Hayat Tahrir al-Sham

The flare-up in the Syrian war has shaken an already unsteady region. At this point, without evidence, it is impossible to know whether the Islamist rebels of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) acted on their own, seeing the weakness of the regime's allies Russia and Iran, to take a large chunk of territory that includes Aleppo, or whether foreign powers pushed them to do so.

Türkiye and the United States have slapped sanctions on two people believed to have raised money for two extremist groups operating in Syria, the countries have announced.

The announcement followed another joint move by Washington and Ankara four months ago, when they sanctioned a network of people and companies accused of helping deliver funds to ISIL.

An Al-Qaeda member wanted with a red notice has been caught in a joint operation organized by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and the security teams in the southern province of Hatay.

In the operation conducted by the MİT and Hatay police, M.Ş., wanted with a red notice for being a member of the armed terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, was caught.

Turkish and Russian troops have carried out their fourth combined patrolling on the M4 highway in the Idlib province of Syria, the Turkish Defense Ministry said in a written statement.

According to "Russia Today", the Turkish-funded militants have been targeting Syrian army positions.
The Russian ministry adds that Turkish forces ceased the attack after Moscow made contact with Ankara.
Turkey should suspend support for "terrorist groups" in Syria's Idlib province, Russia's Defense Ministry said.

Intense attacks by Bashar al-Assad's regime, Russia and Iran backed-groups have forced thousands of civilians to flee from Syria's Idlib province which has been designated de-escalation zone.

Since the offensive began last week, the regime and its allies have launched a military campaign mainly in the cities of Maarat Al-Numan and Saraqib as well as the surrounding rural areas.

At least four people were killed and 20 injured after a car bomb on Nov. 15 targeted Tahrir Square in the city amid anti-government protests ongoing since October, according to security sources.

The Islamic State is named its new leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Qurashi, AFP and Reuters reported.

The terrorist organization needed a new leader after the assassination of the former one - Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

The organization also suffered a second defeat after the abolition of Abu Hassan al-Muhajir, an ID spokesman who would almost certainly have taken the lead.

U.S. Marine Corps General Kenneth McKenzie, who oversaw this covert operation, said six ID fighters were killed there, including Baghdadi. He added that members of other militant groups were also killed in the raid.

Secret US special operations on Saturday and Sunday led to the death of Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and his spokesman, Abu al-Hasan al-Muhajir, in Syria, but the organization has already identified its successor, Newsweek reports "who first reported yesterday the murder of the mysterious ID chief.