Exclusive: 2,000 Syrian fighters deployed to Libya to support government (The Guardian)

“Two thousand Syrian fighters have travelled from Turkey or will arrive imminently to fight on the battlefields of Libya, Syrian sources in all three countries have said, in an unprecedented development that threatens to further complicate the north African state’s intractable civil war.”

Syria war: Air strikes kill 18 in Idlib city despite truce (BBC)

“At least 18 civilians are reported to have died in air strikes that hit a market and an industrial zone in the Syrian rebel-held city of Idlib.”

Turkish and Syrian regime intelligence chiefs hold first meeting in years (AlAraby)

“The heads of Turkish intelligence and Syrian regime intelligence met in Moscow on Monday, a senior Turkish official and regime news agency SANA have said, the first time in years two security chiefs have met.”

UK's attempt to repatriate British children from Syria to be rejected (The Guardian)

“Syrian-Kurdish authorities responsible for Islamic State refugee camps are likely to deny any UK request to repatriate four British children if the condition imposed to allow their return is that their mother cannot return with them.”

Soleimani's killing strengthens Putin's hand in Syria and Iraq (Al Jazeera)

“On January 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to Syria for the second time in three years. During his previous trip to Syria in December 2017, Putin landed at Russia's Hmeimim airbase for security reasons.”

Turkey and Russia discuss secure zone in Syria's Idlib: Turkish Defence Minister (Reuters)

“Turkey and Russia are discussing the establishment of a secure zone within Syria’s northwestern Idlib region where Syrians displaced by fighting can shelter during the winter, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Wednesday.”