Ukraine’s air defense intercepts 18 of 37 drones and 2 missiles in latest Russian attack

"Ukrainian air defense forces intercepted 18 of 37 Shahed drones and two guided Kh-59/69 missiles launched by Russia in an overnight attack on Ukraine. Russian forces launched missiles from airspace over the Black Sea and drones from Oryol and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. " NV

Syrian militants pledge to protect Russian bases

"The anti-government militants and jihadists who toppled President Bashar Assad’s

government in Syria have guaranteed the security of Russia’s military bases and diplomatic outposts in the country.
Speaking to TASS later on Sunday, an unnamed Kremlin source said that Russian officials “are in contact with representatives of the armed Syrian opposition.”
These representatives “have guaranteed the security of Russian military bases and diplomatic institutions on Syrian territory,” the source said, adding that “we hope for the continuation of political dialogue in the name of the interests of the Syrian people and the development of bilateral relations between Russia and Syria.” RT

Reuters should retract fake Assad ‘plane crash’ story – Moscow

"The Western outlet is guilty of spreading the very fakes that it “so zealously” fights, Maria Zakharova has said.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has suggested that Reuters should retract a story claiming that it was “highly likely” that Assad died in a plane crash while leaving Syria.
Assad left Syria in the early hours of Sunday morning, as Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS) jihadists and US-armed Free Syrian Army (FSA) militants stormed Damascus. Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed a plane believed to be carrying Assad leaving the Syrian capital and heading in the direction of the Mediterranean Sea, before making a U-turn and disappearing from the map.
Shortly afterwards, Reuters reported that “there was a very high probability that Assad may have been killed in a plane crash as it was a mystery why the plane took a surprise U-turn and disappeared,” citing two anonymous “Syrian sources.”
After Russia’s TASS news agency confirmed that Assad had landed in Moscow and been granted asylum, Zakharova took to Telegram to bash Reuters for spreading “fake” news." RT

Assad's Gestapo Didn't Clean Up Before They Fled

"Interesting times. Apparently the Assad security apparatus didn't destroy their records on the way out the door.

The Assad records, assuming they become public will, may be comparable to the records of the Nazi Sicherheitsdienst and the death camps
Bashir Assad's murderous dictatorial regime has, we're certain, killed hundreds of thousands of Syrians with everything from simple guns and bombs to chemical weapons. They've also collaborated with Iran to supply Hamas and Hezbollah with weapons and safe harbor.
Q: Who in Russia is going to be implicated?
Q: Who in Iran?
Q: What about connections to the Ba'athist movements in Iraq, and the records from the Syrian occupation of Lebanon?" PJMedia

Damascus Now Ruled By 'Al Qaeda In Suits' As Assad Emerges In Moscow

"Since the overnight hours Damascus has been under the control of the Islamist militants led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and backed by Turkey.

Ousted former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has found asylum in Russia after fleeing his country on Sunday, according to Kremlin sources quoted in the international media.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had propped up the Assad regime for ten years, an extension of Soviet-era support. But with troops tied down in Ukraine, he could not help defend the regime when Syrian rebels began advancing after Hezbollah had been decimated by Israel in the Lebanon war.
The BBC reported: “Deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow, Russian state media agencies report, citing sources in the Kremlin.” It added that Russian sources reported that Assad had been given asylum, noting that the BBC had not been able to verify those reports.

Will Christians, Alawites, and Shia be subject to mass persecution and extermination? 

Will the country, which has already been through over 13 years of horrific proxy war, descend into sectarian and factional chaos? 

Will Sharia law be enforced by gunpoint? 

Or will some semblance of a stable transitional government emerge? 

But for every scene the media highlights of a few hundred people celebrating in a central square, there are many more thousands of families huddled and fearful in their homes, not knowing what entity or Islamist faction controls the checkpoint around the block." 

Breitbart

Russia withdrawing warships from Syrian base in Tartus

"The Russians are pulling their warships from the Syrian base in Tartus, transferring weapons and military equipment by air from the Khmeimim base.

After losing control over Damascus amid the opposition forces’ continued offensive operations in the provinces of Latakia, Hama, and Tartus, the Russian army withdrew its warships from the naval base in Tartus, which Assad had previously handed to Moscow for use as payment for his security.
Admiral Grigorovich of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and the cargo ship Engineer Trubin of the Russian Northern Fleet left Tartus for the Mediterranean Sea." Ukrin

146 combat clashes on front lines, majority in Pokrovsk sector

"Since the start of the day, 146 clashes have taken place between Ukraine's Defense Forces and Russian invaders across the front lines, with 43 occurring in the Pokrovsk sector.
In the Kharkiv sector, three enemy attacks were launched near Vovchansk, Lyptsi, and Vysoka Yaruha, aimed at breaching Ukrainian defensive lines.

In the Kupiansk sector, Russian forces made eight assaults on Ukrainian positions outside Pishchane, Kolisnykivka, Lozova, and Zahryzove. Two attacks are still ongoing.
In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian positions near Bohuslavka, Druzheliubivka, Kopanka, Zelenyi Hai, Zarichne, Terny, Yampolivka, Nadiia, and Makiivka faced 21 attacks. Eight clashes ended unsuccessfully for the enemy, while 13 remain unresolved.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian forces unsuccessfully stormed Ukrainian positions near Stupochky. The General Staff confirmed the situation remains under control.
In the Toretsk sector, the enemy focused its efforts on Toretsk, Dyliivka, Leonidivka, and Shcherbynivka, with seven clashes reported. Three remain active.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian forces launched 43 attempts to dislodge Ukrainian defenders from positions near Myroliubivka, Novotoretske, Promin, Lysivka, Dachenske, Zelene, Novyi Trud, Zhovte, and Chumatske. Ukrainian forces repelled 36 attacks, with seven clashes ongoing. Enemy losses are being assessed.
In the Kurakhove sector, heavy fighting persists near Sontsivka, Stari Terny, Maksymilianivka, Dachne, Kurakhove, Katerynivka, Yelyzavetivka, Hannivka, Antonivka, and Uspenivka. Ukrainian defenders have repelled 22 of 31 enemy attacks, with fierce combat continuing.
In the Vremivka sector, Ukrainian positions near Novosilka, Novodarivka, Sukhi Yaly, and Blahodatne were stormed 13 times. Six clashes are ongoing.
In the Orikhiv sector, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian units near Nesterianka.
In the Dnipro River sector, Russian troops carried out three unsuccessful assaults on Ukrainian positions in their attempts to dislodge defenders." Ukraine