A. General Syria News
New Government: Three months after his illegitimate reelection, Bashar Al Assad appointed on Tuesday a new government headed by Hussein Arnous. According to the regime’s news agency SANA, the new appointments include the ministers of information, internal trade and consumer protection. The ministries of defense, interior and foreign affairs remain unchanged, with the incumbents keeping the posts.
American Sanctions: On the other hand, the US State Department issued a notice Monday of new sanctions against major Iran-backed militias in Syria and Iraq for violations of a US law that restricts weapons transfers involving Iran, Syria and North Korea.
Two Syrian entities, Wael Issa Trading Establishment and Ayman Al Sabbagh Trading, as well as three Russian firms, Charter Green Light Moscow, Asia-Invest LLC and NPP Pulsar LLC, were also targeted. The ban forbids US government departments, agencies and personnel from signing contracts with or from providing licenses or government assistance to the organizations. The State Department said the organizations were sanctioned July 29 under the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act.
The law was introduced in 2000 to allow Washington to single out individuals and organizations that transfer internationally controlled weapons to or from Iran. The legislation was later updated to include Syria and North Korea. (Source: Al-Monitor)
B. Regime-held Territory
Dara: Rebel elements attacked the regime forces in the village of Shiekh Miskin in central Dara. In the city of Nawa, clashes were reported between rebel elements and the regime forces. Fighting was also resumed inside the besieged city of Dara. The Forth Division in the regime’s army conducted a new failing attempt to storm the city.
Deir Ezzor: A landmine explosion targeted a group of Iranian militia members in the city of Al Mayadin in the east of Deir Ezzor. One Iranian militia member was reported killed in the explosion.
C. HTS-held Northwest Syria (Idlib, Western Hama, Northern Latakia, western Aleppo)
Aleppo: Regime forces fired heavy artillery on the village of Tadil in rebel-held western Aleppo. One child was killed and her two brothers were wounded with one of them having his leg mutilated.
Idlib: An IED explosion hit a major road in the village of Qmaynas in the south of Idlib, only a short time after a Turkish military convoy passed through the area. There were no reports of casualties or material damage.
On the other hand, one civilian was killed in a regime artillery shelling that targeted the village of Ma’arzaf in the south of Idlib.
D. SDF-held Northeast Syria (Most of Raqqa and Hasaka, part of Deir Ezzor, parts of Aleppo: Manbij, Ayn Al Arab\Kobani, Tal Rifa’at.)
Hasaka: Opposition media sources accused SDF of kidnapping a 13 years old girl from her home in Qamishli in order to forcibly recruit her in their ranks. The sources posted a picture of the girl with her ID, which shows that she is born in 2008. There was no comment from SDF on the incident.