Russia Begins Operations in Syria: End Game for the US Empire?

Cold War 2.0 has reached unprecedented hysterical levels. And yet a hot war is not about to break out – before or after the November 8 US presidential election.

Russia Calls the War Party's Bluff
https://sputniknews.com/columnists/201610251046715738-us-russia-military-analysis/

From the Clinton (cash) machine – supported by a neocon/neoliberalcon think tank/media complex – to the British establishment and its corporate media mouthpieces, the Anglo-American, self-appointed “leaders of the free world” are racking up demonization of Russia and “Putinism” to pure incandescence.

And yet a hot war is not about to break out – before or after the November 8 US presidential election. So many layers of fear and loathing in fact veil no more than a bluff.

Let’s start with the Russian naval task force in Syria, led by the officially designated “heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser” Admiral Kuznetsov, which will be stationed in the eastern Mediterranean at least until February 2017, supporting operations against all strands of Salafi-jihadism. The Admiral Kuznetsov is fully equipped with anti-ship, air defense, artillery and anti-submarine warfare systems – and can defend itself against a vast array of threats, unlike NATO vessels. Predictably, NATO is spinning with alarm that “all of the Northern Fleet”, along with the Baltic Fleet, is on the way to the Mediterranean. Wrong; it’s only part of the Northern Fleet, and the Baltic Fleet ships are not going anywhere.

The heart of the matter is that when the capabilities of this Russian naval task force are matched with the S-300/S-400 missile systems already deployed in Syria, Russia is now de facto rivaling the firepower of the US Sixth Fleet.

To top it off, as this comprehensive military analysis makes clear, Russia has “basically made their own no-fly zone over Syria”; and a US no-fly zone, viscerally promoted by Hillary Clinton, “is now impossible to achieve.” That should be more than enough to put into perspective the impotence transmuted into outright anger exhibited by the Pentagon and its neocon/neoliberalcon vassals.

Add to it the outright war between the Pentagon and the CIA in the Syrian war theatre, where the Pentagon backs the YPG Kurds, who are not necessarily in favor of regime change in Damascus, while the CIA backs further weaponizing of “moderate”, as in al-Qaeda-linked and/or infiltrated, “rebels”.

Compounding the trademark Obama administration Three Stooges school of foreign policy, American threats have flown more liberally than Negan’s skull-crushing bloody baton in the new season of The Walking Dead. Pentagon head Ash Carter, a certified neocon, has threatened “consequences”, as in “potential” strikes against Syrian Arab Army (SAA) forces to “punish the regime” after the Pentagon itself broke the Kerry-Lavrov ceasefire. President Obama took some time off weighing his options. And in the end, he backed off.

So it will be up for the virtually elected – by the whole US establishment — Hillary Clinton to make the fateful decision. She won’t be able to go for a no-fly zone – because Russia is already doing it. And if she decides to “punish the regime”, Moscow already telegraphed, via Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov, there will definitely be “consequences” for imposing a “shadow” hot war.

Sun Tzu doesn’t do first-strike

Washington, of course, reserves for itself a “first-strike” nuclear capability, which Hillary Clinton fully supports (Donald Trump does not, and for that he’s also demonized). If we allow the current hysteria to literally go nuclear, then we must consider the matter of the S-500 anti-missile system – which effectively seals Russia's air space; Moscow won’t admit it on the record because that would unleash a relentless arms race.

A US intel source with close connections to the Masters of the Universe but at the same time opposed to Cold War 2.0 as “counter-productive”, adds the necessary nuance: “The United States has lost the arms race, indulging in trillions of dollars of worthless and endless wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, and now is no longer a global power as it cannot defend itself with its obsolete missiles, THAAD, Patriot and Aegis Land Based Ballistic Defense System, against Russian ICBMs, even as the Russians have sealed their airspace. The Russians may be as much as four generations ahead of the US.” Moreover, in the deep recesses of shadow war planning, the Pentagon knows, and the Russian Defense Ministry also knows, that in the event some Dr. Strangelove launched a nuclear preemptive strike against Russia, the Russian population would be protected by their defensive missile systems – as well as nuclear bomb shelters in major cities. Warnings on Russian television have not been idle; the population would know where to go in the – terrifying — event of nuclear war breaking out.

So how did Moscow plan for it all? According to the US intel source, “they took out almost all the military budget from their stated federal budget, lulling the West into thinking that Russia could not afford a massive military buildup and there was nothing to fear from Russia as they were finished as a world power.

The [stated] military budget was next to nothing, so there was nothing to worry about as far as the CIA was concerned. If Putin showed publicly his gigantic military buildup, the West could have taken immediate remedial actions as they did in 2014 by crashing the oil price.” The bottom line then would reveal the Pentagon as totally unprepared for a hot war – even as it threatens and bluffs Russia now on a daily basis; “As Brzezinski has pointed out, if this is the case it means the US has ceased to be a global power. The US may continue to bluff, but those that ally with them will have nowhere to go if that bluff is called, as it is being now called in Syria.”

The US intel source is adamant that “one of the greatest military buildups in history has taken place right under the nose of the Russian Central Bank head Elvira Nabiullina and the Russian Ministry of Finance while the CIA awaits what they think will be the inevitable Russia collapse.

The CIA will be waiting forever and eternity for Russia to collapse. This MGB maneuver is sheer genius. And demonstrates that the CIA, which is so drowned by data inputs that they cannot connect the dots on anything, must be completely reorganized. In addition, the entire procurement system of the United States military must also be reorganized as it cannot ever keep up if new weapon programs as the F-35 take twenty years to develop and then are found obsolete before they even enter service. The Russians have a five-year development program for each new weapons system and they are far ahead of us in every key area.” If this analysis is correct, it goes against even the best and most precise Russian estimates, according to which military potential may be strong, asymmetrically, but still much inferior to US military might. Well-informed Western analysts know that Moscow never brags about military buildups – and has mastered to a fault the element of surprise. Much more than calling a bluff, it’s Moscow’s Sun Tzu tactics that are really rattling loudmouth Washington.
 
84 percent of Russians approved Russian President Vladimir Putin’s job, according to the recent poll.

Putin’s Approval Rating in Russia Grows By 2% in October, Reaches 84%
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201610261046762656-putin-approval-rating/

Approval rating of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s job in October reached 84 percent, a poll conducted by the Moscow-based non-profit Levada Center revealed on Wednesday.

Putin's October approval rate is 2 percent higher than 82 percent of respondents' support he had from July to September. The current Putin’s approval rate is 4 percent lower than in October 2015.

At the same time, 16 percent of respondents said they are not satisfied with the president’s job.

Over a half of Russians (55 percent) believe that their country is heading in the right direction, which is 6 percent lower than last year. Thirty percent of the Russian citizens believe in the opposite. The survey was conducted on October 21-24 among 1,600 people across 137 settlements in the 48 regions of Russia.


The US is training Syrian opposition for the operation to retake Raqqa from Daesh terrorists.

US Military on Ground in Syria Training Opposition for Raqqa Operation
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610261046771311-us-syrian-opposition-raqqa-operation/

US forces are on the ground in Syria, equipping, advising, and training Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and partners for the operation to isolate and then retake the Daesh stronghold of Raqqa, Coalition Commander Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend said at a briefing Wednesday.

“I will not talk about locations where our US forces are in Syria but they are there," Townsend stated. "They equip and train at various locations, and we have advise and assist teams that will accompany partner forces anywhere they fight Daesh."

On Tuesday, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said that "capable, motivated" local Syrian forces would lead the offensive on the city.

Raqqa operation is expected to overlap with the offensive to retake Iraq's Mosul, according to the Defense Department.


Turkey’s border police opened fire on a number of Syrian civilians near the town of Amude as activists and eyewitnesses reported that the civilians were trying to escape the ongoing war in Syria.

Turkish Border Guards Open Fire on Civilians near Syrian Border, Casualties Reported
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950805001326

The Syrian refugees had reportedly approached the Syrian-Turkish border from the village of Mearik, when they were fired upon in a bid to keep them in Northern Syria and at least one civilian was killed and two more were injured, ARA News reported.

The local police identified the dead man, saying that he was 23-year-old Ali Tamme. “The wounded were transferred to Amude Hospital for treatment,” local media activist Shiyar Hassan said.

“Turkish border guards have violated humanitarian and moral principles and passed all international laws and norms, by killing innocent Syrian civilians, including children,” the police said in a statement.

Turkey has closed all its border gates with the Kurdish-populated NSR, which has in turn forced desperate civilians to seek alternative routes across the border. Dozens of Syrians, mostly Kurds, have been killed by the Turkish border guards over the past two years.
 
Putin, Lavrov to Speak at Valdai Discussion Club's Forum on Thursday

https://sputniknews.com/russia/201610271046781469-lavrov-putin-valdai-sochi/

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will speak on Thursday at the Valdai Discussion Club’s 2016 forum in the Russian city of Sochi.

The 13th annual meeting is taking place on October 24-27 and is titled "The Future of Progress: Shaping the World of Tomorrow."

"The President will take part in the final session of the Valdai International Discussion Club’s 13th annual meeting in Sochi," the Kremlin said in a statement.

Last week, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced that Lavrov would also be participating in the final day of the forum.

The Valdai Discussion Club was established in 2004, and seeks to promote dialogue of Russian and international intellectual elites on global political, economic and social developments.


Russian Servicemen Take Part in Counterterror Exercises in Far East

https://sputniknews.com/russia/201610271046781108-russia-terrorism-far-east/

Russian servicemen took part in counterterrorism drills in the country’s Far East.

Russian servicemen took part in large-scale counterterrorism drills in the city of Ussuriysk in the country’s Far East, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry's Eastern Military District said Thursday.

"According to the concept of the exercises, an armed group of up to 50 people attacked one of the storage bases of logistical support of the Eastern Military District with an aim to seize a depot with arms and ammunition," Vladimir Matveev said.

According to Matveev, paratroopers also carried out a special operation to destroy the simulated attackers and release the simulated hostages.


Russia's UN envoy urges organization to prove Aleppo air strikes continue

http://tass.com/politics/908979

According to Russia’s permanent representative, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs constructed his speech as if the bombing "did not stop for a single day"

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin criticized the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O'Brien who accused the Russian and Syrian forces in indiscriminate bombing of the Eastern Aleppo. Speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council, the diplomat asked O'Brien to provide evidence of continuing air strikes.

Churkin recalled that last week, "in response to the UN call, and as a goodwill gesture, it was decided to completely stop flights of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force in the region of Aleppo from 10:00 AM local time on October 18". "Aircraft did not approach the city at a distance of less than 10 km. This moratorium on flights is continuing for 8 days," Churkin said.

According to Russia’s Permanent Representative, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs constructed his speech as if the bombing "did not stop for a single day."

"If you have any information that there were any missile and bomb strikes, please provide this information," Churkin said, adding he expected an "objective analysis" of the current situation.

Un fails to help civilians in besieged Aleppo

The UN has failed to thrash out an operation on evacuation of the sick and wounded people from eastern Aleppo, by failing to exert required pressure on the armed groups, Vitaly Churkin said:

"We have to state with regret that the UN has failed to thrash out in a proper way the operation on evacuation of the sick and injured people. They let the work with the opposition groups operating in the city and the local council go with the flow. The UN staff members have failed to exert required pressure on patrons of the illegal armed units so that the militants could cooperate with humanitarian workers."


Russian Reconciliation Center: 15 Tonnes of Aid Delivered to Aleppo

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610271046780402-aleppo-russia-humanitarian-aid/

The Russian center for Syrian reconciliation delivered 15 metric tons (16.5 US tons) of food to the civilians of Aleppo region in accordance with a plan of providing humanitarian assistance, spokesman for the center Daniil Rychkov said Thursday.

The Center for reconciliation of opposing sides in the Syrian Arab Republic, based at Hmeimim air base, was set up by the Russian Defense Ministry to plan, monitor and carry out peace restoration operations in Syria. As of March 2016, about 683 tons of humanitarian aid and medicine had been delivered to the Syrian provinces of Hama, Homs, Latakia, Daraa, Deir ez-Zor, Aleppo and Damascus, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

"We delivered the cargo for the residents of the neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsood," Rychkov said.

He specified that the aid included pasta, rice, sugar and oil.

Fighting in Aleppo has escalated over the past few weeks, with the Syrian army and local militia forces having managed to encircle large groups of militants in eastern districts of Aleppo.


Militants continue disrupting peace in Aleppo — Russia’s Defense Ministry

http://tass.com/world/908977

The terrorists continue disorderly shooting residential areas of the city and prevent the evacuation of civilians to safe areas

Terrorists continue to shoot residential quarters of the Syrian Aleppo and thwart evacuation of civilians from the city, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday.

"Aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force have not been carrying out any flight closer that the 10-kilometer zone around the city of Aleppo for 9 days. However, terrorists continue disorderly shooting residential areas of the city using makeshift rocket launchers, preventing evacuation of civilians through the current humanitarian corridors," the Ministry representative said.


Russia to test newest helicopter missiles against terrorists in Syria

http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/10/russia-to-test-newest-helicopter.html

October 26, 2016 - Fort Russ News -
PolitRussia - translated by J. Arnoldski -


Russian helicopters based on the Admiral Kuznetsov heavy aircraft carrier will test the newest “Germes” long-range guided anti-tank missiles against terrorists in Syria. Unlike other weapons of this class whose range does not exceed 10 kilometers, these new missiles are capable of hitting targets at three times a greater distance.

“Currently, a small batch of missiles has been prepared to be tested with Ka-52 helicopters. Their testing in combat will help the final design of the missile system set to become the standard weapon of ‘Alligator’ Russian attack helicopters. Earlier, Germes were planned to be tested with Ka-52 helicopters already based at Hmeimim, but there were difficulties with fine-tuning the missiles. Now it has been decided to test the Germes in more difficult conditions with ship-basing,” a source from Russia’s military-industrial complex told the newspaper Izvestiya.

The Tula Construction Design Bureau started to develop the Germes in the middle of the 1990’s. Despite the fact that the complex is classified as an anti-tank missile, such missiles are capable of hitting all sorts of targets in a row, including fortifications, buildings, and clusters of enemy forces. The Germes’ speed is close to hypersonic and the only existing missile of the same class in the world capable of competing with it is the Israeli Spike-NLOS.

It should be noted that the testing of Russian long-range guided anti-tank missiles in combat conditions also represents an advertisement for selling Germes to Egypt which intends to purchase Mistral helicopters armed with such missiles. Experts believe that given the difficult relations between Cairo and Tel Aviv, the Egyptians are interested in missiles superior to Israel’s long-range ones.


sToRmR1dR said:
ISIS launches offensive against Nusra in east Lebanon

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-launches-offensive-nusra-east-lebanon/



Israeli soldiers come under attack at Lebanese border

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/israeli-soldiers-come-attack-lebanese-border/



Lebanese Army denies attacking Israeli forces

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/lebanese-army-denies-attacking-israeli-forces/


Israeli warplanes conduct mock airstrikes over southern Lebanon

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/israeli-warplanes-conduct-mock-airstrikes-southern-lebanon/

Israeli warplanes conducted mock airstrikes over the Nabatiyeh District of southern Lebanon on Thursday, the National News Agency reported this morning.

The Israeli warplanes flew at medium-altitude to emulate real life air raids over southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese government and military did not give Israel permission to enter their airspace over the localities of Nabatiyeh and Iqlim Al-Tuffah.

According to local sources, the Israeli warplanes are still flying over southern Lebanon at this moment, despite several warnings from the Lebanese military.


Israeli troops demolish three Palestinian homes in al-Quds

http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2016/10/27/490866/Israel--Palestine-East-Jerusalem-alQuds-demolition-Beit-Hanina-Silwan

Israeli troops have razed to the ground at least three houses in the East Jerusalem al-Quds, in the latest demolition of Palestinian property in the occupied territories.

Local media reported that Israeli forces demolished the buildings in the neighborhoods of Beit Hanina and Silwan on Wednesday without prior notice, displacing at least 44 Palestinians including children.

The United Nations has documented a dramatic rise in demolitions, saying 124 Palestinians, including 60 children, were left homeless in the occupied West Bank in a single day in April.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also said in August that a total of 726 Palestinian structures had been razed in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds since January, and that the demolitions had affected 1,020 Palestinians.

The world body noted that there were 533 demolitions and 688 displaced Palestinians in the entire 2015, meaning that demolitions so far this year have increased more than 36 percent.

The demolitions have raised alarm among diplomats and human rights groups over Tel Aviv's sustained violation of international law. The demolished structures include houses and schools.

The Israeli razing of Palestinian homes along with its illegal settlement expansion in the occupied Palestinian territories have dimmed hopes of any peace in the region.

Over half a million Israelis live in more than 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the West Bank, including East al-Quds. The settlements are considered by the international community as illegal.

The occupied territories have witnessed increased tensions ever since Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem al-Quds in August 2015.

Nearly 250 Palestinians have lost their lives at the hands of Israeli forces since the beginning of last October.


China holds first anti-terror drills with Saudi Arabia

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-saudi-security-idUSKCN12R0FD?il=0

Special forces from China and Saudi Arabia have held their first joint anti-terrorism drills, state media reported on Thursday, China's latest effort to expand security ties with countries in the Middle East and its Muslim neighbors.

China says its companies and citizens face a growing threat from terrorism as its global footprint expands, and the government has been getting more involved diplomatically in trouble spots in areas such as the Middle East.

President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia early this year, vowing to expand security cooperation and oppose terrorism.

Twenty-five people from each side took part in training over two weeks from Oct. 10 focused on anti-terrorism combat skills and tactics near China's southwestern city of Chongqing, the People's Liberation Army Daily said.

"This joint anti-terrorism training is directed at raising the two militaries' ability to combat terrorism and non-traditional security threats," the paper said.

Chinese officials have long been concerned that instability in Afghanistan will spill over into China's western region of Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uighur people. Hundreds of people have died there in recent years in unrest the government blames on militant separatists.

Authorities in bordering Kyrgyzstan said a suicide bomb attack on the Chinese embassy in the Kyrgyz capital in August was ordered by Uighur militants active in Syria.

In the face of such threats, China in August set up an anti-terrorism alliance with neighbors Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, which all border Xinjiang.

From Oct. 20 to Oct. 24, more than 400 troops from China and Tajikistan held joint anti-terrorism drills along the remote mountainous Tajik border with Afghanistan, Chinese media reported on Tuesday.

Afghan officials observed the exercises, which included hostage rescue and combat training.

Human rights groups say violence in Xinjiang is more a reaction to repressive government policies and limits on Uighurs' religious freedoms, accusations the government denies.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of Uighurs have fled the unrest and traveled clandestinely via Southeast Asia to Turkey. China says some of them then end up joining militants in Iraq and Syria.


One Week After US Patrol, Beijing to Conduct Military Drills in South China Sea

https://sputniknews.com/military/201610271046776970-south-china-sea-drills/

Following the US Navy’s latest provocative patrol near land reclamation projects in the South China Sea, China has ordered nonmilitary to avoid the region as it prepares to launch new military drills.

Last week, the US Navy conducted its latest "freedom of navigation" exercise near Beijing’s artificial islands in the Paracel chain. The Chinese defense ministry called the move both "illegal" and "provocative."

In response, a statement released by the country’s Maritime Safety Administration indicates that Beijing will conduct military drills near the Paracels throughout the day on Thursday, according to the Japan Times.

The US and its Pacific allies have objected to the construction of the islands, claiming it’s an attempt by Beijing to establish an air defense zone. China has denied these allegations and maintains that it has the right to build within its own territory and that the islands will use primarily for humanitarian purposes.

The South China Sea is a highly-contested region through which roughly $5 trillion in international trade passes annually. Most of it is claimed by China, but there are overlapping claims by Brunei, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

Last week’s maneuver by the USS Decatur was the fourth of its kind within the last year, as part of the Pentagon’s effort to challenge China’s "excessive maritime claims." It also came amid recent statements from Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte that Manila would move away from its US obligations as part of an effort to increase ties with China and Russia.

"I announce my separation from the United States. Both in military, not maybe social, but economics also," Duterte said.

"I’ve realigned myself in your ideological flow and maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to [President Vladimir] Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world – China, Philippines, and Russia."

New provocations are likely a sign of the US losing its influence in the Pacific.

"Washington has suffered geopolitical setbacks in virtually every nation in Asia Pacific, including those now led by regimes it has meticulously organized, funded, and backed for decades. It is also waning, however, among those nations considered long-time and crucial US allies," geopolitical researcher Tony Cartalucci wrote in an article for New Eastern Outlook, pointing out that Thailand is also drawing away from the US.

"What used to be a military dominated by American hardware and military exercises, is transforming with the acquisition of Chinese tanks, European warplanes, Middle Eastern assault rifles, Russian helicopters, and Thai-made armored vehicles."


S Korea, US Practice 'Surgical Strikes' Against N Korean Nuclear Missile Objects

https://sputniknews.com/asia/201610271046781215-korea-north-south-us/

South Korea and the United States have recently held a military exercise practice against North Korea's nuclear and missile facilities.

South Korea and the United States have recently held a military exercise practice "surgical strikes" against North Korea's nuclear and missile facilities, local media reported Thursday.

"The U.S. Air Force's 353rd Special Operations Group conducted a combined striking exercise against an enemy's facilities with the South Korean Army's special forces brigade at a military base in Gunsan (274 kilometers south of Seoul)," a defense official said told the Yonhap News Agency.

According to the official, Seoul and Washington focused on sending their special forces into the country should there be a conflict in the region.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula escalated in September after North Korea claimed to have successfully exploded a nuclear warhead. The country reported having detonated a hydrogen bomb in January.


Japan, U.S., South Korea agree to put more pressure on North Korea - Japan official

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-nuclear-talks-idUSKCN12R0BY?il=0

Japan, the United States and South Korea agreed on Thursday to work together to put more pressure on North Korea to get it to abandon its nuclear and missile programmes, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama said.

Tension on the Korean peninsula has been high this year, beginning with North Korea's fourth nuclear test in January, which was followed by a satellite launch, a string of tests of various missiles, and its fifth and largest nuclear test last month, all in defiance of international sanctions.

"We reaffirmed the necessity to increase pressure against North Korea to have it give up its nuclear and missile development and realise the denuclearization of the peninsula," Sugiyama told reporters.

He was speaking after a meeting in Tokyo with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam.

Russia and North Korea's lone major ally, China, have pushed for a resumption of six-party talks on denuclearization in North Korea. The talks, which also involve Japan, South Korea and the United States, have been on hold since 2008.

Lim said his government had decided to resume talks with Japan for the conclusion of General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), a pact that would share sensitive information on North Korea's missile and nuclear activities.

The signing of the agreement was expected in 2012, but South Korea postponed it amid domestic opposition against concluding such a security pact with Japan, a one-time colonial ruler.

Tokyo's ties with Seoul, plagued by a territorial spat and Japan's past military aggression, have warmed after reaching a landmark agreement last December to resolve the issue of Korean girls and women forced to work in Japan's wartime brothels.
 
Russia Registered US Attack Drone in Area Where Idlib School Was Attacked - MoD 27.10.2016

Russian reconnaissance means have registered a US attack drone in the area where a school in Syrua's Idlib had been bombed, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.

No Russian aircraft entered the area over the Syrian Idlib, where the alleged strike took place, the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. Moreover, Russian UAVs have not registered any signs of the destruction of the school's roof or shell craters, Maj. Gen. Konashenkov said. A Russian drone has been sent to the area Thursday morning, he added. "According to a photo made by a Russian UAV, the school's roof is not damaged and there are no bomb craters in the area near the school. Similar imformation may be requested from our American colleagues." Video frame grabs published in media showing the alleged strike on the Idlib school have been fabricated, the ministry added. The UNICEF has fallen victim to another hoax by the White Helmets NGO, the spokesman added. DETAILS TO FOLLOW

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610271046810904-idlib-school-russia/
 
Putin urges new Marshall Plan for Middle East to see recovery and growth

http://tass.com/politics/909103

The Russian leader is concerned over the growing global terror threat and warns that extremists are stronger and smarter than those who are flirting with them

The Middle East needs a present-day edition of the Marshall Plan to see recovery and growth, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"It has been said more than once that this evil [terrorism] can be defeated only through polled effort of all world countries. Russia has offered that and is offering it to all of its partners," Putin said at a meeting of the Valdai international discussion club. "Colossal damage requires a long-term and all-round program, a kind of the Marshall Plan to revive this war- and conflict-torn region."

Putin called to pull efforts to counter terrorism and to do it not just in words. He reminded that it has been said more than once that this evil could be defeated only through consolidated effort of all the countries of the world. The Russian leader stressed that the international agenda should feature the issue of restoring statehood, economy and the social sphere of the Middle East countries.

Russia is ready to take an active part in such joint efforts, Putin added.

Terrorists stronger, smarter than those flirting with them

The Russian leader is concerned over the growing global terror threat and warns that extremists are stronger and smarter than those who are flirting with them.

Putin said some countries’ attempts to use terrorists in their political interests were "a very dangerous game."

"I would like to address these players once again: in this case the extremists are smarter and stronger than you and flirting with them you are bound to lose," Putin stressed.

"Terrorist attacks carried out in recent years in Boston and other US cities, in Paris, in Brussels, in Nice, in German cities and unfortunately in our country as well show that terrorists need no groups or organized structures," Putin said.

"They are capable of acting alone, autonomously and all they need is an ideological motivation to be guided against their enemy, who is we are all," the Russian president said.

Putin regrets that some forces in Washington disrupted his agreement with Obama on Syria

Vladimir Putin regrets that his personal agreements with President Barack Obama on Syria have failed to work and that some forces in Washington have disrupted those plans.

"We have not succeeded in stopping the bloodshed and launching a political process in Syria. It seemed that after long negotiations, enormous efforts and complicated compromises a united front for the struggle against terrorism started taking shape," Putin said.

"However, that did not happen. It (the front) has not been created," the Russian president added.

"My personal agreements with the US president did not work either. Some forces in Washington did everything to prevent the implementation of those agreements," President Putin emphasized.

The president believes that all this "is demonstrating the unexplainable and irrational desire of western countries to repeat their mistakes again and again or, as a saying goes, ‘walk into the same water twice’."

"All of us can see what’s happening in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and a number of other countries. I am asking myself a question: where are the results of struggle against terrorism and extremism? Fundamental results on a global scale? Some results can be seen in separate places in regions but globally there have been no results in the struggle against terrorism," Putin said adding that terrorist threats were growing.


Lavrov discusses Russia’s relations with US, EU with Valdai club experts

http://tass.com/politics/909065

The Russian foreign minister touched upon the crises in Syria and Ukraine, and the situation in Afghanistan

Russia’s relations with the United States and the European Union, and the situation in Syria and in Ukraine were in focus of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s speech at a closed-door session of the Valdai international discussion club, Nikolai Zlobin, President of the Washington-based Center on Global Interests, a thinktank, told journalists on Thursday.

"Generally, the atmosphere was rather friendly and confidential. It was not Lavrov’ first speech at the Valdai club, so he had friendly relations with many of its members," the expert said. "As usual, the minister answered questions very calmly, with occasional jokes, demonstrating complete confidence in the current policy."

"Lavrov spend more time at the session than had been originally planned, he easily agreed to exted the meeting," Zlobin said. "He was ready to continue his question-and-answer session as long as possible to bring home his ideas."

According to Zlobin, the Russian top diplomat rather thoroughly dwelled on Russia’s relations with the United States "in various aspects, both on direct relations and on contacts in the context of third countries."

Another major topic was relations between Russia and the European Union. "It was stressed that NATO’s eastwards expansion has spoiled the idea of promoting a strong and indivisible world," the expert said.

Apart from that, the Russian foreign minister touched upon the crises in Syria and Ukraine, and the situation in Afghanistan, Zlobin added.


Russian, Syrian, Iranian top diplomats to hold talks on October 28

http://tass.com/politics/909033

The ministers will discuss the situation in the Middle East

The Russian, Syrian and Iranian foreign ministers, Sergey Lavrov, Walid Muallem and Javad Zarif, will hold a three-party meeting in Moscow on Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters.

"Tomorrow there will be a three-party meeting between Lavrov and his Syrian and Iranian counterparts," Zakharova said. "The ministers will discuss the situation in the Middle East and the issues of fight against terrorism."

The talks will focus on the Syrian crisis "taking into account the commitments of the three countries to uncompromising struggle against terrorists, ensuring ceasefire, ending the sufferings of civilians as soon as possible, solving humanitarian problems and launching political process on the well-known international-legal basis," she said.

The diplomat said the ministers will also discuss the military and political situation in Iraq and the goal of efficient fight against the terrorists of the Islamic State (IS) group outlawed in Russia.

On Friday, Lavrov is also due to hold a bilateral meeting with his Syrian counterpart, who is paying a working visit to Russia at Lavrov’s invitation. The talks will "focus on the pace of developments in Aleppo and efforts of the Russian and Syrian military" who continue the fight against the Islamic State and Jabhat Al-Nusra terrorist groups.

The top diplomats will also discuss providing humanitarian assistance to the Syrian citizens, which includes foodstuffs, medical supplies and essentials.

Lavrov is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his Iranian counterpart to discuss the prospects of developing the Russian-Iranian relations in the context of implementing the agreements reached by the Russian and Iranian presidents in Baku, Azerbaijan, in August.

"On October 28 Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif will pay a working visit to Russia," the diplomat said. "That same day Russia’s foreign minister will hold talks with him."

"The top diplomats will focus on the current state of and prospects for Russian-Iranian relations, in particular the implementation of the agreements reached by the two countries’ presidents on August 8 in Baku," Zakharova elaborated.

Iran plays an important role in the events developing in the Middle Eastern region, she added noting that Russia considered this visit "rather timely and important, taking into account the current international situation, including the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan."


NATO's Buildup in the East Will Not Be Left Without Russia's Response - Envoy

https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610271046807041-nato-russia-buildup/

NATO's enhancement of military presence on its eastern flank will not be left without retaliation, the Alliance cannot but realize that, Russia's envoy to NATO Alexander Grushko said Thursday.

NATO's speculations about the alleged Russian threat are "a road to nowhere," Putin said.

"This cannot be the case that the Alliance does not understand that these measures will be left without a response from our [Russian] side. The question arises, what will happen next? A new wave of NATO speculations about the Russian threat and approach to the next round of arms race? In our opinion, this is a road to nowhere," Grushko told journalists.

NATO ministerial meetings have not been sending any positive signals for the Russian-NATO dialogue since the 2014 summit in Wales; the alliance is focused on the all-round containment of Russia despite talks on being ready for dialogue, Grushko added.

"Despite all claims about openness to dialogue, at the present stage NATO in fact is primarily focused on developing deepening its policy of comprehensive military and political containment of Russia."

An example of such an approach is the fact that NATO and the United States continue exploring the Black Sea waters while frightening the international community by the Russian ships in the international waters, Grushko said.

"While frightening the public by the movements in the international waters of the Russian ships which are en route to the Mediterranean to carry out anti-terrorism tasks, NATO and, above all, the United States continue an active exploration of the Black Sea waters with ​​its multifunctional combat platforms, which have a serious strike and missile potential," he stressed.


NATO 'Posing a Threat to the Whole World Like Hitler's Germany'

https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610271046804375-nato-threat-nazis-hitler/

The North Atlantic Alliance has violated national freedom, sovereignty and democracy instead of promoting peace and stability, Croatian politician Ivan Pernar of the Zivi Zid coalition told Sputnik, comparing the bloc to Nazi Germany.

"Brussels is nervous since there are people who question … fairytales of EU bureaucrats about a better life in the European Union, as well as so-called peace and stability ensured by NATO. In fact NATO has ensured the opposite. The alliance has violated and trampled down on national freedom and sovereignty instead of protecting them. NATO supports overthrowing legitimate governments through bombings instead of advocating democracy," he said.

The politician insisted that NATO is "posing a threat" to the whole world, "just like Germany under Hitler."

The Croatian politician praised Moscow for its independent stance in the international arena.

"If not for Russia, no one would have stood up to this. The United States would have been able to bomb and doom to destruction any country that does not want to serve [Washington's] interests," he said.

Pernar was also convinced that Croatians have realized that NATO brings "only harm," pointing to the massive influx of refugees which the European Union has struggled to deal with.

"The wave of refugees who we must take care of is a direct consequence of Washington's activities around the world. The US is playing stupid: at first they cause chaos and then they say that you should sort it out by yourself. It's impossible to imagine Russia do something like this," he said.

The politician cited Moscow's limited military engagement in Syria as an example.

The politician cited Moscow's limited military engagement in Syria as an example. "Russia's operation in Syria is based on international law. Moscow was invited by the legitimate Syrian government. At the same time Washington's intervention, like all its operations, does not have a legal basis. This is why the US has opposed the International Criminal Court (ICC) based in The Hague. No one can put US presidents and generals on trial. The United States does not punish itself and no one else is capable or dares to," he said.


BREAKING:

Russia Registered US Attack Drone in Area Where Idlib School Was Attacked - MoD

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610271046810904-idlib-school-russia/

Russian reconnaissance means have registered a US attack drone in the area where a school in Syrua's Idlib had been bombed, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.

No Russian aircraft entered the area over the Syrian Idlib, where the alleged strike took place, the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

Moreover, Russian UAVs have not registered any signs of the destruction of the school's roof or shell craters, Maj. Gen. Konashenkov said. A Russian drone has been sent to the area Thursday morning, he added.

Video frame grabs published in media showing the alleged strike on the Idlib school have been fabricated, the ministry added.

The UNICEF has fallen victim to another hoax by the White Helmets NGO, the spokesman added.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW


Syrian, Russian Warplanes Target Terrorists' Positions across Idlib Province

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950806001034

"The Syrian warplanes targeted the terrorist groups' gathering and convoys of their vehicles on the move in two villages of Tara'a and Khan Sheikhoun in Southern Idlib, killing scores of militants and destroying their military vehicles," the sources said.

In the meantime, the Syrian jets bombed terrorists' positions in Mara'a al-Misrin in Northern Idlib and destroyed the terrorists' military equipment and several heavy machine-gun mounted pickup trucks, with local sources reporting casualties on the militants as a result of the aerial attacks.

In a separate development in Idlib province, the Russian Air Force carried out several airstrikes over the province, targeting Jeish Al-Fatah's positions near the provincial capital.

According to a field correspondent, the Russian Air Force conducted more than 10 airstrikes over Idlib province, striking Jeish Al-Fatah positions in Idlib City, Binnish, Taftanaz, and Ma'arat Al-Nu'man.

In addition to their airstrikes over Idlib province, the Russian Air Force also carried out an attack against the militants of Jund Al-Aqsa and Ahrar Al-Sham Movement in Northern Hama.

The Russian airstrikes in Northern Hama were followed by a ground assault from the Syrian Army at the village of Souran; clashes are still ongoing at the moment.

The attacks on militants' positions in Idlib and Hama provinces came as a senior war strategist said earlier this week that the Syrian army has initiated action to spread forces to regions Southwest of Aleppo, including Khan Touman, in a bid to drive terrorists back to Northern Hama and Southeastern Idlib to eventually isolate the terrorists' in the latter province from Aleppo.

"The most important front now is inside Aleppo city from Liman al-Halabi, al-Ameriya, al-Sokra, Hanano to the East of Aleppo, and the Syrian army's major operation in the countryside Southwest of the city in recent days took the terrorists by surprise; the Syrian army turned Ramousiya and the military academies into the center of its operations and moved to stretch its security control zone around this center and won back the Air Defense Battalion base known as the missile hill," Retired Syrian Army General Heisam Hassoun told FNA on Tuesday.

He said that after winning back the air defense battalion base, the Bazu hilltop, Rashedeen 4 and Rashedeen 5 regions and al-Hakama school also came under the Syrian army fire.


Militants Heavily Pounded, Killed in Eastern, Western Damascus

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950806000850

The airstrikes were launched concurrent with the advances of ground troops and their allies against the Fatah al-Sham (formerly known as al-Nusra) Front positions in Khan al-Sheih in the Western Ghouta of Damascus.

The Syrian and Russian bombers also targeted Fatah al-Sham bases near Jobar in Eastern Ghouta, killing dozens of militants.

In Eastern Ghouta, also the terrorists' main bases near al-Reihan, Tal al-Kurdi and Tal Sawan came under attack by warplanes.

The Syrian army soldiers and popular forces continued to strike at Jeish al-Islam's defense lines near the strategic city of Douma in Eastern Ghouta on Wednesday, inflicting major casualties on the terrorists.

Syrian government forces engaged in fierce clashes with the terrorists of Jeish al-Islam in al-Reihan region and along the road connecting Tal al-Kurdi to Douma.

In the meantime, Syrian army units hit terrorists' centers hard near the town of al-Shifouniyeh, and captured more positions.

Farms around the towns of Jesrin and al-Mohammadiyeh were also the scenes of heavy fighting between the Syrian soldiers and Jeish al-Islam militants.

Syrian fighter jets, meantime, played a crucial role in beating the terrorists back from their positions in Eastern Ghouta.

Douma is the main stronghold of Jeish al-Islam terrorists in Damascus province.


Terrorists Fleeing to Depth of Eastern Aleppo Districts

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950806000769

"After heavy clashes with the terrorists and inflicting a heavy defeat on them in personnel and equipment, the Syrian army units could advance towards al-Heidariyeh, Bae'idin and Youth Housing Complex near Hanano in Northeastern Aleppo and force the militants to retreat towards the depth of Eastern districts," the source said.

Noting that the army forces could take control of new regions by advancing towards Youth Housing Complex, the source said that a number of buildings in al-Heidariyeh region were also seized back by the army.

"The pro-government troops also moved from Jandoul square towards Bae'idin square and advanced well in Bae'idin district," the source added.

Earlier today, the Syrian army, supported by Hezbollah resistance group, repelled the Jeish al-Fatah terrorist group's massive attack near the Housing Project 1070 in Southwestern Aleppo city.

"After losing the Tal Bazo and Tal Ahd heights in Aleppo, the Jeish al-Fatah militants launched numerous large-scale attacks from Tal Mo'ata against the Aleppo air defense battalion base to take Tal Ahd but were pushed back," a military source said on Thursday.

"Concurrent with the terrorists' offensive, the Syrian fighter jets heavily pounded the terrorists' positions in different parts of Southern Aleppo," he added.

Scores of terrorists were killed and wounded in the clashes and their weapons and ammunition were destroyed, the source said.

Housing Project 1070 is located in the Southern parts of Aleppo highway to the key provinces of Idlib and Lattakia. It is also on the Western side of the aviation and artillery collages near al-Ramouseh. Al-Hamdaniyeh district to the North of the Housing Project is seen as a main gate to the Southwestern neighborhoods of Aleppo city.

Seizure of Project 1070 can directly change the conditions of the battlefield in Southern and Southwestern Aleppo and will leave indirect impacts on the situation of the war in other districts of Aleppo city.


Highway Attack Shatters ISIL's Fuel Convoy in Eastern Aleppo

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950806000480

"The Syrian army troops carried out a special operation against the ISIL along the Aleppo-Raqqa highway in Eastern Aleppo which resulted in the destruction of at least 20 trucks," a army source said.

According to the source, the tankers were moving from Deir Hafer towards al-Bab but the army blocked their way and demolished them.

In a relevant development on Monday, the Syrian military forces stormed the concentration centers and gatherings of ISIL terrorists in two regions in Eastern Sweida, destroying several fuel tankers.

ISIL's bases in al-Bayader region and in the Eastern side of the village of al-Rashideh came under heavy attack by the Syrian army troops, destroying a base, several oil tankers and killing a number of militants.

In a similar raid on Friday a number of ISIL vehicles, carrying fresh forces and ammunition in the Southern province of Sweida, came under attack by the Syrian Army troops, adding that most of the vehicles were damaged in the offensive.

"Syrian military forces, tipped off by intelligence agents, stormed a long convoy of ISIL's vehicles in Tal Dhafla region, inflicting major damage on the armored and supply vehicles," field sources said.

"Several ISIL members were killed and several more were wounded in the attacks," the sources added.
 
Three children were killed and 10 injured in a militants' shelling of a school in Syria's Aleppo, the Russian General Staff said.

Three Children Killed in Militants' Shelling of Aleppo School - Russian MoD
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610271046814448-aleppo-school-shelling/

Terrorists ramp up the shelling of western Aleppo in Syria, with a school and a humanitarian corridor their latest targets, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Thursday.

"This afternoon during classes at a school in the Hadaiq al Andalus region, a mine and a gas cylinder hit the school classrooms from terrorist-controlled eastern Aleppo," Konashenkov stated.

nearby humanitarian corridor in Masharqa district was also targeted, resulting in 12 civilian deaths and more than 20 injuries, Konashenkov stated.

"Why does the UNICEF and certain permanent UN Security Council members stubbornly refuse to notice any of this?"

Russian Defense Ministry repeated that Russian and Syrian air forces refrain from flights in 10km (6.2 mile radius) vicinity of Aleppofor the 10th day running.

"For the 10th day, the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian Air Force have not made any flights near the 10-kilometer zone around Aleppo," spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.


Another two schools came under attack in Syria on Thursday after an Idlib school had been bombed, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Anthony Lake announced in a release.

Two More Schools Attacked in Syria on Thursday - UNICEF
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610271046814641-unisef-syria-schools/

UNICEF noted that the latest attacks bring the number of attacked schools since October 11 to five.

Yesterday, when a school compound in Syria was repeatedly attacked, killing dozens of children and teachers, we thought we had seen the depths of depravity," Lake said on Thursday. "Today’s reports of attacks on schools in Douma and western Aleppo should deepen our disgust and outrage."

On Wednesday, UNICEF announced that at least 22 children and six teachers were killed in an attack on a school compound in the Syrian city of Idlib.

Lake said attacking schools and killing children is simply inhuman. "If the perpetrators cannot find their own sense of humanity, they should heed the condemnation of the world," Lake added.


Terrorists have launched an offensive against the Syrian army in Aleppo's south-west, using Grad multiple rocket launchers, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported from the scene on Thursday.

Terrorists Use Grad Missile Systems to Launch Offensive in Aleppo's South-West
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610271046789918-aleppo-grad-terrorists/

According to the correspondent, militants launch rocket strikes on Syrian army's positions on strategic heights, including in the area where an air defense unit is deployed. Militants strike Syrian army’s and militia's positions near the 1070 district of Aleppo.

Terrorists are redeploying reinforcements to the south-west of Aleppo, according to Syrian military intelligence data. Mobile communication and the Internet have not worked in the city since Thursday morning.


Militants derailed with sniper fire a Russian and Syrian attempt to evacuate some 40 people from eastern districts of Aleppo to safe zones, Russian Defense Ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Thursday.

Militants Derail Attempt to Evacuate 40 Civilians From Eastern Aleppo
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610271046779458-aleppo-civilians-evacuation/

The official reminded that Russian and Syrian planes have not been flying in the zone of a radius of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) for nine days.

"Because of the sniper fire of the militants, another attempt of the Syrian authorities and the Russian reconciliation center to evacuate around 40 people from eastern districts of Aleppo to safe regions of the city was derailed," Konashenkov said, adding that the incident happened last night.

Fighting in the city of Aleppo intensified after the Syrian army declared an end to the week-long ceasefire on September 23, blaming militants for numerous violations that made the cessation of hostilities unreasonable.


According to the Turkish president, the country's air forces are aiming at Syria’s Raqqa and Manbij after liberating the city of Al-Bab from Daesh terrorists.

Turkish Air Forces to Advance to Syria’s Raqqa, Manbij After Taking Al-Bab
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610271046789121-erdogan-forces-syria-advance/

The Turkish Air Forces are aiming at Syria’s Raqqa and Manbij after liberating the city of Al-Bab from Daesh terrorists, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday.

“After taking Al-Bab we will head to Manbij and Raqqa. I have discussed these steps with US President Barack Obama during the phone talk yesterday evening,” Erdogan said speaking in Ankara.


Ankara suggested the partipation of the Free Syrian Army's (FSA) in the operation to retake Daesh's de facto capital of Raqqa instead of the self-defense forces of the Syrian Kurds, Turkey’s Defense Minister Fikri Isık said Thursday.

Turkey Suggests Participation of Free Syrian Army in Raqqa Op Instead of Kurds
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610271046795758-turkey-raqqa-fsa/

Earlier in the day, US-led coalition commander Stephen Townsend said the United States and Turkey were in talks over the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) involvement in the operation to free Raqqa from Daesh.

However, Ankara opposes SDF’s involvement since the force includes People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers to be an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), outlawed in the country. "Turkey argues that the operation for the liberation of Raqqa from Daesh should not involve participation of another terrorist group — YPG [Kurdish People Protection Unit]. As for alternatives, Turkey is ready to offer them. We, in particular, suggest using the support of the local forces, mainly the Free Syrian Army," Isik was quoted as saying by the Anadolu Agency.

On Wednesday, Isik met with his US and French counterparts, Ashton Carter and Jean-Yves Le Drian, to discuss fighting against Daesh terrorists. Carter said that the US-led international coalition intended to start the operation to liberate Syria’s Raqqa in a few weeks.
 
angelburst29 said:
According to the Turkish president, the country's air forces are aiming at Syria’s Raqqa and Manbij after liberating the city of Al-Bab from Daesh terrorists.

Turkish Air Forces to Advance to Syria’s Raqqa, Manbij After Taking Al-Bab
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610271046789121-erdogan-forces-syria-advance/

The Turkish Air Forces are aiming at Syria’s Raqqa and Manbij after liberating the city of Al-Bab from Daesh terrorists, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday.

“After taking Al-Bab we will head to Manbij and Raqqa. I have discussed these steps with US President Barack Obama during the phone talk yesterday evening,” Erdogan said speaking in Ankara.


Ankara suggested the partipation of the Free Syrian Army's (FSA) in the operation to retake Daesh's de facto capital of Raqqa instead of the self-defense forces of the Syrian Kurds, Turkey’s Defense Minister Fikri Isık said Thursday.

Turkey Suggests Participation of Free Syrian Army in Raqqa Op Instead of Kurds
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610271046795758-turkey-raqqa-fsa/

Earlier in the day, US-led coalition commander Stephen Townsend said the United States and Turkey were in talks over the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) involvement in the operation to free Raqqa from Daesh.

However, Ankara opposes SDF’s involvement since the force includes People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers to be an affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), outlawed in the country. "Turkey argues that the operation for the liberation of Raqqa from Daesh should not involve participation of another terrorist group — YPG [Kurdish People Protection Unit]. As for alternatives, Turkey is ready to offer them. We, in particular, suggest using the support of the local forces, mainly the Free Syrian Army," Isik was quoted as saying by the Anadolu Agency.

On Wednesday, Isik met with his US and French counterparts, Ashton Carter and Jean-Yves Le Drian, to discuss fighting against Daesh terrorists. Carter said that the US-led international coalition intended to start the operation to liberate Syria’s Raqqa in a few weeks.


After Abandoning Kurds to Erdogan's Invasion US Now Expects Them to Win the 'Race to Raqqa' for It

http://russia-insider.com/en/after-abandoning-kurds-erdogans-invasion-us-now-expects-them-win-race-raqqa-it/ri17234

But the Kurdish militias are saying they don't intend to expose themselves to a Turkish stab in the back

US Secretary of Defense explained yesterday that the push to take ISIS capital in Raqqa, eastern Syria will begin within weeks. (And BTW Russia is not invited.)

"It starts in the next few weeks," he said, referring to the timeline for an assault led by Arab and Kurdish fighters on ISIS' Syrian stronghold of Raqqa. "That has long been our plan and we will be capable of resourcing both."

Carter added: "It's been long a part of our plan that the Mosul operation would kick off when it did. This was a plan that goes back many months now and that Raqqa would follow soon behind."
Take from this what you will. Perhaps this is empty talk to boost the Democrats' ISIS-fighting credentials and help Hillary on November 8. Perhaps it is a ruse of war meant to prevent ISIS from reinforcing Mosul from Syria.

Or perhaps Ash Carter is actually serious. In which case I fear for Ash Carter.

Americans have explained that when they mean they're going to take Raqqa that really means that Syrian Kurds are going to take Raqqa for them:

"The only force that is capable on any near term timeline are the Syrian Democratic Forces, of which the YPG are a significant portion," said Army Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend in a news briefing. "We'll move soon to isolate Raqqa with the forces that are ready to go."

In fact the Kurdish YPG are more than a "significant portion" of the SDF, they're easily 75% of its fighting strength, probably more. And herein lies the problem because even as US officials acknowledge Kurds aren't exactly eager to die so US can claim credit for expelling ISIS from a wholly non-Kurdish city.

Arab forces are expected to be the ones to take the city itself, U.S. officials say.

"Truthfully, the Kurds that I’ve dealt with don’t intend – they’re not comfortable going into Raqqa. They know they can play a role in shaping and isolating Raqqa but it’s not their intent to be involved in the actual seizure of the city," the U.S. military official said.

Here is a fact. If YPG doesn't want to enter Raqqa, then SDF can not enter Raqqa. The satellite Arab formations of the SDF have nowhere the strength to face off against the Caliphate.

In fact what the Kurds have been saying recently is that they may be willing to march on Raqqa but it is going to cost the US a lot more in political support and military supplies than what they've been getting so far. SDF Spokesman Talal Ali Silo:

Our target is wherever ISIS occupies. Currently, our targets are Dêra Zor and Raqqa. However, al-Bab Military Council is demanding our help. We will meet their demands for militaristic and logistic help. Raqqa Operation requires great power and opportunities. It requires a lot of preparation.

We receive some aid, but it is limited and done covertly. We demanded that International Coalition forces and the US give militaristic and political support overtly and officially. We demanded advanced weaponry, missiles, armored vehicles, panzers etc. They have been promised, but not delivered.

This was two weeks ago, however. Ie, before the Turkish and US-backed rebels attempted an offensive against the Kurdish Afrin enclave. -- Their most ferocious assault against the SDF so far.

As Turkish artillery and aircraft pounded the Kurds in support of attacking Islamists the US limited itself to 'expressing concern', 'calling on all sides to stand down'. US State Department spokesman John Kirby:

“We are concerned about reports of civilian casualties in recent air and artillery strikes in northern Syria. We call on all sides to stand down and focus on greater threats.”

In other words, as far as we know the US didn't lift a finger to protect the SDF against Erdogan's 'Euphrates Shield'. Instead it was actually forced to issue denials that it was part of the offensive.

If Turkish media is to be believed Assad actually did more to support the Kurds than the US. Turkish pro-Erdogan media claimed that a Syrian helicopter struck the Turkish-backed rebels killing 2 and wounding 5. Kurds also captured footage (1:18) of what appeared like a Russian Su-30 fighter in the area -- perhaps as a cover for the helicopter if such a strike indeed took place.

At this point the Kurds aren't worrying about Raqqa. They're worrying about the next Turkish offensive, and how a push to Raqqa would expose them to that:

Syria's Kurds fear a "stab in the back" by Turkey if they join a push to drive Islamic State from its Syrian capital of Raqqa, one of their chief political leaders told Reuters on Tuesday.

"It is very important that Raqqa is liberated. But one point which is bothering us is that, if we go toward Raqqa, we will be stabbed from the back," he said.

So here is the deal for Syrian Kurds from the American Empire: Accept only limited recognition and political support. Only limited supplies of weapons of the type you already have. Expect even this limited support to not extend to your Afrin enclave. And in return you get to lose fighters you might very well need against Turkey so US can claim credit for expelling Islamist fanatics from an Arab city before Russia does.

Good deal?


Saudi Arabia wants to participate in Raqqa offensive

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-wants-participate-raqqa-offensive/

Saudi Arabia's Arab Coalition Spokesperson, Major General Ahmed Al-Assiri, told Al-'Arabiya News Agency on Thursday that his country is prepared to joined the US-led offensive to liberate Raqqa City from the so-called "Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham" (ISIS).

The Saudi commander claimed that his country is prepared to take part in the offensive if the US asked them.

“The kingdom is committed to the fight against ISIS in Syria as part of an international coalition, including air sorties delegated to it, whether from within the kingdom or via its warplanes stationed at the Turkish Incirlik base,” he told Al-Arabiya on Thursday.

Assiri stated that Saudi Arabia would not use ground forces during the offensive because the US wants local Syrian forces to conduct the operation.

The Saudi Air Force has been scrutinized by the international community recently for their ruthlessness and inaccurate airstrikes against the Yemeni people.

So, there is a good chance that they will not be included in the Anti-ISIS Coalition's upcoming offensive.


Kerry Legacy: Middle East Chaos, New Russia Cold War, Corporate Free Reign

https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610281046821701-john-kerry-legacy/

Delivering a speech at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, current US Secretary of State John Kerry proudly detailed his accomplishments during the last four years of President Barack Obama’s administration. On his Loud & Clear program, Radio Sputnik’s Brian Becker discussed with analysts highlights of that speech, and Kerry’s legacy.

Guests on the program, Sputnik Radio producer Walter Smolarek, and Jeremy Kuzmarov, a history professor at the University of Tulsa, offered in their conversation with Becker that Kerry’s assertions do not match his policies.

“John Kerry has left a trail of destruction in his wake,” Smolarek said, in reference to the diplomat’s policy moves in both Iraq and Syria.

Interestingly, Becker remarked, in the 2004 presidential election, Democrat Kerry ran against Republican George W. Bush, as a peace candidate, capitalizing on Bush’s unpopularity for waging the Iraq War.

“[Kerry] presided over the escalation of the US presence in the Middle East,” Smolarek added. “There weren’t these thousands of US soldiers in Iraq, when Kerry became the Secretary of State. But now there are 6,000 American soldiers in Iraq.”

Kerry, in pushing for aid to Syrian rebels, created chaos in the region. Now, however, Kerry and Washington have rejected their earlier stance, attempting to shift the blame to Russia for bombings and waging a proxy war, Kuzmarov suggested.

The professor added that the new Kerry narrative, portraying Russia as an enemy, is “very simplistic,” and is “feeding the new Cold War.”

“US foreign policy toward Russia should be critically scrutinized, including the expansion of NATO, and the US involvement in Ukraine,” Kuzmarov said. “All of Obama’s policies have antagonized Russia.”

Smolarek observed that increased militarization by the US is rooted in the Republican might-have-been “new American century” that Washington, under President Bush, hoped would flower following the collapse of the former Soviet Union.

“Now that the threat of [Communist] revolution happening, or potential for a country in the third world to realign with alternative [nations] has more or less disappeared, there is a weakening of US ability to control its rivals, when we see Saudi Arabia and Israel distancing themselves from the US, at a certain degree,” Smolarek said. “I think the US is insecure about this.”

Kerry devoted a large part of his Chicago speech to the extremely unpopular Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal, a deregulation trade treaty negotiated in unprecedented secrecy, that would economically shackle the US with South Asian nations, and distance that alliance from China.

“TPP was considered a means to undercut Chinese influence in the Asia-Pacific and draw those countries more into an American orbit,” Kuzmarov said. “It’s surprising, but it’s in line with the Asia Pivot policy and tends to project US power in the Pacific. It’s the policy the US has adopted over the last hundred years.”

However, Wikileaks revelations, alongside the revelation of the startling giveaway of sovereign rights by the signatories, have threatened to derail the agreement, revealing that the deal will increase the exploitation of workers on both sides of the Pacific, and isolate China.

“The details are never made public,” Smolarek said, adding that powerful multinational corporate special interest groups, enjoying a privileged status within the process, understand the sweeping nature of the TPP.

“This is affront to democracy,” Kuzmarov said of the deregulation treaty, adding that both presidential candidates, “have been forced to disavow it because it’s so unbelievably unpopular.”

Kuzmarov said that the renewed push for the TPP during Kerry’s Chicago speech, “shows that Kerry is out of touch with the sentiments in the US that led to support of alternative candidates, like Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump.”

Historically, the US has reinvigorated a weak American economy by increasing business ties with Asia-Pacific entities, the professor noted. “With these economic problems we have in the US, we see Kerry and other politicians repeating that historical tendency to look to Asia.”

“But the world is changing. We see many people moving away from the American orbit. This agreement is deeply unpopular on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.”


NATO Not Seeking Confrontation With Russia, Wants No New Cold War

https://sputniknews.com/europe/201610281046822997-nato-russia-cold-war/

NATO does not seek confrontation with Russia and does not want a new Cold War, as the alliance is striving for cooperation with Russia, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

NATO continues "to strive for a more cooperative and constructive relationship" rather than hostility toward Russia, Stoltenberg told the BBC.

He noted that the planned deployment of 4,000 additional troops in Eastern Europe was aimed at prevention, not provocation, of a possible conflict.

"We have to do that based on collective defence – deterrence," Stoltenberg added.

On Wednesday, the defense ministers of NATO member states convened for a meeting in Brussels, Belgium to discuss bolstering defense on the bloc's eastern flank, in particular, the planned deployment of four multinational battalions in the Baltic States and Poland.

Since 2014, NATO has been building up its military presence in Europe, particularly in Eastern European countries bordering Russia, using Moscow's alleged interference in Ukraine as a pretext.
 
Europe has recently been plunged into panic over the Russian naval group heading for the Mediterranean, journalist Vladimir Bychkov wrote for Sputnik.

West 'Engulfed in Panic' Over Russian Naval Group Heading for Mediterranean
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610281046843755-russia-naval-group-mediterranean/

Recently, Spain and then Malta said they will not allow the Russian flotilla to enter their ports. In particular, Maltese Foreign Minister said that his country will not grant permission to the Russian warship to be refueled in Malta.

However, neither Spain nor Malta bothered to confirm whether the Russian Defense Ministry had sent a request on entry to their ports for the naval group. Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that the Russian aircraft carrier group led by the Admiral Kuznetsov is provided with sufficient amount of resources for its mission in the Mediterranean Sea. It can operate autonomously for at least 45 days. Konashenkov also said that the Russian Defense Ministry had not sent requests to Spain and Malta over entry to their ports for refueling.

"Nevertheless, European media is continuing to fuel the panic with headlines about 'Russian nuclear threat' and a 'countdown to world war III.' In addition, the NATO military has been on alert," Bychkov wrote for Sputnik.

NATO organized a defense ministers meeting of the 28 country members and Montenegro. The meeting also involved military chiefs from Finland and Sweden as well as top European diplomat Federica Mogherini.

"[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is showing a desire for dominance. From the Arctic, to the Baltic and the Black Sea, sometimes simultaneously, Russia wants to use sophisticated weaponry mixed with ships of a Soviet vintage," a senior NATO diplomat was quoted as saying by Reuters. In turn, Russia’s ambassador to NATO Alexander Grushko stressed that Moscow did not threaten European security. "The alliance is more focused on the development and deepening of its policy of a comprehensive military and political containment of Russia," Grushko noted.

Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed concern that the naval group could be used to intensify airstrikes in the Syrian city of Aleppo.

The Russian Defense Ministry had to make a statement to rebuff Stoltenberg’s assumption. "These concerns are groundless, because our planes have not been even close to Aleppo for nine days. There are no reasons to worry. A group of ships is now in the Mediterranean. Our ships have always been in the Mediterranean. There are no reasons to suspect something, no reason for Stoltenberg's claims," Andrei Kelin, the head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's European Cooperation Department, told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

"The mission of the Russian naval group has also become a headache for the United States. In particular, it added to Washington’s fears that the operation to liberate Mosul from Daesh may not be accomplished before the presidential election on November 8," the article read.

Another problem was related to the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta on the North African coast. Over the past five years, Russian warships have entered the port nearly 60 times. This is a big concern for the Pentagon, Bychkov wrote.
 
Russian General Staff asks Putin for permission to continue strikes at militants in Aleppo

http://tass.com/politics/909454

The Russian General Staff says the militants have resumed active combat actions againt government forces

Russian military have asked President Vladimir Putin, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, to permit resumption of airstrikes at mlitants in eastern Aleppo, Gen Sergey Rudskoi, the chief of the main department for operations at the General Staff of the Armed Forces said on Friday.

"Since civilians continue dying and the militants have resumed active combat actions againt government forces, we've asked the Supreme Commander to authorize resumption of airsrikes at illegal paramilitary formations in eastern Aleppo," he said.

Russian planes steer clear of Aleppo for ten days

Rudskoi stressed the Russian combat planes in Syria have steered clear of the 10-kilometer zone around Aleppo for a tenth day running.

"All flights by Russian and Syrian warplanes inside the ten-kilometer zone around the city have remained paused for a tenth day running, although the situation around Aleppo remains complicated," he said.

He recalled that under the Russian-US agreements the regime of the cessation of hostilities was resumed for a period of seven days, from September 12 to September 19.

"During that period the Russian aerospace group and Syrian government forces paused all strikes against militant groups, except for those in areas controlled by the Islamic State (outlawed in Russia)," Rudskoi said.

The United States, however, failed to comply with its obligations. In the meantime, the armed groups it controls regrouped themselves and unilaterally resumed combat operations.

Militants try to break through into east Aleppo

According to Rudskoi, groups of militants have tried to break through into the eastern part of Aleppo in Syria.

"Militants from the eastern parts of Aleppo and their protectors organized an attack on the humanitarian corridor near the Al-Khai Souq market," the senior military official said. "It resulted in numerous victims among the civilians and state troops."

"All attacks of militants have been repelled, a total of eight tanks and five infantry fighting vehicles," Rudskoi added.

"Today, the groups of militants took advantage of the moratorium on the employment of Russian and Syrian aircraft in the area of Aleppo and made an attempt to break through into the city’s eastern part. The offensive was conducted by three groupings west of Aleppo with the brunt of the attack on the Assad Academy with the support of 20 tanks and 15 IFVs. All this was accompanied by hammering fire from rocket systems and artillery," Rudskoi said.

Terrorists kill 43 in Aleppo over past three days

According to Rudskoi, shelling of Aleppo by terrorists has claimed the lives of 43 civilians in the past three day.

"Over the past three days, the terrorists opened fire from mortars and so-called hellfire units at western districts of Aleppo, thus killing 43 and wounding 96 peaceful civilians," Gen Rudskoi said.

"For instance, on October 26 three students died and another fifteen were wounded as gunfire hit at a school in Al-Shahba quarter, Al-Wataniya district," he said.

Gen Rudskoi said the heads of 163 rural populated localities signed agreements on reconciliation since the beginning of October, bringing their total number to 857 at present. Roads and social facilities are undergoing revitalization there now, supplies of electricity have resumed and water supply systems are back into operation again.

The total population of the localities, the mayors of which have signed the reconciliation agreements exceeds 2 million. More than 34,000 residents have already returned to their villages.

School shelled from area controlled by moderate opposition

According to the Lieutenant General, a school in the Syrian area of Hay al-Andalus came under fire on Thursday opened from the area controlled by moderate opposition.

"On October 27, during the mortar shelling three mortars hit the school building in the Hay al-Andalus district, killing 12 civilians (with three schoolchildren among them) and wounding 14 (with ten schoolchildren among them," Rudskoi said.

"The shelling was delivered from the area of Leramun by a Jabhat al-Nusra unit (the terrorist group banned in Russia) and from the area of Tirabl al-Haleq by a Jaysh al-Fatah group reporting to the so-called moderate opposition controlled by the United States," he said.

Cooperation needed

The Lieutenant General stressed Russia, the US and the Middle Eastern countries have been holding talks on the normalization of the situation in Aleppo.

"We have been cooperating with our counterparts from the US and a number of the Middle Eastern countries to draw up proposals aimed at stabilization of the situation in Aleppo," he said.

Russia thinks that the adopted agreements should be made public, he says.

"Each side needs to bear personal responsibility for own commitments," the general noted.


Putin Declines Russian MoD's Request on Need to Restart Airstrikes in Aleppo

https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610281046851500-aleppo-putin-airstrikes/

Russian President Vladimir Putin declined the Russian General Staff's request to renew airstrikes on militant positions in eastern Aleppo in Syria, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.

Earlier in the day, the Russian General Staff asked Putin to allow renew airstrikes in Aleppo.

"You know about our General Staff statements about the need to resume airstrikes in Aleppo in connection with terrorist activities. The Russian president considers it inappropriate at the present time to resume airstrikes on Aleppo," Peskov told reporters.

Russia reserves the right to use all means at its disposal to render the needed assistance to the Syrian armed forces in the fight against terrorists when needed, Peskov said.

"Russia reserves the right to use all means it has to provide support to the armed forces of the Syrian Arab Republic when it is absolutely necessary to prevent provocative acts by terrorist groups."

Putin believes the humanitarian pause in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo needs to be extended, Peskov said.

"The president believes it is possible to extend the humanitarian pause to evacuate the wounded and for militants who want to leave to exit the city, and in order to enable our US partners to fulfill their promise and commitment to separate the so-called moderate opposition from terrorist groups."

On October 20, the humanitarian pause was introduced in the embattled city of Aleppo to ensure the safe evacuation of civilians from eastern Aleppo via eight designated corridors.

During the humanitarian pause, al-Nusra Front terrorist group, recently renamed as Jabhat Fatah al Sham, prevented civilians from fleeing the city, attacking them. On Sunday, the government forces started offensive in the south of Aleppo after the end of the humanitarian pause.


Moscow slams US marines’ deployment in Norway

http://tass.com/politics/909488

According to Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, that decision contradicts the Norwegian policy of refraining from hosting foreign military bases in the country in peacetime

Norway’s decision to accommodate 330 US marines on its soil does not contribute to keeping stability in north Europe, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.

This decision contradicts the Norwegian policy of refraining from hosting foreign military bases in the country in peacetime.

"The fact that the talk at the current stage is only about 330 US marines who are being accommodated in the country’s region remote from Russia does not calm very much. The American contingent, according to information of the Norwegian Defense Ministry, will be able to hold training sessions across the country’s entire territory, including, as it should be believed, the north. As for the accommodation on a rotating rather than a permanent basis, this aspect should not delude either: specific servicemen will replace each other but their presence will be uninterrupted," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

"This decision by the Norwegian government is a new link in the chain of military preparations under the US guidance, which have noticeably intensified lately amid anti-Russian hysteria," the diplomat said.

"This step clearly does not contribute to keeping stability and security in the North of Europe," she added.

The Norwegian government gave its consent on Monday to host a group of 330 US marines in the Vaernes garrison near Trondheim. They will start undergoing training there from January 2017 as part of a pilot Norwegian-US project for strengthening cooperation in the sphere of security. The relevant initiative came from the United States.

When joining NATO in 1949, Norway undertook on the insistence of the Soviet Union to refrain from creating bases for foreign contingents on its territory, unless the Nordic country was attacked or there was a real threat of such an attack.

As numerous experts and newspaper observers stress, the deployment of a large foreign contingent in the country can be interpreted as the creation of such a base and will be a serious deviation from the Norwegian defense doctrine of the past decades.


Coalition Hides War Crimes in Syria by Fabricating Russian Strikes - Russian MoD

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610281046847929-coalition-war-crimes-syria/

The US-led coalition is attempting to divert attention from its war crimes by fabricating evidence of Russian airstrikes in Syria, the Russian General Staff said Friday.

The Chief of the Russian General Staff Main Operational Directorate said that a US Air Force jet attacked a school near the Iraqi city of Mosul, leaving dead and injured, on October 24. This was not the first statement made by Russian defense ministry's officials on civilian casualties as a result of US-led coalition's strikes in Iraq and Syria.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday that the US-led coalition launched strikes on a funeral procession in the Iraqi town of Daquq near the city of Kirkuk, killing dozens of civilians.

Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy said the accusations of inaccurate strikes continue despite no Russian warplanes' flights over Aleppo for the 10th day running.

"All this is done with one purpose: to distract the international community from war crimes committed by the US-led coalition," Rudskoy said.

The Russian general said that the "disseminated tragedy involving a school in Idlib" yet again proves that.

On Thursday, the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Anthony Lake said that as many as 22 children and six teachers were killed in an attack on a school in Idlib. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the attack on a school in Syria's Idlib and called for an investigation into the bombing. She also said that international media "launched an attack" on Russia by claiming that Moscow and Damascus are behind the bombing without presenting evidence.

Before any investigation into the attack has been conducted, US officials have been quick to accuse Moscow and Damascus of the alleged attack on the school, however, did not present any evidence proving the claims.

On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that no Russian aircraft have been in the area, adding that a US Predator drone has been registered in the area where the school had been attacked. The ministry added that video footage published in media showing the alleged strike on the Idlib school have been fabricated.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said that targeting mistakes by the member countries of the international coalition occur too often.

"Weddings, funerals, hospitals, police departments, humanitarian convoys and even Syrian troops, fighting against Daesh terrorists near Deir ez-Zor, become targets for coalition airstrikes," Konashenkov stressed.


Russian Embassy in Damascus Attacked With Mortars

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610281046851838-russian-embassy-damascus/

The Russian embassy in Damascus has come under mortar fire, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.

"On October 28, the Russian embassy in Syria was attacked with two mortars by terrorists. The shelling was conducted from the Jobar area controlled by anti-government forces."

There are no casualties as the result of the shelling conducted from area in Damascus controlled by anti-Assad forces. The embassy sustained only material damage, the ministry said.

"One of the mines exploded near the main entrance of the embassy's building, the second detonated outside the fence of the embassy. Luckily there were no casualties."

The Russian Foreign Ministry strongly condemns "one more terrorist attack against the Russian diplomatic mission".

"Moscow will monitor the international response to this crime. Such reaction is a kind of a test, indicating which of our [foreign] partners in fact reject terrorism, and who justifies terrorists' actions… We demand the implementation of anti-terror resolutions of the UN Security Council and the cessation of arms supplies to terrorists and their financing."

Russia will continue its fight against terrorists in Syria, the ministry's statement concluded.


Terrorist Shelling Kills 15, Wounds 150 in Residential Districts of Aleppo

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610281046850749-aleppo-terrorist-shelling-casualties/

At least 15 people were killed and 150 were wounded after terrorist shelling on residential areas of the Syrian city of Aleppo, an emploуee of the city's central hospital told RIA Novosti.

"According to our data, more than 15 people were killed in mortar and rocket attacks on residential areas, 150 people with various injuries are in hospitals," a central hospital official said.

In the south-west directions in the 1070 disctrict terrorists are undertaking new attempts to launch an offensive and heavy fighting was taking place near the Assad military academy.

A RIA Novosti correspondent reported from the scene that mortar attacks on the disctricts and city's center continue.


Terrorists' Main Base in Northern Quneitra Destroyed in Syrian Army Attack

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950807000635

The Syrian missile units targeted terrorists' base in Tal al-Hamriyeh hilltop in Northern Quneitra, killing most of the militants inside the base.

In the meantime, most of the machineguns and other military hardware in the base were destroyed in the attack.

Battlefield sources disclosed last week that a large number of terrorists arrived in Syria's Quneitra province via border with Jordan.

"A large number of terrorists have joined their comrades in Quneitra province in Southern Syria via Jordan," a battlefield source said.

"Meantime, hundreds of militants have moved from Idlib to Jordan via Israel to join other rebels to restructure a new battalion that will be armed to the teeth and will operate under the command of a joint operation room with Israel".

The source said that the terrorists also took a large volume of arms and military equipment with themselves to Southern Syria.

"The terrorists are preparing for a massive attack on al-Saria al-Rabe'a region to enter al-Amal farms and are transferring military warfare to the Jabata al-Khashab region that hosts the terrorists' main base and their joint military operation room with Israel," he added.

The first mission of the new battalion will be striking at the Southernmost parts of Quneitra and Damascus province.

The terrorists' relocation and restructuring seems to be a move to open a new front along Syria's Southern borders to deflate pressure from other regions, specially Aleppo, Lattakia, Deir Ezzur and Quneitra.

Thousands of terrorists from Fatah Al-Sham (Nusra) Front regrouped and launched a massive attack on army positions in the Southwestern province of Quneitra last month, but were crushed even after they received strong air support from the Israeli air force.

At least two Israeli military planes and two choppers were downed by the Syrian army during the clashes in Quneitra last month.


Syrian Army Engages in Fierce Clashes with Fatah Al-Sham Terrorists in Dara'a Province

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950807000691

Syrian army soldiers stormed the gatherings of Fatah al-Sham Southwest of Dara'a Dam and Tal (Hill) Shihab, destroying the group's vehicle in large scales and killing a number of them.

Meantime, Saida Prison and the region to the East of al-Naima town in Eastern Dara'a was the scene of heavy fighting between the Syrian army men and militants.

Also, a number of terrorists, including Ahmad Naeem al-Masri were killed in an army attack on militants' bases in the district of Dara'a al-Balad.

A military source said on Thursday that the Syrian army troops, backed by popular forces and their allies, inflicted major damage and casualties on the terrorist groups stationed in Sweida and Dara'a provinces.

"The Syrian army units targeted the ISIL terrorists who were moving from Wadi al-Qabib region towards Tal Basineh in Northeastern Sweida with artillery fire, killing a large number of them and destroying their military equipment and weapons," the source said.

According to the source, after monitoring the moves of a terrorist group as it was moving towards al-Lajah region between Dara'a and Sweida, the Syrian soldiers targeted them for the second consecutive day and killed most of its members.

Also, the army forces smashed the terrorist groups' bases in al-Arba'een district near the old customs office of Dara'a, inflicting heavy casualties on the militants.


Homs: Convoy of Terrorists' Vehicles Hit Hard in Syrian Gov't Forces' Attack

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950807000570

Syrian government forces targeted and destroyed several military vehicles of the terrorist groups on a road connecting Borj al-Qai to the village of Keisin.

In the meantime, Syrian army soldiers clashed with a group of terrorists near Hawsh Shamsi in al-Sa'an region, claiming the lives of several militants.

In relevant developments in the province on Thursday, the Syrian army's large-scale operations in Homs killed several terrorist leaders and their comrades and blew up their military vehicles and bases.

The Syrian army units targeted the terrorists' bases in al-Rastan town which killed a number of militants, including the head of Faylaq al-Homs military office and the commander of the group's operations room in Northern Homs, named Shouqi Ayyoub.

Also, a commander of Ahrar al-Sham terrorist group, called Faisal al-Awaz, and a number of other militants were killed in the army's special operations in Ain Hossein village near Talbiseh in the Northern parts of Homs.

The Syrian forces also attacked the Ahrar al-Sham gathering centers in al-Sa'an region in Northern Homs which destroyed two of their military vehicles and killed tens of militants, including their commander, Ahmad al-Shahleh.

The army also repelled the militants' attacks on the terrorists who sought to take al-Mashreqah village in Northeastern Homs, killing and wounding tens of terrorists and destroying their military vehicles.

The Syrian air force also bombed the ISIL terrorists' positions near al-Sha'er oil field near Tadmur (Palmyra) and the two villages of Rahoum and Um al-Rish as well as the Northern parts of Abu al-Alaya in the Eastern parts of Homs city which smashed several vehicles and bases of the terrorist group and inflicted tolls on the militants.
 
The goal of U.S. policy in Syria doesn’t get any more clear; the actual mission being supported by the United States in Syria is regime change, not fighting ISIS.

Russia Destroys Most ISIS-Daesh Heavy Weaponry, U.S. Promptly Airdrops 50-Tons Of Weapons Into Syria for the Terrorists
http://www.globalresearch.ca/russia-destroys-most-isis-daesh-heavy-weaponry-u-s-promptly-airdrops-50-tons-of-weapons-into-syria-for-the-terrorists/5553206

Reports this week indicated that Islamic State militants were decimated by recent Russian airstrikes, and have lost “most” of their ammunition, heavy vehicles and equipment in the precision strikes, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

An array of Russian bombers and ground support aircrafts targeted Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) sites in the provinces of Raqqah, Hama, Idlib, Latakia and Aleppo, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. The attacks reportedly destroyed command posts, heavy weapons, ammunition and armament depots, military vehicles, plants producing explosives, field camps and bases.

A report by RT stated:

According to intercepted communications, the militants suffer from shortages of ammunition, small arms and grenade guns. Several commanders allegedly say they will withdraw their units unless their ammunition needs are satisfied.

“Russian airstrikes resulted in the elimination of the majority of ISIS ammunition, heavy vehicles and equipment,” the Defense Ministry tweeted.

Russian anti-terror military operations in the Syrian theater were launched on September, 30, at the request of the Syrian government. The United States has since accused Russia of targeting moderate opposition in Syria, but Moscow says it is after terrorist groups such as IS and Al-Nusra Front.

To understand the U.S. position, one has to understand the rapidly evolving U.S. strategy in Syria.

The Obama Administration recently announced that its $500 million plan to train and equip vetted “moderate” rebels was a total failure. Incredibly, the U.S. came up with an even worse plan – remove the training and vetting requirement of the program, and start sending military equipment.

The new protocol embraced by the U.S. would require only leaders of the rebel groups to be vetted. Once the leader of the group is vetted weapons would flow to the group, no questions asked.

Moving quickly to operationalize their new strategy, the U.S. airdropped 50 tons of weapons and ammunition to the newly branded “Syrian Arab Coalition” forces — a U.S. rebel group re-branded, but known for its unreliability and willingness to hand weapons over to al-Qaeda and ISIS.

“Probably 60 to 80 percent of the arms that America shoveled in have gone to al-Qaeda and its affiliates,” according to Joshua Landis, a Syria expert at the University of Oklahoma.

It seems quite obvious that while the U.S. likely supplies al-Qaeda affiliate the al-Nusra front, Ahrar al Shams, and other jihadists in the Syrian combat theater, the idea that the U.S. is once again using the al-Qaeda terror network, similarly to how they were used to fight a proxy war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, should give pause to every American as a potential replaying of past U.S. foreign policy failures.

In addition to the U.S. airdropping 50 tons of weapons to Syrian rebel groups, Saudi Arabia delivered 500 TOW anti-tank missiles to anti-Assad Syrian rebels.

Highlighting the actual motivation behind the U.S. and Saudis supply rebel groups heavy weaponry, TOW anti-tank missiles provided to the rebels by the US and its allies have not been used against ISIS, but to strike Russian-made tanks of the Syrian Arab Army as it fights against al-Qaeda and ISIS.

The goal of U.S. policy in Syria doesn’t get any more clear; the actual mission being supported by the United States in Syria is regime change, not fighting ISIS.

According to a report by the Ron Paul Institute:

The TOW missile program is a CIA program, separate from the failed Defense Department rebel training program. The CIA has been arming and training unvetted rebels — many if not most foreign mercenaries rather than Syrians — to overthrow the Assad government since 2011 or 2012. The shot in the arm it has received from new shipments is obvious, as one rebel commander describes a recent attack on Assad’s forces:

‘It was a tank massacre,’ said Capt. Mustafa Moarati, whose Tajamu al-Izza group says it destroyed seven tanks and armored vehicles Wednesday.

More missiles are on the way, he said. New supplies arrived after the Russian deployments began, he said, and the rebels’ allies have promised further deliveries soon, bringing echoes of the role played by U.S.-supplied Stinger anti-aircraft missiles in forcing the Soviet Union to withdraw from Afghanistan in the 1980s.

The current strategy being undertaken is a virtual instant replay of the 1980s US proxy war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. The U.S.’s arming of Afghan Islamist rebels to defeat the USSR, directly resulted in the attacks of 9/11 and the ongoing global war on terror. It would be a grave mistake for the U.S. to once again repeat the same mistakes of the past.

It’s stunning how quickly American politicians disregard the clear and present dangers of arming Islamist extremists in an effort to spur regime change. The reality that the U.S. government is supplying weapons to the same extremist groups that attacked the twin towers should serve as a wake-up call to the corrupt nature of international power politics.
 
This is a long article on comments made by President Putin at the recent meeting in Sochi, at the Valdai International Discussion Club. As usual, Putin is precise and to the point.

Vladimir Putin stresses Russia does not aim at global domination or expansion

Putin: Russia is not going to attack anyone
http://tass.com/politics/909099

SOCHI, October 27. /TASS/. Russia has no intention of attacking anyone, it is ridiculous, foolish and unthinkable, Russian President Vladimir Putin said speaking at a meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club on Thursday.

"The truth is, however, that Russia is not going to attack anyone, that’s ridiculous. I read your analytical materials prepared not only by those present but also by analysts in the US and Europe. However, it is just unthinkable, silly and unrealistic. In Europe alone, the combined population of NATO countries stands at 300 million, in the US the total population is, probably, 600 million, while in Russia - 146 million. It is just funny to talk about this," Putin said.
 
The Russian Defense Ministry has released drone images clearly showing that neither Russian aircraft nor Syrian warplanes could have inflicted damage to a school located in the Syrian town of Haas, the Idlib province, in an attack on October 26 that left at least 22 children and six teachers killed.

Russian MoD Provides Proof That Moscow Wasn't Behind Idlib School Attack )Photos - Video)
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610281046837435-russia-idlib-school-footage/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qdXAhFD9-Q (1:05 min.)

The video footage published by a number of foreign media outlets of an alleged strike on the residential area of Hass consists of more than ten pieces mixed together that were shot with varying resolution at different times of the day," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

The photo released by the AFP news agency, the spokesman explained, showed that a single side wall was damaged, with desks remaining in place. Moreover, "a pinkish-colored fence in the picture is intact and lacks even shrapnel damage," the spokesman added.

If the school was damaged in an airstrike, the picture would have been different. "The fence and all the walls of the building would have been destroyed and damaged with fragments from an air-delivered weapon, while the furniture would have been swept away by the shock wave," he detailed.

The Russian Ministry of Defense pinpointed the exact location where the photo was taken and sent an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to make detailed images of the area. The first photo was taken at 8:42 GMT on October 27, a day after the alleged aerial attack took place. A white check mark shows where the school is located.

The second photo, taken at 8:40 GMT on October 27, shows areas affected by the attack encircled in yellow.

"The photo taken by a Russian UAV shows that the roof of the school has not been damaged," Konashenkov said. In addition, "there are no shell craters in the surrounding area."

Furthermore, the spokesman noted that planes operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces did not fly over the entire Idlib province on the day of the attack. "This is an absolute fact," he stated. Konashenkov further said that Washington could confirm these findings since the Russian military spotted a US-operated MQ-1B Predator attack drone in the area at a time when the Russian UAV was taking images of the school. Despite evidence to the contrary, the White House has blamed Moscow and Damascus for the attack.


13 civilians, including four children, were killed and at least 55 others were wounded in Jeish al-Fatah's missile attacks on Aleppo's residential areas.

Over 68 Civilians Killed, Wounded in Terrorist Attacks on Aleppo's Districts
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950807000741

Jeish al-Fatah's missile unis shelled Aleppo neighborhoods of Zahiyeh al-Assa, 3,000-Unit Housing Project, the districts of al-Hamdaniyeh, New Aleppo, Salahuddin and near Sa'adullah square, leaving 13 dead and over 55 wounded.

Reports said earlier today that Syrian Army troops and popular forces repelled Jeish al-Fatah's offensives in the Southern and Western neighborhoods of Aleppo city, preventing them from prevailing over government positions.

Syrian government forces targeted several bomb-laden suicide vehicles of Jeish al-Fatah in the districts of New Aleppo and Jam'iyat al-Zahra in the Western part of Aleppo and the neighborhood of al-Rashedeen in the Southern outskirts of the city before they could reach army positions.
 
sToRmR1dR said:
Russian Embassy in Damascus Attacked With Mortars

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610281046851838-russian-embassy-damascus/

The Russian embassy in Damascus has come under mortar fire, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.


Because the War criminals are hiding behind the diplomacy (behind the curtain?) :)

Moscow wants to see international reaction at Russian Embassy shelling in Damascus

http://tass.com/politics/909562

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, terrorists fired two mortar shells at the Russian Embassy in Damascus on Friday

Moscow hopes to see an appropriate international reaction to the attack at the Russian Embassy in Damascus, Russian Foreign Ministry’s official spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Life Zvuk radio station.

"We haven’t seen any international reaction yet, but we will try to get it, including on the platform of international organizations, because we are talking about a diplomatic mission, about systematic terrorist attacks," Zakharova said.

The reaction of Western colleagues at embassy shelling "does not withstand any criticism," she noted. "If one says that the Russian embassy became an object of civil confrontation, he just does not understand or does not want to understand basic legal provisions. It was a real terrorist attack which has been carried out more than once already," she noted.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, terrorists fired two mortar shells at the Russian Embassy in Damascus on Friday. One shell exploded near the entrance to the diplomatic mission. No one was injured, but material damage has been inflicted on the building, and four cars were damaged as well. Fire was opened from the Jobar district which remains under control of anti-government forces.


UN Security Council Condemns Attack on Russian Embassy in Damascus

https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610291046863163-russian-embassy-attack-damascus/

The UN Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the shelling of the Russian embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus.

On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the embassy had sustained material damage after being struck with two mortar shells directed from rebel-controlled district of Jobar.

“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms another mortar shelling on 28 October of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Damascus (Syrian Arab Republic), which caused significant material damage,” the council statement read.

The members of the council reminded of the “fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic and consular premises” and of obligations of the state governments “to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises against any intrusion or damage, and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of these missions or impairment of their dignity, and to prevent any attack on diplomatic premises, agents and consular officers.”

The Russian embassy in Damascus has been shelled numerous times, most recently on October 3. No staff were hurt in the attack according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.


Shelling of Russian embassy attempt to make Russia disrupt humanitarian pause — lawmaker

http://tass.com/world/909571

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, terrorists fired two mortar shells at the Russian Embassy in Damascus on Friday

The mortar shelling of the Russian Embassy in Damascus represents an attempt to provoke Russia to disrupt the humanitarian pause, Frants Klintsevich, first deputy chairman of the Russian Federation Council’s Committee on Security and Defense, said.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, terrorists fired two mortar shells at the Russian Embassy in Damascus on Friday. One shell exploded near the entrance to the diplomatic mission. No one was injured, but material damage has been inflicted on the building, and four cars were damaged as well. Fire was opened from the Jobar district which remains under control of anti-government forces.

"I am confident that the shelling of the Russian embassy by militants is an attempt to provoke Russia, to disrupt the humanitarian pause," Klintsevich said. He added that the provocation will fail because Russia will continue to observe the humanitarian pause "until the very end." "There can be no option of making any concessions to terrorists. This is both a political and military decision, a decision from the position of force," he noted.

The decision to extend the humanitarian pause in Aleppo should be considered in the framework of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech at the Valdai discussion club, he stressed. "Russia does everything possible to ease the tensions of confrontations in any ‘hot spot’ of the planet," Klintsevich continued adding that "by this decision, Putin extend a hand to US to cooperate not only in Syria, but in the Middle East as a whole."

On Friday Putin said that resumption of Russian Aerospace Defense Forces’ airstrikes in Aleppo is unreasonable and ordered to extend the humanitarian pause in this region, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters commenting on the address of the Russian General Staff to the Supreme Commander-in-Chief with a request to allow resumption of Russian airstrikes at terrorists in east Aleppo.


Russia wants US to live up to promise to separate moderate opposition from terrorists

http://tass.com/politics/909555

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and German Bundestag deputy Wolfgang Gehrcke met on Friday and discussed the situation in Syria

Russia believes that the United States should live up to its promise to separate moderate opposition units from terrorist groups in order to improve the situation in Syria's Aleppo, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday after a meeting between Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, who is the Russian president’s envoy for the Middle East and Africa, and Wolfgang Gehrcke, a German Bundestag (parliament) deputy, a member of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and the head of the working group for foreign affairs and international relations of the Left Party faction in the German parliament.

"The sides had a meaningful discussion of urgent aspects of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa that focused on the political settlement in Syria and problems related to fighting international terrorism," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"Special attention was paid to the humanitarian situation, which is emerging in Aleppo in the context of international efforts to alleviate the suffering of the peaceful Syrian population. In this connection, the Russian side stressed the unconditional need of the US implementation of its commitment to separate ‘moderate’ opposition units from terrorist groups operating in the eastern part of the city," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed.

Earlier on Friday, the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva published a comment on the implementation of the Russia-US agreements on Syria.

"The conducted analysis clearly shows that Russia has responsibly fulfilled all of its obligations within the agreements in a timely manner," the comment said.

"The US, on the other hand, was not capable to insure the implementation of the CoH (cessation of hostilities) by the armed groups. Furthermore, the US failed to fulfill its February promise to separate Al-Nusra Front from 'moderate' opposition," the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva said adding that Washington failed to ensure full-fledged information exchange on CoH violations.


Militants Intensified Shelling Aleppo, 15 Killed, 150 Injured - Russian MoD

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610291046864930-militants-syria-aleppo-shelling/

Shelling the northern Syrian city of Aleppo was intensified in last 24 hours, the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation at the Hmeimim airbase said on Saturday.

Militants sharply intensified shelling the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, leaving 15 civilians killed and over 150 injured within last 24 hours, the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation at the Hmeimim airbase said on Saturday.

“In the last 24 hours a total of 15 civilians were killed, more than 150 sustained wounds of varying severity. Those are primarily fragment wounds of legs, hands and stomach,” the reconciliation center said.

More than 100 shells are said to have been fired during the last 24 hours.

A total of eight districts of Aleppo came under fire. Militants are using gas bottles rigged with explosives, makeshift mines and unguided shells. Militants are targeting schools, hospitals and social facilities.

“My children died – a son and a daughter aged 15 and 20. When the mine exploded, they embraced each other out of fear and died together,” a crying woman said.

The central hospital of Aleppo is overcrowded. All operating theaters are occupied; there are no places in intensive care units. But doctors say that the hospital has enough medicines and is ready to help all injured people.

“The shell hit our house, the house burned, everything is destroyed. The explosion ripped my son’s legs off and now I do not know where he is … Terrorists are using something powerful, something like rockets, but nevertheless we will win and get rid of them soon,” an old man with a blooded face said.

The militants also shelled a primary school in Aleppo leaving three pupils dead and nine more injured.

Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting the Syrian opposition groups striving to overthrow President Bashar Assad. In parallel, Damascus has to counter numerous extremist groups, in particular, the Daesh (outlawed in Russia).

The opposition is being supported by the West — the Unites States and the European Union — which also are in favor of Assad's overthrow, while Russia supports the current leader as the only legitimate Syrian authority.

Edit=Quote
 
Washington included two Syrian rebel groups working with Daesh and eight groups working with al-Nusra Front in a truce list, the Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations' Geneva office said in a statement.

Moscow: US Includes 10 Syrian Rebel Groups Working With Terrorists in Truce List
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610291046868918-syria-us-terrorists/

"Washington included two [Syrian rebel] groups that fight together with Daesh and 8 with al-Nusra Front in the list of the participants of the ceasefire regime in Syria sent to the Russian side. Moreover the inclusion of Ahrar ash-Sham and Nour al-Din al-Zenki cutthroats in this list completely discredites the American list," the mission said in a statement published by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Moscow added that "it seems that the United States have not received any written obligations to respect the ceasefire from groups it controls." "The United States has failed to fulfill its promise given in February to separate al-Nusra Front [terrorists] and moderate opposition despite the fact that Russia has been ready to provide Washington with its maps showing areas controlled by terrorists according to our data since March." The media campaign against Russia in media is aimed at hiding the real reasons for the failure of Russia-US deal on Syria, the mission added.

"Lately, public remarks are being used to build up anti-Russian rhetoric on the Syrian issue to discredit the role of Russia and to present our country as the reason for all Syria's troubles. Moscow is accused of allegedly putting a stake on a military solution to the conflict. The goal of this [media] campaign is clear — to cover up the real perpetrators of the ceasefire's collapse in the Syrian Arab Republic, to hide the real reasons for the failure to implement the Russia-US agreements on Syria."

The mission added that while Russia guaranteed the implementation of the agreement by the Syrian government, the US failed to convince Syrian rebels it backs to abide by the ceasefire regime. "From February to September armed [rebel] groups allegedly controlled by Washington violated truce 2,031 times. As a result, 3,500 Syrian soldiers and 12,8 civilians have been killed."

However, Russia remains open to cooperation with its partners, including the US, on all the issues regarding the Syrian settlement, however, such cooperation should be based on equality and the implementation of own obligations, Moscow concluded.

On Friday, Moscow has unveiled a "Comparative Analysis of Russia-US Agreements Implementation" on Syria and sent it to the a range of other agencies in addition to the UN. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier that Moscow will present a report in the United Nations Security Council on Russia's implementation of agreements with the US on Syria and on Washington's failure to abide by them to avoid speculations on the issue.


A Syrian Army officer said on Saturday that the six government-established corridors for the exit of the civilians from Eastern parts of Aleppo city are open, but, Fatah al-Sham Front (formerly the al-Nusra Front) keeps blocking civilians' exit paths.

Terrorists Continue to Block People's Exit from Eastern Aleppo
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950808001152

"Fatah al-Sham has been preventing the exit of civilians from Eastern Aleppo, as well as the militants who have expressed readiness to respond to the call by the United Nations to leave the region," the army official in charge with Bostan al-Qasr corridor said on Saturday.

"The Syrian Army is ready to help people and militants to leave the terrorist-held neighborhoods in Aleppo city," the officer said.

"The civilians, who have had the chance to leave the Eastern districts of Aleppo, have revealed that every one wants to leave these bloody neighborhoods but Fatah al-Sham is preventing them," he further added.

"The terrorist groups have deployed forces in residential and shopping areas and are using civilians as human shield," the sources went on to say.

"Ahrar al-Sham and Fatah al-Sham have hoarded food stuff in their positions and distribute them only among their own fighters," the army officer said.


Abdullah Muhammad al-Muhaysini, a senior al Qaeda-linked cleric and the religious leader of Jeish al-Fatah terrorist group, admitted that the militants in Syria have received financial and military aid from Saudi Arabia and certain other Persian Gulf Arab states.

Jeish Al-Fatah Leader Admits Receiving Financial, Military Aid from S. Arabia
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950808000533

According to the Syrian dissidents' news website, Enab, Muhaysini has released a video recently in which he appreciated Riyadh and other Arab states for equipping his comrades with missiles.

The Saudi preacher said that the missiles that they have sent would be used to break the Syrian army and its allies' siege of Aleppo.

He also thanked Turkey for supporting the terrorists and treating the wounded militants in its hospitals.

Jeish al-Fatah is a conglomerate of terrorist groups with Al-Nusra (Fatah Al-Sham) Front comprising its main body.

In relevant remarks in June, a source said that Saudi Arabia has sent new cargoes of weapons and financial aid to the terrorists in Aleppo in Northern Syria to strengthen them against the Syrian army and its allies' fresh attacks.

"The Saudi regime has recently sent small arms and new equipment, including 5 drones, to the terrorists in Syria," the source said.

To this end, Riyadh has sent one of its ranking officers to the regions controlled by terrorists in Northern Aleppo to supply them with money and arms to intensify attacks and open new fronts against the Syrian army and popular forces, the source added.

Also, a prominent Syrian military analyst said earlier this month that the terrorists in Aleppo take orders from outside and don’t dare to leave the city in anticipation of punishment by Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

"Violation of the ceasefire by the terrorists and their opposition to the evacuation of Aleppo is of no surprise as they are not the ones in charge of the decision-making for remaining or leaving the city, rather they take orders from the regional and international sides for whom they are working," Turki Hassan told FNA last Saturday.

Noting that the main cause of the terrorists' stubborn stay in Aleppo is that leaders of Fatah al-Sham (formerly known as al-Nusra) Front and Ahrar al-Sham are afraid of punishment by their Qatari, Saudi and Turkish masters, he said, "If they move in defiance of their Qatari, Saudi and Turkish lords, they might be killed and their properties be seized."


Turkish jets have reportedly not taken part in the Euphrates Shield operation in neighboring Syria for a week now over the fears of being shot down by local air defenses after Damascus promised to prevent any aerial incursions.

Ankara Halts Airstrikes after Syria Vows to Down Turkish Planes, Activates Air Defenses
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950808000565

Ankara halted air support for its ground incursion into Syria on October 22, after Damascus vowed to shoot down Turkish Air Force planes over Syrian skies, a Turkish official told the Hürriyet Daily News on condition of anonymity. The official added that the coalition forces have also decreased the number of flights in Northern Syria, RT reported.

Syria’s air defense capabilities have been widely boosted after Russia deployed its mobile S-400 and S-300 missile batteries earlier this year to protect its personnel on the ground. Russian hardware has the ability to shoot down planes and cruise missiles over at least 250 miles (402km) in all directions from western Syria.

Two days before Turkey halted its military flights over Syria, Damascus, which called the Turkish invasion a violation of national sovereignty, warned that it would shoot down any Turkish warplanes.

“Any attempt to once again breach Syrian airspace by Turkish warplanes will be dealt with and they will be brought down by all means available,” Damascus warned on October 20. The presence of Turkish troops in Syria is a “dangerous escalation and flagrant breach of Syria’s sovereignty”.

The response from Damascus came after Turkish planes targeted Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), the fighting wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), near al-Bab in Northern Aleppo the day before.


Heavy airstrikes by the Russian Air Force on the infrastructure and oil facilities of the ISIL terrorist group in Syria have reduced ISIL's incomes from black market oil sales by %70, a report by the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences said.

Syria: Russian Airstrikes Reduce ISIL's Oil Export by 70 Percent
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950807000296

"The Russian warplanes' air attacks have kept long-term pressure on ISIL's economy and logistics. In the meantime, the increasingly empty coffers of ISIL Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's caliphate have greatly weakened the terror group's battlefield capabilities and subsequently, helped to shrink its territory," the Russian institute said.

The Syrian army launched heavy fire an ISIL fuel convoy in Aleppo province, blowing up most of the tankers, as the terrorists are sustaining growing loss in the illegal trade of black gold in Syria.

"The Syrian army troops carried out a special operation against the ISIL along the Aleppo-Raqqa highway in Eastern Aleppo which resulted in the destruction of at least 20 trucks," a army source said.

According to the source, the tankers were moving from Deir Hafer towards al-Bab but the army blocked their way and demolished them.
 
American and Russian military jets have been involved in a ‘near miss’ in Syria, officials announced. Such incidents are a near-weekly occurrence, according to the US military.

Russian and US jets flew dangerously close in Syria - US official
https://www.rt.com/usa/364561-russian-us-jets-syria/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS

The closest call came on October 17, in the "middle of the night, probably somewhere around midnight," Lieutenant General Jeffrey Harrigian, commander of US Air Force Central Command, said on Friday, first reported by AFP.

A US aircraft “was generally in that same area” as a Russian fighter jet, and they had a “near miss,” Harrigian said, explaining that the Russian pilot probably didn’t see the US plane in the dark. The aircraft were “inside of half a mile” from each other.

“I would attribute it to not having the necessary situational awareness given all those platforms operating together," he said. Both planes were flying without lights.

Another senior military official said that the American pilot could feel turbulence from the other plane.

"It was close enough [so that] you could feel the jet wash of the plane passing by," the official said, according to AFP.

The American pilot was unable to contact the Russian via an emergency radio channel. The next day, US officers called their Russian counterparts via a hotline to ask about the incident, the official said. The hotline was set up so the two militaries can discuss the approximate locations and missions of planes in an attempt to avoid operating in the same airspace at the same time.

The communications about military operations have continued, despite the US suspending diplomatic talks with Russia about Syria at the beginning of October.

However, the hotline hasn’t prevented an increase in close calls over the past six weeks, Harrigian said. Intentional near misses, where Russian jets deliberately follow coalition planes too closely, are “happening every 10 days-ish.” Most of the incidents took place in northwest Syria.

Cases like that are generally “not a big deal,” but “it’s important to recognize this one got our attention,” Harrigian said, referring to the October 17 incident.

"I don't see them having an intent to target us," he added, but noted that he is increasingly concerned about a miscalculation by a pilot or a “safety conflict mid-air.”

Other than calling on the Russians to “make sure they know we are concerned” and to “try to get an understanding of why” their jets intercept American planes ‒ a question to which the US “typically” doesn’t get “a very satisfying answer" ‒ the United States is “not trying to pursue anything against the Russians,” Harrigian said.

"We want to keep the temperatures down with the Russians," said Colonel John L. Dorrian, spokesman for the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, US Central Command, noting that the situation in Syria is complicated.

He did not, however, call the incident with the planes dangerous.

"We don't like planes flying half a mile from each other, but no one declared an 'in flight' situation," he said during a briefing Friday morning.


Ramallah, occupied West Bank - Enas Taha, a resident of the Palestinian village of Kafr al-Deek in the occupied West Bank, has become desperate.

“Since the [water] crisis started in June, the municipality has been able to supply water for only one hour twice a week,” Taha told Al Jazeera. “I am checking the weather forecast every day; they announced rain three weeks ago, but it has not come yet. The only thing I can do is to pray to God.”

Israel Imposes ‘Two Hour Per Week’ Water Supply Limit On Palestinians. Is it a Crime against Humanity?
http://www.globalresearch.ca/israel-impose-two-hour-per-week-water-supply-limit-on-palestinians-is-it-a-crime-against-humanity/5553405

Many West Bank communities are facing similar problems, amid an acute water shortage that has lasted for months. In the Salfit, Jenin and Hebron governorates, some villages have gone as long as 40 days in a row without running water.

In mid-July, residents in the Bethlehem area staged a sit-in for days to protest against the shortages, sparking clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli forces.

“It is a very stressful situation. I have to consider and prioritize every single drop of water I use,” Taha said. “We have barely enough to drink, cook, shower and use the bathroom. Sometimes I don’t do the laundry or clean the house for weeks. It is hot and dusty. This is exhausting.”

We have been facing shortages for decades, and the reason is not natural, but man-made – meaning the Israeli occupation and Israeli control over water resources in the Palestinian territories. Deeb Abdelghasoul, PWA’s director of the water resources department

Some Palestinians have joked that the water bill collector comes to their homes more often than water. As demand rises, the cost of drinking water has skyrocketed, with some families spending up to 30 percent of their meagre incomes to purchase it.

Israel implements a policy of water cuts each summer, but this year, it reached an unprecedented peak. In early June, Israeli water company Mekorot informed the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) of summertime supply cuts totalling more than 50 percent – and the cuts, while not as dramatic, remain in effect today, more than a month after the official end of summer.

“We are in regular contact with [Mekorot] to find a solution, but they constantly give us different excuses, such as the increase in demand, rising temperature, etc,” Deeb Abdelghafour, the PWA’s director of the water resources department, told Al Jazeera.

The notion that the region is suffering from water scarcity is a myth, he added: “We have been facing shortages for decades, and the reason is not natural, but man-made – meaning the Israeli occupation and Israeli control over water resources in the Palestinian territories.”

Israeli officials have stated that water resources are shared equally in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, a unit in the Israeli army, noted that Israel provides 64 million cubic metres of water to the Palestinians annually, even though it is only obliged to provide 30 million under the Oslo accords.

However, disparity is evident in the lush gardens, parks and swimming pools in illegal Israeli settlements. The key difference is that Palestinian villages in the West Bank are not connected to the national water grid, relying instead on local underground supplies. (Article continues.)
 
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