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

[Mr.Cyan]

Something doesn't feel "right" to me and I'm not sure what to make of it? I wonder, if we're seeing pieces of a puzzle coming together for a full head on collision in Syria? Bear with me, while I try to piece together - what is swirling in my head?

Thanks angelburst29 for the links, and connecting the dots. Something definitely doesn't feel right, and I think too - we are now slowly witnessing the final plans/moves of the "Empire Striking Back". However im pretty sure that Russian, Syrian, Iranian and Chinese intelligence are well aware of these moves, and will respond accordingly. The gloves are definitely coming off.

I also don't think that there will be an open "hot war" between the Russia and the Empire; it will likely be more or less the same as before. Utilizing proxy forces like terrorists or mercenaries (now with better supplied equipment) to continue to destabilize Syria, Ukraine or various regions around the world where they think they can cause the most "pain & chaos" to the emerging new multipolar world.

A new front or tension could be possibly be opened up with Iran through the US pulling out of the nuclear deal as well. Just more organized tension in the middle east and more collective stress for humanity through their control of the media. If Cotton or Haley make it into the administration at the expense of Tillerson - then I think the Empire's cards will be fully "out in the open". As above, so below.

Been also thinking a lot about the current state of the world lately - and I think that Putin, the true great hero of our times, has actually bought us some time. I mean through him - the portion of humanity that can actually "see" current world events for what they are; and watch the self destruction of an evil empire actually have a chance to contemplate and aligned themselves with STO principles. I think the "remaining" time we have before earth changes intervene drastically is probably the length of his lifetime (just a guess). Sometimes I wonder that when humanity starts to rebuild again after cataclysms, whether records of his deeds will survive, and how the mythology of Putin will be written. Just some thoughts fwiw.

 

[angelburst29]

Nearly 92% of Syria freed from Islamic State — Russian Defense Ministry 13/10/2017
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/nearly-92-syria-freed-islamic-state-russian-defense-ministry/

About 92% of the Syrian territory have been freed from militants of the Islamic State terrorist group (outlawed in Russia), according to weekly infographics published by the Russian Defense Ministry’s Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper on Friday.

According to the ministry, Russian Aerospace Forces performed about 517 combat sorties and destroyed over 1,260 facilities controlled by international terrorist groups in past week.

This figure includes over 139 sorties by drones, which detected 129 terrorist-held objects.

On Thursday night, a large Turkish Army convoy crossed into northwestern Syria via Turkey’s Hatay Province, local opposition activists reported tonight.

Video footage of the Turkish Army entering Syria’s Idlib province
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/video-footage-turkish-army-entering-syrias-idlib-province/
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x64ce3b (1:56 min.)

The large military convoy reportedly entered Syria’s Idlib Governorate with more than 80 soldiers and a dozen armored vehicles.

Video footage of the Turkish Army convoy entering the Idlib Governorate was released by pro-opposition pages on Thursday night.

This move by the Turkish Army comes just days after Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced that the Ankara-backed Euphrates Shield Forces were preparing an operation to expel the Al-Qaeda linked Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham terror group from the Idlib Governorate.

The US-led coalition operating in Syria is destroying everything except for the Islamic State (IS, terror group, outlawed in Russia) in the country, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said at the talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday.

US-led coalition destroying anything but IS in Syria: Syrian FM
https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/us-led-coalition-destroying-anything-syria-syrian-fm/

“As an example, I would like to cite the US-led coalition, which, in reality, is systematically destroying anything but ISIL (former name of IS ) Thousands of Syrian citizens, not only men but also women and children in the Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor provinces, have become victims of US airstrikes.

The American coalition is systematically destroying the economic infrastructure, so we will strongly demand that it this coalition is disbanded,” he said.
It is obvious that the US uses the coalition’s actions as a pretext for destroying Syria and prolonging the hostilities in the country for as long as possible,
the minister noted.

During the talks, Muallem also referred to the Kurdish issue. “Today, the Kurds are actually competing with the Syrian army for control over the oil-bearing areas. They are well aware of the fact that Syria will not let anyone violate its state sovereignty under any circumstances. At the moment they are apparently intoxicated with US aid and support. However, it is must be understood that this aid will not last forever,” Muallem said. He also noted that throughout the entire history of the Kurdish problem that has existed for more than one hundred years, the Kurds have never had a major power as their reliable ally.

A so-called Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) ‘government’ building complex was seized by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the recently retaken Syrian village of Hatla Al-Sharqiyah, on Wednesday.

Exclusive: Islamic State ‘government’ complex uncovered in Hatla village – video
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/exclusive-islamic-state-government-complex-uncovered-hatla-village-video/
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x64b788 (1:30 min.)

Inside the complex were buildings used for policing and a court. Also found was IS’ currency, and numerous documents related the running of the group’s territory, including the ID cards of the people arrested by the organization.

After years under IS occupation, the SAA and Russian Air Force regained control of the village, east of the Euphrates River, in the Deir ez-Zor Province on Tuesday.

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched a large offensive this Summer to clear much of the Jordanian border that was under the control of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and their allies.

Syrian Army seals entire Damascus-Jordanian border: map
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-army-seals-entire-damascus-jordanian-border-map/

Within four months of launching this large-scale offensive, the Syrian Arab Army managed to capture more than 8,000 square kilometers of territory between the Damascus and Al-Sweida governorates of southern Syria.

As a result of this advance, the Syrian Arab Army sealed the entire Damascus-Jordanian border, marking the first time in years that they have possessed control over this large patch of land in southern Syria.

With this area sealed in southern Syria, the Syrian Army and their allies will turn their attention to the Homs-Iraq border, where the U.S. Coalition forces are currently in control of the strategic Tanf Mountains.

A group of Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters from the Ahmad ‘Abdo Brigade defected to the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) in the Badiya Al-Sham region of southeast Damascus on Wednesday.

US-backed fighters defect to Syrian Army in southeast Damascus
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-backed-fighters-defect-syrian-army-southeast-damascus/

According to a source in Damascus, at least ten members from the US-backed group reconciled with the Syrian Arab Army in order to return to civilian life in the Badiya Al-Sham region.

The Syrian Army accepted their reconciliation offer and agreed to allow the FSA fighters to return to civilian life if they were willing to give-up their weapons.

Syrian army troops have uncovered and destroyed a large mortar shells plant that ISIL terrorists used to attack residential neighborhoods in Deir Ezzur city during the three-year blockade.

Syrian Army Destroys Terrorists' Mortar Shells Plant in Deir Ezzur Province
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960721000186

A large plant of ISIL terrorist group was found in the town of al-Mayadeen in Southeastern Deir Ezzur a local source told Sputnik.

The source added that the "plant itself has been destroyed and a depot with thousands of produced shells was left." It was also said that, according to identification marks, some of the shells' components were supplied to the terrorists by Arab states in the Persian Gulf.

city's residential neighborhoods, which is now controlled by the government's armed forces.

Al-Mayadeen became the major ISIL's stronghold following the liberation of Deir Ezzur. Syrian troops are currently engaged in fighting ISIL militants in the Western outskirts of the city.

The Syrian pilot detained by the Turkish military after he ejected from his aircraft in March 2017 has been released, his attorney reported this evening.

Syrian pilot detained in Turkey has been released
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-pilot-detained-turkey-released/

Colonel Mohammad Soufan of the Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) was set free by the Turkish 3rd Court in the Hatay Province after mediation by the Russian military.

The Turkish authorities are finalizing the paperwork to transfer Colonel Soufan from the Hatay Province to Syria.

Colonel Soufan is in good health and has been reportedly treated fairly by the Turkish regime, despite the absence of diplomatic relations between Damascus and Ankara.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the US presence in the Baltic States contradicts a key Russia-NATO agreement.

Almost Entire US Division in the Baltic States, Violating Russia-NATO Deal - MoD 12.10.2017
https://sputniknews.com/world/201710121058156928-us-military-baltic-states/

The second US armored brigade arrived in Poland and has deployed together with armored vehicles; meanwhile, the third US brigade's equipment remains in Poland, said the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov.

"Thus, contrary to all the statements of NATO and the United States about the 'insignificant' amount of troops being sent to Russia's borders, now it is not a brigade that has been deployed, but a mechanized division of the US Armed Forces, where in two hours, prepared personnel can be transferred from the nearest American base in Europe (Ramstein, Germany)," Konashenkov said.

According to Igor Konashenkov, all the hysteria in the Baltic states and Poland regarding the "Russian threat" posed by the Russia-Belarus Zapad-2017 military exercises is an information screen for this Pentagon operation.

"Amid the Zapad-2017 military exercise, the ‘rotation’ of the US 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team under the Operation Atlantic Resolve plan was held in Poland and the Baltic states. All the equipment of this brigade — 87 M1A1 Abrams tanks, M109 Paladin howitzers, 144 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and around a hundred other vehicles — must have remained there. The personnel of the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team must have been replaced by the servicemen of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team in order for the NATO-Russia Founding Act not to be violated," Konashenkov said.

He noted that after the Zapad-2017 drills, dozens of military attachés, observers and reporters saw that the units of the Russian Armed Forces had returned from Belarus to their points of permanent deployment. As Konashenkov stressed, hysteria in Eastern Europe "was replaced by calm and amnesia."

The Zapad-2017 military exercises were held on September 14-20 in the territory of Russia and Belarus. Some NATO member states voiced concerns about the joint exercises before they even started, saying that Russian troops deployed in Belarus for the joint military exercises could remain in Belarus after training.

Russian and Belarusian officials refuted the allegations, stating that the planned training was purely protective and didn't pose a threat to any of the Eastern European states. Russia and Belarus invited NATO specialists and foreign journalists to observe the exercises.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said at a press conference Friday that US President Donald Trump intended to keep the country in the Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), but would decertify the country's compliance with the agreement under the congressional Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INRA).

Tillerson: Trump to Stay in Iran Nuclear Deal, But Decertify Tehran's Compliance
https://sputniknews.com/us/201710131058212800-trump-us-new-sanctions/

Congress passed INRA in May 2015 as a means of increasing legislative oversight of the nuclear agreement’s implementation. Under INRA, the US president has to certify Iran's compliance with the deal every 90 days.

Trump came to the conclusion he cannot certify under INRA because the sanctions relief provided to Iran under the nuclear deal is not proportionate to the benefits the United States is seeing from the agreement, Tillerson explained.

Congress can decide to do nothing or it can re-impose US sanctions, which could lead to the United States withdrawing from the agreement, he said. However, Trump will suggest Congress should use the INRA act to put in place firm trigger points which would automatically place sanctions on Tehran if it violates any restrictions placed on the Iranian government, Tillerson said.

Iranian state TV reports, that in response to the White House statement on Trump's Iran strategy, Tehran warns US that it will not evade its responsibilities by blaming others.

Tehran Says US, Its Allies Are Founders of Terrorism - State TV
https://sputniknews.com/world/201710131058210285-iran-us-terrorism/

According to media reports, Iran is ready to back down any action against its armed forces and accused the United States of violating nuclear deal between Tehran and the six major powers.

"Iran will strongly respond to any action against its military forces, including the Revolutionary Guards Corps," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi was quoted as saying by state TV.

After weeks of speculations that Washington may designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a "terrorist organization," the US imposed sanctions against them on Friday over support of terrorism.

US Adds Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to Sanctions List - Treasury
https://sputniknews.com/us/201710131058215971-us-iranian-revolutionary-guard-corps-sanctions/

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the Revolutionary Guard Corps are involved in "much of the Iranian economy and those who transact with IRGC-controlled companies do that at a great risk." The US Treasury has also put on sanctions list four companies.

Meanwhile, US President Trump said during his speech on the new strategy on Iran he would authorize the sanctions.

Hours before that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said Tehran would "strongly respond to any action against its military forces."

The killing of three American special forces personnel in Niger exposed just one of the many unacknowledged conflicts the US is currently fighting across the African continent. What's more, the country isn't alone.

Niger Green Beret Slaying Exposes West's Unacknowledged Conflicts in Africa
https://sputniknews.com/military/201710131058211549-us-africa-secret-wars/

The death of three American Green Berets in an ambush in Niger catapulted the US' little-known war in the fractured country into mainstream consciousness for perhaps the first time. Nonetheless, the presence of hundreds of US troops to not merely Niger, but other African countries including Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Uganda and South Sudan, remained largely unremarked upon.

US military presence in the Sahel and sub-Saharan regions has grown to at least 1,500 troops, roughly triple the official number of American troops in Syria, according to Pentagon and White House figures.

In June, the official number of US troops supporting Niger's military was 645, up from 575 in December 2016 — that figure has risen to at least 800 as of October. Troops are drawn from Green Berets, Navy SEALs and Marine Raiders, but reinforcements are primarily Air Force personnel, who manage flights by drones and spy planes.

​While apparently totalling less than 1,000, the number of US military staff deployed to the country is a significant jump from the 100 troops then-President Barack Obama deployed to the country — and plans are underway to accommodate an even greater presence, including spending US$50 million to construct an airstrip in the northern city of Agadez, one of the Niger's most volatile areas.

An October 5, Congressional Research Service report notes the growing foreign military footprint in the country "appears to have fed local backlash against both the government and Western countries," making residents more susceptible to jihadist recruiters.

"Some observers have raised concerns about plans to move US operations to a new Air Force-constructed base near the volatile northern city of Agadez, [and] questioned whether Niger can absorb and sustain rapid increases in external military assistance, and whether US security investments can be maintained amid political uncertainty, and responses to near-term security challenges are having an impact on the medium-term stability and democratic trajectory of African counterterrorism partners. The threat environment may also raise questions about US military rules of engagement and force protection," the report notes.

 

[Ant22]

Nearly 92% of Syria freed from Islamic State — Russian Defense Ministry 13/10/2017
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/nearly-92-syria-freed-islamic-state-russian-defense-ministry/

About 92% of the Syrian territory have been freed from militants of the Islamic State terrorist group (outlawed in Russia), according to weekly infographics published by the Russian Defense Ministry’s Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper on Friday.

(...)

RT reported the same info today: https://www.rt.com/news/406618-isis-controls-less-territory/

The area controlled by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in Syria has been reduced to less than 8 percent as Syrian government troops, backed by Russian Airspace Forces, continue their successful advance in Deir ez-Zor Province.

“Islamic State currently controls 14,800 square kilometers, which is less than 8 percent of the Syrian territory," said General Sergey Rudskoy, spokesman for the Russian General Staff. (...)

And they are moving quickly too:

US-led coalition destroying anything but IS in Syria: Syrian FM
https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/us-led-coalition-destroying-anything-syria-syrian-fm/

“As an example, I would like to cite the US-led coalition, which, in reality, is systematically destroying anything but ISIL (former name of IS ) Thousands of Syrian citizens, not only men but also women and children in the Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor provinces, have become victims of US airstrikes.

The American coalition is systematically destroying the economic infrastructure, so we will strongly demand that it this coalition is disbanded,” he said.
It is obvious that the US uses the coalition’s actions as a pretext for destroying Syria and prolonging the hostilities in the country for as long as possible,
the minister noted.

More on the situation of civilians in Raqqa: https://www.rt.com/newsline/406603-syria-raqqa-civilians-passage/

Talks on securing safe passage for civilians from the last neighborhoods held by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) of Syria’s Raqqa have stopped, a city official close to the discussions said Friday.

City officials and tribal leaders had been working this week to negotiate the safe exit of people trapped inside extremist-held areas. The source told AFP that some civilians were safely brought out during a lull in fighting in recent days. However, negotiations faltered over the issue of letting IS fighters leave and clashes resumed.

“We completely reject the idea that their security members leave the city without consequences,” the official said. It is not clear whether the talks might resume.

Published time: 13 Oct, 2017

 

[angelburst29]

American Mercenaries Left Behind In Syria, Trying To Get Home, The Trump Regime Refuses To Help Them Acording To Marine Corps Times !
http://nrt24.ru/en/news/american-mercenaries-left-behind-syria-trying-get-home-trump-regime-refuses-help-them-acording

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT LEFT AMERICAN MERCENARIES TRYING TO RETURN HOME WITHOUT HELP

American mercenaries in Syria can not return home, the State Department does not help them in any way, and the SDF, for which they fought, arrested them on charges of treason and arms sales to militants of the Islamic State terrorist group. Two American citizens fear that they will be landed on the border of Iraq without money and communication.

According to the Marine Corps Times, Marine veteran Kevin Howard and an American citizen and veteran of the French foreign legion Taylor Hudson, presumably, were detained in Syria after US special forces refused to help them in their attempt to return home.

Both Americans were mercenaries participating in the fighting on the side of the SDF.

Former US Marine, and current war criminal Kevin Howard, aka Kevin Harlly has been taken captive by his own SDF 'comrades'.

Help me Putin! - 'Betrayed' mercenary and former US Marine held captive by Kurdish forces (Photos)
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/help-me-putin-betrayed-mercenary-and.html

Howard, or as he is known on the ground and in social media as 'Kane Harlly', has been working illegally as a mercenary for the US backed Kurdish YPG separatists and the MFS (Syriac Military Council) and their subsequent rebrand as the so-called SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces). As a result of certain factors, he has been taken captive by his own SDF 'comrades in arms'.

'Harlly' has attempted to make a name for himself as a personality in the world of social networking, such as Facebook, fascinated with his own tattoos, dubbing himself the 'illustrated man', Harlly wanted to be seen as a 'soldier of fortune' fighting against ISIS terrorists and defending Kurdish and Syriac villages, in the image of the lone-wolf 'bad-ass' replete with all the bravado borrowed from the US's own military fiction film lore.

But the business of war and the criminal interventions of the US and Harlly, tells a different story. Now referring to his MFS commanders as his 'bosses', once things stopped going the US's and Harlly's way, the mercenary nature of his work is revealed, and no longer does he offer the pretense of a principled fighter, but is instead suddenly ensnared in an unfortunate dispute with his 'employers'.

Everything was fine so long as he was involved in a semi-virtual conflict, where the ultimate decision makers on both the ISIS/FSA and SDF/MFS/YPG sides were actually connected to the same NATO managed command structure. The US/NATO allied command structure would order an ISIS 'retreat' once the legitimate, legal, constitutional forces of the Syrian Arab Army were frustrated, and the sock-puppet forces of the SDF, et al, could be called in to legitimize the occupation and partition of Syria along ethnic grounds, stoking inter-ethnic rivalries in a bid to create a failed state.

At the same time, the looming defeat created real-world divisions among the US backed coalition, bringing Saudi backed and Turkish backed forces into actual conflict. It can be difficult at times to discern which skirmishes reflect these actual divisions, symptomatic of actual logistical and political defeats, from the earlier 'stage managed' moves which meant to create the public illusion of various forces fighting independently against the SAA. But as reality itself gets called into question within the context of netcentric and fourth generation warfare, even field commanders are unlikely to know which side they are actually on within the greater context of geostrategy and ever-shifting ad hoc alliances.

Several factors changed along the way for Harlly. In July of this year, Trump, in his ongoing tug-o-war with the US's deep state (parts of the MIC, NSA, CIA, etc.) announced an end to the CIA program of financing of the SDF, which is how Harlly's payroll was previously made possible. At the same time, Russian social media and on-the-ground work has made some headway in trying to flip or redirect the Kurdish efforts - we see this evidenced whenever semi-official Russian media and analysts entertain the question of even greater Kurdish autonomy within a Ba'ath party led Syria. The US meanwhile had also previously worked to flip or redirect the Syriac (ethnic Assyrians) who by and large support the present Syrian government and the Russian effort, as evidenced by the creation of the MFS (Syriac Military Council).

This left Harlly in a precarious situation.

No longer would he be involved in semi-staged fights, now the SDF needs to directly take on the Syrian Arab Army and the Russian Army in order to preserve its gains - from the above screen-shot: "Guy with guns came into my room, handed me a broken sniper rifle and told me I can either go to der ezzor and fight the Syrian regime and Russian army or go to prison, I said what about going home?' Nothing. Now I'm in prison"

Why doesn't he want to directly confront the SAA and Russian Army? The Americans are in a process of conceding its defeat in Syria, a process which began as soon as the Russians were invited by the constitutional government of Syria, headed by Assad. Legitimate Syriac and Kurdish efforts against ISIS can only likely be carried forward with the help of the SAA and Russian Army itself.

So the formerly US sponsored leadership of the SDF (et al) have been left to hang: they are in between a rock and a hard place, and are forced to carry on the fight in a logistically impossible direction. Harlly wants to make his income and 'look cool' doing it, but obviously doesn't have a real dog in this race - this is not a conflict any American mercenary actually wants to die in, and understandably so. And this is an historic dilemma that arises throughout the history and written discourses on the use of mercenaries, universally.

Russian and American 'volunteers' in the Syrian conflict often have met, know each other, have shared flights in and out of Syria from Turkey, and we would assume have maintained some level of personal and professional contact, even if 'under the radar'.

The Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê (PKK), whose colors and patches Harlly was nominally fighting under, with its military wing Hêzên Parastina Gel (HPG), had been operating from 1978 through 1999 from Syria, and afterwards from the Qandil-Mountains in northern Iraq, in the PUK-part of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of Iraq.

The Barzanis (Kurdistan Democratic Party) and the PKK profoundly hate each other. The Yekîneyên Parastina Gel (YPG) is the military arm of the Partiya Yekîtiya Demokrat (PYD), the Syrian affiliate of the PKK. Most of the YPG commanders and fighters are Qandil-Kurds, i.e. PKK.

What Howard, aka 'Harlly' is doing is sending a message to Russia and the SAA - ''I don't want to fight you, help me get out of this mess!'' As his American paymasters have left him high and dry - will the Russians help bail him out?

Photos of the Polish mercenary group “Gniew Eufratu” have recently surfaced on the social media sites.

Polish mercenaries fight alongside the Kurdish separatists in Syria
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/polish-mercenaries-fight-alongside.html

The group, which is composed of the former Polish soldiers, is reportedly fighting alongside the US-backed Kurdish separatists from the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria against ISIS.

It is not known whether the members of the group were/are also active in Donbass.

 

[angelburst29]

Starting with Ukraine:
On September 27th, the same day that Ukrainian President Poroshenko was in Canada, Ukraine’s biggest munitions depot in the village of Kalinovka near the city of Vinnitsa exploded into fire. Although it was claimed to be filled with ammunition, etc. - rumor is that most of the contents in the warehouse had been sold off during the Summer months.

Poroshenko asks Canada for satellite imagery of Russian - Ukrainian border
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/09/poroshenko-asks-canada-for-satellite.html

VIDEO: Explosions seen coming from Ukraine's largest munitions depot
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/09/video-explosions-seen-coming-from.html

How Ukraine Turned into Arms Dealer? October 13, 2017
https://fbreporter.org/2017/10/13/how-ukraine-turned-into-arms-dealer/

The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) together with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network revealed a scheme of weapons supply to the terrorists of ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra.

There is no secret that the U.S. provides the so-called moderate opposition and Kurdish militia in Syria with arms and ammunition most of which are the weapons remained after the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact disbanded.

The U.S. DOD, through U.S. SOCOM, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, as well as Picatinny Arsenal, American military research, and manufacturing facility located in Dover, New Jersey, acquired arms in some Eastern European countries including Ukraine for their further sending to Syria. The procurement volume has already exceeded $700 billion.

Kiev used the logistical scheme elaborated by Washington to export arms and weapons from the Ukrainian armed forces weapons depots. The deal is estimated at $110 billion.

Only between June 5 and September 15, the United States sent 1,421 trucks loaded with weaponry to the “moderate” opposition, including 596 trucks (more than 40 %) from Ukraine. Most of them ended up in ISIS’ hands.

The General Staff of Ukraine took advantage of Oktyabrsk seaport located 25 kilometers southeast to Mykolaiv and Kiev air transport hub to supply weapons to the Middle East.

The transportation of weapons by air was the most effective in terms of delivery speed. The weapons were transferred from ammunition depot No. 48 of Central Missile and Artillery Directorate situated in the Ukrainian town of Vinnytsia to Gavrishovka Airport and then delivered by 456 brigade jets to Boryspil International Airport.

Earlier, the Ukrainian authorities might have delivered arms and weapons through ammunition depot No. 65 located in Kharkiv’s Balakliya.

To cover up the illegal supplies, a series of deliberate arsons were organized at the military depots. The incident in Vinnytsia provoked the public outcry. According to the Ukrainian media, more than 40 tons of artillery shells were allegedly destroyed. In fact, this represents a basis of weapons sold and delivered to ISIS.

The similar cases won’t stop as Kiev needs to hide grand larceny and illegal arms sales from the public eye.

 

[angelburst29]

Nearly 92% of Syria freed from Islamic State — Russian Defense Ministry 13/10/2017
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/nearly-92-syria-freed-islamic-state-russian-defense-ministry/

RT reported the same info today: https://www.rt.com/news/406618-isis-controls-less-territory/

The area controlled by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in Syria has been reduced to less than 8 percent as Syrian government troops, backed by Russian Airspace Forces, continue their successful advance in Deir ez-Zor Province.

“Islamic State currently controls 14,800 square kilometers, which is less than 8 percent of the Syrian territory," said General Sergey Rudskoy, spokesman for the Russian General Staff. (...)

And they are moving quickly too:

US-led coalition destroying anything but IS in Syria: Syrian FM
https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/us-led-coalition-destroying-anything-syria-syrian-fm/

“As an example, I would like to cite the US-led coalition, which, in reality, is systematically destroying anything but ISIL (former name of IS ) Thousands of Syrian citizens, not only men but also women and children in the Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor provinces, have become victims of US airstrikes.

The American coalition is systematically destroying the economic infrastructure, so we will strongly demand that it this coalition is disbanded,” he said.
It is obvious that the US uses the coalition’s actions as a pretext for destroying Syria and prolonging the hostilities in the country for as long as possible,
the minister noted.

More on the situation of civilians in Raqqa: https://www.rt.com/newsline/406603-syria-raqqa-civilians-passage/

Talks on securing safe passage for civilians from the last neighborhoods held by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) of Syria’s Raqqa have stopped, a city official close to the discussions said Friday.

City officials and tribal leaders had been working this week to negotiate the safe exit of people trapped inside extremist-held areas. The source told AFP that some civilians were safely brought out during a lull in fighting in recent days. However, negotiations faltered over the issue of letting IS fighters leave and clashes resumed.

“We completely reject the idea that their security members leave the city without consequences,” the official said. It is not clear whether the talks might resume.

Published time: 13 Oct, 2017

Thanks Ant22 for collaborating on the reports, very much appreciated!

I only touched upon a few websites for a rough graph ... of what felt like a build up of military forces and fancy toys concentrating in and around Syria. It's starting to look like "The Greatest Show on Earth" with Assad and Putin close to "The Finish Line" and a bunch saboteurs with their own agenda's - trying to roll back the game to First Base?

A lot more information needs to come together - before we get a clearer picture.

 

[angelburst29]

A leaked report from Germany:
An Oct. 8th report from Germany - of trains loaded with what looks like US Army tanks and other nationwide reports of transports of tanks and US war equipment in containers heading into the Baltic States.

Railfan captures pictures of US tanks crossing Germany by the trainload: officials are saying nothing
https://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,39681.3000.html

Germany has begun the deployment of tanks to Lithuania as part of the NATO mission to bolster confidence in Eastern European allies. The military buildup in Eastern Europe is the largest since the Cold War and could put into question the NATO-Russia agreement which bans permanent deployment of significant forces by the alliance in Eastern Europe. Among the most vocal members of NATO, Poland and the Baltic states claimed that Russia could attack them after the events in Ukraine, prompting leading members of the alliance to agree on troop deployments. Moscow denies any aggressive intentions against NATO members and says the alliance is using a pretext to compromise Russia’s national security…

Germany begins tank deployment to Lithuania as part of NATO commitment to Baltics 31 Jan, 2017
https://fbreporter.org/2017/01/31/germany-sending-tanks-to-lithuania-to-reassure-former-nazi-ally/

Germany has begun the deployment of tanks to Lithuania as part of the NATO mission to bolster confidence in Eastern European allies. It comes as US and Polish soldiers conducted joint drills to deter “unlikely” potential aggression from Russia.

Germany is one of the countries that agreed to provide troops and weapons for the NATO mission, which involves deploying four battalions in Poland and the three Baltic states. The German command said it was sending about 200 military vehicles, including 30 tanks along with 450 troops. The movement of forces, which started on Tuesday, will continue until late February, it said.

The German troops in Lithuania may soon be joined by soldiers from Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway, boosting the strength of the battalion to some 600 troops. The Germans are bringing Marder armored vehicles and Leopard 2 tanks as part of the deployment.

In early January, US heavy weapons and troops started arriving in Poland via Germany as part of the same mission, dubbed Operation Atlantic Resolve’. Eighty-seven US battle tanks, 144 Bradley fighting vehicles, and 3,500 soldiers arrived in Europe earlier this month as part of NATO’s buildup near Russia’s borders, agreed at the NATO summit in Warsaw in July.

The current conservative government in Poland is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on buying advanced NATO-compatible weapons like JASSM-ER cruise missiles from the US and other allies.

In addition to inspiring confidence in European allies, the operation is testing NATO’s readiness to transport large amounts of military hardware across the continent, a task that has reportedly faced several glitches such as convoys failing to pass under bridges that turned out to be lower than expected.

The military buildup in Eastern Europe is the largest since the Cold War and could put into question the NATO-Russia agreement which bans permanent deployment of significant forces by the alliance in Eastern Europe. NATO deflects such notions, saying the agreement did not specify how big a force should be for it to be considered “significant,” and insists that the deployment is rotational rather than permanent.

NATO decided to boost its military presence at the Russian border in the wake of the political crisis in Ukraine, in which an armed coup in Kiev brought an anti-Russian government into power. The peninsular region of Crimea and two eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk refused to accept the coup-installed Ukrainian authorities. Crimea subsequently voted in a referendum to rejoin Russia, a move that Kiev and its foreign sponsors consider an illegal annexation rather than an exercise in the right to self-determination.

Among the most vocal members of NATO, Poland and the Baltic states claimed that Russia could attack them after the events in Ukraine, prompting leading members of the alliance to agree on troop deployments.

Moscow denies any aggressive intentions against NATO members and says the alliance is using a pretext to compromise Russia’s national security. The Russian armed forces have boosted their strength near the western border in response to the buildup.

Almost Entire US Division in the Baltic States, Violating Russia-NATO Deal - MoD 12.10.2017
https://sputniknews.com/world/201710121058156928-us-military-baltic-states/

The second US armored brigade arrived in Poland and has deployed together with armored vehicles; meanwhile, the third US brigade's equipment remains in Poland, said the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov.

"Thus, contrary to all the statements of NATO and the United States about the 'insignificant' amount of troops being sent to Russia's borders, now it is not a brigade that has been deployed, but a mechanized division of the US Armed Forces, where in two hours, prepared personnel can be transferred from the nearest American base in Europe (Ramstein, Germany)," Konashenkov said.

 

[goyacobol]

angelburst29 and Ant22,

Trying to follow the pattern I have only a small observation from Tweeting on Twitter. I replied to someone who is in Syria. This Tweeter picked up on Hama from my one post and the fact that it is now liberated by the Syrian Army and sent some nice pictures of Hama and the Al-Tanf camp activities.

Watch the Syrian Army operation that led to east Hama's liberation

This Syrian tweeter sent me his opinions:

The problem that still exists is the American TENAF base, which allows Da'ish"isis" to cross into Syria from Iraq without confrontation
The border crossing in the area of ​​Al-Tanf. u.s established a military base near al-Tanf camp where the camp is opposite Syrian forces
America doesn't want the Syrian forces "regular" to reach the border. And meet with the Iraqi forces and the Iraqi popular crowd
The coalition is destroying the bridges and the Syrian structure, and these images of bridges and shelling on AlRiqa
The border crossing in the area of ​​Al-Tanf. u.s established a military base near al-Tanf camp where the camp is opposite Syrian forces
The red dot is the base "Altenaf" us army .


The TENAF (Al Tanf) base is at a border area near Iraq and Jordan and the U.S. has monitored it for quite a few years.

BLOOD Am STEEL!

THE HISTORY, CUSTOMS, AND
TRADITIONS OF THE


Published by the Third Cavalry Museum

Fort Hood, Texas
2008 Edition
....
Task Force Rifles established the first Highway Patrol in Iraq and hired over 1500 police
officers and other security personnel. Providing employment to idle citizens not only gave
them an income, but put more responsibility for their security into their own hands.


SPC David S. Selby leads members of L Troop ’s 1st Platoon as they execute a raid in
Raw ah, Iraq.

Another security mission performed by Task Force Rifles was control of the border crossing
points of Husayba and Tenaf (Syria), and Trebil (Jordan). In addition, a crossing control point
was established at Ar Ar (Saudi Arabia) where only an open border has existed before. There
was an urgent need to gain control of these border crossing points to prevent more support for
the terrorists from entering Iraq.

US-led coalition denies Syrian outpost closure part of a deal with Russia

Updated 11:17 AM ET, Tue September 19, 2017
(CNN)The US-led coalition has closed and razed one of its combat outposts east of the coalition garrison in Al Tanf, Syria, opening up the possibility that the ground will be seized by Iranian-backed pro-regime militias.
Local rebel groups told Reuters that the outpost's closure was the result of an arrangement between Russia and the US.
Such a deal would appear to go against what Secretary of Defense James Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon Monday when asked if the US-led coalition was ceding ground in Syria to the regime following reports that regime troops backed by Russian airpower had crossed the Euphrates River.

"We have not ceded any of the ground we have taken to anybody," Mattis said.

But a spokesman for the coalition told CNN that the closure of the outpost was a routine action and not part of any deal with Russia or the Syrian regime.
"Throughout Syria and Iraq, the coalition has established and closed numerous bases, as warranted by the operational situation, in order to ensure we provide effective support to our partner forces. The decision to establish and close temporary bases is determined by operational requirements and the progress of the campaign," US Army Col. Ryan Dillon said.

Dillon also pointed out that "Coalition and partner forces still operate out of At Tanf" and that "Coalition forces continue to conduct patrols out of Al Tanf to train and prepare the MaT for counter-ISIS operations."

he MaT refers to the US-backed Maghawir al-Thawra group, the largest anti-ISIS group based at Al Tanf. The MaT regularly performs joint patrols with US Special Operations Forces.
A US military official told CNN that while the base was dismantled and razed over the weekend, its closure had been planned weeks ago and was unrelated to recent events on the ground in Syria.
CNN has previously reported that pro-regime forces had established a number of outposts and checkpoints in the area just outside the 55 kilometer "de-confliction" zone surrounding At Tanf, which was negotiated by Russia and the US-led coalition.
US officials have told CNN they believe pro-regime militias backed by Iran are setting up a series of checkpoints as part of an effort to establish a strategic overland route from Iran to the Mediterranean coast and have sought to eject coalition troops from At Tanf to facilitate this goal, seeking to encourage MaT fighters to defect to the regime and conducting probing activities around the base and nearby coalition combat outposts.

he outpost shuttered over the weekend lies to the east of Al Tanf, closer to the Iraqi border, an area the regime has long sought to gain control over. It was raised in part to prevent it being used by another military force, a US official said.
The proximity between the two sets of forces led to some clashes in June, including US airstrikes against regime forces who had encroached on the zone and US F-15 jets shooting down two pro-regime drones that were perceived to pose a threat to local allies and their coalition advisers.

There has also been increased proximity between regime forces and fighters from the US backed Syrian Democratic Forces further east.
That proximity likely contributed to Saturday's Russian airstrike that the coalition said wounded SDF fighters while US Special Operations Forces were present.

US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces recently announced their push into Deir Ezzor province and have made major advances along the Khabur River toward the Middle Euphrates River Valley, an area where the US military believes ISIS has relocated much of its leadership and based 5,000 to 10,000 of its fighters.
While regime forces had primarily operated on the western side of the Euphrates River and SDF forces on the eastern side, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement Monday saying Syrian regime troops, backed by Russian airpower, had crossed over to the river's eastern bank near Deir Ezzor city.

The coalition confirmed to CNN that regime and Russian troops had crossed the Euphrates River, bringing them closer to US-backed forces operating in eastern Syria.
"We confirm Russian forces have moved east of the Euphrates River. The Russians are providing air support to Syrian Regime operations to reclaim territorial control over the area around Deir Ezzor," Dillon told CNN Tuesday.
"The coalition's mission in Syria is to defeat ISIS, and US forces will remain in Syria as long as the Syrian Regime is unable to destroy ISIS pockets and prevent the terrorists' resurgence," he added.
But a US military official criticized the regime's efforts fighting ISIS saying that while they might be able to clear the area, they are unlikely to be able to "hold" areas and prevent ISIS's return. The official cited the experience of what happened in Palmyra, Syria, where ISIS after initially being defeated by regime troops, was able to regain much of the territory it had lost as the area changed hands multiple times.

Of course we know the mission is not to defeat ISIS so the whole idea of closing the base at Tenaf or Al Tanf is a lie.

US using refugees to shield Al-Tanf Base in southern Syria: Russian MoD

More than 1,000 foreign ISIS terrorists enter Syria via Iraq: report

BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:20 A.M.) – More than 1,000 foreign Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists have entered Syria via Iraq, the pro-opposition Syrian Opposition for Human Rights claimed on Thursday.

According to the report released by the pro-opposition group, the 1,000+ ISIS terrorists came from several countries in central Asia, including Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.

The terrorists entered the Deir Ezzor Governorate via Albukamal, which is the last crossing for the terrorist group between Iraq and Syria.

The SOHR report also claimed that more than 500 Islamic State terrorists had been killed in Syria over the past two weeks – this cannot be confirmed by Al-Masdar.

I am thinking the ISIS troops that were allowed to flee Mosul and other mercenaries were saved for this kind of backup operation. This looks like a big attempt to retake ground in Syria. I sense that something is really getting tense too even though it has been a roller coaster ride for awhile now.

 

[Ant22]

(...)

Photos of the Polish mercenary group “Gniew Eufratu” have recently surfaced on the social media sites.

Polish mercenaries fight alongside the Kurdish separatists in Syria
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/10/polish-mercenaries-fight-alongside.html

The group, which is composed of the former Polish soldiers, is reportedly fighting alongside the US-backed Kurdish separatists from the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria against ISIS.

It is not known whether the members of the group were/are also active in Donbass.

I’d like to comment on the above excerpt from your article angelburst29. I never heard of Gniew Eufratu before I read your post so I spent some time checking them out.

From what I've noticed on social media members of Gniew Eufratu (Wrath of Euphrates) put a lot of emphasis on the fact that they are entirely self-funded and they are fighting IS for moral reasons.

The most vocal one calls himself Archer and his identity remains anonymous. His Facebook profile https://www.facebook.com/ArcherPL/ attracts a lot of attention, yet his version of the nature of the group’s involvement in the Kurdish conflict reads like some sort of a romanticised war movie script. And it is the fact that they so stubbornly claim their operation is entirely self-funded that raises a lot of questions and generates a decent amount of suspicion on social media.

I initially came across a reference to the below quote by the former Commander of GROM, Polish Special Forces Unit, on Archer's facebook page and I later came across the entire quote. It summarises Geniw Eufratu quite well IMO:

(Excerpt translated from this article in Polish: https://pastebin.com/8e616QAY)

Former Polish commando accompanied by other veterans goes to Syria to fight ISIS with idealistic motives. They operate independently and for free, they fund everything themselves. Do you believe their story? - I ask General Roman Polko, former Commander of Grom, Polish Special Forces Unit.

He answers: I saw Archer marketing himself. It seems that Superman and Batman accompany him to help him fight for our freedom and yours. The young man is telling some ridiculous stories. I don’t believe in his idealistic motivations. I think we are dealing with an army of mercenaries here.

Polko also says that his former subordinates ended up in foreign military organizations multiple times before. He knows people who work in Iraq for an American company partly backed by the US administration. “Unfortunately there are plenty of companies and institutions of this kind that recruit people. Contacts are made during foreign missions. It all reminds me of "Mother Courage and Her Children": war is business. And there is business here too, although no one will admit what their earnings are, - says Polko.

He adds: “I warn against that because it’s morally questionable. Rapture over such a fight is a mistake. Poland, through NATO and the EU, can engage in activities that will actually stabilize the region. And somebody thinks he's in "The Magnificent Seven” movie, that if he goes there, he'll restore peace. It's utopia. In reality he is being used and he may not even know who he is working for. And he may end up with blood of innocent people on his hands.”

Later in the article Archer is quoted telling touching stories about the nature of his involvement, such as seeing Kurdish girls fighting for their independence with machine guns and wanting to help them.

I would maybe allow the possibility that they're doing it for moral reasons and they may not even know who they really work for. But the overly romanticised story reads like a propaganda narrative and coupled with the 'self-funded' part it all stinks to high heaven of mercenaries.

Anti Islamic refugee sentiments are very strong in Poland so I can understand why someone who wants to fight ISIS in Syria attracts a lot of attention and support. It's NATO and the US (whom Poland works hard to establish close relations with) as well as their allies that destabilized the region in the first place, thus creating the current refugee crisis. Yet awareness of that fact is very vague among the Polish public so I can see where the support for the Polish ISIS fighters comes from.

And since Gniew Eufratu are supporting Kurds - who are also supported by the US - it is easy to guess who is funding their operations.

I found the below interview with Archer in English.

http://<iframe width="560" height="...6s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Note the theatrical gun fire and explosions in the background during the first part of the interview.

I haven't heard him mention the self-funded nature of his involvement in fighting IS in the above interview (or maybe I missed it?) but he did say the group paid for everything themselves in this interview in Polish: _https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXF26ExRwPU

I haven't found any information on the group's involvement in Donbass but I'll keep my eyes open on them.

 

[angelburst29]

I’d like to comment on the above excerpt from your article angelburst29. I never heard of Gniew Eufratu before I read your post so I spent some time checking them out.

From what I've noticed on social media members of Gniew Eufratu (Wrath of Euphrates) put a lot of emphasis on the fact that they are entirely self-funded and they are fighting IS for moral reasons.

The most vocal one calls himself Archer and his identity remains anonymous. His Facebook profile https://www.facebook.com/ArcherPL/ attracts a lot of attention, yet his version of the nature of the group’s involvement in the Kurdish conflict reads like some sort of a romanticised war movie script. And it is the fact that they so stubbornly claim their operation is entirely self-funded that raises a lot of questions and generates a decent amount of suspicion on social media.

I initially came across a reference to the below quote by the former Commander of GROM, Polish Special Forces Unit, on Archer's facebook page and I later came across the entire quote. It summarises Geniw Eufratu quite well IMO:

(Excerpt translated from this article in Polish: https://pastebin.com/8e616QAY)

Former Polish commando accompanied by other veterans goes to Syria to fight ISIS with idealistic motives. They operate independently and for free, they fund everything themselves. Do you believe their story? - I ask General Roman Polko, former Commander of Grom, Polish Special Forces Unit.

He answers:I saw Archer marketing himself. It seems that Superman and Batman accompany him to help him fight for our freedom and yours. The young man is telling some ridiculous stories. I don’t believe in his idealistic motivations. I think we are dealing with an army of mercenaries here.

Polko also says that his former subordinates ended up in foreign military organizations multiple times before. He knows people who work in Iraq for an American company partly backed by the US administration. “Unfortunately there are plenty of companies and institutions of this kind that recruit people. Contacts are made during foreign missions. It all reminds me of "Mother Courage and Her Children": war is business. And there is business here too, although no one will admit what their earnings are, - says Polko.

He adds: “I warn against that because it’s morally questionable. Rapture over such a fight is a mistake. Poland, through NATO and the EU, can engage in activities that will actually stabilize the region. And somebody thinks he's in "The Magnificent Seven” movie, that if he goes there, he'll restore peace. It's utopia. In reality he is being used and he may not even know who he is working for. And he may end up with blood of innocent people on his hands.”

Later in the article Archer is quoted telling touching stories about the nature of his involvement, such as seeing Kurdish girls fighting for their independence with machine guns and wanting to help them.

I would maybe allow the possibility that they're doing it for moral reasons and they may not even know who they really work for. But the overly romanticised story reads like a propaganda narrative and coupled with the 'self-funded' part it all stinks to high heaven of mercenaries.

Anti Islamic refugee sentiments are very strong in Poland so I can understand why someone who wants to fight ISIS in Syria attracts a lot of attention and support. It's NATO and the US (whom Poland works hard to establish close relations with) as well as their allies that destabilized the region in the first place, thus creating the current refugee crisis. Yet awareness of that fact is very vague among the Polish public so I can see where the support for the Polish ISIS fighters comes from.

And since Gniew Eufratu are supporting Kurds - who are also supported by the US - it is easy to guess who is funding their operations.

I found the below interview with Archer in English.

Note the theatrical gun fire and explosions in the background during the first part of the interview.

I haven't heard him mention the self-funded nature of his involvement in fighting IS in the above interview (or maybe I missed it?) but he did say the group paid for everything themselves in this interview in Polish: _https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXF26ExRwPU

I haven't found any information on the group's involvement in Donbass but I'll keep my eyes open on them.

Excellent Work Ant22 - especially doing a background check on Gniew Eufratu (Wrath of Euphrates) and highlighting an anonymous spokesperson, by the name of Archer!

The article was the first I came across the name Gniew Eufratu, also. I agree with your assessment that Archer's group are U.S. funded mercenaries. They are probably only "one of many small groups of paid mercenaries" across the Middle East, that have been "radicalized" already from social programming and video war games?

General Roman Polko's summary of Gniew Eufratu and Archer - seems like a good description - of radical groups who fantasize war? The self-styled Rambo's, who seek fame and fortune, only make the recruiters job easier, by bringing in more cannon folder for the War Lords?

 

[angelburst29]

Fasten Your Seatbelts ...

Damascus Demands 'Immediate' Withdrawal of Turkish Army From Syria - State Media
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710141058236489-syria-damascus-turkey-troops-withdrawal/

Few days after the Turkish troops and armed vehicles entered Syria's Idlib following the announcement of Ankara's second military operation in the Arab Republic, Damascus has reportedly strongly condemned the deployment.

According to the Syrian SANA news agency citing a source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry, Damascus has demanded the "immediate and unconditional" withdrawal of Turkish troops from the country.

An official source in the ministry told SANA that Syria condemns the incursion of the Turkish army units in the Idlib province, calling it a "blatant aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and a flagrant violation of international law and norms."

The Turkish operation the Damascus' source described as an "aggression" has "nothing to do" with the agreements reached during the latest round of the Syrian peace talks in Astana brokered by Russia, Iran and Turkey, SANA reported.

Damascus' reported condemnation of the Turkish Idlib operation comes several days after Turkish soldiers, including special forces, and 30 armored vehicles entered the Idlib de-escalation zone on Thursday night.

According to the Turkish General Staff, Turkish armed forces operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone will observe ceasefire, ensure humanitarian aid deliveries and to create conditions for the population to return to their homes, began setting up their observation posts on October 12, within the framework of agreements reached in Astana.

The Turkish military operation to support the Free Syrian Army rebels' fight against al-Nusra Front terrorists in Idlib was announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 7.

Currently, Idlib is mostly controlled by Tahrir al-Sham, a militant group led by al-Nusra Front terrorist group (banned in Russia), al-Qaeda's former Syrian affiliate. The group is not party to the agreement on setting up a de-escalation zone in Idlib agreed upon during the Syrian peace talks in Astana brokered by Russia, Iran and Turkey.

The Idlib operation is the second Turkish military operation on the Syrian soil. From August 2016 until March 2017, the Euphrates Shield campaign by the Turkish army conducted also with the FSA rebel fighters was conducted aiming to clear the Syrian border town of Jarablus and the surrounding area from Daesh terrorist group.

Russia has deployed more S300 and S400 anti-aircraft systems in Syria to defend the country's airspace against any aggressions, including Israeli air raids on the war-hit country, Russian media outlet reported Saturday.

Russia Ready to Give Crushing Response to Israeli Air Attacks on Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960722001088

The Arabic-language website of Russia's state news agency, Sputnik, reported that the modern Russia-made S300 and S400 anti-aircraft systems with a tracking range of 300 km and 400 km respectively have been deployed in the town of Masyaf Southwest of Hama.

The Arabic Sputnik quoted some experts as saying that Russia's move to deploy the modern anti-aircraft systems is aimed at giving a crushing response to repeated air raids on Syria's Masyaf by Tel Aviv, including the one in September 7, 2017.

The General Command of the Syrian Army announced in a statement in easrly September that the Israeli warplane's airstrikes on army positions in the Western parts of Hama city killed 2 Syrian soldiers.

The statement said that the Israeli fighter jet launched missile attacks on one of the Syrian army bases near Masyaf region in Southwestern Hama through the Lebanese airspace, killing two Syrian soldiers.

It added that the attack was a desperate attempt to heighten the lost morale of the ISIL terrorists after the Syrian army's major victories against the terrorism in several regions.

 

[angelburst29]

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkish military forces have been deployed to Syria's Idlib province to monitor one of four de-escalations zones in the war-torn country.

President: Turkish Forces Have ‘Own Game Plan’ in Syria's Idlib
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960722000178

“Turkey shares a border with Idlib. Thus, we should take our own measures,” Erdogan told a meeting of his Justice and Development (AK) Party according to Anadolu Agency.

“We implement our own game plan, step by step… We are not bounded by just resistance or defense,” Turkish President said on Friday, stressing that due to a shared border with Syria, Turkey is facing a variety of dangers. “It is us that shares a 911km [566-mile] border with Syria. It is us who are under constant abuse and threat," he added.

Erdogan underlined that Turkey will never forget those states that showed support, as well as those that demonstrated “double standards” and “stood in Turkey's way” in the wake of last year’s failed coup attempt.

“Every day Turkey confronts a new game by those who can’t make us kneel in the political, diplomatic, military or economic areas,” he said, adding that “Those who supported terror groups such as the Fetullah Terrorist Organization and the PKK failed to corner Turkey [and] are taking now direct action.”

Turkey announced the launch of its anti-terrorist groups in Syria last week. On Thursday night, Turkey deployed a convoy of roughly 30 military vehicles with reconnaissance teams into rebel-held Northwest Syria. The reinforcements which crossed the Bab al-Hawa checkpoint were sent to mainly provide the security across the fourth Syrian de-escalation zone in Idlib province.

The Turkish military has already began setting up observation posts along the border of Idlib and Afrin, which is part of the Aleppo Governorate and has dominant Kurdish presence.

“Turkish Armed Forces elements that are to serve in the Idlib de-escalation zone have started their activities by establishing observation posts from Oct. 12, 2017, as part of the Astana agreement,” the military said in a statement.

“The Turkish Armed Forces continue to carry out their duties in the territory within the engagement rules agreed by the guarantor countries in the Astana negotiations,” the statement quoted by Anadolu added.

The proposal to establish four de-escalation zones in Syria, championed by Russia, was finalized in September at the latest round of Syria peace talks in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, with Idlib becoming the fourth zone created under the deal.

The deal signed by Russia, Iran and Turkey, and approved by the Syrian government is aimed at separating extremist and terrorist groups such as ISIL and the former Al-Nusra Front from the so-called moderate armed opposition. To ensure there are no clashes between the government forces and rebels, Russian, Iranian and Turkish observers will be sent to Idlib to monitor de-escalation.

In addition to meeting their end of the bargain under the Astana agreement, Turkey hopes to secure its border with Syria by fighting alongside Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) against what Ankara considers are terrorist elements. Besides fighting militants, Ankara is engaged in a personal vendetta against the Kurdish militia.

Turkey has long been worried about the autonomy of Kurds in Syria as Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) of the Democratic Union Party of Syria (PYD) with the help of American-led airstrikes, continue to capture a vast amount of territory in Northern Syria. That territory borders Kurdish-dominant Southeastern Turkey, where Ankara continues to target the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Turkey has repeatedly said that it would not tolerate Kurds staying West of the Euphrates River, with YPG-PYD advances in Northern Syria remaining the key security issue for Ankara. The two groups are designated terrorist organizations by Turkey – but not the US, as the YPG serves as one of the pillars of the US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The latest cross-border operation by the Turkish military has become the second one officially undertaken by Ankara in Syria. During the Operation Euphrates Shield, which was launched in August last year and ended in March, Ankara together with Turkey-aligned Syrian opposition groups liberated several ISIL-held areas such as Jarablus, Dabiq, al-Rai and al-Bab.

A field source confirmed on Saturday that the ISIL has forwarded a large number of Jeish al-Khalafa fighters (the terrorist group's special forces) to Southeastern Deir Ezzur to slow down the rapid and devastating advances of the Syrian Army troops in the region.

ISIL Dispatches Special Forces to Deir Ezzur to Slow Down Syrian Soldiers' Advances
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960722000885

The source said that ISIL has sent a large number of Jeish al-Khalafa fighters to Southeastern Deir Ezzur to prevent the army soldiers from advancing and imposing control over the group's main stronghold.

The source said that the army men have gained control over a chunk of the highway connecting Deir Ezzur city to its Eastern countryside, adding that the army forces, backed up by the country's Air Force and missile units, have advanced towards the town of al-Mayadeen from the direction of Southern Badiyeh (desert) and artillery battalion base.

The source further said that the recent advances of the army men in al-Mayadeen region have caused the ISIL to forward its special forces to the region.

Military sources confirmed on Friday that the army men clashed fiercely with ISIL and imposed control over Marat Fowqani region in the Eastern bank of the Euphrates River.

The Syrian Arab Army has fully liberated the city of Al-Mayadeen in Deir Ezzor province which until a few hours ago had been the Islamic State’s de facto capital.

Breaking: Syrian Army liberates ISIS capital city ( Al-Mayadeen )
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-syrian-army-liberates-isis-capital-city/

According to military sources exclusive to Al-Masdar News, the Syrian Army achieved full control over all districts within the city of Al-Mayadeen early this morning.

The Syrian Army operation to expel ISIS from Al-Mayadeen started about one week ago and saw the army deploy units of the elite Tiger Forces Division.

A Syrian Arab Air Force fighter jet has landed at the Deir Ezzor military airport. The event marks the first time in one year that Syrian combat aviation has been able to land at the strategic airbase.

Breaking: Syrian warplane lands at Deir Ezzor airbase for first time in one year
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-syrian-warplane-lands-deir-ezzor-airbase-first-time-one-year/

Military sources have reported that a Syrian warplane landed at the Deir Ezzor military airport for the first time in over a year.

Thirteen months ago, intense US airstrikes against Syrian Army positions on Thardeh Mountain (Jabal Thardeh) forced government troops to abandon the imperative high-ground which overlooks the Deir Ezzor airbase, de facto ceding it to ISIS.

Islamic State militants set up artillery on Thardeh and used it to shell the Deir Ezzor airbase. Under these conditions, the Syrian Arab Air Force forbade its pilots to land at the military site.

However, around one month ago the Syrian Army reclaimed Thardeh Mountain from ISIS as part of a wider offensive in Deir Ezzor and since re-securing the military airport from artillery attacks is now once again allowing combat aviation to land at it.

The pro-government paramilitary group, Liwaa Suqour Al-Quneitra (Quneitra Hawks Brigade), downed a drone belonging to the Al-Qaeda linked Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham rebel faction in the Golan Heights region of Al-Quneitra on Friday.

Syrian Armed Forces down an Al-Qaeda drone in the Golan Heights
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syrian-armed-forces-al-qaeda-drone-golan-heights/

According to the government paramilitary group, their fighters downed the HTS drone, Friday, when it was flying over their positions in the Khan ‘Arnabeh area of the Golan Heights.

The HTS drone was attempting to capture images of the Syrian military’s positions around Khan ‘Arnabeh, which most likely has to do with the latter’s recent offensive in nearby Beit Jinn.

Units from the Syrian Army’s 42nd Brigade of the 4th Mechanized Division and 90th Brigade have been on the offensive in the Beit Jinn pocket recently, capturing several sites in the northern part of this rural area on the border of the Damascus Governorate.

With the pressure mounting on their forces in Beit Jinn, HTS and their allies are worried another Syrian military operation is set to begin in the Golan Heights; hence, the influx of spy drones over Khan ‘Arnabeh.

Moscow could deploy more forces, including Iskander-M tactical missile systems, to its western regions in response to the US deployment of additional forces to Poland, the head of the Russian parliament’s Defense Committee said.

Snr Russian MP: Moscow Could Send More Missiles to Kaliningrad over ‘US Military Buildup in Poland’
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960722000315

Russia will “most certainly” respond to the ongoing military buildup at its Western borders, Vladimir Shamanov, the head of the Russian State Duma’s Defense Committee and a former airborne troops commander, said, as cited by TASS.

“That may result in not only an increase of the number of military personnel, but could also involve strengthening our Iskander-M group, in [Russia’s western exclave of] Kaliningrad in particular,” he added.

The MP once again slammed US actions in Eastern Europe by saying that Washington is building up its troops in the region without consulting with Russia, in violation of international agreements.

Such an angry reaction by the head of the Duma’s Defense Committee was provoked by reports that the US recently “covertly” sent a new mechanized brigade to Poland, effectively increasing the overall strength of its military group in the Eastern European state to the level of a mechanized division.

Against the background of Western concerns around the joint Russian-Belarusian ‘Zapad-2017’ drills, “the US 2nd Armored Brigade arrived and took up positions in Poland, [bringing in] its own military hardware,” Russia’s Defense Ministry spokesman, Major General Igor Konashenkov, said Thursday.

He claimed the equipment of the 3rd US Armored Brigade, which was previously stationed in the region, “remained in place.” The ministry’s spokesman drew attention to the fact that the US could easily redeploy its trained military personnel from the German Rammstein base to Poland within just two hours.

“In contrast to the claims of NATO and the US on the insignificance of the troops approaching the Russian border, in fact now it is not a brigade there but a US mechanized military division,” he said.

]The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the US embassy chief in Moscow to demand the return of Russian flags, which were removed from seized diplomatic properties in the United States earlier this week.

US Diplomat Summoned over Russian Flag Removal from Seized Diplomatic Properties
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960722000262

Speaking to Sputnik radio in Crimea, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the American charge d'affaires had been summoned to account for the seized diplomatic property. “I am sure that we will raise the issue not only of the return of the flag, but also of the return of our property,” Zakharova added.

“I can say you for sure that the protest has been lodged to the US side taking into consideration absolutely inadmissible actions. The US charge d’affaires in Russia was summoned and he has received a note of protest,” she stressed.

Russian flags had been removed from former consular buildings in San Francisco as well as a trade mission in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, which had previously been shut by US authorities. The Russian mission to the US described the move as “extremely unfriendly” while on Thursday, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Secretary of State Rex Tillerson by phone that the flag’s removal was “unacceptable.”

In response, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a press briefing on Thursday that the flags had been “respectfully lowered,” are being “safely stored” and will be returned “at their [Russia’s] convenience.”

The dispute over the flags is the latest episode in an ongoing diplomatic row between Moscow and Washington, which started with the expulsion of 35 Russian embassy staff by outgoing President Barack Obama in late December 2016, as well as the closure of two diplomatic compounds in Washington, DC, and Maryland.

Though no retaliatory action was immediately taken, this summer the Donald Trump administration slapped Russia with a fresh round of sanctions, prompting Moscow to force Washington to reduce its personnel in Russia by 700 staff. This move leveled the number of Russian and American diplomatic staff in each other’s countries.

The Trump administration then, citing a “spirit of parity,” took more hostile action in early in September, shutting the Russian Consulate-General in San Francisco as well as the trade missions in Washington and New York.

Moscow regrets Washington's decision not to recertify that Iran is in compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to US Congress, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday.

Moscow Regrets Trump Decided Not to Certify Iran's Compliance With Nuclear Deal
https://sputniknews.com/us/201710131058218228-moscow-renewal-sanctions-impossible/

The ministry stressed that the return to the situation that was around the Iranian nuclear program before the adoption of the JCPOA was impossible, especially in regard of reimposing UN sanctions on Tehran.

"Russia remains committed to the JCPOA, is interested in preserving it, and will continue to fulfill its obligations under it. We call on all other participants to do the same," the statement said.

At the same time, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, the most pressing task at the moment is to prevent the Iranian nuclear deal from falling apart, and thus all sides must respect the agreement.

"The task is to prevent the collapse of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, we are calling on all sides to adhere to its statutes. We think that this agreement has large potential and should be fully implemented," Ryabkov said.

 

[angelburst29]

Damascus demands an immediate pullout of Turkish troops, whose deployment to Idlib province amounts to “flagrant aggression,” the Syrian Foreign Ministry announced.

Damascus Demands Immediate, Unconditional Pullout of Turkish Troops from Northwest Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960723000322

“The Syrian Arab Republic condemns in the strongest terms the incursion of Turkish military units Idlib Province, which constitutes to blatant aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and flagrant violation of international law,” an official source in the foreign ministry told SANA news agency.

“The Syrian Arab Republic demands an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Turkish troops from the Syrian territory,” the source stated.

According to the foreign ministry representative, the move by Ankara was an “aggression” which “the Turkish regime can’t justify in any way.”

The source also dismissed Turkey’s attempts to link the move to the implementation of the Astana agreements on the creation of de-escalation zones in Syria. The incursion was, in fact, a “departure” from the deal, reached by Russia, Turkey, and Iran in the Kazakh capital, he said.

On Thursday, Turkey deployed a convoy of around 30 military vehicles into Syria’s terrorist-held Idlib province.

Turkish military forces are tasked with monitoring one of four de-escalations zones, created in the country under the agreement between Moscow, Ankara, and Tehran, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.

However, Erdogan stressed that Turkey was implementing its “own game plan, step by step” in Syria, adding that “we are not bounded by just resistance or defense.”

The Syrian parliament has reiterated Damascus' reported demand concerning the Turkish troops' withdrawal from Idlib amid Ankara's military operation in the region previously announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Syrian Parliament Condemns Turkish 'Invasion' in Idlib, Demands Troops Pullout
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710151058253441-syria-turkey-idlib-operation/

"The Syrian parliament demands withdrawal of Turkish forces without any preconditions," Hammoudeh Sabbagh, the speaker of the Syrian parliament, said, delivering a speech at the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

The official said that the Turkish operation wasn't discussed during the Astana talks and violates international law.

"We consider this attack an invasion of our territory, a threat to the security of our citizens. We consider this to be a violation of the norms of international law. This shows the close relationship between the Turkish regime and the terrorist groups that are destroying Syria, sheds the blood of the Syrian people and contributes to the destabilization of the situation in Syria," Sabbagh said.

Fierce clashes have been reported among the largest terrorist groups affiliated to the Turkey-led Euphrates Shield in Northern Aleppo, a Syrian media outlet reported on Sunday.

Fresh Infighting Erupts among Ankara-Backed Terrorists in Northern Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960723001462

The Arabic-language al-Watan daily reported that terrorists of Sultan Morad Ferqa and al-Shamiyah Front affiliated to the Ankara-backed Free Syrian Army engaged in fierce clashes in a region near the village of al-Hamran in Northeastern Aleppo, putting their forces on alert in the region.

Al-Watan said that financial differences, including distribution of revenues of Bab al-Salamh passageway, were the main cause of clashes.

The paper said that Sultan Morad Ferqa cut off a road connecting Azaz and Jarabulus regions after differences with al-Shamiyeh Front appeared.

Reports said earlier today that a long convoy of the Turkish Army's vehicles along with Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) arrived in the Western territories of Aleppo province.

The Arabic-language al-Ahd news website reported that the army convoy along with Al-Nusra terrorists entered Mount Sheikh Barakat overlooking the town of Afrin.

Al-Ahd further said that the newly-arrived forces are about to fortify new positions in the region.

Russian helicopters have started using the Deir Ezzur airbase to target ISIL's defense lines in Eastern Syria, well-informed sources confirmed.

Russia Using Key Military Airport in Eastern Syria to Hit Terrorist Centers
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960723001395

The sources said that 4 Russian Kamov Ka-50 attack helicopters also known as Black Shark have been operating from the Deir Ezzur airbase.

Relevant reports said on Saturday that a Syrian Air Force fighter jet landed in Deir Ezzur military airport, marking the first time in one year that the Syrian combat aviation was able to use the strategic airbase.

Military sources reported that a Syrian warplane landed at the Deir Ezzur military airport for the first time in over a year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized double standards and the use of militants in the fight against terrorism, calling for joint efforts to eradicate the scourge.

Russia’s Putin Slams Hypocrisy, Hidden Goals in War on Terror
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960723000656

Putin made the remarks in an opening address to the 137th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, presstv reported.

"We are confident that it is necessary to fight against terrorism without double standards, without hidden agendas, without the use of radicals for anyone's political interests and, of course, only by joining hands, only together," he said.

The Russian president also emphasized that “a real partnership” is crucially important for the counter-terrorism battle.

He further noted that “ill-considered foreign interference" has led to instability and a growing terrorist threat in both the Middle East and North Africa.
“Attempts to interfere in the life of sovereign states without understanding and taking into consideration the national features lead only to chaos,” Putin said.

Such a conduct, he said, had “resulted in the destabilization of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, in the escalation of tensions in the region and the growth of terrorist threat.”

Based on the UN Charter, Putin pointed out, every country reserves the right to define its own fate.

Elsewhere in his comments, the Russian leader touched on the reconstruction of Syria, which been grappling with foreign-backed militancy since 2011.

He said that the international community should begin mulling over assistance to Syria in the post-war era.

Putin also underlined the importance of the intra-Syrian talks in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, which have brought representatives from the government in Damascus and opposition groups to the negotiating table and resulted in an agreement on four de-escalation zones across Syria. The negotiations were brokered by Russia, Iran and Turkey.

The safe zones had paved the way for eliminating “the terrorist hotbed” and restoring peace to Syria, Putin said and stressed that Moscow was doing its best to stabilize the military and political situation in the Arab country.

"Over the past two years, the areas controlled by terrorists have shrunk, lots of large populated localities have been liberated and the terrorists’ infrastructure has been considerably damaged," he noted.

Russia has been conducting air raids against ISIL and other terrorist groups inside Syria at the Damascus government’s request since September 2015.

)- Spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Sunday that the US is trying to deliberately destroy critical infrastructure in Syria, accusing the US-led collation of bombing residential areas in Northeastern and Eastern Syria.

Russia: US Trying to Destroy Syria's Vital Infrastructure, Residential Areas
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960723001014

"The US and coalition bombings of residential neighborhoods and the deliberate destruction of all natural sources of water supply in Raqqa have so far resulted in nothing but many thousands of victims of the population which is being 'liberated'," Konashenkov said.

The Russian military also accused the coalition of "incompetent planning" of the military operation to face ISIL in Raqqa.

Konashenkov noted that such actions show that the leadership of the international coalition led by the US is "in a deadlock" in contrast with the successful offensive of the Syrian government troops in al-Mayadeen.

Relevant reports said earlier this month that the US-led coalition's airstrikes against Raqqa city in Northeastern Syria killed and wounded several other civilians.

The US fighter jets pounded a residential block in al-Kahroba region in Raqqa city, killing at least 15 civilians and wounding a number of others.

The Russian Defense Ministry has commented on the liberation of the town of al-Mayadeen, the largest Daesh stronghold in the Deir ez-Zor province. The ministry also accused the US-led coalition of inaccurate bombing in Raqqa during the operation to free the former Daesh "capital."

Russian MoD Accuses US-Led Coalition of Bombings of Raqqa Residential Areas
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710141058238415-syria-army-russia-mayadeen/

"The US and coalition bombings of residential neighborhoods and the deliberate destruction of all natural sources of water supply in Raqqa have so far resulted in nothing but many thousands of victims of the population which is being 'liberated'," spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

The Russian military also accused the coalition of "incompetent planning" of the military operation to free Raqqa.

The ISIL militants have left Raqqa city in Northeastern Syria after they reached an agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the US-led coalition to pull forces out of the city without any clashes, a Kurdish official said Sunday.

Syria: Evacuation of ISIL Gunmen from Raqqa City Completing following Agreement with SDF
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960723001306

Spokesman for the SDF Mustafa Bali reported that evacuation of ISIL gunmen from Raqqa city has ended, but clashes with the remaining pockets of ISIL that preferred to stay out of the agreement are underway.

Raqqa city based on the agreement signed between the SDF and ISIL on Saturday.

A group of ISIL gunmen along with 400 civilians that were used by the ISIL as human shield left Raqqa city last night for other ISIL-held regions.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have moved towards the Syrian Army troops' positions in the Northern countryside of Deir Ezzur city, increasing the possibility of direct confrontation with the Syrian Army troops deployed in the region, a military source said Sunday.

Direct Confrontation Growing More Likely between Syrian Troops, SDF in Deir Ezzur
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960723000472

The source said that the SDF fighters have moved towards al-Halabiyeh square after the army men captured the square in al-Salehiyeh region at the Northern entrance of Deir Ezzur city.

The source added that the SDF have gained control over al-Riyan ice-making workshop in the village of al-Salehiyeh only 500 meters away from al-Halabiyeh square, increasing the possibility of direct clashes between the two sides.

The SDF's move is aimed at accessing the Northern entrance of Deir Ezzur city and imposing control over al-Amr oilfield, so, capturing al-Halabiyeh square, which links the Western, Northern and Northeastern countryside of Deir Ezzur to each other, would be a great strategic achievement for the Syrian soldiers.

Military sources said on Saturday that the army soldiers engaged in a tough battle with ISIL and imposed control over several positions near al-Hosseiniyeh, laying siege on the remaining terrorist-held neighborhoods in Deir Ezzur city.

Also, the army soldiers cut off the road connecting the Eastern and Northwestern countryside of Deir Ezzur to each other on the Eastern bank of the Euphrates River, they added.

ISIL suffered heavy casualties and its military hardware and vehicles sustained major damage in the attacks.

The Syrian Army troops are about to drive ISIL out of oilfields in Deir Ezzur province after the pro-government forces liberated the strategic town of al-Mayadeen yesterday, military sources said Sunday.

Syrian Army Ready to Seize Control over Energy Fields in Deir Ezzur Province
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960723000771

The sources said that the army soldiers are in prime position to liberate the Deir Ezzur province's largest oil fields following the liberation of ISIL's de facto capital, al-Mayadeen, on Saturday.

The Al-Amar Oil fields have been one of ISIL's most important revenue streams; its liberation is now one of the Syrian military’s top priorities in the Deir Ezzur.

In the coming days, the army soldiers will clear the ISIL's last pockets in the provincial capital and then shift their focus to the al-Amar Oilfields, where they hope to reach this site before the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), army officers said.

The army troops drove ISIL out of their key stronghold town of al-Mayadeen in Southeastern Deir Ezzur on Saturday.

"The army has purged terrorists from the town of al-Mayadeen and its surrounding regions and managed to impose full control over the town," the army sources said.

They added that the army men were advancing in the Western outskirts of al-Mayadeen to fortify their defense lines.

In the meantime, field sources reported that fierce clashes were underway between the pro-government forces and the ISIL on the Eastern bank of the Euphrates River, opposite to Deir Ezzur city.

Intense footage: Syrian Army crushes ISIS in Al-Mayadeen battle (Video)
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/intense-footage-syrian-army-crushes-isis-al-mayadeen-battle/ (5:16 min.)

Duma’s Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin told reporters on Saturday that Russia’s lower house of parliament, State Duma, drafts a bill retaliating the US anti-Russian sanctions, but it is too early to discuss details.

Russia’s Lower House Drafts Bill Retaliating US Sanctions
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960723000655

"I do not want to comment yet. We consider the issue," he answered when asked about a possibility of approving such a bill, TASS reported.

"We are drawing up the issue, but cannot present it yet or give details about its contents," Volodin said, adding that "The issue is being scrutinized."

In August, US President Donald Trump signed into law a bill toughening US sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea. The bill ‘Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act’ legalized restrictive measures imposed on Russia by the Obama administration. Former US President Barack Obama issued relevant decrees on 6 March and 18 December 2014, 1 April 2015, 26 July and 29 December 2016.

The sanctions created enormous obstacles to cooperation between Russian and US Armed Forces, special services and defense industries. Russian companies, primarily the energy ones, were denied Western loans. Besides, the law gives green light to new sanctions (bank assets freezes, non-issuance of US entry visas and so on) for "activities undermining cyber security … on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation."

On September 2, the US authorities seized control of the buildings of the Russia’s consulate-general in San Francisco and trade mission in Washington, though both are Russian property and enjoy diplomatic immunity. Russian officials have been banned from the leased offices of the Russian trade mission in New York. The offices have searched by US officials since then.

 

[RedFox]

Russia has deployed more S300 and S400 anti-aircraft systems in Syria to defend the country's airspace against any aggressions, including Israeli air raids on the war-hit country, Russian media outlet reported Saturday.

Russia Ready to Give Crushing Response to Israeli Air Attacks on Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960722001088

The Arabic-language website of Russia's state news agency, Sputnik, reported that the modern Russia-made S300 and S400 anti-aircraft systems with a tracking range of 300 km and 400 km respectively have been deployed in the town of Masyaf Southwest of Hama.

The Arabic Sputnik quoted some experts as saying that Russia's move to deploy the modern anti-aircraft systems is aimed at giving a crushing response to repeated air raids on Syria's Masyaf by Tel Aviv, including the one in September 7, 2017.

The General Command of the Syrian Army announced in a statement in easrly September that the Israeli warplane's airstrikes on army positions in the Western parts of Hama city killed 2 Syrian soldiers.

The statement said that the Israeli fighter jet launched missile attacks on one of the Syrian army bases near Masyaf region in Southwestern Hama through the Lebanese airspace, killing two Syrian soldiers.

It added that the attack was a desperate attempt to heighten the lost morale of the ISIL terrorists after the Syrian army's major victories against the terrorism in several regions.

_https://muraselon.com/en/2017/10/breaking-syrian-air-defense-hit-israeli-jet-syrian-mod/

BREAKING: Syrian air-defense hit Israeli jet – Syrian MOD

Statement released by the official media of the Syrian ministry of defense, citing that the Syrian air defense batteries have targeted an Israeli jet – near the Lebanese border – forced it to leave.

“At 8:15 this morning, the Israeli enemy penetrated our air space at the Lebanese border in the Baalbek area. Our air defenses fired a missile, hit a hostile jet directly and forced it to flee.” the Mod stated.

Commenting on the Israeli airstrikes over a suspected ground target, the Mod said “ At 11.38 am today, the Israeli enemy fired several missiles from inside the Golan occupied territories, which landed in one of our military posts in Damascus countryside. The losses were limited to physical damage.”

Earlier today , Israeli warplanes have reportedly hit a Syrian anti-aircraft battery, Reuters reported citing Israeli military

_https://muraselon.com/en/2017/10/breaking-israeli-jets-hit-syrian-anti-aircraft-battery-near-damascus/

Breaking : Israeli jets ” hit Syrian anti-aircraft battery ” near Damascus

Israeli warplanes have reportedly hit a Syrian anti-aircraft battery, Reuters reported citing Israeli military.

The report said the Syrian forces fired at the jets while they were “overflying Lebanon.” The battery was reportedly located 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Damascus.

The planes, which the Israeli military said were on a “reconnaissance mission,” were not hit.

“Earlier today, an anti-aircraft missile was launched from Syria towards IDF aircraft during a routine flight over Lebanon. No hits confirmed,” the Israeli Defense Force spokesperson tweeted.

The Israeli military reportedly hit the Syrian battery with four bombs, leaving it no longer operational.

Israel immediately reported the incident to Russia, accusing the government in Damascus of a “clear provocation,” according to Haaretz, citing the military.

“The Syrian regime is responsible for any firing from its territory. We see this incident as a clear provocation and we will not allow it,” Haaretz quoted the army spokesperson as saying.

According to the Haaretz report, an “Sa5-type missile” was fired at the Israeli aircraft, which is a NATO reporting name for Soviet-designed S-200 surface-to-air missiles.

Syrian Mod confirmed that the Syrian air defense batteries have targeted an Israeli jet – near the Lebanese border – forced it to leave.

 

[angelburst29]

_https://muraselon.com/en/2017/10/breaking-syrian-air-defense-hit-israeli-jet-syrian-mod/

BREAKING: Syrian air-defense hit Israeli jet – Syrian MOD

Statement released by the official media of the Syrian ministry of defense, citing that the Syrian air defense batteries have targeted an Israeli jet – near the Lebanese border – forced it to leave.

“At 8:15 this morning, the Israeli enemy penetrated our air space at the Lebanese border in the Baalbek area. Our air defenses fired a missile, hit a hostile jet directly and forced it to flee.” the Mod stated.

Commenting on the Israeli airstrikes over a suspected ground target, the Mod said “ At 11.38 am today, the Israeli enemy fired several missiles from inside the Golan occupied territories, which landed in one of our military posts in Damascus countryside. The losses were limited to physical damage.”

Earlier today , Israeli warplanes have reportedly hit a Syrian anti-aircraft battery, Reuters reported citing Israeli military

_https://muraselon.com/en/2017/10/breaking-israeli-jets-hit-syrian-anti-aircraft-battery-near-damascus/

Breaking : Israeli jets ” hit Syrian anti-aircraft battery ” near Damascus

Israeli warplanes have reportedly hit a Syrian anti-aircraft battery, Reuters reported citing Israeli military.

The report said the Syrian forces fired at the jets while they were “overflying Lebanon.” The battery was reportedly located 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Damascus.

The planes, which the Israeli military said were on a “reconnaissance mission,” were not hit.

“Earlier today, an anti-aircraft missile was launched from Syria towards IDF aircraft during a routine flight over Lebanon. No hits confirmed,” the Israeli Defense Force spokesperson tweeted.

The Israeli military reportedly hit the Syrian battery with four bombs, leaving it no longer operational.

Israel immediately reported the incident to Russia, accusing the government in Damascus of a “clear provocation,” according to Haaretz, citing the military.

“The Syrian regime is responsible for any firing from its territory. We see this incident as a clear provocation and we will not allow it,” Haaretz quoted the army spokesperson as saying.

According to the Haaretz report, an “Sa5-type missile” was fired at the Israeli aircraft, which is a NATO reporting name for Soviet-designed S-200 surface-to-air missiles.

Syrian Mod confirmed that the Syrian air defense batteries have targeted an Israeli jet – near the Lebanese border – forced it to leave.

If Netanyahu thought Putin was bluffing - I think, he just got his butt kicked - dead center! Great find, RedFox!

The Syrian Army has been using Russia-made PRP-4A Argus artillery reconnaissance vehicle in its anti-terrorism operations across the country to detect targets in the battlefields, Russian media outlets reported on Monday.

Syrian Army Utilizing Cutting-Edged Russian Armored Vehicles in Battlefields
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960724001174

The Russian media outlets reported that the PRP-4A Argus integrates a mast-mounted IL120-1 battlefield surveillance radar that is capable of detecting the targets in any weather conditions, directing the gathered information towards the vehicles' artillery and missile launchers.

The PRP-4A Argus armored vehicle is equipped with night-vision device and telecommunication instrument with an effective range of 50 km. It is also equipped with Chitora Noise System to deactivate anti-tank guided missiles' electronic system.

The Russian media said that testing the PRP-4A Argus in real war was a main objective behind sending such modern vehicles to Syria.

The Arabic-language website of Russia's state news agency, Sputnik, reported last month that a large consignment, including Russian-made T-62 tanks and BRM-1K military vehicles was delivered to the Syrian army via the Tartus port in August, adding that the newly-arrived tanks and military vehicles assisted the Syrian soldiers to have an easier and fasters move while crossing the Euphrates River to hit ISIL's defense lines on the Eastern bank of the river.

The BRM-1K military vehicle in designed to carry out reconnaissance operation in the battlefield and the T-62 tanks are equipped with 115mm cannons.

The Syrian Army soldiers found a large volume of Israel-made arms and ammunition in terrorists' positions in the newly-liberated regions in the Central part of the country, field sources confirmed on Monday.

Gov't Forces Discover Israel-Made Arms in Terrorists' Positions in Central Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960724000847

The sources said that a large volume of arms and munitions was seized by the army men while carrying out mop-up operation across regions that were previously under terrorists' occupation in the provinces of Hama and Homs.

The sources said that the seized arms and ammunitions were mainly made in Israel.

The Syrian state news agency reported in May that the army's engineering units found a large number of B10, US-made (light anti-tank weapon) LAW, Cobra, Katyusha and RPG missiles and rockets in their cleansing operation in one of the positons of the terrorists in al-Wa'er district North-West of Homs city.

In the meantime, the army men discovered a large volume of Israeli bombs, mortars, missile launchers, protection masks, sniper rifles, binoculars and other munitions in the terrorists' position in al-Wa'er.

Another long convoy of the Turkish Army's military vehicles arrived in Idlib province, militant-affiliated sources said Monday.

New Turkish Military Column Arrives in Northwestern Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960724000498

The websites reported that the military convoy, including a large number of vehicles, crossed the border into Syria, heading towards the village of Salah in Northern Idlib.

Reports said on Sunday that a long convoy of the Turkish Army's vehicles along with Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) arrived in the Western territories of Aleppo province.

The Arabic-language al-Ahd news website reported that the army convoy along with Al-Nusra terrorists entered Mount Sheikh Barakat overlooking the town of Afrin.

Al-Ahd further said that the newly-arrived forces are about to fortify new positions in the region.

The US-backed coalition forces launched on Sunday their offensive against the terrorists in the Syrian city of Raqqa after letting the last convoy with evacuees escape from the former "main Daesh stronghold." The Spokesperson for the US-Led coalition promised to make the last hardcore foreign militants "surrender."

US-Led Coalition Intends to Block Foreign Daesh Militants Inside Raqqa
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201710161058259688-syria-daesh-coalition-raqqa-block/

The US-led international coalition against the terrorists will not allow foreign Daesh militants to leave the Syrian city of Raqqa, the spokesman for the US-led international coalition, Colonel Ryan Dillon said on Sunday.

"The only option for such militants is to surrender," Dillon told the Sky News Arabiya channel.

The spokesperson added that a total of 275 Daesh terrorists were allowed to leave the city by agreement with local authorities controlling several areas of Raqqa.

Earlier, the US-led coalition announced that an agreement has been reached to evacuate civilians from Raqqa. After a convoy with evacuees left the former "capital" of Daesh terrorist group, the final battle with remaining terrorists began. Reuters reported citing a militia spokesman that 275 Daesh fighters from Syria left Raqqa, according to the agreement, while 200-300 militants mostly of foreign origin remained in the city.

North Korea tested a hydrogen bomb in September prompting a UN resolution toughening sanctions on Pyongyang.

North Korea Says US Actions 'Forced' Pyongyang to Create H-Bomb
https://sputniknews.com/world/201710161058275925-north-korea-us-nuclear-bomb/

"It was the US that forced North Korea to create a hydrogen bomb," the head of the North Korean delegation at International Parliamentary Union (IPU) summit said on October 16.

According to the deputy speaker of the North Korean parliament Ahn Dong Chun, North Korean official, Pyongyang will continue to expand it nuclear arsenal as long as a "threat from the US" remains.

"The DPRK will never discuss its right to nuclear weapons while the United States maintains its nuclear threat and militant policy towards North Korea."

The restrictions presumed by the decree are in line with a UN Security Council resolution on Pyongyang in response to its nuclear and missile program.

Putin Signs Decree Imposing Restrictions on North Korea
https://sputniknews.com/world/201710161058276769-putin-decree-north-korea-sanctions/

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on the implementation of UN Security Council's resolution stipulating sanctions against North Korea. The document came into force on October 14.

The decree presumes additional restrictions in compliance with the resolution, including on trade, economic, financial, scientific and technical cooperation with North Korea.

"Scientific and technical cooperation with individuals or groups representing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea should be suspended," the document says.

The decree also presumes sanctions against 11 North Korean individuals and 10 entities related to Pyongyang's nuclear program. There is also a list of materials, technologies and products that are banned from being exported to North Korea.

Resolution 2321 is about special economic measures against North Korea and was adopted on November 30, 2016, as a response to Pyongyang's missile tests in late 2016. In order to prevent the development of prohibited programs in North Korea, the resolution also pushes for additional international sanctions to restrict Pyongyang's cooperation with other nations, including in the military-technical, financial, transportation and educational fields.

Earlier in the day, Valentina Matvienko, speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament, reaffirmed that Moscow strongly condemns Pyongyang's actions on the development of its nuclear weapons program and calls on the international community to implement the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Russia has repeatedly expressed concern about North Korea's missile and nuclear tests. The latest launch was carried on September 15, and was described by the Kremlin as a "provocation" fueling the tensions in the region.

"Russia is concerned about regular provocative launches that lead to further escalation of tensions on the peninsula," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

That missile launch came just days after the UN Security Council approved new sanctions against Pyongyang over its missile and nuclear program, as a response to its most powerful ever nuclear test conducted on September 3. The UN resolution bans North Korea from exporting textiles while capping how much crude oil and refined petroleum products can be imported. Natural gas condensates and liquids are also included among the items North Korea is restricted from importing in excess of UN guidelines.

Small bills have been spotted on the streets near Cheong Wa Dae, the official residence of the South Korean head of state, in Seoul, Yonhap reported. They are presumed to be North Korean propaganda leaflets. Officials said an investigation will be launched to find out how they made their way to the area.

Alleged Pyongyang Propaganda Leaflets Found Near S Korean President's Office
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201710161058263937-south-korea-propaganda-leaflets/

Cheong Wa Dae security officials confirmed that a number of what is presumed to be Pyongyang propaganda leaflets were recently found in the area, with some even found in the yard of Chunchugwan, a press center on the eastern side of the presidential residence.

The bills carried at least three different messages condemning South Korea and the United States for hostility towards the North. Officials expressed suspicion over how the leaflets found their way into the highly secured area.

In late-August, thousands of leaflets promoting Pyongyang’s military "success" were found in Seoul. However, for such bills to be found near the presidential residence is a rare occurrence.

The joint week-long navy drills of the US and South Korean fleets have kicked off. About 40 vessels, including the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, are taking part in maneuvers in the waters around the Korean Peninsula.

Joint US and South Korean Navy Drills Kick Off Around the Korean Peninsula
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201710161058261847-usa-south-korea-military-drills/

The naval drills are aimed at exercising a possible strike against the key military sites of Pyongyang in case of an emergency situation on the Korean peninsula, the YTN TV channel said on Monday. US submarines USS Tucson and USS Michigan are also currently in the ports of South Korea, the media said.

On Thursday, the US 7th Fleet issues a statement, saying that US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Stethem and USS Mustin will also take part in the drills.

The exercises come against the backdrop of escalating pressure on Korean peninsula over Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear tests.

The US test-fired one of its most advanced missile interceptors, the Standard Missile-6, off the Scottish coast. It comes amid the Formidable Shield drills conducted in the region to defend against the potential ballistic threat from “rogue states.”

US Test Fires SM-6 Interceptor, Practices ‘Smart Defense’ with Allies off Scotland (What the HELL is U.S. doing in the Western Isles of Scotland?
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13960724000591

“US Navy sailors aboard USS ‘McFaul’ (DDG 74) successfully test fired a Standard Missile-6 (SM-6),” the Sixth Fleet said in a statement, stressing that the test was not part of the Formidable Shield drills, RT reported.

The test supervised by the US Missile Defense Agency“demonstrated the successful performance of an SM-6 launched from an Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense capable DDG and was conducted as part of the system’s flight certification process,” the statement added.

Raytheon’s SM-6 missile is designed to intercept ballistic projectiles descending towards targets from the upper atmosphere at extreme speeds. It can be deployed at land-based Aegis Ashore launching installations or at Aegis-equipped warships. According to the manufacturer, it is the “only missile” which can be used in anti-air and anti-surface warfare, while maintaining its use for “sea-based terminal ballistic missile defense.”

That means the missile could be used to counter the rising threat from the North Korean nuclear and missile programs, as Pyongyang continues to rapidly advance its ballistic missile technology.

Sunday’s test was conducted following the latest stage of the Formidable Shield drills, where the US and its allies practiced “live-fire integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) scenario” which focused on defending against a “ballistic missile target as well as three anti-ship cruise missiles.”

Approximately 3,300 servicemen from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK are participating in the US-led drills on the Western Isles of Scotland.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov believes that the US approach to pressing nuclear issues, such as Iran nuclear deal and North Korea's nukes, only worsen the existing problems in the world.

US Position on Iran Nuclear Deal Aggravates Existing Global Problems - Lavrov
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201710161058265451-us-iran-nuclear-deal-global-problems/

"The loss of mutual trust causes deep concern… Unfortunately, these negative trends have only been exacerbated by the US decision to actually withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program and as a result of Washington's threats to solve the Korean Peninsula's problem by military means," Lavrov said.

"Two years ago, an agreement was reached on the Iranian nuclear program, and it was approved by the UN Security Council, the whole world welcomed it. Now Washington is withdrawing from it, this is again the problem of negotiability as a foreign policy value," Lavrov said.

He added that the US decision on Iran showed their unreliability and, thus, there is no reason for North Korea to negotiate with them.

"I am not justifying Pyongyang. Pyongyang is acting provocatively, blatantly violating the UN Security Council resolutions," Lavrov said.