TODAY’S MESOP SYRIA INSIGHT : MORE AIR RAIDS & MORE IRANIAN SUPPORT FOR ASSAD

The Syrian government has increased air raids and shelling in Syria’s southern province of Daraa killing at least two people Friday. The move has come amid reports that rebel fighters are preparing to launch an offensive in the region. – Iran has been stepping up its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, deploying hundreds of additional military specialists to gather intelligence and train troops.

 An explosion hit a Syrian border post near a refugee camp close to the Turkish city of Kilis killing five people and injuring dozens of others. The camp’s administrator, Abu Osama, said the blast destroyed 20 tents. He mentioned that thousands of new refugees have been arriving in the area over the past few weeks “because of the barrel bombing in Aleppo.” Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council will vote on a resolution Saturday on humanitarian access in Syria. The vote, which had been expected Friday, was pushed a day after Russia said it needed more time “to get some instructions from its capital.” On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the resolution should state that cross-border aid deliveries should be conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law, requiring the government’s consent.