Russian media have lauded a pilot killed in Syria as a hero, saying he detonated his grenade to avoid being captured by jihadists who had shot his plane out of the sky. Roman Filipov’s reported last words were: “Here’s for the guys.” His Sukhoi-25 ground-attack aircraft was shot down over rebel-held Idlib province. He survived … Read more
A deal to evacuate four besieged Syrian towns began Wednesday with an exchange of prisoners between rebels and government forces, local sources and state media said. Thousands of people, both civilians and fighters, are expected to begin leaving government-held Fuaa and Kafraya and opposition-controlled Madaya and Zabadani later Wednesday. The evacuations of the four besieged … Read more
“Welcome to Idlib province!” the Syrian governor proclaims, seated in a converted classroom in Hama city some 90 kilometres (55 miles) from his real office, held by rebels since 2015. With opposition fighters led by Syria’s former Al-Qaeda affiliate in control of the province he was appointed to lead last year, Ali Jassem instead works … Read more