Timeline | Recent developments across Syria
July 17, 2021
Regime-held areas
The Syrian regime president, Bashar al-Assad, sworn in for fourth term.
Aleppo
-Frontlines between Manbij Military Council Forces on one hand, and Turkish forces and their proxy factions of the “National Army” on the other, along al-Sajour line in Manbij countryside in north-eastern Aleppo have experienced alarming military escalation for two weeks, which left casualties on both sides. On many occasions, the escalation starts by the Turks and the factions which fire a large number of rockets and artillery shells, in addition to the daily clashes between both sides with light, medium and heavy weapons. In this context, SOHR activists have documented the death of two members of Manbij Military Council Forces in bombardment and clashes with Turkish-backed factions in Manbij countryside. Meanwhile, Turkish forces shelled the region with over 25 rockets in the early hours of Saturday morning, amid confirmed reports of casualties among the Turkish-backed militiamen due to the exchange of fire.
-SOHR activists in areas under the control of “Euphrates Shield” operations room have reported an IED explosion this morning n a car in al-Bab city, east of Aleppo. The explosion caused material damage only. On the other hand , gunmen opened fire on the headquarters of Turkish-baked factions near the contested areas, while faction members reacted by shooting fire on the gunmen, but no casualties were reported.
-SOHR activists have monitored armed clashes among Turkish-backed factions in northern countryside of Afrin, where a conflict raged between Ahrar al-Sharqiya factions and factions of the 9th Division for unknown reasons, which evolved to armed clashes with medium weapons and machine guns in Raju district in the north-western countryside of Afrin. However, no casualties have been reported yet.
SDF-held areas
-SOHR activists have reported that unknown gunmen shot dead the head of Daranj village’s council who was a member in the central district canton of the civil administration of the Deir Ezzor council in Busaira city. According to SOHR sources, unknown assailants on a motorbike opened fire on the victim’s car on the highway in al-Shuhayl town, which resulted in his death and the injury of another man who was escorting him.
-SOHR activists have reported that SDF security services, backed by International Coalition helicopters, launched an inspection campaign that reached several areas in al-Zer village in Deir Ezzor countryside, where a group of civilians were arrested for “belonging to ISIS”.
“De-escalation zone”
-SOHR activists have monitored clashes between regime forces on one hand, and the factions of the National Liberation Front and al-Fath al-Mubin on the other, on the frontlines of Aleppo and Idlib countryside. Meanwhile, National Liberation Front destroyed a bulwark where a regime sniper with heat-seeker missile was stationed in Mizanaz village in western Aleppo, which caused his death. Moreover, opposition factions targeted, with guided missiles, a gathering of regime soldiers in Saraqib silos, which left casualties.
-SOHR activists reported that six civilians were killed when regime forces and militiamen loyal to Russian and regime forces targeted a position in Sarjeh village in the southern countryside of Idlib with a Russian-made guided missile, before they targeted the same position with another guided missile, as rescue teams were on there way to the targeted site. The breakdown of fatalities was as follows: three children, a woman, a man and a volunteer of the civil defence.