Germany not only bombed Damascus, but also asked the United States to delay the strike. The Germans say that we must wait for the results of the investigation into the alleged chemical attack, and then punish the perpetrators. They recall that in 2003, Iraq was accused of creating chemical weapons, started a war, and then it turned out that there were no weapons. I think that the Germans are still very much afraid of a cosmic rise in hydrocarbon prices in the event of a serious Middle Eastern war.

5. Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov today that the American and Russian military and diplomats are actively using a direct line of communication between themselves to prevent a possible unintentional escalation of the situation. Simply put, they do everything possible to avoid accidentally hitting each other. This is probably correct, because otherwise such an exchange of blows could lead to a rapid increase in the scale of the war and its transition to the nuclear stage. The only thing that confuses me is that Peskov always lies. Accordingly, I have very serious doubts that this line of communication works in reality, and not in the head of the press secretary.

6. Another high-profile story is the investigation into the poisoning of ex-GRU officer Sergei Skripal in the UK. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of this country, Boris Johnson, today once again said that he has no doubt about Moscow’s guilt in this crime. According to him, the Russian Federation had both the motive and the means to organize the assassination attempt. He did not name the suspects in its implementation, but cited information in his favor, which admitted: the poison was military. As I understand it, this was known before. It is still interesting to find out who exactly is suspected of attempted murder and whether this person (or group of people) is connected with Russia.

7. Today in the US Congress on the candidacy for the post of head of the US State Department - Michael Pompeo. The candidate himself stated that he would pursue an extremely tough policy towards the Russian Federation, since, according to him, this country does not understand other styles of communication. I wouldn't take his word for it here. Pompeo can get this position only for one of his merits: he obeys Trump in everything. Accordingly, he will pursue the policy that he is told to, and not play his own game. In general, you need to wait for his actions, and not loud statements during the hiring process.

8. If Pompeo receives this position, then one of the main areas of his work will be North Korea. Today it became known that Donald Trump will try to achieve from this country within one year. At least that's what the South Korean press writes about. The American president will try to solve the corresponding problem quite soon. He is expected to meet with Kim Chem-un in May, at which he will raise this issue. In principle, he might succeed. If, of course, in exchange he promises to lift all sanctions against the DPRK, give this country diplomatic recognition and conclude a permanent peace treaty with it. If money is thrown in from above, then the chances of reaching an agreement will become quite real. Good luck to Trump and Pompeo on this!

9. Member of the European Parliament from the Netherlands Judith Sargentini today told her colleagues about the situation with human rights in Hungary, where she recently visited. According to the deputy, she was shocked when she learned how things were in this area: there was no separation of powers, freedom of the press was undermined, universities and religious organizations were deprived of independence, and the rights of minorities and migrants were not respected at all. Well done Sargentini! I noticed something that the Hungarian opposition has been shouting about on every corner for at least five years now. Yes! Hungary is indeed gradually turning into Turkey. And Türkiye itself, by the way, goes to Russia, but that’s another story.

10. At the same time, however, foreign Hungarians are dissatisfied with the way their life is organized in their host countries. Today, the Romanian parliament is making another attempt by the Hungarian minority to proclaim the autonomy of their region. The Romanians considered that the autonomy bodies proposed by the Hungarians “duplicate the state”, and therefore it was impossible. I understand Bucharest: it does not trust its Hungarians, rightly suspecting them of wanting to return to the bosom of their historical homeland, along with the territories in which they live. But I'm sure this is not the end of the story. Attempts to declare autonomy there will continue. By the way, it would not hurt to closely monitor this story for Ukraine, which has its own Hungarian minority living compactly in Transcarpathia.

11. Well, the last thing for today. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny today holds mass protests against Vladimr Putin ahead of the Russian dictator's inauguration. According to Navalny’s plan, rallies should take place throughout Russia, and all those 53 million people who did not vote for Putin can take part in them. I think that 53 million - he, of course, went too fast. It will be good if 50 thousand comes. But Putin still needs to be shown that there are people who are not ready to recognize him as tsar.

12. Well, the very last thing for today: I congratulate all smart people looking to the future on the main holiday of the year (according to my version) - Cosmonautics Day! I wish everyone to look not only at their smartphone, TV and wallet, but also at the stars! And in general, think more often about what is there, beyond the horizon of our knowledge. It is there, I believe, that the answers to all the questions of the universe lie! Hooray!

. Syria today. Reports and military situation in online broadcast. Syria News 04/12/2016. War maps.

War in Syria. Syria 24 hours online, NSyria news, Syria, last news. Chronicles of the military operation of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Syria - online broadcast, photos, videos, news from Syria.

Online broadcast is over,

20:17 – Russian sappers neutralized almost 3 thousand explosive devices in Palmyra.

20:12 – Syria: video strictly 18+. Some Hezbollah fighters who stormed a strategic height near Al-Ais still managed to reach the top of the hill, but were killed by enemy fire, 04/12/2016

16:07 – Syrian troops and allies managed to take control of part of the city of Al-Ais. After which they were forced to retreat to Al-Khader because they could not capture the dominant heights.

13:10 – The Syrian army has regained control of all positions in northern Latakia.

12:43 – The Russian Ministry of Defense is deploying a mobile bakery in Syria to help the local population, the head of the department, Army General Sergei Shoigu, said on Tuesday.

“As part of providing humanitarian assistance to Syrian citizens, we are deploying a mobile mechanized bakery capable of producing up to 8 tons of bread per day,” he said at a conference call.

12:16 – Since April 1, Russian sappers have cleared mines from more than 182 hectares of Syrian Palmyra. Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu announced this at a conference call.

“Since April 1, more than 30 kilometers of roads, more than 182 hectares of territory have been cleared, and 2.98 thousand explosive objects have been discovered,” the minister said.

According to him, sappers conduct engineering reconnaissance using modern robots, and their safety is ensured by Russian special forces.

12:07 – Bashar al-Assad: The Russian military is fighting in Syria as if they are fighting for Russia.

11:21 – The helicopter is assigned to the Budennovsk military airbase in the Stavropol Territory, a high-ranking source in the Russian defense industry said.

10:40 – URGENTLY! The Mi-28N helicopter of the Russian Aerospace Forces crashed in Syria.

10:11 – Syria.

09:49 – The Syrian army and allies storm Al-Eis, assault units are already inside the city.

01:50 – The operation to liberate Aleppo may take several days.

The operation to liberate Syrian Aleppo may take only a few days. This was stated by the command of the Syrian government army. The Russian Aerospace Forces, together with the armed forces of the republic, are preparing to strike at the terrorists storming the city.

00:39 – Footage of the confrontation between the Syrian army and militants in the province of Latakia.

00:21 – Syrian troops in Latakia came under fire from the Turkish Armed Forces. Turkish artillery from the area of ​​the village of Metishli fired at the positions of Syrian government troops in the province of Latakia, the Russian Ministry of Defense said.

“Once again, the territory of Syria came under fire from the Turkish armed forces. From 8.30 to 9.20 on April 10, 2016, from the area of ​​the village of Metishli, Turkish artillery fired at the positions of government troops in the province of Latakia. At 13.00, an artillery strike was launched from the same firing positions on the village of Gebelli,” the report says.

00:15 – The Syrian army is preparing to drive terrorists out of Aleppo province in the near future.

In the Syrian province of Aleppo, the situation is heating up, terrorists are preparing for a decisive battle for the province.

00:10 – Syria: Russian pilots successfully delivered UN humanitarian aid to Syrian Deir ez-Zor.

The UN announced a successful operation to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor using parachute platforms.

1. ASSOCIATED PRESS: US OFFICIAL: RUSSIA KNEW SYRIAN CHEMICAL ATTACK WAS COMING.

2. Trump blamed Russia for the current situation in Syria and declared Russia’s support for the “animal.”
US President Donald Trump said that Russia is to blame for the aggravation of the Syrian problem.
"Putin is supporting a person who is really, really bad," he said.
“If Russia didn’t support this animal, there wouldn’t be a problem,” he said in an interview with Fox Business, answering the host’s question about Assad.
Trump noted: "I think it's very bad for Russia. I think it's very bad for humanity. It's very bad for the modern world. But when chemical or barrel bombs are dropped... right in the middle of a crowd of people, then, frankly speaking, watching children without arms, without legs, it’s clear that an animal (did it).”
He also noted that the US strike on the military base of the Syrian government forces was necessary, emphasizing that this should have been done by the previous Obama administration.
As reported, earlier White House press secretary Sean Spicer made a comparison between Assad and Hitler.

3. US intelligence claims that Russia helped Syria hide the use of chemical weapons in Idlib.
The United States is convinced that Russia deliberately disseminated contradictory information about the chemical attack in Syrian Idlib. The corresponding statement is contained in the published report of the American intelligence services. “The Syrian regime and its main ally, Russia, tried to confuse the world community about who is responsible for the use of chemical weapons against the Syrian people in this (attack in Idlib) and other chemical attacks,” the document says.
According to the United States, Russia initially denied the attack, calling it a provocation and saying that all the evidence was fabricated. “But it is clear that the Syrian rebels would not have been able to falsify such a number and variety of videos and other evidence of the attack, deceiving the media and intelligence agencies,” the White House is convinced.
After this, Russia stated that the chemical attack occurred due to an airstrike by the Syrian government army on a terrorist ammunition warehouse. However, a source in the Syrian army did not confirm the information about the airstrike. In addition, intelligence refers to a video received, which shows that the shell did not hit the warehouse building, but the road. Intelligence agencies note that this information is confirmed by satellite images.
The United States also claims that Russia timed the chemical attack to be between 11:30 and 12:30 p.m., although the first reports of the incident appeared around 7 a.m. “Russia’s accusations fit into a familiar pattern of denying the (Assad) regime’s guilt and attempting to undermine the credibility of information provided by opponents,” the document states.
As The New York Times writes, citing senior White House officials, Russia’s goal was to “conceal the guilt of the Syrian government in the chemical attack.” According to the publication's sources, the Syrian authorities used chemical weapons in response to the advance of rebels who threatened to seize territory held by government troops.

4. Trump said he has no plans to “go” to Syria.

5. Pentagon: Syria will pay a “very high price” in the event of a chemical attack.
Pentagon chief James Mattis said that if Syria uses chemical weapons, it will “pay a very heavy price.”
As the Associated Press notes, Mattis added that “only Assad knows why he used chemical weapons.”
He said he hopes Assad “regrets the chemical attack given the US retaliatory strikes.”
Earlier, the Pentagon said that missiles fired at the airfield destroyed a fifth of Assad's combat aircraft.

6. Russia cooperated with Syria in a chemical attack - McCain.
US Senator John McCain accused Russia of collaborating with Syrian government forces in a chemical weapons attack. ABC News reports.
The Republican senator told a news conference in Belgrade that he believed "the Russians knew about chemical weapons because they were operating from the same base."
“I hope that such behavior on the part of Syria, in which there is certainly cooperation between Russia and Syria, will never happen again,” he said.
Earlier it was reported that the United States came to the conclusion that Russia knew in advance about the attack using chemical weapons in Syria.
The day before, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that what is happening now around Syria is “90% written off” from the situation in 2003 before the American invasion of Iraq.

7. Turkish experts confirmed the use of sarin in Idlib.
It has been confirmed that sarin gas was used in Syria's Idlib. Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag stated this, as Anadolu Agency reports.
He clarified that in blood and urine tests of Syrian victims of the chemical attack in Idlib, isopropyl ester of methylphosphonic acid fluoride, a metabolite of sarin gas, was detected.

8. Turkish Foreign Ministry: Syria still has the potential to use chemical weapons.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the Syrian authorities still have the ability to use chemical weapons.
"According to our information, the Assad regime still has chemical weapons. Apparently, the Assad regime acted dishonestly by retaining some of the chemical weapons that it should have completely destroyed. Or perhaps someone later gave them these weapons again to them. It could be countries that support him, or terrorist organizations. There is no other option: as long as Assad remains in power, all the above risks remain, they even increase, which is bad for the future of Syria,” Cavusoglu said.
Earlier, Çavuşoğlu called on Moscow to abandon its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

9. Western countries presented a new resolution on the chemical attack in Syria.
France, Great Britain and the United States have submitted a new resolution to the UN on the chemical attack in Syria, said UK Permanent Representative to the UN Matthew Rycroft.
“Together with the US and France, the UK has submitted a revised draft resolution on Syria, condemning the chemical attack and demanding full cooperation in the investigation,” Rycroft said in a blog post, which called on all UN countries to support the document.
Last week, France, Great Britain and the United States proposed that the UN Security Council urgently consider a draft resolution on the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian province of Idlib. Russia then circulated its draft resolution on Syria to the UN Security Council, aimed at investigating the incident in Khan Sheikhoun.
After this, the UN Security Council held closed consultations on chemical attacks. According to the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN V. Safronkov, they “left a depressing impression.” As a result, the West took a pause to conduct additional negotiations.

10. White House: Russia found itself isolated, like Syria, Iran and North Korea.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said that Russia puts itself on a par with “dysfunctional states.”
According to the speaker of the American administration, Washington considers its priority to implement the existing agreement on the elimination of chemical weapons in Syria. “Ensuring its further non-proliferation” is a matter of US national interests, he emphasized.
Spicer also said Russia must adhere to the commitments it has made on Syria, Ukraine and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

11. The US Permanent Representative compared Russia's situation to isolation on an abandoned island.
Moscow knew in advance about the possible use of chemical weapons in the Syrian province of Idlib. This is indicated by Russia's prompt reaction to information about the chemical attack, said US Permanent Representative to the UN Nikki Haley, CNN reports.
“The Russians reacted too quickly and became defensive. They didn't seem shocked or surprised. Then the evidence came out and we found out what really happened,” Haley said. “I believe they are acting as if Assad's actions and their efforts to cover for him have weakened their position. They realize that the world community did not believe it,” the American diplomat emphasized.
The US Permanent Representative also compared Russia's situation to isolation on an abandoned island. “Russia is an island, it has to decide whether to stay on it and lose everyone who wants to interact with it. Or should they not lose face and try to actually try and do something constructive,” Haley explained.

12. The United States accused Moscow of falsifications and attempts to hide the chemical attack in Syria.
Moscow is “covering up” for the perpetrators of the chemical attack in Syria, and also seeks to confuse and distract the international community from the investigation into the use of chemical weapons, according to the declassified part of the White House report.
The Trump administration has released part of a secret report on the use of chemical weapons in Syria. A declassified fragment of the report was published by The New York Times.
It says that Russia is the main ally of the Assad regime and is engaged in “covering up” for it. The document refutes claims by Russian authorities that the attack was a “provocation” and that the substance used against civilians may have been a substance other than sarin.
“Moscow is responding to the April 4 attack with the same familiar pattern it has used in response to other horrific attacks. It is spreading many contradictory messages to create confusion and sow doubt in the international community,” the document says.
The report provides examples of such conflicting messages. Thus, according to the Russian version, on April 4, Syrian Air Force planes attacked terrorist warehouses on the outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun. At the same time, Syrian military sources, the document says, reported that government aircraft did not operate flights in the area at this time.
In addition, the authors of the document pointed out, the video footage shows that the attack did not hit ammunition depots on the outskirts, but residential areas in the northern part of the city, which is confirmed by satellite images from independent sources.
Senior White House officials commented on the report on condition of anonymity. They say Russia's goal is to cover up the Syrian government's culpability in the chemical attack.
Earlier, a White House spokesman told Reuters that the United States has a fairly “voluminous array” of data collected from various sources. It is too large for any intelligence agency to “produce in such a short period of time.” White House officials said Russia was putting out “conflicting versions” of the events to “deflect blame” from the Syrian government.

13. The White House accuses Russia of covering up a chemical attack in Syria.
The Pentagon said that Russian representatives were at the Syrian base used to launch chemical weapons.
The White House has accused the Russian government of helping Syrian authorities cover up the use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians. The New York Times reports this.
As noted, according to US intelligence, sarin was used against the population of Syria. A White House source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Russia is “covering up the guilt of the Syrian regime.”
U.S. officials said that given the history of close cooperation between the Syrian and Russian militaries, Moscow must answer for the attacks.
Pentagon officials said Russian personnel were at a Syrian base used to launch chemical weapons.
Let us recall that earlier Putin said that he has information about the preparation of a series of attacks using chemical weapons, like what happened in Idlib, in several regions of Syria.

14. If the United States intervenes in the war in Syria, Russia will not be able to do anything. This was stated by former US Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, DW reports.
According to Herbst, the US missile attack has shaken Russia's position in Syria and in the Middle East in general.
“If the United States decides to respond not only to the use of chemical weapons, but also barrel bombs with targeted military strikes, if it decides to intervene in the Syrian war, Russia will not be able to do anything about it,” says Herbst.

15. Warplanes of the Bashar al-Assad regime dropped barrel bombs on areas of the Hama province in Syria that are under rebel control. This was reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Reuters reports.
Syrian government warplanes dropped barrel bombs on rebel-held areas of Hama province on Tuesday, a day after the US said their use could lead to further US strikes in Syria.
Specifically, a number of barrel bombs were reportedly dropped in the towns of Taibat al-Imam and Soran, north of the city of Hama, in an area where rebel groups launched a major offensive last month.
UN investigators regularly record their use by Assad’s forces, Reuters recalls.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Monday that US President Donald Trump is ready to approve new strikes on Syria if its authorities again use chemical weapons or drop barrel bombs.
At the same time, Assad regime forces fired rockets and mortars at villages in the vicinity of Lazkiye and Idlib provinces. Anadolu claims that the attack on the last province was carried out by the Russian Aerospace Forces, which led to the death of three and the injury of eight people.
Barrel bombs are metal barrels for petroleum products or cylinders filled with explosives and shrapnel, the use of which leads to large-scale destruction.

16. "Boring, girls." Putin commented on US actions in Syria.
Putin, commenting on US airstrikes in Syria, cited the novel by Ilf and Petrov.
“I would like to say: ‘It’s boring, girls!’ We have already seen and observed all this,” Putin said.
The Russian President compared US actions in Syria with the events in Iraq in 2003. “After this, a military campaign began in Iraq, and it ended with the destruction of the country, the growth of the terrorist threat and the emergence of ISIS on the international stage,” Life quotes Putin.
Putin also added that the Russian authorities have information about the preparation of provocations using chemical weapons in Syria. “They are going to plant some kind of substance again and accuse the Syrian authorities of using it,” he explained.

17. Putin compared US NATO allies to “Chinese dummies.”
Putin said there was no evidence that Syrian troops used chemical weapons. At the same time, he called NATO allies “Chinese dummies” who “all nod.”
The president stated this in an interview with the Mir television and radio company.
“How did NATO allies react? Everyone nods like Chinese dummies, not analyzing anything that is happening. Where is the evidence of the use of chemical weapons by Syrian troops? No. But there are violations of international law. This is an obvious fact. Without the authorization of the UN Security Council, a strike is struck against a sovereign country. And, despite this, a clear violation of international law, everyone agrees, accepts and begins to nod and support,” Putin said.
According to the president, the situation is reminiscent of 2003, “when a completely far-fetched pretext was used to send troops into Afghanistan.” “The country was destroyed, by the way, it was after this that the rapid growth of various terrorist organizations and movements began, the same ISIS and other organizations arose. Everyone knows this, everyone understands this, but again they step on the same rake,” the president added.

18. Türkiye has erected a 500-kilometer wall on the border with Syria.

19. The President of Italy demanded that the perpetrators of the chemical attack in Syria be punished.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella, following negotiations with Putin, said that those responsible for organizing the gas attack in Syria must be found and brought to justice.

20. Senator: Russia will not use the Aerospace Forces during US strikes on Syria.
Russia does not plan to use its aerospace forces against American missiles in the event of new US attacks on Syria, said the first deputy chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, Vladimir Dzhabarov.
Thus, Dzhabarov answered the question whether the Russian Aerospace Forces can provide assistance to the Syrian army in order to prevent new US missile attacks.
“We cannot be drawn into an armed confrontation, this threatens a large-scale war,” the senator said.
Dzhabarov also called on the US authorities to abandon their ambitions and “not indulge in emotions.” The senator advised especially not to indulge in the emotions of Trump’s daughter Ivanka, who, according to media reports, influenced the decision of the head of the White House after seeing photographs on the Internet depicting victims of a chemical attack.

Patriarch Kirill will bless Easter cakes for the Russian military in Syria.

Press:
Financial Times G7 toughens line on Russia's support for Assad

Russia will answer for Assad. Trump criticized Russia for supporting Assad.
The United States is convinced that Russia deliberately disseminated conflicting information about a chemical attack in Syrian Idlib.