Syrian War News Updates -- February 9, 2017

Reuters: New Syrian jihadist alliance vows to step up attacks against army

The head of a new alliance of Syrian Islamist factions, including a former affiliate of al Qaeda, has promised to escalate attacks against the Syrian army and its Iranian-backed allies, with the goal of toppling President Bashar al-Assad.

Hashem al-Sheikh, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which was formed last month, also said in his first video speech that the new grouping sought to "liberate" all of Syria's territory.

"We assure our people that we will begin our project by reactivating our military action against the criminal regime and we will raid his barracks and positions and wage a new battle of liberation," he said.

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Syrian War News Updates -- February 9, 2017

Syria War Seethes Despite Cease-Fire -- AP
Russian airstrike against IS kills three Turkish soldiers in Syria -- DW
Russia, Turkey Want to Make Coordination in Syria More Efficient After Incident -- Sputnik
Putin and Erdogan agree to step up military coordination in Syria: Kremlin -- Reuters
Syrian government jets target rebel-held area in Homs -- Al Jazeera
Pentagon says airstrikes in Syria killed 11 al-Qaeda operatives - including

'a senior leader who once had ties to Osama bin Laden and current chief Ayman al-Zawahiri' -- Daily Mail
Al Qaeda operatives killed by U.S. airstrikes in Syria, Pentagon says -- CBS
Air strikes on Syrian ex-Qaeda branch kill 37: monitor -- Al Jazeera
Dozens of ISIL fighters killed by Turkish-led forces -- Al Jazeera
Turkish Air Force Kills Dozens of Daesh Terrorists in North Syria Amid Al-Bab Op -- Sputnik
Five Turkish soldiers killed in northern Syria -- Hurriyet Daily News
Syrian government forces, rebels vie for control of Daesh stronghold of al-Bab -- Al Bawaba
Trump, Erdogan agree Syria cooperation, CIA chief visit: Ankara -- AFP
CIA chief Mike Pompeo visits Turkey to discuss policy on Syria and Isis -- The Guardian
Turkey's Erdogan, Trump Agree to Act Jointly in Daesh Strongholds in Syria -- Sputnik
What's Behind the CIA Director's Visit to Turkey -- Sputnik
Russia promises to keep weapons out of Hezbollah's hands -- YNet News
Exclusive: Syria’s Assad tells Yahoo News some refugees are ‘definitely’ terrorists -- Yahoo News
Battle to Retake Syrian City Turns Into a Geopolitical Test of the War -- New York Times