Increased strikes kill thirty-five in Syria hospitals
Four-way Syria talks begin in Vienna; Syria criticizes Saudi Arabia
China, Germany call for political solution in Syria; Russia opposes resolution on barrel bombs
Monitoring group reports Russian raids in Syria’s south for first time
Turkey marks 92nd Republic Day amidst deep political, social strain
Members of Iraq’s ruling coalition threaten to withdraw support for Abadi’s reforms
Increased strikes kill thirty-five in Syria hospitals
A “significant increase” in air strikes on Syrian hospitals recently has killed at least thirty-five patients and medical staff and wounded seventy-two, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Thursday. The group said the escalating attacks began in late September, though it did not identify who was behind them, and that twelve hospitals were hit in Idlib, Aleppo, and Hama provinces, including six supported by MSF. Russia began an aerial campaign in support of Syria’s government on September 30. Several medical groups accused it of hitting hospitals and field clinics. MSF said, “Six hospitals [in total] were forced to close … and four ambulances destroyed.” In recent days, two medical organizations have directly accused Russia of strikes that have hit their medical facilities. [AFP, 10/29/2015]
Four-way Syria talks begin in Vienna; Syria criticizes Saudi Arabia
Key nations backing Syria’s warring sides will seek to put differences aside at the Vienna talks. Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, the four major powers meeting in Vienna, support opposite sides in the Syrian crisis. Syria has criticized Saudi Arabia, saying it is not qualified to play a “productive” role in resolving the Syrian War because it is shedding the blood of Muslims and Arabs in Yemen and in Iraq. The comments by Syria’s Information Minister Omran al-Zogby aired on pro-state Syrian al-Ikhbariya TV. For the first time the talks also bring together Saudi Arabia and Iran. A day before the meeting, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said there is no role for Assad in the political transition. [AFP, 10/29/2015]
China, Germany call for political solution in Syria; Russia opposes resolution on barrel bombs
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang appealed Thursday for a political solution to Syria’s civil war as diplomats prepared to meet in Vienna for new peace efforts. “We both agree that we should work out a political resolution through diplomatic channels,” said Merkel at a news conference with Li. “We hope that we can put together these suggestions, and particularly through the United Nations, this organization, advance the resolution of the Syria issue,” Li said. In related news, Russia’s Deputy UN Ambassador Petr Iliichev said the UN sponsored draft on barrel bombs, sponsored by Britain, France, and Spain, comes at a “delicate moment” and could potentially jeopardize the international talks scheduled for the end of the week on how to restore calm to Syria. [Reuters, AP, 10/29/2015]
Monitoring group reports Russian raids in Syria’s south for first time
Russia appears to have carried out strikes in southern Syria’s Deraa province for the first time in an apparent expansion of its aerial campaign, the Syrian Observatory for Human Right (SOHR) said. “Warplanes that are believed to be Russian carried out strikes on the Hara, Tal Antar, Kafr Nasaj, and Aqraba areas of northern Deraa” last night, said the monitor. “This would be the first time that Russian planes have carried out strikes in Deraa,” SOHR head said. The area targeted is controlled by an array of opposition groups including moderate and Islamist rebels and the al-Qaeda affiliated Nusra Front. There have been clashes between opposition and regime forces in the province, but it has not seen the kind of large-scale operations the regime and Russia have carried out elsewhere in the country. [AFP, 10/29/2015]
Turkey marks 92nd Republic Day amidst deep political, social strain
At a reception at the Presidential Palace on Turkey’s 92nd Republic Day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan proclaimed, “The nation is the owner of the republic and its symbol is the presidential complex.” Erdogan made the remarks during the first public reception at the presidential complex, where more than 800 citizens from across eighty-one provinces had been invited. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also issued a message to mark the anniversary, saying, “The anniversary is a great chance to express commitment to our country. Unity and solidarity is the best answer to those who try to sow discord among us.” Violence in the country’s southeast, political polarization, increased violent extremism, and limitations on media freedom, such as a government-appointed trustee panel halting printing of two newspapers critical of the government, marked the holiday just three days before the November 1 elections. [Anadolu Agency, Hurriyet, 10/29/2015]
Members of Iraq’s ruling coalition threaten to withdraw support for Abadi’s reforms
More than sixty members of Iraq’s ruling coalition will seek to withdraw parliamentary support for Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s reforms if he does not respond within 72 hours to their demands for wider consultation, parliamentarians said after delivering a letter Tuesday on the issue. An MP who signed Tuesday’s letter said there was growing frustration among Abadi’s political partners, in and out of the State of Law, who say he takes critical steps without consulting them. “Every decision taken by the government on reforms should pass through multiple circles of discussion,” said the lawmaker. A meeting with the Premier scheduled for Wednesday night was cancelled after lawmakers decided to wait for a written response from Abadi. [Reuters, 10/29/2015]
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