A major offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and thousands of insurgents has breached Aleppo's western edge, marking the most intense violence in northwestern Syria since 2020. The attack has caused widespread displacement and disrupted services, with experts warning of potential destabilization in the region. Iran's involvement in Syria has been challenged by intensified Israeli strikes, while Turkey has reportedly supported the insurgents with strategic aid. This latest development has raised fears of prolonged instability and a potential impact on neighboring countries and ongoing humanitarian efforts in the conflict-torn region.
After being banned from FIFA and UEFA tournaments due to their special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian national football team has been playing a series of friendly matches against other countries. One of these matches will be against Brunei on November 15 in the southern city of Krasnodar, with FIFA officially registering the game. The team's upcoming match against Syria on November 19 has also been confirmed, with the Syrian Football Association signing a contract for the friendly game to be played in Volgograd. This will be the first time Russia and Brunei face each other on the football field.
Following a terror incident in Ankara, Turkey has launched two days of strikes in northern Iraq and northern Syria. The attack, which killed five people and injured 22, prompted the Turkish defense ministry to conduct airstrikes against Kurdish militant targets. While no one has claimed responsibility for the attack, the Turkish interior minister stated that the two perpetrators were killed during the strike.
In response to an attack by suspected Kurdish militants on its key state-run defence company, Turkey launched an aerial offensive against Kurdish militant targets in Iraq and Syria. The strike resulted in the destruction of over 30 targets, according to the Turkish defence ministry. The attack at the aerospace and defense company TUSAS also resulted in the deaths of two attackers, who were believed to be members of the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Russia, condemned the attack, while the Iraqi embassy in Ankara also expressed solidarity with Turkey and condemned terrorism. The PKK, which has been fighting for Kurdish autonomy since the 1980s, has recently faced increased pressure from the Turkish government, particularly after a collapsed ceasefire in 2015.
An explosion and gun attack at the headquarters of a defense and aerospace company in Turkey has left five people dead and 22 injured. Turkey has identified the Kurdish militant group PKK as responsible for the attack and has launched strikes on their sites in Syria and Iraq. Two attackers, one male and one female, were reportedly "neutralized" by police, and the identities of the victims have been confirmed by Turkey's state-run news agency.
On the one-year anniversary of an attack on Israel by Hamas, Pope Francis addressed a letter to Catholics in the Middle East, expressing his solidarity with those who are suffering due to ongoing conflict in the region. To show support, the pope called for a day of prayer and fasting and also prayed a rosary for peace at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. In response, participants of the ongoing Synod on Synodality in the Vatican have also been echoing the pope's call for prayers and solidarity with the war-ravaged communities of the Middle East. Deacon Adel Abolouh, a synod delegate from Syria, described attending the pope's rosary as a "beautiful experience" that inspires people to become "missionaries of peace."
As tensions between Israel and Iran-backed militants continue to rise, Israel has launched a ground invasion into southern Lebanon to target Hezbollah strongholds. This escalation comes after months of border warfare, and follows a recent strike on Lebanon's Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp. Meanwhile, Israel has also carried out airstrikes in Syria, targeting Iran-linked sites. The ongoing conflict between these Middle Eastern powers has the potential to draw in other countries and pose a serious threat to the region's stability.
In a disappointing start to the Inter-Continental Cup 2024, the Indian men's football team played to a goalless draw against Mauritius in Hyderabad. This was the team's first match under new coach Manolo Marquez. Despite playing in the Telangana capital for the first time in 16 years, the team failed to deliver a compelling performance, with Marquez himself admitting that it couldn't have been worse. Up next for India is a match against Syria in six days.
After over a decade of severed ties, Turkish President Erdogan has expressed his interest in restoring relations with Syrian President Assad during a flight back from Berlin. Both leaders, who had enjoyed a close personal relationship in the past, have signaled their willingness to normalize diplomatic relations amid regional tensions. This comes as Turkey faces pressure to repatriate millions of Syrian refugees and has recently faced anti-refugee sentiment within the country. Additionally, a lawsuit has been filed accusing Syria, along with Iran and North Korea, of supporting a recent attack by Hamas on Israel.
In a rare clash between NATO allies, a US F-16 fighter jet shot down a Turkish drone operating over Syria, citing it as a potential threat to US forces in the region. Despite the tense situation, a US official reassured that Turkey remains one of their strongest allies. This incident comes amidst Turkey's recent bombing campaign against Kurdish militants, raising concerns over the safety of US troops in the area. The US has deployed 900 troops to Syria to combat the Islamic State and recently carried out successful helicopter raids to capture ISIS officials.