Syria's permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Haider Ali Ahmed, affirmed Syria's refusal to recognize the mandate of the International Commission of Inquiry.

The Syrian diplomat said, "Damascus refused to recognize the committee because of its continuous failure in its work, which was based on disregarding or justifying the illegal and immoral policies implemented by countries that occupied parts of Syrian soil, launched military aggressions against them, and supported terrorist and separatist organizations there."

During the interactive dialogue pertaining to the oral update of the International Commission of Inquiry on Syria within the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Ali Ahmed said, "We [Syria] did not expect that the commission's update that I presented today would be an exception, given the updates that preceded it, as its bias against Syria formed an integral part of its establishment and its work methodology over the past years.”

Moreover, the diplomat said, "This failure has turned this committee into a tool to help carry out these crimes. He also considered that the countries supporting this committee will, as usual, repeat their irresponsible stances that prolonged the suffering of Syrians and undermined their basic rights, and will come out with messages full of false humanitarian claims."

In conclusion, Ali Ahmed affirmed Syria's determination to "continue its efforts to liberate all its lands from terrorism and restore security, stability and the rule of law, reiterating its unwavering commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to all those in need without discrimination, and continuing its efforts for the return of refugees."

US drills in eastern Syria... prelude to adjoin SDF turf with Al-Tanf?

It was reported on July 4, that the international coalition, led by the US occupation in Syria, carried out a series of infantry drills, in cooperation with the so-called "Army of Free Syria" faction over an area of 55 km starting from the illegal Al-Tanf occupation base, on the Syrian-Jordanian-Iraqi border triangle. 

The drills lasted for several days and included training on monitoring, reconnaissance systems, anti-aircraft weapons, and medium-to-heavy machine guns. 

"As part of our joint mission to ensure security and stability and enhance joint combat capability in the 55 km area, the Army of Free Syria completed joint training exercises that lasted for several days," the faction said in a statement on social media. 

Farid Al-Qassem, the leader of the faction said the "drills conducted jointly with the international coalition serve as a signal of hope for the Syrian people."

It is likely that Al-Qassem's statements hint at the existence of a US plan to link the Al-Tanf base to the SDF-controlled areas in northeastern Syria.

Field sources told Al Mayadeen that "the United States has not yet been able to form any nucleus of a tribal force into militias directly affiliated with it to protect its bases in northeastern Syria from attacks."

The sources suggested that "the SDF does not want to engage in any war and is probably working to obstruct the organization of tribes into militias."

"A US initiative to link the Al-Tanf base with its bases in northeastern Syria is far-fetched because this is impossible in light of the deployment of the Syrian army and its auxiliary forces in the entire desert that connects Al-Tanf with the Homs desert, all the way to Al-Bukamal," the sources explained. 

"The coalition is trying to put pressure on the popular resistance to prevent it from expanding its operations against the illegal presence of US bases in the south and northeast of the country."

Read more: US drones in Syria's airspace, Russia reveals 14 US violations