Free Republic

Iran-backed militants entered Syria yesterday to bolster dictator Bashar al-Assad’s regime against the Islamist rebels who seized Aleppo. Militias crossed into the war-torn country from neighbouring Iraq, following a lightning offensive against the Syrian army by rebel forces from the hardline Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Turkish rebel groups. Their seizure of Aleppo, Syria’s second city, and swathes of territory in the north of the country has reignited the deadly civil war in Syria and shocked its allies in Russia and Iran. President Assad blamed the West for the ‘terrorist escalation’, and accused the US and its allies...

Russia has begun withdrawing ships from its naval base in Tartus, Syria, after a rapid advance by Islamist rebel forces that the Syrian army, led by President Bashar al-Assad, is unable to contain, according to Naval News. On December 2, the tanker "Yelnya," crucial for supporting Russian forces in the Mediterranean, departed Tartus. Other vessels may have left the base along with it. The Russian naval group in Syria consists of five ships and one submarine, including two "Admiral Gorshkov" class frigates, one "Admiral Grigorovich" class frigate, an upgraded "Kilo" class submarine, and two auxiliary vessels. If Russia decides to...

Special Counsel Jack Smith has made a significant concession in the Florida case against President-elect Donald J. Trump, prompting speculation about the trajectory of one of the most closely watched legal battles in the country. The move signals recalibration of the Justice Department’s strategy as it navigates the unprecedented legal terrain surrounding a former and future president. In a filing submitted on Wednesday to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Smith cited the recent election results as a pivotal factor. He noted that Trump is expected to be certified as President-elect on January 6, 2025, and inaugurated on January...