Syrian regime forces bombarded factions in Damascus

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights learned that preparations are taking place for transferring new batches of patients and getting them out of the Eastern Ghouta; to receive treatment in hospitals outside the besieged Ghouta, in conjunction with preparations for releasing detained and kidnapped people by Jaysh al-Islam since the clashes of Adra al-Ommaliyyah east of Damascus, and of who were transferred by Jaysh al-Islam to its detention camps during clashes against Hayyaat Tahrir Al-Shamin the Eastern Ghouta, where a similar number of prisoners and abductees will be released in exchange for getting the people who have “the most critical humanitarian situations” as described by Jaysh al-Islam. Areas in Tiha town in the northwestern countryside of Daraa were shelled by the regime forces, which caused material damage but no information about casualties. A child died affected by injuries he had in the explosion of a booby trapped vehicle a few days ago at the outskirts of al-ShHil town, it was detonated by the “Islamic State” organization at the entrance of the town which is controlled by the Syria Democratic Forces, raising to 10, including a man, his son and 4 children, the number of people who were killed in this explosion, also the regime forces shelled areas in al-Susah town in the eastern banks of Euphrates River, which is controlled by the “Islamic State” organization in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor, which injured people and confirmed information about the death of 2 persons at least. The regime forces targeted by several shells areas in al-Ken village near al-Rastan in the northern countryside of Homs, also the regime forces renewed the targeting by heavy machine guns for areas in Al-Sa’en Al-Aswad town in the same countryside, which caused material damage but no information about casualties. The regime forces opened heavy machineguns’ fire on areas at the outskirts of Jobar neighborhood from the side of Ein Tarma east of the capital Damascus, which caused material damage but no information about casualties, followed by targeting by the factions for sites of the regime forces in the area. On political side, Russia decided on the outcomes of the Syrian National Dialogue Conference in Sochi at the end of next month and its relation with the Geneva negotiations. The participants agree to form the Constitutional Committee in Sochi with the possibility of holding the first meeting of the committee members under with an international support in Geneva. However, Russia insists on Bashar al-Assad signing the decree of establishing the Constitutional Committee. Ever since "Syrian dialogue" had been discussed, the location had been issue whether to hold it at Russian base in Hameim or Damascus International Airport. In addition, the dialogue's sponsor changed from the Russian Defense Ministry to a partnership with the Russian Foreign Ministry. However, two things remain the same for Russia: the legitimacy of Syria and the largest political and popular participants, and the international legitimacy with the participation of the United Nations and linking the outcome of the conference to the Geneva process and Resolution 2254. As for the "first legitimacy", Moscow expanded the circle of invited candidates from 1,000 to 1,500 and 2,000 politicians, deputies, local council members, political parties, unions and representatives of military factions included in the "reduction of escalation" and "reconciliations" agreements. In the light of the agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the intelligence services in Moscow and Ankara will work to approve the list of invitees so that the Turkish side will ensure that there is no representation or indirect representation of the Kurdish National Union and People's Protection Unit, which Ankara considers part of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). This indicates that the relationship between "People Protection Units" is limited by Moscow to military and war on terrorism, which was manifested in the formation of a joint operations room in war against ISIS in Deir Ez-Zour. The administration of US President Donald Trump has declared that its military presence and its five bases east of the Euphrates River in northeast Syria are linked to a "political achievement" in the Geneva negotiations. Trump also signed an executive resolution to provide about $400 million to arm the Syrian Democratic Forces, which angered Erdogan, especially that Trump promised earlier this month not to supply the forces with weapons and the withdrawal of heavy weapons after Raqqa had been cleansed from ISIS. Currently, there are two tracks: the first is the Russia-backed Geneva course, and the second is the path of Astana-Sochi, which is being conducted with a Russian, Turkish, and Iranian "guarantee" to discuss military matters, de-escalation all the way to Sochi's political aspect. UN Envoy Stephane de Mistura is currently under considerable pressure from Russia to attend Sochi. Few days ago, he met with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow conditioning his attendance with achieving progress in Geneva talks and the process initiation of constitutional reform. Moscow will "pressure" Damascus to negotiate with the High Negotiation Committee on the constitution, elections, and the 12 principles on Syria's future. However, according to information, Russia took its decision to announce "Constitutional Committee" at the Syrian dialogue in Sochi and form a higher council of the conference. Russian officials reiterated that it is important for Assad to sign a decree on forming the "Committee" with Moscow's approval to leave the members choice of either form a new constitution or amending the current constitution of 2012. Damascus delegation insisted on the "Constitutional Committee", which can include 21 members, and the "constitutional reform" process should be done through the legislative committee of the current parliament based on the 2012 Constitution.