Syria

The IDF attacked military facilities and weapons depots in southern Syria, including command centers. Israel's Defense Minister warned that he would not allow southern Syria to turn into southern Lebanon.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov will visit Tehran on February 25 at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart Araqchi. The two sides will discuss trade, energy and international issues following the signing of a new strategic agreement.

EU foreign ministers decide to suspend sanctions against Syria in the banking, energy and transportation sectors. Five Syrian organizations were removed from the list of frozen assets.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov will visit Turkey for talks on the war in Ukraine with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. They will also discuss the situation in Gaza and Syria.

The President of Ukraine emphasized the importance of a common understanding of security guarantees between partners. Zelenskyy emphasized the need for concrete actions and solutions to prevent Russian aggression in the world.

The President of Ukraine held talks with Prime Minister of Slovenia Robert Holob on bilateral relations and defense assistance. They also discussed the food initiative for Syria and security guarantees.

The Israeli Air Force attacked Hezbollah facilities on the Lebanese-Syrian border that were used to smuggle weapons. The IDF announced the continuation of operations against the terrorist organization.

Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Nebenzya, declares Ukraine's “irretrievable loss” of the occupied territories and demands the transfer of additional regions. Russia also insists on Ukraine's neutral status without the right to join military alliances.

A 23-year-old Syrian national attacked people in the city of Villach, Austria. The attack killed a 14-year-old teenager and injured five other people, two of them seriously.

Russian advance south of Pokrovsk has slowed over the past two weeks. ISW believes that the occupiers may reorient their offensive to Kostiantynivka in the spring or summer of 2025.

Russia has reduced its military presence in Transnistria to 2,500 people, of whom 1,000-1,500 are Russians. Most of the military are guarding weapons depots, while the rest have been withdrawn through Chisinau.

The British Ministry of Defense spotted 6 Russian ships with ammunition leaving Syria through the English Channel.

President Zelensky said at the Munich conference that slow help from allies has led to the loss of territory. russia is facing a shortage of troops, having pulled them from different regions of the world.

Russia has withdrawn troops from Syria, Africa, the Caucasus, and parts of Moldova due to a lack of forces for the war in Ukraine. Putin is facing a military shortage, Zelenskiy said at the Munich conference.

The Sudanese Foreign Minister says the agreement on the establishment of a Russian naval base remains in force. Russia may receive a gas station on the Red Sea in exchange for weapons.

Russian ships remove equipment and personnel from the military base in Tartus. Moscow is negotiating with the new Syrian government, having a weak position due to Assad's hiding place.

The Israeli Defense Forces struck an arms smuggling tunnel between Syria and Lebanon in the Bekaa area. Ammunition depots and rocket launchers that posed a security threat were also destroyed.

Mishustin and Putin are trying to convince that the Russian economy is stable despite the sanctions. The ISW points to the concealment of the real impact of the war and much higher inflation than the official 9.9%.

The Swedish government will tighten control over the issuance of licenses for semi-automatic weapons after a mass shooting at an educational center. The attack killed 11 people, including the shooter.

The US Department of Defense is preparing a plan for the complete withdrawal of troops from Syria within 30-90 days. There are currently about 2,000 US troops in the country, including 1,100 temporary rotational forces.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announces a new package of assistance to Ukraine worth 55 million pounds. The funds will be used for energy projects, social services and food supplies to Syria.

Monthly conscription to the Russian army does not cover the losses of the military at the front. Members of the State Duma justify the refusal to mobilize again, despite staffing problems.

Rafael Grossi announced talks with the Trump team in Washington and other places to discuss global issues. The IAEA chief will also visit Moscow this week to maintain channels of communication.

Rescuers unblocked a living woman from the rubble of a boarding school in Suzha that was attacked by Russians. After the first strike, Russia struck again and used FPV drones to obstruct the rescue operation.

Russia transferred $5 billion through American banks to Turkey under the guise of financing the Akkuyu NPP. The United States froze an additional $2 billion from JPMorgan, but the White House blocked their confiscation due to the Turkish factor.

The Russian Federation has opened a criminal case against the commander of the 19th missile brigade of the AFU, Rostyslav Karpusha, for allegedly hitting a boarding school in Suzha. The AFU air force provided evidence that the attack was carried out by Russian aviation.

a Russian air bomb destroyed a boarding school with civilians in the Kursk region of Russia. Zelensky compared this case to Russia's actions in Chechnya, Syria and Ukraine.

After the overthrow of the Assad regime, Syria's new leadership began a radical restructuring of the economy. It plans to cut one-third of civil servants and privatize most state-owned companies.

President Zelenskyy had his first conversation with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The parties discussed the creation of a food hub in Lebanon and strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Ahmed al-Sharaa is appointed president of Syria for a transitional period. The new leadership demands that Russia extradite Assad, pay compensation and announces the dissolution of security agencies.