Western countries are urging to impose sanctions against Russia after 80,000 civilians were liberated in Syria’s Aleppo, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Major-General Igor Konashenkov, said on Tuesday.
West threatens Russia over Syrian Army advance in Aleppo: Russian DM
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/west-threatens-russia-syrian-army-advance-aleppo-russian-dm/
He recalled that, over the past 24 hours, the Syrian army had been able to liberate from militants almost half of eastern Aleppo where 80,000 civilians reside.
"Now it turned out that the release of over 80,000 Aleppo residents held hostage by gunmen was not part of the plans of the UK and French Foreign Ministries, the US Department of State and the German Bundestag. They even urged to impose new sanctions for that," the spokesman said.
According to Konashenkov, there are tens of thousands of children in the liberated areas. "Many of them were provided, for the first time in a long while, with food, drinking water and medical assistance in the humanitarian centers deployed by Russia. Over the past few years, these Syrians have been used as human shield by terrorists of every stripe and color in Aleppo. It was they who were allegedly protected by all Western politicians," he said.
Moments ago, an Israeli jet fired four longe-range 'Popeye' missile upon the government-held town of Al-Saboorah, west of Damascus.
Israeli jet carries out airstrike near Damascus
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-israeli-jet-carries-airstrike-near-damascus/
The jet did not penetrate Syrian airspace but did allegedly breach Lebanese airspace in order to come within striking range of its designated target.
Although mere speculation for now, the Israeli airstrike likely intended to assassinate a senior Hezbollah figure due to Al-Saboorah's proximity to the Damascus-Beirut Highway, a main road often used by the Lebanese resistance movement.
On Monday, the Israeli Air Force also conducted an airstrike in the Syrian Golan Heights, targeting the ISIS-affiliated Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade.
UPDATE: The latest report (not confirmed by Al-Masdar's military sources) suggests the missiles struck a Hezbollah workshop for vehicles. No casualties reported as mechanics had retired for the night.
In a remarkable raid, two Turkish soldiers were taken captive by ISIS militants on the outskirts of al-Bab earlier today. Although details are vague, the Turkish troops were embedded with Syrian rebels fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army (FSA).
Confirmed: ISIS captures two Turkish soldiers alive in Aleppo province
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/confirmed-isis-captures-two-turkish-soldiers-alive-aleppo-province/
The incident took place near the village of Dana (northwest of Al-Bab) and was first alleged by Amaq Agency on Tuesday afternoon but later confirmed by Ankara. According to Turkey's Ministry of National Defence, the Turkish Armed Forces have "lost contact" with the two soldiers who's fate is now in the hands of the Islamic State.
At least 17 Turkish soldiers have been killed during operation 'Euphrates Shield', a rebel offensive which has seized large swaths of territory along the Turkish-Syrian border from ISIS and the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Yesterday, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) also conducted a major push en route to Al-Bab, an Islamic State stronghold which is now threatened by several belligerents.
Erdoğan admits that the Turkish military launched its operations in Syria to end the rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Erdogan goes off script, admits that Turkey entered Syria to “end the rule” of Assad
http://theduran.com/erdogan-goes-off-script-admits-that-turkey-entered-syria-to-end-the-rule-of-assad/
Turkish President Erdogan is breaking ranks with the western/NATO narrative on Syria and is saying things that will make Jerry & Co. cringe.
As Assad inches closer to freeing Aleppo from US/Saudi/Turkish sponsored ISIS-Al Qaeda jihadists, Erdogan appears to be entering panic mode…and this is where the Turkish leader can become a major headache for all the parties bogged down in the Syria quagmire.
Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily reports on some very controversial comments made by Erdogan at the first Inter-Parliamentary Jerusalem Platform Symposium in Istanbul…
“In my estimation, nearly 1 million people have died in Syria. These deaths are still continuing without exception for children, women and men. Where is the United Nations? What is it doing? Is it in Iraq? No. We preached patience but could not endure in the end and had to enter Syria together with the Free Syrian Army [FSA].”
“Why did we enter? We do not have an eye on Syrian soil. The issue is to provide lands to their real owners. That is to say we are there for the establishment of justice
We entered there to end the rule of the tyrant al-Assad who terrorizes with state terror. [We didn’t enter] for any other reason.”
So there you have it. Erdogan going off script and admitting that the entire operation in Syria was never about ISIS or Daesh, never was a civil war of any kind…but was a straight up and straight out regime change operation.
A western-NATO backed coup against the leader of a sovereign country.
Erdogan did not only stop at explaining the real reasons behind the Syrian war, but also went further to condemn the UN and the Security Council. Via Hurriyet Daily…
Erdoğan also said the U.N. could not provide justice with its current structure, suggesting that all continents and all belief groups around the world should be represented at the Security Council apart from the five permanent members. The president has constantly voiced his criticism on the structure of the Security Council, saying “the world is bigger than five,” referring to the number of permanent members.
As Turkey’s operation inside Syria continues, an offensive by the Syrian government with the help of its allies on the besieged parts of eastern Aleppo continued on Nov. 29, pushing rebels to pull back to a more defensible front line after losing control of a key district.
Erdogan is hitting the panic button, as the Syrian army, with Russian and Iranian backing, have liberated more than 80,000 civilians trapped in East Aleppo by ISIS jihadists, coincidently funded and trained across the border in Turkey. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Major General Igor Konashenkov said in a statement…
During the last 24 hours, thanks to very well-prepared and careful actions, Syrian soldiers were able to radically change the situation.”
“Practically half of the territory occupied by rebels in recent years in the eastern part of Aleppo has been completely liberated.”
President Erdogan of Turkey has issued a statement saying his troops have entered Syria with the intention of ousting President Assad.
Turkey invades Syria to remove Bashar al-Assad (Video)
http://theduran.com/urgent-turkey-invades-syria-remove-bashar-al-assad/
Turkey has been illegally running soldiers, artillery and infantry in and out of Syria for much of the duration of the present conflict. Now, however, the proxy and shadow war, which Turkey has been waging against the Syrian Arab Republic, has just become official.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has just announced that Turkish troops have entered Syria with the intention of removing President Assad from power. It is a formal declaration of war.
If this threat is genuine, the person who could lose power might not be Assad but Erdogan himself. This summer’s poorly organised coup attempt in Turkey was brought about by deep divisions in Turkish society, divisions sowed by Erdogan’s extreme and often manic policies. Although Erdogan has retaliated severely against many of the coup leaders and supporters, his position is far from being as stable as he might dream that it is.
Erdogan’s announcement comes shortly after Russia and Turkey reconciled following a period of highly strained diplomatic relations as a result of Turkey downing a Russian jet over Syria in 2015.
Part of the reconciliation agreement made between Presidents Putin and Erdogan, stated that the two countries will cooperate over Syria. If Turkey aims to use her military to oust Assad, this agreement is as good as dead, and what’s more, by declaring war on the legitimate government of Syria, Turkey is by extrapolation, declaring war on Russia.
The flippancy with which Erdogan conducts foreign policy may well be his undoing. He is clearly fearful that when Donald Trump takes office, all of the major international players will be stacked against the mutual ambition of Turkey and the terrorists operating in Syria to remove Assad.
Erdogan is likely considering this as well as the fact that his attempt to gain a major foothold in northern Iraq isn’t going as planned. The western led coalition against ISIS in Mosul isn’t making the progress its leaders anticipated. Moreover, the Kurdish forces who Turkey has entered Iraq to eliminate, seem to be fighting rather better than Turkey and her US-European allies.
Equally crucial is the continued floundering of the so-called Free Syrian Army, a name generally assigned to the anti-government terrorists in Syria who are working most closely with Turkey. Since they seem incapable of doing Turkey’s bidding, Turkey may be looking to do the job themselves.
Not since America threatened to impose a no-fly zone over Syria, something which would have grounded Russian and Syrian planes, has the situation in Syria come so close a major fight between large powers.
There are, however, two areas from which hope can be derived. First of all, Erdogan is known for blustery, bellicose and threatening rhetoric, aimed more at his domestic supporters than an international audience. This could be one of those instances.
Secondly, members of the Russian government, perhaps even President Putin himself, must speak directly with Erdogan and explain the full consequences of his actions. It could bring Turkish troops into direct conflict with not only Russian and Syria armed forces but also with those of Iran and Hezbollah.
With the US all but conceding ground in the conflict, as the Syrian and Russian forces make staggering breakthroughs in Aleppo, Turkish forces could rapidly find themselves outnumbered by opponents as worthy as they are angry.
If things go badly for Turkey in Syria, it could lead to a far more organised coup against Erdogan, one that he might not see off. Erdogan has time and again proved to be something of a madman. His next move will determine whether or not he is also a stupid man.
