Timeline | Recent developments across Syria
July 16, 2021
Regime-held areas
-Reliable sources in west Euphrates region reported that the IRGC-backed militia of Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas withdrew from their military post near al-Shabli archaeological site on the outskirts of al-Mayadeen city in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, where the militia handed over the military post to the Lebanese Hezbollah. The Lebanese Hezbollah stationed in the post where it established a rocket launcher and anti-aircraft system (23 mm cartridge). However, the reasons behind handing over the military base to Hezbollah remained unknown.
-SOHR activists have reported that a member of the National Defence Forces (NDF) was found dead with gunshot wounds, while his body was dumped in a sewage canal on the outskirts of Mahakan town in al-Mayadeen countryside in areas under the control of Iranian-backed militias in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
-SOHR activists have reported the death of a displaced young man from Kafrhood village in northern countryside of Hama due to the explosion of an old landmine in the vicinity of Tel Melh village in north-west Hama countryside, while he was shepherding sheep in the area.
-SOHR activists have reported that posters of “Bashar al-Assad” were set on fire by residents from al-Ghariyah al-Sharqiyah town during a vigil at the town’s square, in the eastern countryside of Daraa. Dozens of people participated in a demonstration and toured the city streets, chanting “death rather than humiliation” and demanded the removal of military barriers of the air-force intelligence service in the town. Protestors also pledged to revenge for the murder of a civilian and his son who were killed yesterday during an armed robbery. Protestors accused the regime forensic medicine security branch of covering up for the crime, blaming Syrian regime for the security chaos in the area.
Aleppo
-SOHR sources have reported that a Turkish drone attacked the suburbs of Tel Rifaat city in the northern countryside of Aleppo, where Turkish forces are deployed. However, no casualties have been reported. On the other hand, Turkish forces and their proxy factions renewed their bombardment on Kurdish-held areas in northern Aleppo the early morning, targeting positions in Menagh, Ain Daqnah, Baylouniyyah, Maranaz and Alqamiyyah. But no casualties have been reported.
-SOHR sources have reported that a female activist was stabbed with a sharp tool by unknown assailants, near the post office in Azaz city which is under the control of the Turkish-backed in the northern countryside of Aleppo. The activist later was taken to the national hospital in Azaz, after her money and personal properties had been stolen. According to SOHR sources, the activist had received death threats in the previous time, as she posted offensive cartoons and depictions of politicians working for the pro-Turkey Syrian National Coalition.
-SOHR activists have reported that intensive artillery shells fired by Turkish forces and their proxies hit Hosheria and al-Dandaly villages, meanwhile clashes erupted, with heavy weapons, with Manbij Military Council on the frontlines. On the other hand, Turkish forces stationed in the military base in Arab Hasan Saghir village bombarded with heavy artillery Awn al-Dadat village on al-Sajour frontline in Manbij countryside in eastern Aleppo, but no casualties have been reported yet.
SDF-held areas
-SOHR sources have documented the death of an ISIS member and his son after being shot by members of an SDF patrol, as they were attempting to arrest the ISIS member in Theban town in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor. According to SOHR sources, the ISIS member showed fierce resistance, using his individual weapon, against SDF security members who managed to kill him and his son.
-SOHR activists have reported that Syria Democratic Forces raided river crossings in al-Shuhayl town on the bank of Euphrates river in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, where they attacked some ferries in the area, and set fire to others parked in al-Hawija town in Deir Ezzor countryside. This development comes as a part of the continuous chasing of oil smugglers smuggling goods, oil and people from SDF-held areas to areas controlled by regime forces and Iranian militias on the opposite bank of the Euphrates river.
“De-escalation zone”
-SOHR activists have reported rocket fire by regime forces this dawn on positions in Fulayfel, Baianin, al-Bara, the outskirts of Kansafra, al-Faterah in the southern countryside of Idlib, the surrounding areas of Qulaydeen and al-Ankawi in Sahl al-Ghab in north-western Hama. No casualties have been reported.
-SOHR activists have reported that HTS fighters arrested a commander in the Turkish-backed al-Sham Corps with several of his members and confiscated their military equipment after raiding a post of the National Liberation Front near the frontlines with regime forces in the vicinity of Mjdaliya village in eastern Arihah town in Idlib countryside.
According to SOHR activists, HTS fighters stormed the military headquarters which contains a joint operations room of the National Liberation Front in the early hours of Friday morning, and confiscated some individual weapons, after the arrest of the HTS leader who attempted to sneak into al-Sham Corps held area in Mjdaliya village.
Moreover, the HTS leader attempted to enter al-Sham Corps areas by force. However, he was stopped by the guards, so he pulled out his gun, prompting the guards to arrest him and hand him over to the joint operations room.
In a reaction, HTS fighters attacked the joint operations room and detained the commander and the guards, and drove them to their military headquarters, before releasing all of them this morning.