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

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Israeli Prime Minister agreed in a phone conversation with Russian President that interaction between the two countries’ militaries would be continued.

Putin tells Israel’s Netanyahu new spiral of violence in Syria should be avoided February 10, 2018
http://tass.com/politics/989426

MOSCOW, February 10. /TASS/. In a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the air strikes conducted by Israel’s Air Force against targets in Syria, the Kremlin said on Saturday.

"The Russian side called for any steps, which might trigger a new spiral of dangerous for all confrontation in the region, to be avoided," the press service said.

In the meantime, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s press office said that Netanyahu agreed in a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin that interaction between the two countries’ militaries would be continued.

"I have recently spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin," Netanyahu said cited by his press office. "We agreed that security coordination between our countries will continue."

Putin and Netanyahu held a phone conversation amid a sharp deterioration of the situation on the Israeli-Syrian border after an Iranian drone had been shot down in the Israeli airspace and an F-16 fighter jet of the Israeli Air Force had crashed.

"I emphasized in the talk with him [Putin] that it is our [Israeli] right and duty to defend themselves from attacks from Syria," Netanyahu said.

On Saturday, the Israeli military said their helicopter downed above the Golan Heights an Iranian UAV, which had entered the Israeli airspace from Syria. In response, Israel conducted air strikes against Iranian facilities in Syria and destroyed the Iranian UAV control center.

During the operation, the Syrian air defense launched a few missiles to hit Israel’s F-16. The pilots ejected - one of them was badly injured, while the other received minor wounds. After that, Israel delivered a heavy strike against Syrian air defense and Iranian facilities in Syria, hitting twelve targets in the neighboring country, Israel’s Defense Forces said.

In the autumn of 2015, Israel and Russia agreed to exchange data in order to safeguard their militaries against any accidental engagements during operations in Syria. A special coordination center was set up at Israel’s General Staff for the purpose.

In connection with the information about the Israeli air strikes on targets in Syria, including on those at the border of de-escalation zone in south-west, the Russian Foreign Ministry calls on all involved parties to express restraint and not to allow escalation in the region.

Russia calls for restraint after received reports on Israeli strikes in Syria 11/02/2018
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/russia-calls-restraint-received-reports-israeli-strikes-syria/

“We are calling on all the involved parties to express restraint and avoid any actions, which may cause the situation’s aggravation,” the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. “We consider it necessary to respect absolutely Syria’s and the region’s other countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

“Moscow is seriously concerned about the recent development and attacks on Syria. We are especially concerned about the dangerous escalation inside and around the de-escalation zones in Syria, which had been an important factor for cutting violence in that country,” the foreign authority said, adding the Syrian government had been observing the agreements on stable functioning of the de-escalation zone in south-west.

Moscow considers it inadmissible to make threats for the Russian military deployed in Syria “at request from the Syrian legal government to support the country in fighting terrorism,” the Russian ministry said.

The United States considers the latest incident on the Israeli-Syrian border to be Iran's "calculated escalation" of tension, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Saturday.

Washington Says Israel-Syria Border Incident Iran's 'Calculated Escalation'
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802111061547754-state-department-syria-israel-escalation/

"The United States is deeply concerned about today's escalation of violence over Israel's border and strongly supports Israel's sovereign right to defend itself. Iran's calculated escalation of threat and its ambition to project its power and dominance, places all the people of the‎ region — from Yemen to Lebanon — at risk.‎ The U.S. continues to push back on the totality of Iran's malign activities in the region and calls for an end to Iranian behavior that threatens peace and stability," Nauert said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, the Israeli army said its helicopter intercepted an Iranian drone launched from Syria and that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck Iranian targets in Syria, prompting fire from the Syrian air defense systems.

An Israeli pilot whose warplane was shot down by Syrian air defense forces on Saturday morning has died from injuries sustained during the engagement.

Israeli pilot shot down by Syrian air defenses dies of injuries in hospital
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-israeli-pilot-shot-syrian-air-defenses-dies-injuries-hospital/

On Saturday, a major engagement between the Israeli Air Force and Syrian Air Defence Force took place over the occupied Golan Region, south Lebanon and the west Damascus region.

In a battle that lasted for hours, Israeli warplanes and Syrian anti-aircraft systems traded missile fire – literally dozens of such munitions were loosed – as the latter launched a general attack against ‘Iranian and regime’ bases west of Damascus.

At the beginning of the battle, Syrian surface-to-air missile systems downed an Israeli F-16I fighter jet over the occupied Golan Heights (described as ‘northern Israel’ by Israeli sources).

Both crew members reportedly ejected – the weapons operator with light injuries and the pilot with ‘severe’ injuries. Only video evidence exists for the pilot ejecting.

According to emerging reports, the Israeli pilot with serious injuries has died in hospital. No further details were given.

 

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According to the Russian military, al-Nusra Front terrorist group brought more than 20 containers with chlorine to a village in Idlib.

Russian MoD: Al-Nusra, White Helmets Preparing Provocation With Chemical Weapons 13.02.2018
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802131061612872-al-nusra-front-white-helmets-chemical-weapons-russia-syria/

The Russian center for Syrian reconciliation stated that it had received information from a local resident that al-Nusra Front terrorists and White Helmets were preparing to stage a provocation, involving chemical weapons' use, in Syria's Idlib province in order to blame Damascus for the attack on civilians.

"On the evening of February 12, the Russian center for reconciliation received a telephone call from the resident a settlement in the Idlib province, informing about a forthcoming provocation, using poisonous chemicals, to air it on a foreign television channel. According to the person, on the afternoon of February 12, the al-Nusra Front militants delivered brought more than 20 bottles of chlorine and personal protective equipment on three cars," the Russian military stated.

According to the center, representatives of the local branch of the White Helms conducted rehearsals of providing "first aid" in individual means of protection to allegedly "affected local residents" from poisoning.

The person, who called, drew attention to the fact that these actions were filmed by professional TV correspondents who, commenting on the actions of representatives of the White Helmets, put on a microphone with a cover, having a logo of a Western television company.

"At the same time, correspondents consulted with someone via a satellite phone in English. Information received from a resident of the province of Idlib, causes serious concern of the Russian Center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria."

Previously, the Russian Defense Ministry had several times questioned actions by the so-called Syrian Civil Defence, known as the White Helmets, which have been largely lauded by Western states and received an Oscar award for their documentary in 2017. Following the release of a controversial report by the UN-OPCW on the chemical attacks in Syria, the Russian military alongside the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Industry and Trade presented their own document, which states that photos made by the White Helmets organization's volunteers who are believed to be connected with al-Nusra Front-linked were fake and staged. (Article continues.)

The United Nations is unable to independently confirm allegations of recent chemical attacks in several locations in Syria, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura told the Security Council.

UN Can't Verify Claims of Chemical Attacks in Syria 'Independently' - De Mistura
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802141061662235-un-unable-verify-chemical-attacks-syria/

"There have been several allegations of chlorine attacks in Ghouta, in Idlib, and also now recently in Afrin. While we cannot independently verify these allegations, but if confirmed, it is outrageous and should have no impunity," UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said.

The statement came shortly after US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the United States was alarmed over reports that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons near Idlib's city of Saraqib. Nauert also said Washington believed Russia was shielding the Syrian government from accountability for its alleged continued use of chemical weapons.

Staffan de Mistura reiterated Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' appeal to those fighting and all concerned "to de-escalate immediately and unconditionally." And he asked Russia, Iran and Turkey "to use their influence to help reduce violence."

During a press conference, Fayssal Mikdad, Syria's Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister, asserted that the USA aimed to prolong the war in the country.

Syrian Army Will Down Any Jet That Launches an Assault – Damascus
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802141061657421-syrian-army-down-jet/

The diplomat called on Arabs and Kurds in northern Syria to “unite and fight back at Turkish forces,” warning the Western countries against carrying out airstrikes on Syria.

“We call on the United Nations to investigate the actions and practices of the United States, which threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Syria and aim to liquidate the Syrian people, contradicting the objectives and principles of the UN. The Army will down any jet that launches an assault on Syria and that is not a mere threat… we are able to get rid of terrorists when the West stops supporting them,” Mikdad said.

Washington has sent another military convoy to the Kurdish forces in Northeastern Syria after the US Department of Defense allocated a hefty amount of budget for training and equipping Kurdish militias, a militant-affiliated website reported on Tuesday.

US Dispatches More Military Aid to Kurds in Syria Tue Feb 13, 2018
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961124001680

The Arabic-language Enab Baladi reported that the US convoy was dispatched to the Kurdish-held regions in Syria's Hasaka via Simalka border-crossing at border with Iraq.

Enab Baladi reported that the convoy, containing fifty trucks, has arrived in Rojava in Northern Syria.

A Commander of the People's Protection Units (YPG) said last week that the US was to provide support for his forces in the town of Manbij in Northern Aleppo despite Ankara's warning to Washington about the Turkish army's imminent operation in the Kurdish-held town.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat daily quoted Siban Hamou as saying that Washington informed the YPG forces that it would not allow the Turkish army and Ankara-backed militants to enter Manbij.

He further said that the Turkish army had supposed at the beginning of its military operation in Northern Syria that it would materialize its military objectives in a few days but now after over two weeks the Ankara forces did not gain any of their desired results.

Hamou went on to say that the Kurds destroyed over 10 tanks of the Turkish army and a larger number of tanks that were operating under the Ankara-backed militants, adding that Damascus provided the Kurds with medical, rescue and humanitarian aids.

Syrian government forces discovered warehouses stocked with weapons and ammunition, including arms produced in Israel, in Deir Ez-Zor, which had been liberated from the terrorist group Daesh (ISIS) on February 14. A day later, the Syrian state news agency released footage of the weapons.

WATCH: Alleged Israeli Weapons and Ammunition Found in Deir Ez-Zor, Syria
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802141061650136-deir-ez-zor-daesh-israel-weapons-ammunition/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwdX8pei5tM (2:13 min.)

Warehouses stocked with a large number of rockets, mortars, tank shells and other ammunition were discovered in Al Boukamal and Al Mayadin areas, according to SANA, Syria's state-run news agency. As the report specified, some of the found weapons were produced in Israel.

The agency, which cited sources, said the Syrian government forces also found a factory manufacturing shells and explosives as well as barrels with a strange essence that could be used for manufacturing toxic substances in one of the tunnels in al-Sbikhan village, to the east of al-Mayadin.

However, no official comments on the reports from the Syrian or Israeli side followed.

Iran has repeatedly strongly refuted claims of its troops' presence in Syria, however, admitted sending military advisors to help the Syrian government fight terrorists. Tehran has also been acting as one of the guarantors of the ceasefire regime in the Arab Republic and as a broker in peace talks.

Syria of Discord: Iran, US Clash Over Military Presence on Ground
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802141061647944-us-secretary-state-tillerson-syria-iran/

Ali Akbar Velayati, the top aide of Iranian Supreme Leader, has demanded the US military pullout from Syria as it is "there without the permission" of Damascus.

When asked to comment on the demand voiced earlier in the day by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson concerning Tehran's withdrawal from the country, Velayati was quoted as saying by ISNA, "Iran’s military presence in Syria was based on invitation of the Syrian government."

Earlier in the day, Tillerson also voiced concern over the recent incidents in Syria, involving Israel, apparently referring to the events of February 10 when the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that one of their Apache attack helicopters downed an Iranian unmanned aerial vehicle over the disputed Golan Heights.

Responding to the incident, an Israeli aircraft crossed into the territory of Syria to attack the command post that was used to control the drone. In response, Syria's air defense systems struck back and downed an F-16 fighter jet, prompting the Israeli military to launch another wave of attacks to strike "additional Iranian targets" in Syria.

The Syrian Defense Ministry stated its air defenses responded to the aerial attacks, foiling the aggression.

In its turn, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has denied its military presence in Syria, lambasting claims about the downed drone. Ali Akbar Velayati, the Iranian Leader's Aide on International Affairs, stated earlier this week, "Israel must know that every attack will get the same response, it is Syria's right. The axis of resistance will protect its sovereignty, and we will not remain silent to Israeli aggression."

Despite Israeli and US officials' statements, voicing concern over alleged Iranian presence on Syria, Tehran has repeatedly strongly refuted claims of its troops' presence in Syria, howev er, admitted sending military advisors to help the Syrian government fight terrorists. The Islamic Republic has also been acting as one of the guarantors of the ceasefire regime in the Arab Republic and as a broker in peace talks.

A US Army attack drone destroyed a Syrian Army tank in Eastern Deir Ezzur to become the second raid in the current week by the US air force on the Syrian army, a media outlet reported on Wednesday.

US Combat Drone Attack on Syrian Army Tank Reported in Deir Ezzur
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961125000596

The Arabic-language website of Reuters quoted a US official as reporting that an MQ-9 drone of the US forces destroyed a Russia-made T-72 tank of the Syrian Army in Deir Ezzur on Sunday.

Also, the US army announced that it destroyed a tank that had entered the fire range of the US-backed militants.

In the meantime, a US official, who requested anonymity, disclosed that at least two pro-Syrian government forces were killed in that attack.

The drone attack on the Syrian tank was the second US attack on Damascus forces in last week.

The US-led coalition carried out several airstrikes on Syrian forces in Deir Ezzur province on Thursday.

The US military claimed that so-called anti-ISIL coalition forces repelled a threatening Syrian Army-led attack consisting of five hundred troops – backed by artillery, tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems and mortars – late on Wednesday and early on Thursday against positions of Arab and Kurdish militias at energy fields near the town of Khasham on the Eastern bank of the Euphrates River in Deir Ezzur province.

According to reports, more than 100 pro-government forces were killed in the airstrikes carried out by the US-led coalition in Syria's Deir Ezzur.

Since January 20, Turkey has been conducting a military operation in Afrin to protect its border with Syria from Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) forces and the Democratic Union Party (PYD). Turkey alleges these groups are linked to the Kurdistan’s Workers’ Party (PKK), regarded by Ankara as a terrorist organization.

Drone Captures Syrian Kurdish Militants Hit by Airstrike in Afrin (VIDEO)
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802141061644761-drone-kurdish-militants-airstrike-afrin/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiDHgoYv10w (1:20 min.)

Drone footage captured by Turkish military on February 12 features what they say are YPG militants in civilian clothes firing a cannon mounted on a jeep in the Syrian town of Jindires, which is southwest of Afrin. The unmanned aerial vehicle follows the fighters as they drive into a garage and shows an explosion as they are hit by an airstrike.

Ankara launched its “Olive Branch” offensive in Afrin on January 20, which it started in response to the US decision to train a 30,000-strong border security force, comprising the Syrian Democratic Forces and the YPG, allegedly affiliated with the PKK, which is designated by Turkey as a terrorist group.

On February 11, Turkish military reported that it had neutralized over 1,000 Kurdish militants; at least 26 servicemen were killed and over 70 injured during the operation.

A sum of 1,485 Kurdish militants have been killed in military operation by the Turkish Army and Ankara-backed militants in Afrin region, the Turkish Army General Staff announced in a statement on Wednesday.

More Kurdish Fighters Killed in Turkish Military Operation in Northern Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961125000826

The army's statement said that 46 Kurdish fighters have been killed in the air and ground attacks of the Turkish army and allied militants in Afrin region in Northwestern Aleppo in last 24 hours.

It added that the total casualties of the Kurds in Operation Olive Branch in Northern Syrian stand at 1,485.

The Al-Nusra Front (Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at or the Levant Liberation Board) has accelerated looting infrastructures in Aleppo province and selling them to costumers in Turkey as the Syrian Army troops are rapidly advancing against terrorists in Northwestern Syria, the local sources reported on Wednesday.

Terrorists Intensify Plundering Infrastructures amid Syrian Army Advances in Aleppo
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961125000290

The sources said that Al-Nusra has embarked on separating components of al-Zarbeh railway to sell them as raw material in the Turkish market.

In a relevant development but in Idlib Province last month, the Al-Nusra tried hard to disassemble power plant installations in the town of Saraqib in Eastern Idlib to transfer them to other terrorist-held region and sell them in the black market.

The sources said that civilians in Saraqib were preventing the terrorists from plundering the power plant facilities as the army is preparing to kick off an imminent operation to free Saraqib and the Syrian Air Force are pounding terrorists' positions in the region.

 

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Quote from February 7, 2018:

On the night of Wednesday to Thursday, the US-led coalition attacked Syrian troops in the province of Deir Ezzor with airstrikes in response to what it claims was a threatening assault by pro-government forces aimed at taking territory from Kurdish and Arab partner militias.

Confirmed: Dozens of Syrian troops killed by US ‘defensive’ airstrikes in Deir Ezzor
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/confirmed-dozens-syrian-troops-killed-us-defensive-airstrikes-deir-ezzor/

Initially it was reported by Reuters – claiming to cite a US military official – that the retaliation strikes killed over one hundred ‘pro-regime’ troops of a total force of 500 ranks backed by artillery and tanks.

Al-Masdar News – having contacted sources in the Syrian Army – can now confirm that some 25 pro-government troops belonging to the National Defense Forces (Syrian national paramilitary) were killed as a result of the airstrikes conducted by US-led coalition warplanes.

The US-led coalition insists that the retaliatory airstrikes were purely ‘defensive’ in nature and that it was only living up to its obligation to protect partner militias and foreign advisors involved in the so-called ‘defeat-Daesh (ISIS)’ campaign.

Current news reports - February 14-15, 2018:

The Russian Foreign Ministry has confirmed the death of five Russian nationals in the US-led coalition’s strike in Syria, but their citizenship has yet to be verified.

Moscow Preliminarily Confirms Death of 5 Russians in Coalition's Strike in Syria Thursday 15.02.2018
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802151061694386-moscow-russians-syria-coalition-strike-killed/

"According to preliminary data, as a result of the armed conflict, the reasons for which are now being clarified, five people, presumably Russian citizens, could have been killed. There are also injured people, but all this requires verification — in particular, first of all, their citizenship — whether they are all citizens of Russia or other countries. I would like to stress once again that we are not talking about Russian servicemen," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing. According to Zakharova, reports of hundreds of Russian citizens killed in the airstrike are "disinformation" by anti-government forces.

Claims about the deaths of dozens and hundreds of Russian citizens are classic misinformation. There are not 400, not 200, not 100 and not ten [of them killed as a result of the US-led coalition's airstrike]," she emphasized.

"Among the first to spread this information within their channels were Syrian anti-government militants, who for some reason took a photo of the surface of Mars, put on it an image of destroyed military equipment, perhaps even Ukrainian, dated June 2014."

The spokeswoman emphasized that there were many people of different nationalities in Syria’s conflict zones.

"There is a large number of citizens from all regions of the world, including Russia and CIS countries, in the conflict zones. The purposes for their stay in war zones are different, including participation in hostilities," Zakharova said, noting that it was hard to trace all of them.

US-Led Coalition's Airstrike on Pro-Damascus Forces

Last week, US Central Command announced that the coalition conducted what it described as "defensive airstrikes" against pro-government forces near the Euphrates River as a response to an alleged attack against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) headquarters. The airstrikes have reportedly resulted in the death of at least 100 pro-government troops.

Damascus has slammed the attack as "a new act of aggression that constitutes a war crime and a crime against humanity," while the Russian Defense Ministry said that the attack showcased that the real goal behind Washington's "illegal military presence in Syria" was control over the country's economic assets rather than defeating Daesh.

Later, media reports emerged, alleging that a large number of Russian "mercenaries" had been killed in airstrikes. So far, the death of one Russian citizen Kiril Ananyev from an activist group "Another Russia" has been reported by the organization's coordinator.

When asked to comment on the reports, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that he didn't rule out that Russian nationals, who do not belong to the Russian Armed Forces, could be in Syria.

Earlier in the day, he emphasized that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not make any decisions to classify any information regarding Russian nationals in Syria.

About 300 men working for a Kremlin-linked Russian private military firm were either killed or injured in Syria last week, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

Russian toll in Syria battle was 300 killed and wounded: sources Thursday February 15, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-casualtie/russian-toll-in-syria-battle-was-300-killed-and-wounded-sources-idUSKCN1FZ2DZ

A Russian military doctor said around 100 had been killed, and a source who knows several of the fighters said the death toll was in excess of 80 men.

The timing of the casualties coincided with a battle on Feb. 7 near the Syrian city of Deir al-Zor where, according to U.S. officials and associates of the fighters involved, U.S.-led coalition forces attacked forces aligned with Moscow’s ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Russian officials said five citizens may have been killed but they had no relation to Russia’s armed forces.

The clashes show Moscow is more deeply involved in Syria militarily than it has said, and risks being drawn into direct confrontation with the United States in Syria.

The casualties are the highest that Russia has suffered in a single battle since fierce clashes in Ukraine in 2014 claimed more than 100 fighters’ lives. Moscow denies sending soldiers and volunteers to Ukraine and has never confirmed that figure.

The wounded, who have been medically evacuated from Syria in the past few days, have been sent to four Russian military hospitals, according to five sources familiar with the matter.

The military doctor, who works in a Moscow military hospital and was directly involved in the treatment of wounded men evacuated from Syria, said that as of Saturday evening there were more than 50 such patients in his hospital, of which around 30 percent were seriously wounded.

The doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to disclose information about casualties, said at least three planeloads of injured fighters were flown to Moscow between last Friday and Monday morning.

He said they were flown back on specially equipped military cargo planes which can each accommodate two or three intensive care cases and several dozen less severely wounded patients.

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry, said initial information was that five Russian citizens in the area of the battle may have been killed, but they were not Russian troops. She said reports of tens or hundreds of Russian casualties were disinformation inspired by Russia’s opponents.

The Russian defense ministry did not respond to Reuters questions about casualties in Syria. A Kremlin spokesman, asked about Russian casualties on Thursday, said he had nothing to add to previous statements. The Kremlin said earlier this week it had no information on any casualties.

Reuters was unable to make direct contact with the contractors’ employers, the Wagner group, whose fallen fighters have in the past received medals from the Kremlin.

The military doctor said that a fellow doctor who flew to Syria on one of the recent medevac flights told him that around 100 people in the Russian force had been killed as of the end of last week, and 200 injured.

The doctor who spoke to Reuters said most of the casualties were Russian private military contractors.

Yevgeny Shabayev, leader of a local chapter of a paramilitary Cossack organization who has ties to Russian military contractors, said he had visited acquaintances injured in Syria at the defense ministry’s Central Hospital in Khimki, on the outskirts of Moscow, on Wednesday.

He said the wounded men had told him that the two units of Russian contractors involved in the battle near Deir al-Zor numbered 550 men. Of those, there are now about 200 who are not either dead or wounded, the wounded men had told him.

Shabayev said the ward he visited contained eight patients, all evacuated from Syria in the past few days, and there were more in other wards in the hospital.

“If you understand anything about military action and combat injuries then you can imagine what’s going on there. That’s to say, constant screams, shouts,” Shabayev told Reuters. “It’s a tough scene.”

A source with ties to the Wagner organization, and who has spoken to people who took part in the Feb. 7 clashes, told Reuters his contacts told him more than 80 Russian contractors were killed.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the total of about 300 killed or injured was broadly correct.

He said many of the injured had shrapnel in their bodies that was not showing up on X-rays, making treatment difficult. “The prognosis for most of the wounded is dismal,” he said.

PROXY WAR

Other military hospitals treating the contractors are the Third Vishnevskiy hospital in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, the Burdenko hospital near Moscow city center, and the Military Medical Academy in St. Petersburg, according to the doctor, Shabayev, and three other people who know dead or wounded fighters.

When Reuters contacted those hospitals by phone on Thursday, staff either declined to comment or denied having any patients evacuated from Syria.

A Reuters reporter visited the Burdenko hospital on Wednesday and spoke briefly to patients who said they knew nothing about anyone evacuated from Syria. Reporters also visited the hospital in Krasnogorsk, and a fifth military hospital, at Balashikha near Moscow, but were denied entry.

Russia launched a military operation in Syria in September 2015 which has turned the tide of the conflict in favor of Assad.

Russian officials deny they deploy private military contractors in Syria, saying Moscow’s only military presence is a campaign of air strikes, a naval base, military instructors training Syrian forces, and limited numbers of special forces troops.

But according to people familiar with the deployment, Russia is using large numbers of the contractors in Syria because that allows Moscow to put more boots on the ground without risking regular soldiers whose deaths have to be accounted for.

The contractors, mostly ex-military, carry out missions assigned to them by the Russian military, the people familiar with the deployment said. Most are Russian citizens, though some have Ukrainian and Serbian passports.

The United States and Russia, while backing opposite sides in the Syria conflict, have taken pains to make sure that their forces do not accidentally collide. But the presence of the Russian contractors adds an element of unpredictability.

PROBING MISSION

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said last week that a force aligned with Assad, backed with artillery, tanks, rockets and mortars, had on Feb. 7 attacked fighters with the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces near Deir al-Zor.

U.S. special forces were accompanying the SDF forces that came under attack, officials in Washington said.

The U.S.-led coalition in Syria retaliated, killing about 100 of the pro-Assad forces, according to the official.

Since the battle, associates of Russian military contractors have said Russians were part of the pro-Assad force involved in the battle, and among the casualties.

Shabayev, the Cossack leader, said casualties were so high because the force had no air cover, and because they were attacked not by poorly equipped rebels, their usual adversaries, but by a well-armed force that could launch air strikes.

“First of all the bombers attacked, and then they cleaned up using Apaches (U.S.-made attack helicopters),” Shabayev said, citing the wounded men he visited in hospital.

The source with ties to Wagner said they told him the force struck by the U.S.-led coalition was made up mainly of Russian contractors, with a few Syrians and Iranians in support roles.

He said that on Feb. 7 the force had advanced toward the settlement of Khusham, in Deir al-Zor province, into a zone designated as neutral under a deal between the Russian military and the U.S.-led coalition.

The aim was to test if the U.S.-led coalition would react. The force advanced to within less than 5 km (3 miles) of the SDF and American positions, he said.

He said that the U.S.-led forces, in line with procedure agreed with the Russians, warned Russian regular forces that they were preparing to strike. He does not know if the warning was passed on to the contractors.

“The warning was 20 minutes beforehand, in that time it was not feasible to turn the column around,” said the source.

He said once the strikes began, the contractors did not return fire because they believed that would provoke even more strikes from the U.S.-led coalition.

More details emerge from the massive Syrian battle where the US reportedly killed or wounded 300 Russians Thursday February 15, 2018
http://www.businessinsider.com/us-kills-wounds-300-russians-in-massive-syrian-battle-reports-2018-2

*About 300 men working for a Kremlin-linked Russian private military firm were either killed or injured in Syria last week in a battle with the US, three sources told Reuters.
•The clashes show that Moscow is more deeply involved in Syria militarily than it has said and that it risks being drawn into a direct confrontation with the US in Syria.
•The Russians were killed during a probing mission in which they wanted to see whether the US would respond to their advance, sources told Reuters.

About 300 men working for a Kremlin-linked Russian private military firm were either killed or injured in Syria last week, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

A Russian military doctor said about 100 had been killed, and a source who knows several of the fighters said the death toll was in excess of 80 men.

The timing of the casualties coincided with a battle on February 7 near the Syrian city of Deir al-Zor where, according to US officials and associates of the fighters involved, US-led coalition forces attacked forces aligned with Moscow's ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Russian officials said five citizens may have been killed, but they had no relation to Russia's armed forces.

The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of five Russian nationals in the US-led coalition’s strike in Syria, but their citizenship has yet to be verified.

Moscow Preliminarily Confirms Death of 5 Russians in Coalition's Strike in Syria Thu Feb 15, 2018
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961126001411

"According to preliminary data, as a result of the armed conflict, the reasons for which are now being clarified, five people, presumably Russian citizens,
could have been killed. There are also injured people, but all this requires verification — in particular, first of all, their citizenship — whether they are all citizens of Russia or other countries. I would like to stress once again that we are not talking about Russian servicemen," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a briefing, Sputnik reported.

Reports of hundreds of Russian citizens killed in the airstrike are "disinformation" by anti-government forces, according to Zakharova.

The Kremlin said on Friday it had no new information about Russian military contractors killed in Syria, after Reuters reported on that around 300 men working for a private firm were either killed or injured in Syria last week.

Kremlin says no new information on Russians killed in Syria Friday February 16, 2018
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-russia-casualtie/kremlin-says-no-new-information-on-russians-killed-in-syria-idUSKCN1G00SD

“We don’t have any new information... we have said everything we have to say on this,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a phone call.

On Thursday, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry said five Russian citizens may have been killed in Syria in clashes with U.S.-led coalition forces this month, but they were not Russian military personnel.

The Syrian army has sent a large number of forces and military equipment to Eastern Deir Ezzur after the recent US attacks on its positions in the region, field sources said, adding that tensions have raised the possibility of clashes between the army forces and Kurdish militants backed by Washington.

Tensions Raise Possibility for Clashes between Syrian Army, US-Backed Kurds in Deir Ezzur
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961126000479

The sources reported on Thursday that the Syrian army has dispatched a large number of forces and military equipment to Wadi al-Forat region in Deir Ezzur.

They added that the Syrian army soldiers have strengthened their positions in the region, patrolling the Western banks of the Euphrates river.

Certain field sources also confirmed that the US-backed Kurds are on alert and have reinforced their positions, adding that there is a high possibility for clashes between them and the Syrian army.

Meantime, the Arabic-language al-Masdar al-Arabi news website reported that the Syrian army troops are preparing for an offensive against the US-backed Kurdish militants in Deir Ezzur.

The Syrian army sent a large number of forces and equipment to the region after its positions in Eastern Deir Ezzur were twice attacked by the US forces in the past few days.

A US Army attack drone destroyed a Syrian Army tank in Eastern Deir Ezzur to become the second raid in the current week by the US air force on the Syrian army, a media outlet reported on Wednesday.

The Arabic-language website of Reuters quoted a US official as reporting that an MQ-9 drone of the US forces destroyed a Russia-made T-72 tank of the Syrian Army in Deir Ezzur on Sunday.

Also, the US army announced that it destroyed a tank that had entered the fire range of the US-backed militants.

In the meantime, a US official, who requested anonymity, disclosed that at least two pro-Syrian government forces were killed in that attack.

The drone attack on the Syrian tank was the second US attack on Damascus forces in last week.

The US-led coalition carried out several airstrikes on Syrian forces in Deir Ezzur province last Thursday.

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzya told reporters on Wednesday after the Security Council’s session on Syria that Moscow does its utmost to prevent any major international confrontation in Syria.

Russia’s UN Envoy: Moscow Doing Its Utmost to Prevent International Conflict in Syria Thu Feb 15, 2018
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961126000458

"We are doing everything to prevent any major international confrontation in Syria. We are working on that hard and what we are doing in the context of the political process is a part of it," Nebenzya said, commenting on a chance the Syrian war might transform into a major international conflict,
TASS reported.

The ambassador underlined that Russia is the most motivated to resolve the conflict in that Middle East nation.

"I think that yet nobody delivered more than us on the political process in Syria. We’re working both with the government and with the opposition through the de-escalation zones, through the Astana process and now we’ve managed to convene and hold an unprecedented event that the Congress of Syrian National Dialogue in Sochi was," Nebenzya added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council held a session attended by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura. The discussions focused on recent developments in Syria, which included clashes among groups supported by various international players, a strike by the US-led coalition against pro-government forces and Israel’s air strikes after an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crossed into its airspace from Syria.

Prior to the Security Council’s session, France’s Permanent Representative to the UN Francois Delattre pointed out that in the wake of recent days’ developments "all ingredients" had been combined for major regional and international confrontation Delattre added that efforts should exerted to avert that scenario. In the meantime, the Security Council needs to seek de-escalation in Syria until the situation spirals out of control, according to him.

 

[angelburst29]

MOSCOW: The death of Russian citizens in Syria from a US coalition strike last week, which has been played down by both Moscow and Washington, has exposed the role of Russian mercenaries in the multi-front conflict.

Russian mercenaries, a discrete weapon in Syria Saturday 17 February 2018
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1248586/world

The incident followed a steady trickle of reports about Russians dying in battle in Syria while employed as guns for hire in a privately-owned outfit whose role may be securing oilfields for President Bashar Assad.

Russia on Thursday has finally recognized that five Russian citizens, not officially affiliated with the Russian military, were likely killed in the strikes in eastern Syria, in the first admission of non-military combat casualties.

The US had said the coalition acted in self-defense when an enemy unit of 300-500 people launched an attack on an established SDF position east of the Euphrates river in Deir Ezzor province.

The coalition warned the Russian military and proceeded to strike the formation, killing up to 100 people. The Russian military said it had no troops in the area.

While US officials have refused to disclose the nationality of the attackers, various reports indicated a death toll of up to several hundred Russians from the strike.

Russia can legally prosecute mercenaries under an existing law which has been applied against several citizens fighting in Ukraine and Syria in recent years.

In 2014, two Russian men, Vadim Gusev and Yevgeny Sidorov, were sentenced to three years in prison after they recruited over 200 former military soldiers to an outfit called the Slavonic Corps for a trip to Syria’s Deir Ezzor.

According to Fontanka website, which has chronicled the involvement of private military contractors in Syria, the Slavonic Corps later became the core of a new mercenary group recruited by former member Dmitry Utkin, nicknamed Wagner.

The Wagner group has no website or social networking page, instead attracting men with military experience through word of mouth.

Utkin and the Wagner group was blacklisted by the US Treasury in 2016 for having “recruited and sent soldiers to fight alongside separatists in eastern Ukraine.”

It is known to train at a military base in a village called Molkino outside Krasnodar in southern Russia. According to Fontanka, the Wagner group has fought in Syria since late 2015.

Unlike Gusev and Sidorov, Wagner has not been prosecuted. Instead, he was honored in the Kremlin in December 2016. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at the time that Utkin was invited as a decorated military veteran.

According to Fontanka, Wagner is associated with a Russian company Yevro Polis, which has signed a deal with the Syrian government.

Under the deal, the company would capture and secure oil and gas infrastructure in Syria in exchange for a 25 percent share in future resource production.

Fontanka has tied Yevro Polis to the empire of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Saint-Petersburg businessman running the company Concord Catering which controls several restaurant businesses and has won many contracts from the Russian defense ministry.

Prigozhin, and Concord Catering, were blacklisted by the US Treasury for “having materially assisted” Russian officials and being tied to a company building a military base near Ukraine’s border. Yevro Polis is also on the blacklist.

The US special prosecutor investigating Moscow’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election indicted Prigozhin Friday for running an influence campaign on the Internet through a “troll farm” company in Saint-Petersburg.

Prigozhin has denied ties both to the Internet company and to Wagner group.

Mercenaries not directly affiliated with the Russian military may be convenient for Moscow’s business interests in Syria while assuring deniability of government involvement. But after numerous reports of casualties in Syria and capture of two Russians, reportedly from the Wagner group, by Daesh last year, Russian officials have called for legalizing mercenaries.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in January said legislation was needed to “protect these people,” referring to Russians in private military companies.

“Everybody understands the need for a law,” said Mikhail Yemelyanov, an MP in the Just Russia party, who is one of the authors of a bill on private military companies currently being reviewed by government.

Asked if the need was due to Russians fighting in Syria, Yemelyanov told AFP that it’s “because it’s not just Russians fighting there” and because private military companies are legal in many countries.

Some reports have said that the Russian defense ministry did not know about Russian citizens fighting in the area at the time of the US coalition strike. This would be impossible under the new bill, Yemelyanov said.

“We wrote in the bill that the defense ministry would coordinate and that participation in armed conflicts would only be with their permission,” he said.
“If our bill would be passed, everyone would know who is fighting where.”

A leading Arab newspaper said Washington has come close to military confrontation with Moscow in a bid to find control over Syria's oil and gas fields.

Arab Daily: US Risking War with Russia in Quest for Syrian Oil
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961128001207

The Arabic-language al-Akhabar daily referred to the recent US attacks on the Russian forces who fought alongside the Syrian army's 5th Brigade and al-Baggara tribal forces during their advance towards Omar and Koniko oil fields, and said before launching the offensive, Washington had conducted extensive surveillance operations and was aware of the identity of the forces it attacked.

The report reminded that the offensive on the pro-government forces in Deir Ezzur came after Russia's Humeimim airbase in Lattakia came under a drone attack and a Russian fighter jet was shot down by a missile fired by an unidentified militant group.

Al-Akhbar underlined that the developments indicate the increased possibility for military confrontation between the US and Russia in Syria.

The Americans have attempted to downplay their airstrikes against the Russian forces but Joseph Triovic, a military analyst, believes that it is the start of a contained war between the two sides.

Al-Akhbar further reminded that the US is using the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) who have occupied the country's oil and gas fields as its mercenaries, while it supports establishment of an independent Kurdish government in Eastern Euphrates, which are all meant to cut off the energy rich regions in Eastern Syria from the mainland to keep them under the control of Washington and its hirelings in Syria.

The US-led coalition carried out several airstrikes on Syrian forces in Deir Ezzur province earlier this month.

The US military was claiming that so-called anti-ISIL coalition forces repelled a threatening Syrian Army-led attack consisting of five hundred troops – backed by artillery, tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems and mortars – late on Wednesday and early on Thursday against positions of Arab and Kurdish militias at energy fields near the town of Khasham on the Eastern bank of the Euphrates River in Deir Ezzur province.

According to reports, more than 100 pro-government forces were killed in the airstrikes carried out by the US-led coalition in Syria's Deir Ezzur.

The shared history between the United States and Russia can contribute to solving common problems of the two countries, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said on Friday.

Russian Envoy: Historic Endeavours Offer Key to Today's US-Russian Challenges 17.02.2018
https://sputniknews.com/us/201802171061749403-usa-russia-history-solution-relations/

Antonov spoke at a memorial event in honor of six Russian Navy sailors who buried at the US Naval Hospital Cemetery in Portsmouth, Virginia. The soldiers died in the United States during and after the US Civil War.

"We gathered here today to pay tribute to the six sailors of the Russian Imperial Navy, who died in the line of duty far from their homeland," Antonov said.

The attempt to bring back the names of the sailors, Antonov noted, is like bridging gaps between centuries. "It is an opportunity to learn from the past in order to address the challenges of the present," Antonov said.

Experts from the Russian Military Historical Society have so far identified three of the sailors — Gavriil Vyakhirev, Arseniy Bragin And Zakhar Lebedev — and continue their efforts to the identify the other three.

The memorial service was held for the second time in more than 140 years.

Antonov said on Friday the fates of the Russian sailors show that "out great countries share a common history, that we can help each other to solve mutual problems." (Article continues.)

The United States is playing a dangerous "game" with the Kurdish issue, which could lead to great problems in countries with Kurdish populations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.

Playing With Fire: Russian FM Warns US Against Interfering in Kurdish Issue
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802171061748945-usa-kurds-syria-issue-danger/

According to Lavrov, it is necessary to think about ensuring equal rights for the Kurds in current borders of the countries where they live, not "try to disturb this region, which is what our western colleagues have been doing in the past century."

"Playing a game with the Kurdish issue, in terms of a narrow understanding of own geopolitical intentions only in one part of this region, as the United States is doing now, is very dangerous. It could lead to big problems in a whole range of other countries where the Kurdish issue exists and where there is a Kurdish population," he told Euronews.

The minister called the current conflict between the Kurds and Turkey in northern Syrian district of Afrin a sign of short-sightedness of the US policy in the region.

"These events once again point out the short-sightedness or even a malice of the United States. For two-three years, the US special units are permanently illegally operating in Syria without any request of Damascus or a mandate issued by the UN Security Council. From the very beginning the United States bet on the Kurds ignoring the Turkish concerns," Lavrov said.

The minister pointed out that Ankara had always openly expressed its position on the Syrian Kurds calling their organizations affiliated with the Turkish-based Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is outlawed in Turkey.

"Despite that the United States persistently and massively provided the Kurdish units with weapons ignoring the Turkish position," Lavrov added.

Turkey launched its military operation against the Kurds in Afrin on January 20. Ankara has said its offensive is aimed at clearing the Turkish border with Syria from the terrorist presence. The operation was not supported by the United States.

The Turkish troops have failed to advance in Syria's Afrin district, where they prefer to use the hit-and-run tactics, according to Reizan Hedu, a representative of the Kurdish self-defense forces in Afrin.

Kurdish Fighter Claims Turkey Using Napalm, Chlorine in Afrin Operation
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802171061757699-turkey-afrin-toxic-agents-kurds/

Speaking to RIA Novosti, Reizan Hedu, representative of the Kurdish self-defense forces in Afrin, claimed that the Turkish army is using internationally-banned arms in its military operation in the Syrian region.

The Turkish army possesses aircraft, tanks and missiles, and is using weapons banned by the international convention, [namely] napalm and shells with chlorine," Hedu said. He added that "they have tens of thousands of terrorists, in addition to the Turkish military."

Hedu also pointed out that the Turkish troops actually do not advance in Afrin, opting to engage in hit-and-run tactics, which he said are typically used by the self-defense forces.

His remarks came as the Syrian state-run news agency SANA reported that at least six people with symptoms of suffocation had been hospitalized in Afrin after the Turkish military used toxic agents in the village of Aranda.

Turkey-backed militants engaged in Operation Olive Branch in Northwestern Syria launched a chemical attack on the Kurdish population in the village of Aranda in Afrin as Ankara and Washington declared a number of agreements at the end of the US state secretary's visit to Ankara.

Tillerson's Visit to Ankara Seen as Green Light to Turkey's Chemical Attack against Kurds
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961128000293

Syrian state media SANA reported that at least six civilians were hospitalized after the attack.

"Six people have been admitted with symptoms of suffocation as a result of the use of projectiles with poisonous gas by the Turkish regime in the town of Aranda," SANA quoted the hospital's director, Joan Mohammed, as saying.

Medics are working to determine the type of gas used, Mohammed said.

Local journalist Mohammed Hassan tweeted pictures of patients, who were purported to be victims of the attack, wearing breathing masks.

The hospital director said four of the victims were stable and two were in critical condition.

YPG Spokesman Birusk Hasaka confirmed that Kurds came under what appears to be a chemical attack during Turkey’s offensive on a village, saying that the symptoms of the six people affected are consistent with exposure to a gas poisoning.

The attack was launched by the FSA militants who are backed by Ankara and at the end of Rex Tillerson's visit to Turkey, raising speculations that the attack was launched after a US green light.

Washington's silence on the attack that has reinvigorated speculations about its suspicious role in the incident comes as it has repeatedly accused the Syrian army forces of conducting chemical weapons against militants, a claim always rejected by Damascus.

Experts believe the US selective approach is yet another indicator of Washington's willingness to make an instrumental use of chemical warfare.

Syrian Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad said on Wednesday that Washington is uneasy about the achievements of the Syrian Arab Army and therefore it spreads misleading news claiming that the Syrian forces are using chemical weapons in the Eastern Ghouta, Idlib and other areas.

“We call on the United Nations to investigate into the actions and practices of the United States, which threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Syria and aim at the liquidation of the Syrian people, contradicting the objectives and principles of the UN,” according to a statement read by Mikdad at the Ministry HQ, SANA reported.

The US-led coalition against the Daesh terrorist group is not aware of any confirmed reports of the alleged Turkish gas attack in Afrin in the north of Syria, a spokesperson for the coalition told Sputnik on Saturday.

US-Led Coalition Unaware of Confirmed Reports of Alleged Gas Attack in Afrin
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802171061765755-us-led-coalition-gas-attack-afrin/

"The Coalition is not aware of any confirmed reports of the alleged violations," the spokesperson said.

"As you know, Turkey is a valued partner in the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh [Arabic acronym for IS] as well as a NATO ally. Memberships in the Coalition and NATO are predicated upon member nations' acting in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict and Geneva Convention. Such allegations come with a burden of proof that has not been fulfilled. Furthermore, the Coalition is not operating in Afrin," the spokesperson added.

Earlier in the day, the head of the opposition Syrian Negotiation Commission (SNC) that he did not believe in reports that Ankara used chemical weapons during the ongoing Turkish military operation Olive Branch.

"I did not hear from trusted sources, but what I am trusted in that Turkish forces will not use chemical weapons," Nasr Hariri told Sputnik on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Syrian media reported on Saturday that several civilians were hospitalized after a suspected gas attack in Syria's northern Afrin enclave. The attack reportedly took place in the Kurdish village of Aranda where Turkish forces used munitions filled with toxic gas.

The Syrian Army troops found a new mass grave in the Northeastern province of Raqqa that contains tens of bodies of the civilians and military men believed to have been executed by ISIL Takfiri terrorists, field sources said on Saturday.

Another Mass Grave of ISIL Victims Discovered in Northeastern Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961128001134

The sources said that the army men continued cleansing operation in al-Rathman region in Raqqa province and discovered a mass grave with 34 bodies of civilians and military forces that had been executed by the ISIL terrorist group.

The army units had previously found another mass grave in Debsi Fenan region, containing 115 bodies executed by the ISIL.

A Syrian official said last month that several mass graves with 10,000 bodies, including one with 4,000, were found in Raqqa city in Northeastern Syria.

The Arabic-language al-Watan daily quoted General Director of the Syrian Forensic Medicine Zaher Hajo as reporting that based on intelligence 10,000 bodies were buried in mass graves in Raqqa.

He further told al-Watan that 4,000 bodies were buried in one single grave, adding that the discovered graves were located in the regions that were under the Syrian Democratic Forces.

The US forces have intensified their heliborne operations to evacuate ISIL commanders who have been trapped in Hasaka province.

US Continues to Evacuate ISIL Commanders Trapped in Hasaka
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961128001480

Local sources in Hasaka confirmed that the US helicopters have conducted heliborne operations in the village of Tuwaimin, 50km Northeast of al-Shadadi, in Southern Hasaka.

The sources said that 4 militants, including an ISIL security commander, were evacuated from the region in the operations. The area where the operation took place is still occupied by the terrorist group.

 

[angelburst29]

Over the past few days, the "dispute" between NATO and Russia over the latter’s deployment of Iskander-M rockets in its own Kaliningrad region has heated up. In particular, on February 14th, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged Russia to be “transparent,” although he also admitted that Moscow had announced its missile deployments to its border region a few years ago. In other words, Stoltenberg’s recent statement on the matter bore no semblance of transparency.

Russia deploys missiles on its own territory, NATO goes ballistic Friday February 16, 2018 - By Eduard Popov - translated by Jafe Arnold
http://www.fort-russ.com/2018/02/russia-deploys-missiles-on-its-own.html

Meanwhile, Russia is working to make this “issue” a transparent one. I believe it to be no coincidence that on last Sunday, February 11th, the popular program Voennaia priomka on the Zvezda TV channel of Russia’s Ministry of Defense, discussed in detail the tactical and technical characteristics of Iskander missile complexes.

The real cause of NATO’s concern is not “transparency”, but the combat capabilities of Russia’s Iskanders and the political will to use them. Indeed, the putting of Iskanders in Kaliningrad on alert bears serious implications for the military and political situation in the Baltic region.

On February 5th, Russia deployed Iskander-M operative-tactical rocket complexes near Kaliningrad. These “OTRC’s” are designed to destroy an opponent's reactive volley fire systems, anti-missile hardware, air defenses, aircraft and helicopters at airfields, command posts, and infrastructural facilities. One OTRC Iskander-M is capable of hitting targets at ranges of up to 500 kilometers with two types of missiles - ballistic and cruise.

It is obviously not spoken above a whisper, but the implied, hypothetical, main target of these Iskanders - if things reach this point - would the American missile defense systems in Eastern Europe that have been installed under the pretext of “defending against Iranian missiles.”

In Romania, the Aegis US missile defense complex is already open and kept on combat readiness. In May 2016, the construction of an improved Aegis ground-system began in the Polish town of Redzikowo near the Baltic coast (150 kilometers from Gdansk), which is set to be ready in 2018.

Already during the initial phase of building these missile bases in Romania, Russia military experts argued that these systems would target Russian tactical rockets and other high-precision weapons. This is explained by the fact that the launch systems installed in Romania (and soon Poland) can launch not only missile defense system rockets, but also cruise missiles capable of striking strategic targets in western and central Russia.

As the Russian foreign ministry has stated since the very beginning, the US’ decision to establish missile systems on Romanian territory violates the balance of strategic forces in Europe and contradicts the provisions of the treaty on intermediate and short-range missiles.

But Moscow’s objections have not been heeded. Nor have Russia’s promises to prepare to “respond” to American missile systems in Romania and Poland been heard. The deployment of Iskanders in the Kaliningrad region is presumably one demonstrative element of this response.

Another possible step might be the use of the latest Kalibr cruise missiles which the surface ships and submarines of the Russian Batlic Fleet are equipped with, and which have a range of 2,500 kilometers. Kalibr production could be accelerated for deployment in the Baltic, but this is already from the realm of proposals.

The political component of the dispute over Russia’s Iskanders is no less important. On February 15th followed verbal responses from Russian parliamentarians from the State Duma and Federation Council. For instance, in an interview with RT, the deputy chairman of the Federation Council’s Committee on International Affairs, Andrey Klimov, stressed: “Iskanders have been placed there [in the Kaliningrad region] due to the fact that NATO is expanding its military activity near our borders… We, it is worth noting, are doing this on our own sovereign land. That is the most important point. The US’ missile defense systems are deployed far from their borders. And a troop contingent is surrounding Russia’s entire perimeter.”

We can add to this Russian senator’s comment that just the other day it came to light that the US budget for 2019 provisions $6.3 billion for “deterring Russia in Europe by military means.” The plan envisages an increase in American troop presence in EU countries, training NATO forces in Eastern Europe, and modernizing US military equipment stationed in the EU.

The “Iskander controversy” is thus an attack on Russia’s right to defend itself. Without a doubt, both sides - Russia and NATO - will not abandon their positions, which does not facilitate peace in Europe. The main losers of any possibly impending conflict can already be named: Poland and Romania, as they have become number one targets for Russian retaliatory missile strikes. Overall, NATO is turning Eastern Europe into a risk zone, and Russia intends to defend itself. This is the real meaning behind the "Iskander controversy."

 

[Voyageur]

From a few days ago, Eva Bartlett has this short video out - recommended:

Interview on Press TV: Eva Bartlett: Everything you’ve been told about Syria is a lie

http://<iframe width="620" height="...y; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

She also has a much longer interview with 'Veteran Journalist Elijah Magnier on latest developments in Syria'

Published on Feb 14, 2018, Eva K Bartlett

Elijah Magnier is the chief international correspondent at Al Rai and a political and terrorism/counterterrorism analyst, with over 32 years’ experience, including covering Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya & more

http://<iframe width="620" height="...y; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[goyacobol]

From a few days ago, Eva Bartlett has this short video out - recommended:

Interview on Press TV: Eva Bartlett: Everything you’ve been told about Syria is a lie

http://<iframe width="620" height="...y; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

She also has a much longer interview with 'Veteran Journalist Elijah Magnier on latest developments in Syria'

Published on Feb 14, 2018, Eva K Bartlett

Elijah Magnier is the chief international correspondent at Al Rai and a political and terrorism/counterterrorism analyst, with over 32 years’ experience, including covering Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya & more

http://<iframe width="620" height="...y; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

voyageur,

I want to thank you especially for that second video interview. It is the most personal detailed insight into what is happening with Syria and the Middle East that I have ever seen. It confirmed my understanding which is far more general and incomplete. This man reminds me of Collingwood's writings which admits limitations but shows how important eye witness accounts added together give a much closer view of reality. He has had so many personal encounters with the actual players that it is like the early Greek city states where history is within the view of the local vicinity.

I now understand in so much greater detail how the Kurds are not just the Kurds and also he details the role of Hamas and Hezbollah. And even those groups Hamas and Hezbollah are not simple divisions to just group people into.

The complexity is so much different than the MSM will ever grasp. He wants more than anything to just get the truth out there realizing that none of us has the whole picture.

It's so refreshing to hear someone who uses critical thinking vs black and white thinking.

 

[angelburst29]

US-supplied weapons originally intended for moderate allies in Syria have ended up for sale on jihadist online forums in the country's northern al Qaeda heartland.

US assault rifles are being sold on the Telegram messaging app in Syria (Tweets) Tuesday February 20, 2018
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/20/middleeast/us-weapons-telegram-syria-intl/index.html

In a remarkable snapshot of the disastrous outcomes and thwarted ambitions of the West's six-year effort in Syria, an M16 assault rifle -- whose serial number suggests it was originally supplied as part of a US-taxpayer-funded effort to defeat extremists in the region -- was offered to CNN by a resident of the city of Idlib over the encrypted messaging app Telegram.

The vendor claimed the weapon originally belonged to one of the more prominent and costly failures by the US to help Syrian moderate rebels combat ISIS and other extremists. In a Telegram message exchange with CNN posing as a purchaser, the vendor said the weapon came from "Division 30" -- part of an elaborate $41 million dollar effort to train and equip elite rebels to tackle jihadists.

The M16 was produced by a South Carolina company called FN Manufacturing. It carries a serial number that small arms experts say matches a batch originally thought to have been given to Iraqi security forces by a US assistance program, but that was found in possession of ISIS in 2014.

The following Telegram messages were exchanged between CNN, posing as a purchaser under an alias, and a weapons seller. These messages were translated from Arabic into English. Scroll down to see CNN's Telegram exchange with the weapons seller.

While it remains unclear exactly to whom the rifle was originally delivered, it is currently for sale for $850 on jihadi Telegram channels, where a staggering array of weaponry is flaunted by residents of an area known to be dominated by an al Qaeda affiliate.

Grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, thermal sniper scopes and body armor all appear on the jihadist channels, which also offer tips on encryption and even introduce smugglers to get people in and out of Syria. While CNN cannot verify that all of the items offered for sale exist or match their descriptions, the sheer scale of the marketplace suggests some of it, at least, is authentic. The vendor of the M16 was able to offer multiple photo angles of the item.

Division 30 was part of the New Syrian Army, a project by the US military to create moderate rebels in 2015 who would combat ISIS and other extremists.

The group swiftly came undone, however, when al Qaeda-backed extremists intercepted them and their sophisticated weaponry -- paid for by the US taxpayer -- hours after they drove their convoys into Syria. The group soon disbanded.

Damien Spleeters, from the Conflict Armament Research group -- which tracks illegal weapons in conflict zones -- has spent months collecting and analyzing the small arms swirling around Iraq and Syria. He said the serial number clearly supplied by the vendor of the M16 was close to that of an identical weapon his team had recovered.

"What this weapon does show [is] that this was made in the USA, and it does show that its serial number is very close to another weapon that was recovered from ISIS forces in northern Syria, who presumably stole it from Iraqi security forces earlier," he said. "It doesn't mean the exact same thing happened with this weapon, just that it probably shares the same or a similar American source."

The discovery doesn't necessarily undermine the vendor's claim, as it is possible a similar batch of weapons were used to supply the Division 30 project.

US Central Command, initially behind the supply of weapons to Syrian moderates, declined to comment.

Telegram said they block such content when it is encountered or reported to them.

The area of Idlib in which the trade appears to be based -- and where vendors suggested meeting CNN at a local mosque the next day -- is currently the focus of a brutal regime bombing campaign which has targeted many civilians.

At the same time, the region has become a magnet for fleeing ISIS fighters and also an al Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which has a complex relationship with al Qaeda, at one point distancing itself from the group.

Yet western officials are concerned at the extremist agenda of the group, and the number of foreign fighters who have joined it, adding it has grown unchecked while the focus has been on defeating ISIS's so-called caliphate.

The winding path these US taxpayer purchased weapons have taken, ending up in the hands of entrepreneurs in extremist-held areas, is in some ways a testament to the failure of Western attempts to encourage moderates in the Syrian civil war, and the current dominance of hardliners as the war enters another messy year.

Also here:
US Assault Rifles Are Being Sold on Telegram in Syria
https://en.insidesyriamc.com/2018/02/20/us-assault-rifles-are-being-sold-on-telegram-in-syria/

A sum of 1,715 Kurdish gunmen have thus far been killed or held captive in the Turkish army forces’ operation in Afrin in Northwestern Aleppo,the Turkish Army General Staff said in its latest statement on Tuesday. The statement said that the Turkish army men and Ankara-backed militants continued Operation Olive Branch against the Kurds in Afrin, adding that a sum of 1,715 Kurdish fighters have been killed or captured in the operation that started on January 20.

Over 1,700 Kurdish Fighters Killed in Northern Syria February 20, 2018
https://en.insidesyriamc.com/2018/02/20/over-1700-kurdish-fighters-killed-in-northern-syria/

In a relevant development on Monday, a media outlet reported that a number of Turkish Army men and Ankara-backed militants have been killed and wounded in clashes with the Kurdish fighters in Afrin region in Northwestern Aleppo.

The Kurdish-language Hawar news reported that the Kurdish gunmen engaged in heavy fighting with the Ankara-backed militants in the village of Balilka in Rajou region, killing seven militants.

It added that the Turkish Air Force pounded Kurdish fighters’ positions in Rajou after the Kurds’ offensive.

 

[angelburst29]

Breaking: Rebel attacks on Russian embassy ‘won’t be tolerated forever’ – Putin 28/02/2018
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-rebel-attacks-russian-embassy-wont-tolerated-forever-putin/

Russian President Vladimir slammed the recent rebel shelling of the Russian embassy in Damascus, adding that these attacks “will not be tolerated.”

“Moscow is not going to keep tolerating the daily shelling of Damascus by eastern Ghouta militants that recently hit the Russian embassy in Syria,”
President Vladimir Putin said after meeting Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.

It’s well-known – at least, we know this well in Russia – that shells land even on the territory of the Russian embassy and trade mission. Are we going to tolerate this forever?” the president wondered.

Recently, the rebel forces in the East Ghouta have increased their shelling of Damascus; this has caused an increase in Russian air activity.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) that “it’s unacceptable to divide terrorists as ‘good’ and ‘bad’, especially when it’s based on the goals these militants declare or on their financial sources,” during a meeting in Geneva on Wednesday.

Designating terrorists as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ is unacceptable – Lavrov 28/02/2018
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/designating-terrorists-good-bad-unacceptable-lavrov/

“Russia will continue to persistently fight against such perverse practices of such double standards by assisting the Syrian Army in the final elimination of the terror threat”, Lavrov said.

He mentioned that Russian and the Syria governments have already declared the opening of humanitarian corridors in Eastern Ghouta, adding that now it’s up to the opposition forces and their ‘sponsors’ to make the next step.

“We call on the members of the so-called US-led coalition to give the same access to the regions in Syria that they are controlling, including Rukban refugee camp and all the territory around al-Tanf”, he said.

The Russian Defense Ministry has commented on the situation in Syria's areas, controlled by the allies of the US-led coalition, after a senior American general accused Moscow of acting as "both arsonist and firefighter" in the Arab Republic.

Syrian Civilians Suffer Most in Areas Controlled by US Allies - Russian MoD
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802281062061937-syrian-civilians-us-suffering-russia-raqqa-ghouta/

Syrian civilians experience the most suffering in the areas controlled by the US-led international coalition and the armed opposition groups Washington is backing, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Wednesday.

"At the moment, the most difficult circumstances for the civilian population of Syria exist in the areas controlled by the US-led coalition and the groups of the armed opposition it is controlling," Konashenkov said.

According to the spokesman, the situation in these areas was not transparent to Damascus or to the international observers, despite the declared victory over Daesh terrorist group.

Konashenkov pointed at the difficulty of the situation in the vicinity of Rukban refugee camp in At-Tanf region and stressed that the inhabitants of the camp could be helped by humanitarian convoys and evacuation for medical treatment.

The spokesman of the Russian Defense Ministry added that the civilians in Raqqa were experiencing a "humanitarian catastrophe" and the city infrastructure was in dire need of restoration.

Konashenkov added that the humanitarian disasters in Raqqa and At-Tanf had to be addressed by the international aid organizations as soon as possible.

The statement followed a remark made by the head of the CENTCOM, US Army General Joseph Votel, who blamed Russia for allegedly playing a destabilizing role in Syria: "Diplomatically and militarily, Moscow plays both arsonist and firefighter, fueling tensions among all parties in Syria … then serving as an arbitrator, to resolve disputes, attempting to undermine and weaken each party's bargaining positions."

"I think either Russia has to admit that it is not capable, or it doesn't want to play a role in ending the Syrian conflict. I think their role is incredibly destabilizing at this point," Votel claimed.

Furthermore, Votel proceeded to say that Russia was using Syria to test its new weapons and military tactics, having enhanced its surface-to-air missiles in the Middle East which jeopardizes the US ability to “dominate the airspace.” Votel claimed.

Furthermore, Votel proceeded to say that Russia was using Syria to test its new weapons and military tactics, having enhanced its surface-to-air missiles in the Middle East which jeopardizes the US ability to “dominate the airspace.”

Commenting on the halt of fighting in Syria on February 27, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that Russia was failing to abide by the ceasefire.

"They're not adhering to the ceasefire because they continue to sponsor and back Bashar al-Assad's government. That is tragic," Nauert said.

Earlier this week, following the adoption of the UNSC resolution on a 30-day ceasefire in Syria, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that Moscow had proposed creating a commission under the auspices of the UN to assess the humanitarian situation in the Syrian city of Raqqa.

That is why we propose to create as quickly as possible on the basis of the United Nations and under its leadership, an international assessment humanitarian commission that could look at and assess what is really happening in Raqqa where, unfortunately, no one is allowed to — neither the media, nor humanitarian organizations," Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting of the board of the Russian Defense Ministry.

This move came shortly after Shoigu announced a daily humanitarian pause in Eastern Ghouta as well as the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians safely. Moscow has made it clear that its intentions to restore peace in the country as well as to avoid any casualties among civilians are serious. Besides proposing to open humanitarian corridors in Eastern Ghouta, Russia has also suggested that the same is done in At-Tanf, where the Rubkan refugee camp is located. However, the proposal was rejected by the US.

"We propose to establish similar humanitarian corridors, humanitarian pauses in the At-Tanf and Rukban, so that the civilians can freely return to their homes and begin to restore peaceful life," Shoigu said.

The accusations come amid a Russia-brokered ceasefire in Syria, which has been violated by militants backed by the US. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, after shelling exists from Eastern Ghouta, preventing civilians from leaving, the militants started a new offensive against the Syrian government troops.

The humanitarian pause in Eastern Ghouta comes in line with the UN Security Council's Saturday resolution 2401, calling on all parties to the conflict to promptly stop all clashes and adhere to a long-term humanitarian pause across the whole territory of Syria in order to guarantee the safe and unhindered supply of humanitarian aid as well as the medical evacuation of those injured.

Russia Urges the UNSC to adopt a draft statement in support of the resolution on the humanitarian pause in Syria, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said on Saturday.

Moscow Aware of Prepared Provocations in Syria Involving Chemical Weapons
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802281062090791-russia-syria-chemical-weapons-provocations/

"We have circulated a draft statement on the implementation of this resolution, and we've put it prior to one o'clock, and we call upon the [Security] Council to adopt it. We hope that by 1:00 p.m. there will be no objections," Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

The Russian Permanent Representative read out a draft statement to the members of the Council, "The Security Council, in its resolution 2401, urges all parties to implement it and, for this purpose, further urges all armed groups and all Member States that have influence on them to ensure the security of humanitarian corridors for evacuation from Eastern Ghouta."

"The Security Council calls for the establishing similar humanitarian corridors in At Tanf and Rubkan. The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to expeditiously send the mission to Raqqa to assess humanitarian needs there," the envoy stated.

Russia calls on the US-led coalition to admit UN officials to the Syrian city of Raqqa and to transfer control of the areas to the responsibility of the country's central authorities.

We insist that the UN promptly send an assessment mission to Raqqa, and the coalition, de facto controlling the region, should provide all the necessary conditions for it. We also expect that the coalition command, instead of creating quasi-administrations in the areas that are liberated from the Daesh (banned in Russia), will draw up a plan for their transfer to the responsibility of the central authorities, taking into account the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, which has been repeatedly confirmed and re-confirmed by the Security Council" the diplomat said.

The UN must not be involved into monitoring exercises in Syria following the recent resolution calling on implementing a ceasefire across the country, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said during a Security Council meeting.

"The UN also cautions against drawing the UN into monitoring exercises. This has been tried in the past, not for a lack of trying, but in the absence of political will among member states to underpin UN efforts," Feltman said.

The UN Security Council held a meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria. The meeting focused on the situation on the Damascus suburb East Ghouta, but the participants in the discussion mentioned other areas of Syria, including Raqqa, liberated from Daesh in October 2017 with the support of the US and its allies.

Speaking at a meeting, UN Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock outlined a grim picture of what is happening in Raqqa, noting that civilians cannot safely return to the city. According to him, humanitarian workers also do not have access to Raqqa, which urgently needs to conduct a mine clearance operation.

The Syrian Envoy to the United Nations stated on Wednesday that their military forces could not have used chemical weapons, as they do not possess them.

Syrian envoy to UN says they have no chemical weapons
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-syrian-envoy-un-says-no-chemical-weapons/

Syrian Ambassador to the U.N., Dr. Bashar Al-Ja’afari, slammed reports about the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government, adding that these are baseless allegations.

The envoy’s speech follows the accusations of US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert’s against Damascus, claiming that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons near Idlib’s city of Saraqib.

According to Nauert, Washington believes that Russia was shielding the Syrian government from accountability for its alleged continued use of chemical weapons.

Reacting to the investigation, the Russian Defense Ministry has refuted all the allegations, saying that the US claims were based on rumors and information from militants and that the accusations have never been proven with facts.

At least 30 civilians were killed by the U.S. Coalition in the eastern countryside of the Deir Ezzor Governorate, today, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

Syria accuses US Coalition of massacring another 30 civilians in Deir Ezzor
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/syria-accuses-us-coalition-massacring-another-30-civilians-deir-ezzor/

According to the SANA report, the U.S. Coalition massacred at least 30 civilians while bombing the Islamic State (ISIS) held town of Sha’fah near the Iraqi border.

This latest accusation comes just 48 hours after the U.S. Coalition killed 29 civilians in a town near Al-Sha’fah.

The U.S. Coalition has now killed over 75 civilians inside the Deir Ezzor Governorate, making these last five days the deadliest this year in this province.

 

[angelburst29]

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said US programs which train non-nuclear powers on how to use American tactical nuclear weapons violate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Moscow: US Training Europe to Use Tactical Nukes Against Russia Is Threat to Non-Proliferation Wed Feb 28, 2018
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961209001573

Lavrov’s comments reiterate Russia’s critical stance regarding the US and its training of NATO allies. The US is training European states who do not possess nuclear arsenals of their own on how to use American nuclear weapons stationed there. Moscow considers it a breach of the NTP, the cornerstone of the current non-proliferation regime, RT reported.

Lavrov criticized the US deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on European soil as well as the involvement of non-nuclear states in training programs, at a session of the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Wednesday.

“Everybody should understand that the US military are preparing the militaries of European states to use tactical nuclear weapons against Russia,” he stressed.

The US stores an estimated 200 of its B61 nuclear bombs in countries including Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey as part of NATO’s nuclear-sharing program. Russia considers the presence of American nuclear weapons in other nations as a hostile gesture. The US is currently upgrading the B61, making the weapon more flexible in use, claiming it is necessary to counter Russia’s arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons. Russia says its arsenal is necessary to protect it from NATO’s overwhelming superiority in terms of conventional arms.

The Russian Center for the Syrian Reconciliation reported Wednesday that militants from illegal armed groups controlling the Eastern Ghouta suburb of Damascus fired 13 mortar rounds at residential areas of the Syrian capital over the past 24 hours.

Terrorists Continue Offensive in Aleppo, Latakia, Daraa Provinces - Russian MoD 28.02.2018
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802281062089486-syria-terrorists-combat-actions/

"Our regular monitoring of the ceasefire regime shows that armed groups continue hostilities in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia and Daraa. We are particularly concerned over the tense situation in Eastern Ghouta," the center's spokesman Major-General Yury Yevtushenko said at a daily briefing.

The militants are blocking residents of Eastern Ghouta from leaving the danger zone, threatening to kill them for any attempt, Maj. Gen. Yuri Yevtushenko, the head of the Center for Syrian Reconciliation reported.

"According to those who applied to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent for help, militants are not letting them out from the danger zone, take personal vehicles, and prohibit the use of radio, television and cellular communications. For any attempts to get out of the East Ghouta, they threaten to kill,"
Yevtushenko said.

Militants from the Jaysh al-Islam group have shelled and dispersed more than 300 civilians trying to reach the humanitarian corridor.

"The shelling caused structural damage and injuries among civilians. Nine Damascus residents, including three children, were wounded," Maj. Gen. Yuri Yevtushenko said at a daily briefing.

It is also noted that militants from the Jaysh al-Islam forcibly brought prisoners from the local Ta-Tauba prison and civilians to equip its positions in the area close to the humanitarian corridor, near the Muhayam-al-Wafedin settlement, in Duma along with civilians.

"All these actions are regarded by us as the reluctance of militants to comply with resolution 2401 and indicate intentions to continue the fighting. We urge the leaders of the armed groups in East Ghouta to immediately cease hostilities and ensure the safe exit of civilians, as well as the evacuation of the sick and wounded along the humanitarian corridor," Yevtushenko stated.

Humanitarian Pause in Eastern Ghouta - On Monday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that a daily humanitarian pause in Eastern Ghouta would start on Tuesday from 09:00 until 14:00, following the relevant order of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

However, during the first and the second days of the truce, the humanitarian effort was hindered by the attacks of militants, with the Syrian army not responding to provocations. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, after shelling took place from Eastern Ghouta preventing civilians from leaving, the militants started a new offensive against Syrian government troops.

MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia had managed to evacuate “quite a big group” of civilians from Syria’s rebel-held eastern Ghouta.

Putin says Russia evacuated civilian group from Syria’s Ghouta Wednesday 28 February 2018
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1256391/middle-east

Putin, speaking at a news conference alongside Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, said Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had helped broker the evacuation.

Putin did not say when the civilians had managed to leave.

He told the same news conference that rebel groups in eastern Ghouta were using it as a base to shell other areas.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Tuesday that a humanitarian pause in Eastern Gouta would show whether a desire for a ceasefire among militants, distancing themselves from Nusra terrorist group, was sincere.

Lavrov: Supporters of Gouta Terrorists Must Influence Them to Stick to Truce February 27, 2018
http://english.almanar.com.lb/454265

Speaking about the accusations against Damascus, the Russian foreign minister expressed the hope that those who have some influence on the terrorists in Syria will prompt it to implement the resolution on the truce.

“I would advise our French friends, like everyone else, to check the facts as thoroughly as possible,” he said at a press conference with his French counterpart in Moscow on Tuesday.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Tuesday that he had discussed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov the steps that should be taken for the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution on the truce in Syria.

Ali Akbar Velayati, an international adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, described the war in Syria as a global conflict that has involved 80 countries.

80 Countries Involved in Syria War: Iran’s Velayati February, 28, 2018
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2018/02/28/1668926/80-countries-involved-in-syria-war-iran-s-velayati

“This is an international war in which 80 countries have taken part,” he said in a meeting with Syrian Awqaf (Religious Endowments) Minister Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed in Tehran on Wednesday.

It has been a test for the Syrian people and government to withstand a world war launched against them, he added.

Velayati hoped for the defeat the enemies and foreign-backed militants who have entered Syria to harm its people and government, saying that the ultimate victory “is imminent, God willing”.

Elsewhere, he described the ties between Tehran and Damascus as exemplary, hoping for further enhancement of the relations.

The Syrian official, for his part, said he, his accompanying delegation and Syrian scholars have the highest respect for the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He also stressed the Islamic resistance’s steadfastness against enemies.

Al-Sayyed further said the bilateral relations between Iran and Syria in different fields are strong.

Iran has remained an ally of Syria in the war against foreign-backed militancy since the start of civil war in the Arab country’s civil war in 2011.

Iran’s timely support for both Syria and Iraq was instrumental in the two Arab countries’ victory over Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) and ending the terrorist group’s self-proclaimed caliphate.

In his statement to the US House Armed Services Committee, General Joseph Votel elaborated on key military challenges to the US in the Middle East.

US General: 'Russia Threatens Our Ability to Dominate Airspace' in Middle East 28.02.2018
https://sputniknews.com/military/201802281062078380-us-general-russia-threaten-dominance/

The statement, entitled "Terrorism and Iran: Defense Challenges in the Middle East," by General Votel covers not only Iran, but also Russia's impact on US operations. Specifically, the US general claims that the growing number of Russian surface-to-air missile systems in the region threatens their "ability to dominate the airspace." According to him, Russia is allegedly using the conflict in Syria to test new weapons and tactics "with little regard for collateral damage or civilian casualties."

The general fails to mention Russia's contribution to defeating the Daesh (banned in Russia) and its diplomatic efforts, which have resulted in dialogs between various warring groups in Syria. Votel branded Russia's role as being both an "arsonist and firefighter," claiming that Russia is "fueling the conflict" between Damascus, the YPG and Turkey, while also seeking to serve as a mediator in their negotiations. However, the US general didn't elaborate on what Russia's motives for doing so would be.

Votel went on to note the significant influence Russia has on states in Central Asia, which can possibly limit US military capabilities in Afghanistan, as their operations depend on logistical support from those countries.

Dissident-affiliated sources declared on Wednesday that the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist groups in Northern Syria have formed a new alliance named "Religion Guards Organization" to unite terrorists against the Syrian Army's rapid advances in the region.

Al-Qaeda-Affiliates Reorganize to Start New Alliance in Northern Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13961209000535

The militant groups affiliated to the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization have established the Religion Guards Organization in Northern Syria, calling on other terrorist groups, including Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at (the Levant Liberation Board or the Al-Nusra Front) and other militant groups to end internal differences to be capable of confronting the army advances in the region, the sources said.

The Religion Guards Organization has also called for end of rifts and clashes between Ahrar al-Sham and the Al-Nusra Front in Northern Syria.

Also, the Arabic-language Elam al-Harbi quoted other militant-affiliated sources as confirming the start of the Religion Guards Organization alliance by Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist groups, mainly Al-Nusra Front that is Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, in Northern Syria.

The newly-formed organization has also called on Nouralddeen al-Zinki to end infighting with rival terrorist groups in Northern Syria.

The decision by the Al-Qaeda comes against a backdrop of wide differences between the current Leader of Al-Qaeda Ayman Mohammed Rabie al-Zawahiri and Newly-appointed Chief Commander of Tahrir al-Sham Hayat Abu Mohammad al-Joulani.

The main branch of Al-Qaeda in Syria, Al-Nusra Front, has changed its name several times ever since its establishment.

The Al-Nusra first changed its name to Fatah Al-Sham and then to Tahrir al-Sham Front under pressure from the international community to erase war crimes and crimes against humanity from its file during the Syria war.

Well-informed sources reported earlier this month that Abu Mohammad al-Joulani urged terrorist groups to be united to face the Syrian Army troops rapid advances in Southeastern Idlib.

Al-Joulani, in an audio file, called on all the terrorist groups in Northwestern Syria to be united to confront the army's devastating advances in Southeastern Idlib.

He further confirmed that the terrorist front was in a critical situation, calling on the terrorists groups to ignore their differences as the army soldiers were conquering more regions in Southeastern Idlib.

 

[angelburst29]

As has been noted in earlier Postings, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has been making headlines, outlining the steps that should be taken for the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 2401, calling on all parties to the conflict to promptly stop all clashes and adhere to a long-term humanitarian pause across the whole territory of Syria.

President Putin is now issuing "a strong warning" to the U.S./NATO/Pentagon Industrial Complex, if they continue to interfere with the Syrian Peace Process.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is developing a new generation of advanced nuclear weapons including a hypersonic intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that can reach almost anywhere in the world and cannot be shot down by anti-missile systems.

Satan 2: Putin Tells U.S. 'You Will Listen To Russia Now' as he Deploys Hypersonic Nuclear ICBM March 1, 2018
http://www.newsweek.com/satan-2-russia-deploys-new-hypersonic-icbm-putin-says-it-can-nuke-anywhere-us-825395?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=yahoo_news&utm_campaign=rss&utm_content=/rss/yahoous/news

Putin made the claim during his annual presidential address to the Federal Assembly in Moscow. He officially unveiled a new hypersonic nuclear-capable ICBM called the RS-28 Sarmat and said it would be able to strike anywhere in the U.S.—adding that testing of the weapon is now complete.

NATO calls the nuke “Satan 2”.
http://www.businessinsider.com/russia-nuclear-missile-satan-2-2016-10

A video was played during the speech showing off the weapon’s alleged capabilities, reported RT, Russian state media. Putin said other countries only listen to Russia when it creates new weapons systems, reported Sputnik, another of Russia’s state organs. “You will listen to us now,” he added.

Russia's RS-28 Sarmat, called Satan 2 by NATO, a hypersonic ICBM Putin claims can hit anywhere in the U.S. and which has been deployed in the south of his country. (RT screenshot)

There have been media reports about the RS-28’s development since 2014. But Putin’s speech claims testing of the weapon is finished—and he said it is already deployed in the south of Russia, Sputnik reported.

Claims made in the Russian media about the RS-28’s capability state that it carries a payload powerful enough to destroy an area the size of Texas and has a propulsion system so advanced that it can defy existing missile defense systems.

Putin’s nuclear grandstanding comes at a time when he is pushing to expand Russia’s sphere of influence, especially in the Middle East. After the U.S. and its allies including Britain decided not to fully enter the conflict in Syria back in 2013, after the Assad regime was accused of using chemical weapons on his own people, Russia stepped in to support the Syrian government militarily and financially as it attempted to regain control of the country.

Now it is using its foothold in Syria to cement its influence in the region and push the U.S. back. In a statement to the House Armed Services Committee, General Joseph L. Votel, commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), warned that Russia's presence in Syria threatened America's ability to "dominate the airspace".

In a statement to the House Armed Services Committee, General Joseph L. Votel, commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), warned that Russia's presence in Syria threatened America's ability to "dominate the airspace".

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the Federal Assembly, including the State Duma parliamentarians, members of the Federation Council, regional governors and other high-ranking officials, in Moscow, Russia March 1, 2018. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Votel accused Russia of acting as “arsonist and firefighter” in Syria by “fueling the conflict in Syria between the Syrian Regime, YPG, and Turkey, then claiming to serve as an arbiter to resolve the dispute”.

He said Russia’s role in Syria established Moscow “as a long-term player in the region, and the Kremlin is using the conflict in Syria to test and exercise new weapons and tactics, often with little regard for collateral damage or civilian casualties.”

Votel warned: “An increase in Russian surface-to-air missile systems in the region threatens our access and ability to dominate the airspace.”

Russia and the U.S. are the two most heavily armed nuclear powers in the world. The U.S. State Department said America has 652 deployed ICBMs, submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and heavy bombers, while Russia has 527. It said the U.S. possesses 1,350 nuclear warheads on deployed ICBMs, SLBMs and heavy bombers, while Russia has 1,444.

And the U.S. claims 800 deployed and nondeployed nuclear launchers, while Russia is estimated to have 779. Both powers are obliged by nonproliferation treaties to reduce their nuclear stockpiles.

Putin is also facing a presidential election at home in March 2018 though he and his allies are accused by his opponents of rigging it in his favor, something he denies, and he is expected to win by a landslide.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual address Thursday to the Federal Assembly at the Manezh Central Exhibition Hall in Moscow, Russia.

Putin: New Russian nukes are answer to U.S. leaving arms treaty March 1, 2018
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2018/03/01/Putin-New-Russian-nukes-are-answer-to-US-leaving-arms-treaty/7881519905294/

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday his country has developed supersonic nuclear weapons that can reach anywhere in the world, and are "invulnerable to enemy interception."

During his state of the union address to Russian lawmakers in Moscow, Putin said the weapons cannot be tracked by anti-missile systems.

"Russia remained a nuclear power, but no one wanted to listen to us. Listen to us now," he said.

The Russian president said the new nuclear weapons were successfully tested late last year -- and said tests are ongoing for underwater drones that can carry nuclear warheads.

Putin described the nuclear weapon as a missile with an unlimited range that can maneuver for as long as necessary.

"No other country has developed anything like this," he said. "There will be something similar one day but by that time our guys will have come up with something even better."

Putin said the new weapons are being created as a response to the United States' unilateral withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

"We did our best to dissuade the Americans from withdrawing from the treaty. All in vain. The U.S. pulled out of the treaty in 2002," Putin said. "Even after that we tried to develop constructive dialogue with the Americans. We proposed working together in this area to ease concerns and maintain the atmosphere of trust."

Putin told lawmakers that at one point he believed a compromise was possible. "But this was not to be. All our proposals, absolutely all of them, were rejected."

"All these years, the entire 15 years since the withdrawal of the United States from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, we have consistently tried to reengage the American side in serious discussions, in reaching agreements in the sphere of strategic stability," he added.

Putin said one step toward accomplishing the goal was reached in 2010 when Russia and the United States signed the New START treaty to reduce and limit strategic offensive arms.

The Russian president said despite the treaty, the Unites States is "permitting constant, uncontrolled growth of the number of anti-ballistic missiles, improving their quality, and creating new missile launching areas."

"If we do not do something, eventually this will result in the complete devaluation of Russia's nuclear potential," he said. "Despite our numerous protests and pleas, the American machine has been set into motion, the conveyer belt is moving forward."

Putin said Russia's response to the challenge presented by the United States is making new models of strategic weapons.

"During all these years since the unilateral U.S. withdrawal from the ABM Treaty, we have been working intensively on advanced equipment and arms, which allowed us to make a breakthrough in developing new models of strategic weapons," he said.

Putin's address came less than three weeks before Russia's presidential election. He is an overwhelming favorite to win another term on March 18.

Putin’s annual address to Federal Assembly (FULL RT VIDEO)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDGvrdqQZVY (2:03:05 min.)

Streamed live:

Vladimir Putin is delivering his annual presidential address to the Federal Assembly in Moscow. Members of the government, both houses of the Russian Parliament and other officials and public figures are gathering at the Kremlin’s St. George Hall for the event.

On March 1, President Vladimir Putin gave his annual state-of-the-nation address to the bicameral parliament, the Federal Assembly, in which he outlined the country’s domestic and foreign policy priorities. Here are the highlights of his speech: from missile defense to artificial intelligence and beyond.

Putin: Russia Creates Advanced Weapons Responding to US Scrapping Missile Treaty
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201803011062108691-putin-russia-weapons-us-missile-treaty/

Russia 'Has Long Persuaded US Not to Violate ABM Treaty, Everything Was in Vain'

President Putin announced that Russia was creating new defense systems in response to the United States' deployment of anti-missile defense systems "both in the US and outside its borders." He proceeded to say that all of Russia's suggestions on joint work have been rejected by the US, explaining that Moscow has tried to convince Washington not to violate the anti-missile defense treaty, but all this has been in vain.

According to Putin, the US military build-up will eventually render Russia's nuclear arsenal pointless unless Moscow acts, specifying that all agreements under the New Start Treaty are gradually being undermined and devalued.

"The implementation of plans on global missile defense system, which is currently ongoing, nullify all agreements within the framework of the SNV-III treaty [New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, START signed in 2009] since together with the reduction of number of warheads and their carriers one of the parties, the United States, is increasing the number of interceptors, improving their characteristics, creating new positioning spots, which, if we do not take action, will lead to full nullification of Russia's nuclear potential, [all missiles] will be intercepted."

Putin Unveils Newest Strategic Hypersonic Missile System Avangard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOXmUqfShXM (0:58 min.)

"A uniform radar location field for a missile attack alert system has been deployed along the perimeter of Russia's borders, which is very important. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, large holes had emerged in it, but everything has now been fixed," Putin said.

'Nobody Listened to Russia Before We Created New Weapons Systems, They Will Listen Now'

"We have started development of new strategic arms that do not use ballistic flight paths, while moving to targets, which means that the missile defense systems are useless in struggle against them."

In late 2017, Russia successfully tested a completely new type of armament "unmatched in the world" — a nuclear-powered missile, Putin said. Following this announcement, Putin declared the beginning of the active phase of SARMAT missile system tests, saying that the new weapons would be invulnerable to interception as its capabilities allow it to bypass any missile defense. SARMAT will be equipped with nuclear warheads. Moreover, Russia is developing a nuclear warhead small enough to be carried by cruise missiles. In addition, Moscow has developed underwater drones capable of operating at enormous depths and intercontinenal distances, as well as creating hypersonic weapons.

Putin Unveils Russia's Neweset Hypersonic Weapon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEHHvxNqm08 (0:58 min.)

"No one listened to Russia before we created new armament systems, so listen to Russia now," said President Putin, saying that the country is one step ahead of other states.

At the same time, the president clarified that all the work to enhance Russia's defense capability has been conducted within the framework of international agreements, and does not violate any deals. Putin noted that the country was not threatening anyone and had no intention of attacking anyone despite the creation of a new array of arms, including high-precision strategic weapons, which purely serve Russia's defensive needs.

Putin Unveils Russia's Newest Cruise Missile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_-TvoVMKdE (0:52 min.)

Russian Operation in Syria Showed Russian Army's Increased Capabilities

The Russian anti-terrorist operation in Syria has demonstrated the Russian Armed Forces' enhanced capacities, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

Putin Unveils Russia's Newest Underwater Drone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA2s84teos0 (1:14 min.)

Putin also noted the "enormous work" in strengthening the Russian army and fleet, which had been conducted over the past several years.

"The whole world now knows the names of Russia's modern weapons," he stated.

Putin Presents Capabilities of Ballistic Missile RS-28 Sarmat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiAxJ5eJ87A (0:46 min.)

Russia Cannot Avoid Lagging Behind in Development of Modern Technology, AI

According to the President, the next few years will be crucial for technological changes in Russia, regardless of who wins the upcoming presidential election.

"The world is accumulating enormous technological potential which allows us to make a huge breakthroughs in improving people's standard of living, modernization of economy, infrastructure and state governance… The efficiency of how we use the great potential of the technological revolution… depends on us only. In this context, the next few years will be decisive for the future of the country," Putin said.

Having stressed that lagging behind was a serious problem that should be overcome, President Putin stated that Russia was ready for a technological breakthrough.

Putin called for removing all barriers hindering the development of robotics and artificial intelligence in Russia, adding that the legal framework for the work of foreign scientists and IT specialists should be formed in the country.

"Russia should become not only a key logistics hub of the planet, but, let me stress, one of the global centers of storage, processing, transmitting and protecting large information blocks, the so-called big data," Putin stated, underscoring the urgent need to take into consideration global technological changes when developing the country's infrastructure, the importance of adding such solutions as digital navigation, drones, artificial intelligence.

Russia Should Increase Life Expectancy From 73 to 80+ by End of Next Decade

Among the key issues of Russia's internal policy, the president highlighted the need to improve the quality of people's lives, boost the financing of maternal welfare and young families, as well as cuting in half the "unacceptable" poverty rate within six years.

He gradually went on to address demographic problems, saying that Russia should take measures to support elderly people and increase life expectancy, with a big screen behind him showing graphs to accrue to his words.

"The life expectancy has risen by more than seven years [since 2000] and amounts to 73 years but this is not enough. Today we must set a principally new goal: by the end of the next decade Russia must enter the 80+ group of states where life expectancy exceeds 80 years," Putin said.

"We have to respond to [demographic] challenges and in the next decade ensure sustainable growth of the Russian population… Overall we have to allocate at least 3.4 trillion rubles to protect maternity and childhood in the next six years," Putin said in his annual state-of-the-nation speech.

Russian Economy's Growth Rate Should Exceed Pace of World Economy Development

Russia should not only to shore up a position in the top five largest economies of the world, but increase the GDP per capita by 1.5 times by the middle of the next decade. It is a very complex issue. I am sure that we are ready to resolve this issue."

"New technologies are to be introduced in the production, storage and transfer of energy. In the coming six years, it is planned to attract a total of 1.5 trillion rubles in private investment for the renewal of the power industry," Putin said in his address to the Federal Assembly.

Also, Putin elaborated that Russia's economy should boost its growth rate above the average world level, which, in his own words, was a complicated task and a key issue for the new government, insisting that the low inflation rate gave the country additional incentive for economic development. In addition, he noted that the growth of labor efficiency should be no less than 5% a year, in order to be at the level of the leading world economies in 10 years.

The 2018 address of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Federal Assembly, country's parliament, has broken record in terms of duration and lasted for one hour and 57 minutes.

Lavrov Exposes U.S. & NATO Stooges At The Munich Security Conference
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSFTOGIIod8 (6:49 min.)

Published on Feb 22, 2018

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Visits Munich to Watch NATO Allies Squabble Amongst Themselves
The Chairman of the Munich Conference is upset. European leaders and some representatives of NATO countries refused to sit on the same stage next to each other. Wolfgang Ischinger didn’t explain who’s boycotting whom and why.

 

[goyacobol]

Here's looking forward to a more level playing field.

Putin announces Russia possesses hypersonic weapons _http://tass.com/defense/992214

MOSCOW, March 1. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that Russia possesses hypersonic weapons.
All countries with a high level of scientific potential "are actively developing hypersonic weapons," Putin said in his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly.

"Russia already possesses such weapons," the president said. Therefore, the world’s leading armies want to possess these ideal weapons, he added. Russia has created modern, compact and hi-tech Armed Forces, he said.

"We can say with full validation that Russia has created modern Armed Forces, which are compact and hi-tech troops for this huge territory, with an officer corps as its heart, where every officer is ready for any sacrifice for its nation," he said.
Putin is certain demonstrating the capabilities of Russia’s armed forces will bring any belligerent back to reality. "I hope that everything that was said today will bring any potential aggressor down to earth," the head of state said.
Putin noted that such unfriendly steps against Russia as deploying the missile defense system, bringing NATO’s infrastructure close to Russia’s borders had become ineffective from a military perspective and unreasonably costly from a financial point of view. "All that ultimately (becomes) just pointless for those who initiate and do that," he concluded
The president stressed every system, presented during the address, is unique and important. "Even more important is the fact that together they all allow the Defense Ministry and the General Staff to create the promising multifaceted system for the country’s defense, where every modern instrument plays a role," Putin said.
Russian designers and scientists, who have been working for years to create Russia’s newest strategic weapons, are true Heroes of Our Time, the president said.
"Quietly, humbly, without any self-admiration, with full sacrifice, thousands, literally thousands of our specialists - outstanding scientists, designers, engineers, and talented committed employees have been working on it," he said.
"Many of them are young people," he continued. "They all, like our military, who demonstrate in combat missions the best qualities of the Russian Armed Forces, are the very Heroes of Our Time."
"By the way, code names for these new two types of Russia’s strategic weapons, which are a cruise global-range missile and unmanned underwater vehicle, have not been chosen yet," Putin said in his State of the Nation Address to the Federal Assembly on Thursday. "We expect proposals [to be posted] on the Defense Ministry’s website."
The Kinzhal hypersonic complex capable of delivering missiles to a discharge point within just several minutes assumed combat duty in south Russia on December 1, 2017, Putin said.
"As an important stage of armament development, a precision hypersonic aviation and missile complex has been created," Putin said.

From December 1, 2017, the new missile complex called Kinzhal "started carrying out its experimental and combat duty missions at aerodromes of the Southern Military District," the Russian president said.
According to Putin, "the unique flight and technical characteristics of the high-speed aircraft-type carrier make it possible to deliver missiles to a discharge point within just minutes."
Unmanned submersible vehicle
Russia constructed an unmanned submersible vehicle capable of covering unlimited distances at extreme depths, Putin said.
"It is a well-known fact that unmanned weapon systems are designed and produced around the globe," Putin stated. "I can say that Russia has designed unmanned submersible vehicles capable of operating at extreme depths."
"I would say that it is capable of operating at very extreme depths covering intercontinental distances at the speed, which greatly exceeds the speed of all submarines, up-to-date torpedoes and all types of high-speed surface ships," the Russian president added.

Putin said that such unmanned vehicles have a low noise level, are highly maneuverable and almost invincible to an enemy.
"Technical means, which can stand against them, simply do not exist in the world today," Putin stated adding that the new weapon is "simply fantastic."
The Russian president said that the new unmanned submersible vehicles could be armed with both conventional and nuclear weapons and it would allow them to strike a broad variety of targets, including aerial groupings, seacoast fortifications and infrastructure
Putin noted that the years-long testing cycle of an innovative nuclear charge, specifically designed for the new unmanned submersible vehicle, had been completed in December 2017. The nuclear installation, he continued, is compact yet highly energy efficient and being hundred times smaller in size than the analogues on board of modern submarines. It has enormous power and requires 200 times less time to be put on combat alert.
"The results of the tests granted us an opportunity to begin producing a completely new type of strategic weapons armed with nuclear warheads of enormous power," Putin added.
New military systems
The new military systems using new physical principles, including laser systems, multiply Russia’s opportunities in the defense sector, the president said.
"We are well aware of the fact that some counties have been working on new weapons based on new physical principles," he said. "We have reasons to believe here we are one step ahead of them. At least, where it is needed most."
"For example, we have great results in creating laser weapons, and we are speaking not about theories or projects, nor about beginning production," he continued. "First laser systems have been supplied to the Armed Forces since last year."
"I would not want to go into details here - it is not the time yet, but specialists would understands that having such military systems multiplies Russia’s abilities in the defense sphere," Putin said.
"Of course, we will continue to engage in finalizing, developing and updating our weapon inventory. And of course, I have mentioned far from all our achievements and advanced development, but it’s enough for today," Putin said. I want to specifically emphasize that the new strategic weapons systems that have been created or are underway, are in essence new kinds of strategic weapons, and not undertakings of the Soviet Union times," he added.
All that was mentioned in his address to the Federal Assembly - has been done in the past few years, Putin stressed.
"This has been done by tens of scientific institutions, scientific bureaus and institutes. Thousands, exactly thousands of our specialists have been working on this for many years with a full devotion, calmly, modestly and without any narcissism," Putin added.
"Advanced military development is always based on outstanding achievements that must and will in due time be used in the civil high-tech industry," he said. "These unique and complex weapons can only be successfully designed and produced by the state as it requires high-level fundamental science and education, a strong research base, technologies, industrial capacity and human resources," Putin noted.
"You can see that Russia has all these resources. We will continue to build up and accumulate these capabilities in order to achieve large-scale goals that our country is facing in the economic and social fields," he said. "Russia’s long-term sustainable development will always be reliably protected," Putin added.
"Each and every one of the new weapons systems is unique and important, but what is more important is that all this together provides experts from the Defense Ministry and the General Staff with an opportunity to create an advanced comprehensive national defense system, in which every newest military tool will have its place," the head of state said. "Along with operational strategic weapons, which we have been continuously improving, Russia is getting a defense system that will ensure its security in the long term," Putin concluded.

 

[angelburst29]

US: Russia 'Irresponsible' in New Weapons Boast (Video - 1:03 min.)
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/other/us-russia-irresponsible-in-new-weapons-boast/vp-BBJLiDQ

The United States says Russia acted irresponsibly by boasting of new nuclear weapons that President Vladimir Putin says are impervious to U.S. defenses.

WASHINGTON: The United States on Thursday said Russia acted irresponsibly by boasting of new nuclear weapons that President Vladimir Putin says are impervious to US defenses.

US says Russia nuclear weapons boast irresponsible
http://www.arabnews.com/node/1257291/world

State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says it was “unfortunate” to watch a video animation depicting “a nuclear attack on the United States” that accompanied Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state-of-the-nation speech Thursday.

She called the video “cheesy” and said that “we don’t think it’s responsible.”

Nauert said the animation confirms that Russia has been creating destabilizing weapons systems for more than a decade in “direct violation” of its treaty obligations. She said the US has long known that but that Russia had previously denied it.

The Pentagon downplayed Putin’s announcement of new nuclear weapons, saying Moscow’s weaponry was long under development and had already been factored into US assessments.

“We’re not surprised by the statements and the American people should rest assured that we are fully prepared,” said Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White, after Putin, speaking ahead of a March 18 election, showcased missiles that he said could hit almost any point in the world.

A new article in Military Review, official journal of the US Army Combined Arms Center (USACAC) military educational institution, has concluded that Russia has won "at least a partial victory" in Syria, and done so "with impressive efficiency, flexibility, and coordination between military and political action."

Official US Army Journal Concedes Russian Victory in Syria 03.03.2018
https://sputniknews.com/military/201803031062198201-us-army-analysis-of-russian-syria-operation/

The article, published in the journal's March-April issue, is titled "What Kind of Victory for Russia in Syria?" and outlines why the Russian-led coalition in Syria, in the authors' estimation, is "closing in on its own military and political objectives."

In a frank appraisal of Moscow's concerns ahead of its intervention, which began in September 2015, including the threat of Islamist militants taking over Syria and then moving on to threaten Russia in the Caucasus, the authors explain that a "successful intervention" would offer Moscow "victory on three fronts: preventing US-backed regime change in Syria, breaking out of political isolation and forcing Washington to deal with Russia as an equal, and demonstrating at home that Russia is a great power on the main stage of international politics."

The authors admit that the Russian military fairly quickly to overcome the difficult strategic situation facing Damascus, while "working under severe resource constraints" and having to "change the calculus and policy" of countries including the US, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, convincing or coercing the latter into changing their approach. This included pushing Washington into tacit acceptance of the Russian intervention, as well as Syrian President Bashar Assad's "de facto victory over the radicals as well as the US-backed opposition." In this regard, the article noted that although Russia's success" was not unqualified, "it appears that if the campaign in Syria is not a victory for Russia, it is certainly a defeat for those who opposed the Russian-led coalition."

Praising Russia's "lean," "flexible," "small footprint" approach, the journal pointed out that Russia successfully dealt with issues including lack of experience in combat operations abroad since the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, Russia's rather limited long-range supply and support capabilities (compared to those of the US, presumably), and the complexity of coordinating with its Syrian, Iranian, militia and other allies in a crowded battlefield environment.

The journal stressed that notwithstanding early doubts about Russia's prospects, "especially given recent Western experiences in expeditionary operations in the Middle East," Moscow generally prevailed.

On the technical front, the journal pointed to Russian air power's high sortie rate, and praised the air contingent based out of Hmeymim for a mechanical failure and combat loss rate "magnitudes less than previous Russian or Soviet air operations."

Diplomatically too, the journal noted that Russia successfully "broke" US diplomatic leadership and the monopoly of the Geneva peace process, integrating the Astana platform, as well as meetings of opposition groups aimed at arriving at a consolidated position from the opposition. With Russia's help, Damascus's hand has been strengthened to the point where the Syrian government can pressure the opposition into negotiations on its own terms.

In the long term, the authors noted, Russia also gained a political victory, including a long-term military presence in Hmeymim and Tartus, which it is assumed will assist Moscow in its "larger bid for becoming a power broker in the Middle East."

The biggest failure, in the authors' assessment, has been in achieving full-fledged Russian-US cooperation in fighting terrorism in Syria, as well as using anti-terror cooperation in Syria to help smooth over Russian-Western tensions over Ukraine.

Russia is the only country in the world seeking to uphold peace, Iranian political commentator Mostafa Azerian told Sputnik while discussing Russia’s position in the world today and the country’s newly unveiled weaponry.

Iranian Expert: Russia Has Shown the World that ‘US Hegemony Is Over’
https://sputniknews.com/analysis/201803041062200765-iranian-expert-us-hegemony/

Azrian is an expert on international relations and strategic issues of Russia-Iran cooperation; he also heads the Center on Strategic Research on Russia (IRASIEH) in Tehran.

Commenting on Russian President Vladimir Putin's Address to Russia's Federal Assembly, during which Putin presented a number of highly advanced weapons, Azrian said that the advancement is a great achievement by the Russian state, while the presentation was a strategic move for Putin himself.

Through the address, Putin "openly demonstrated to the whole world what an intellectually experienced a leader he is; that he keeps an eye on all international developments," Azrian said.

"By demonstrating the supreme power of its weapons, the Russian Federation once again showed the US that it has a response for US missile defense in Europe that shatters the international balance in the world," he said.

According to Azrian, the core of international instability lies in the United States' one-sided approach to the global balance of power, which does not account for other states' interests.

"Naturally, the Americans have never cared. However, by approving their new nuclear doctrine, they have once again proven their unilateral approach, which undermines the strategic stability and security of a number of countries," Azrian commented.

This is why the creation and demonstration of super-powered weapons was a necessary measure for Russia, which seeks to keep international security."

"Russia has proven to the whole world that period of a unipolar world and US hegemony is over," he said.

He also noted that the US appears to be stuck in the Cold War era, complete with a desire to engage in an arms race, among other things.

"If the US still wants an arms race, Russia… is not the country it was in [former US President Ronald] Reagan's times, and will not make concessions."

"Today, Russia made a large step ahead in military technology and armaments: its powerful Avanagard and Kinzhal [missile systems] can give a devastating response to any aggressor," Azerian concluded.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has criticized the claims by US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander Gen. Joseph Votel on Moscow’s influence in Central Asia on Saturday and noted that Russia maintains a mutually beneficial cooperation with the regional states, while Washington only pursues its own interests.

Moscow Slams CENTCOM Chief’s Claims on Russia’s Role in Central Asia
https://sputniknews.com/asia/201803031062196107-moscow-centcom-central-asia/

On Tuesday, Votel addressed the US lower house Committee on Armed Services and said that Russia’s significant influence in the Central Asian region "limits US engagement options and provide Moscow additional levers of influence." The official also said that China competes with the United States over the influence in the region.

"Behind all this, obviously, are those, who would like to cut off the Central Asian countries from a multifaceted array of cooperation with Russia and other participants in the integration processes in the post-Soviet space. The real facts indicate the exceptional importance of this vector for the nations of all regional states," the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.

Moscow enjoys historically friendly ties with the regional countries and significantly contributes to the promotion of social and economic development of the nations, the Foreign Ministry added.

Over the past 10 years, the volume of Russian assistance to the development of Central Asia has exceeded $6 billion, while over $20 billion of Russia’s investments are circulating in the regional economies. At the same time, the regional states invest in the Russian economy too, for example Kazakhstan has invested over $3 billion, according to the statement.

"For comparison, Washington for the period of 2008 – 2016 contributed about $3 billion to the countries of the region, including military assistance. The United States approaches the cooperation with the Central Asian countries in a very consumer, unilateral way, seeking to gain access to their raw materials, logistics, transit corridors, as well as to gain control over the sensitive security sector," the Ministry's statement read.

Russia respects the right of its Central Asian allies to choose their partners, but is against if one of these partners tries to spark discord, the Foreign Ministry underlined.

A senior Russian security official yesterday accused the United States of establishing 20 military bases in areas controlled by Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria.

Russia: US setup 20 bases in north-east Syria March 2, 2018
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180302-russia-us-setup-20-bases-in-north-east-syria/

Assistant to Russia’s Security Council Secretary, Alexander Venediktov, said: “The ongoing external interference in the Syrian crisis prevent stability and the return of peace to Syria. For example the establishment of some 20 military bases in areas controlled by the Kurdish Democratic Union Party or PYD.”

Venediktov added that the US has been supporting the Kurds with the latest weapons.

The Pentagon has deployed hundreds of American troopers in southeastern Syria on the border with Iraq as the United States is virtually occupying tens of kilometers there without the consent of the Syrian government, a report said.

Pentagon Deploys Hundreds of US Troops in Southeastern Syria: Reports
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2018/03/02/1670005/pentagon-deploys-hundreds-of-us-troops-in-southeastern-syria-reports

Turkish-language daily Yeni Akit reported that 600 troops, including special forces soldiers, have arrived at al-Tanf garrison, which was established two years ago.

The Arabic-language Palmyra Monitor news website, which is sympathetic to foreign-sponsored Takfiri militant groups, also wrote that units of US soldiers have reached the base with armored vehicles over the past few days.

The reports come as an official from Russia’s Security Council told Ria Novosti news agency that the United States has set up around 20 military bases in areas controlled by Kurdish militants it supports in northern Syria.

“The return of peace and stability to Syria is hampered by continued external interference in the Syrian crisis. For example, in the territory controlled by the people’s self-defense units of Kurdistan, some 20 US military bases have been created,” Alexander Venediktov said.

The official also said Washington is supplying the Kurds with the most advanced weapons.

Venediktov further noted that the United States is occupying a 55-kilometer (34-mile) zone surrounding the al-Tanf garrison without the Damascus government’s consent.

“This zone includes the infamous Rukban refugee camp, where militants from illegal armed groups are freely moving near the US Armed Forces,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Russia's Ambassador to Jordan, Boris Bolotin, told Sputnik news agency he has information that Takfiri terrorists are being trained in the al-Tanf region.

“I do not rule out that they could be militants who fled Raqqah,” Bolotin said.

The US-led coalition has been conducting airstrikes against what are said to be Daesh targets inside Syria since September 2014 without any authorization from the Damascus government or a UN mandate.

The military alliance has repeatedly been accused of targeting and killing civilians. It has also been largely incapable of achieving its declared goal of destroying Daesh.

 

[angelburst29]

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the board of the Federal Security Service (FSB); he addressed key aspects of the agency's work and set goals for the development of the country's security apparatus.

Putin Calls on FSB to Thwart Attempts to Hinder Russia's Strategic Development
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201803051062236884-putin-attempts-impede-russia-strategic-development/

Foreign Attempts to Gain Access to Sensitive Information in Russia - In 2017, Russian counterintelligence neutralized several hundred foreign intelligence agents, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"I ask you to continue to carry out this most important task, to effectively stop the attempts of foreign intelligence services from gaining access to information of a political, economic, technological or defense-related nature," the president said, addressing the FSB leadership.

The illegal activities of 72 staff members and 397 foreign intelligence agents have been foiled in Russia in 2017 and the Russian intelligence services should continue to work efficiently, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday.

The life, rights and security of our citizens must be protected from both internal and external threats, and from any attempts to prevent us from solving the tasks of our strategic development," Vladimir Putin added.

Anti-Terrorism Fight - Russia is ready for cooperation in the field of combating terror and ensuring international security with all states and without exception, despite other disagreements, Putin said.

In the fight against terror, with other challenges of civilization and international security, Russia has always been and will be open to interaction and joint work with both our allies and those who are not included in this number. With all other countries, even if we have differences or contradictions with any of them on any issues on the international agenda," Vladimir Putin said.

Putin has urged the improvement of the coordinating role of the National Antiterrorist Committee in the fight against terrorism, to receive operational proactive information, to liquidate financial, information and other channels used by transnational, global terrorist groups.

Newest Weapons Systems - The FSB provided an effective counter-intelligence cover for the development of the newest weapons systems.

"On March 1, during the parliamentary address, I spoke about new technologies and weapons systems designed to protect Russia, to ensure strategic parity, and thus, to improve international security. Work on this modern technology has been going on for many years and involved thousands of people, including hundreds of design and research teams; Russia's industrial enterprises have participated in it. I want to note that we managed to provide an effective and efficient counter-intelligence cover for these large-scale projects," Putin said.

"I also want to thank all of you who participated in this responsible and difficult work for this result," the president said, noting that this work is going on amid difficult conditions.

The severity of confrontation with the United States in the information space will only increase, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said at a meeting of the Federation Council's temporary commission for the protection of state sovereignty and prevention of interference in Russia's internal affairs.

Moscow Lambasts US Over Breaking Up Consultations With Russia Over Cybersecurity
https://sputniknews.com/world/201803051062230761-russia-us-cybersecurity-geneva/

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the US disrupted consultations with Russia on cybersecurity in Geneva ‘in an ugly manner’, a “far-fetched pretext” almost 1 hour before its start.

According to Ryabkov, "these consultations were to be held in Geneva on February 27-28, but literally an hour before their planned start, when the Russian interdepartmental delegation was already in place, we were officially notified by the State Department of the administration's decision to refuse to hold the meeting."

"Again, with an absolutely contrived, unreasonable reference to certain "destabilizing" actions by Russia in the cyberspace," he added.

"Of course, the central direction of this confrontation, this struggle, is informational. I think that the severity of the fights in the information space will undoubtedly increase, and we will all have to live with this in the coming period, " Ryabkov said at the presentation of the commission's annual report on Monday.

The continuation of US policy to implement its geopolitical tasks in the world under the guise of democratization has caused chaos. Yugoslavia has ceased, Iraq and Libya are coming undone at the seams, we will note the events in Ukraine," Ryabkov said. The same hotheads "in the US are not averse to repeating this with Russia."

Earlier, US National Security Adviser Herbert McMaster said that the US is ready to begin a dialogue with Russia on cybersecurity if Russia is serious about stopping cyber espionage.

The cooperation on cybersecurity between Russia and the United States was actively developing in the period from 2009 to 2013. At that period, the administration of former US President Barack Obama announced a reset of relations with Russia. But, since 2014, the cooperation has been suspended, due to the Ukrainian crisis, with alleged Russian interference in this conflict and Crimea's reunification with Russia.

US Interference in Internal Affairs - The United States has a rich tradition of interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, including Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

"It would probably be incorrect to comment on Foreign Ministry statements. The fact that the United States has a rich tradition of interference in internal affairs and in electoral processes in many countries, including our country, is not a secret for anyone, and it has even been recognized by Americans themselves," Peskov said when asked what the Kremlin's attitude to such an attempt was.

Earlier Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said his ministry was registering attempts by the United States to interfere in election processes in Russia.

Yuri Yevtushenko, head of the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria, expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in the Eastern Ghouta, near Damascus, and terrorists’ attacks on civilians who aim to flee the enclave via a humanitarian corridor.

Russian Official Concerned over Deteriorating Situation in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2018/03/05/1672758/russian-official-concerned-over-deteriorating-situation-in-syria-s-eastern-ghouta

"Yet another, the sixth, humanitarian pause was observed under control of the reconciliation center from nine in the morning to 02:00 p.m. local time. However, despite all the measures we took, not a single civilian could break free from the enclave again," he said on Sunday.

According to the Russian official, all possible channels are used to inform civilians about escape routes and rules for safe movement via the humanitarian corridors.

He said a checkpoint, a first aid station and a temporary accommodation camp are ready to receive people leaving the dangerous zone.

"Armed groups have blocked all exit routes in the district. The security corridor along the road leading to the checkpoint in the settlement of al-Wafidin and the checkpoint regularly come under gunfire by militants. Shelling doesn’t stop even during humanitarian pauses," he was quoted by the Russian TASS news agency.

A medical post located near the checkpoint came under mortar fire from militant positions in Eastern Ghouta’s western part of Al-Rihan. "Six mines went off at a distance from 200 to 400 meters west of the medical post. No one was hurt," Yevtushenko said.

He said that the Russian reconciliation center continues to receive calls from people living in Eastern Ghouta, who are in bad need for food, medicines and drinking water. Moreover, people complain of militants’ atrocities.

"Illegal armed groups’ actions seeking to break down the ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta, Damascus and its suburbs and in entire Syria are inadmissible. We demand immediate cessation of military crimes, armed provocations. We demand safe exodus from dangerous areas to be ensured for civilians,"
he stressed.

"Despite the tense situation in a number of Syrian regions, the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties continues efforts to normalize the humanitarian situation across the country," he said, adding that on Sunday, 85 Syrians, including 35 children had received first aid assistance from Russian military doctors.

The sixth humanitarian pause started in Eastern Ghouta at 09:00 local time on Sunday. Militants continue to keep local residents as a human shield, not letting them to cross the humanitarian corridor. Only two children have managed to break free from the area. On Saturday, militants conducted sniper fire at the humanitarian corridor, wounding three civilians.

The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported on Monday that terrorists of Jabhat al-Nusra and terrorist groups affiliated to it positioned in Ghouta have targeted Tishreen Military Hospital with mortar shells and have injured a number of people, some of them in critical condition.

In retaliation for the terrorists’ attacks on Damascus and its suburb, the Syrian army regained control over the town of al-Nashabiye and a number of villages and farms in Eastern Ghouta and inflicted heavy losses upon Jabhat al-Nusra and groups affiliated to it, a military source said to SANA.

In the meantime, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told reporters on Sunday that the operations would continue, while "opening the way for civilians to leave."

Marsha Freeman, from the Executive Intelligence Review, said what has destabilized the “strategic situation” in the region is the US stationing of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) systems in Europe and on warships patrolling Russia’s borders, not Iran’s missile program.

US Missile Systems, Not Iran’s Missile Program, Destabilizing Region: US Author
https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2018/03/04/1669982/us-missile-systems-not-iran-s-missile-program-destabilizing-region-us-author

“I am not aware of the focus of the Europeans on Iran's missile program, beyond the long-standing accusation that it is a potential threat to Europe. What has destabilized the strategic situation in the region has been the deployment of US anti-ballistic missile batteries in Eastern Europe, on the Russian border, in the name of protection against a strike from Iran…,”

Following is the full text of the interview.

Tasnim: According to a report carried recently by the New York Times, Britain, France and Germany are trying to create a “successor deal” to the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers. The proposed instructions stipulate that the Europeans agree to three key fixes: “a commitment to renegotiate limits on missile testing by Iran; an assurance that inspectors have unfettered access to Iranian military bases; and an extension of the deal’s expiration dates to prevent Iran from resuming the production of nuclear fuel long after the current restrictions expire in 2030.” What’s your take on this?

Freeman: In general, the maneuvering that is going on around the Iran nuclear agreement is part of larger strategic policies in the Middle East.

The Europeans are trying to be a buffer between Iran and the United States, and find ways, on the one hand, to remove the threat by President Trump to renege on the agreement if there are not changes, and on the other hand, the insistence by Iran, supported by Russia and China, that the treaty cannot be renegotiated. The three stipulations that the United States has put on the table, according to the New York Times article, are not all appropriate to the nuclear agreement. If Iran's missile tests are an area of concern, they should be discussed with Iran, not be used to hold the nuclear agreement hostage, or subject Iran to unilateral sanctions. Under the existing agreement, there is not to be missiles that can carry nuclear weapons. If Iran is not developing nuclear weapons, which the IAEA verifies, there should not be a “missile” issue. If there is concern about missiles for other reasons than to carry nuclear weapons, new talks should be initiated, separate from the existing agreement.

Tasnim: It seems that the Europeans are most comfortable with enforcing new limits on Iran’s missile program. What do you think?

Freeman: I am not aware of the focus of the Europeans on Iran's missile program, beyond the long-standing accusation that it is a potential threat to Europe. What has destabilized the strategic situation in the region has been the deployment of US anti-ballistic missile batteries in Eastern Europe, on the Russian border, in the name of protection against a strike from Iran. In fact, on the practical level, these land-based anti-missile systems are ineffective, and have failed in 50% of their tests. But these installations are a threat to Russia's nuclear deterrent, and that is a real danger.

Tasnim: European diplomats say they worry that Trump’s scorn for the deal runs so deep that he would find other reasons to pull out. What would happen if Trump pulls out? How should Iran react?

Freeman: Although it is the President of the United States who makes the final policy determination, especially on foreign policy, there are differences of opinion, analysis, and advice within the Trump Administration. The cited New York Times article reports that three times, the President's Defense Secretary, National Security Adviser, and Secretary of State advised him not to abrogate the nuclear agreement. One group outside of the Administration with influence, is the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS), which is an association of former top US intelligence officers. In a Memorandum released Feb. 26, they warn the President not to be taken in by the claim that Iran is “the world's top sponsor of terrorism,” and get drawn into a military conflict with Iran, which is being provoked by Israel and Saudi Arabia, from their common interest of regime change in Iran.

Tasnim: In the shadow of the Iran deal, reports suggest that the Trump administration is opening talks with Saudi Arabia on a potentially lucrative atomic energy agreement. The Saudis have reportedly indicated they might accept curbs on their future nuclear program only if a separate nuclear deal with Iran is tightened. What is your idea about a nuclear Saudi Arabia?

Freeman: Saudi Arabia is attempting to hold a commercial nuclear energy deal with the US hostage to US policy toward Iran. They are counting on the Trump Administration's willingness to put in jeopardy the Iran nuclear deal, with the promise of jobs to manufacture Saudi nuclear reactors, for a dying US nuclear industry. It is being claimed that if the US does not accede to the demand to allow them to do uranium enrichment and reprocessing of spent fuel, the Saudis can go to Russia or China for the nuclear reactors. It is asserted that this would be a nonproliferation concern, because Russia and China would not place restrictions on the technology. In fact, that is not the case. In non-nuclear states, Russia provides the fuel, and repatriates the spent fuel. Russia's success at exporting nuclear plants comes from its offer of advantageous financing, not violation of nonproliferation regulations. The complexity of a Saudi nuclear plan is a question broader than its relationship with Iran, and should be discussed with the nations that collectively would be affected by it, and with the nations that could supply the reactors and technology.

Marsha Freeman was born in New York City and was educated at Queens College and Columbia University. She is the author of hundreds of articles on the US space program and has been published in Fusion Magazine, Executive Intelligence Review, 21st Century Science & Technology, Acta Astronautica, Space World, New Federalist newspaper, Science Books & Films, Space Governance Journal, The World & I, Quest, The Encyclopedia of the Midwest, and many other periodicals. In 1993 she authored the acclaimed book “How We Got to the Moon: The Story of the German Space Pioneers” and then in 2000 she authored “Challenges of Human Space Exploration.” She has been a witness before the United States Congress at hearings on science, energy, space, and transportation budgets and policies.

 

[goyacobol]

Ghouta is the most important battle for Syria and Russia: What next? _https://ejmagnier.com/2018/03/04/ghouta-is-the-most-important-battle-for-syria-and-russia-what-next/

Damascus by Elijah J. Magnier: @ejmalrai

Eastern Ghouta seems to be a turning point and a most strategic fight for both Moscow and Damascus. Many reasons motivated this alliance to control it and take it away from the jihadists and rebels. On the other hand, such determination implies similar willpower in the opposite camp led by the US and its allies to prevent Ghouta from being liberated. This is the struggle between the two camps: one is determined to regain control of Ghouta and head towards the end of the war in Syria, and the other is equally determined to keep the war going.

These are the main reasons:

1. Ghouta was and still is considered one of the main areas offering air protection to Damascus against any air attack, possibly coming from Israel. The Syrian Air Defence system has maintained several anti-air missile bases in Ghouta for decades as a crossfire point around the Syrian capital.

At the beginning of the war, the Syrian Army demounted its air radar defence system in Ghouta just before it fell into the hands of the rebels and jihadists. The army didn’t manage to retrieve all missiles: some were destroyed by the new occupiers and others were used, managing to hunt down a Syrian jet.

As they recover Ghouta, the Syrian Army is preparing to deploy an advanced anti-air system, adding an important additional defensive element for the capital Damascus, against any air or long-range missile attacks or violations of its air space.

2. Eastern Ghouta is the weakest point in the vicinity of the capital Damascus. Actually, jihadists and rebels bomb the capital daily with dozens of rockets and missiles. This would make it impossible for any presidential or parliamentary elections to take place under such a continuous threat against the population. In fact, as long as Damascus is unsafe, any political proposal offered by Moscow to end the Syrian war would be handicapped.

3. Ending the war in Ghouta means putting an end to the presence of al-Qaeda (Jabhat al-Nusra aka Hay’at tahrir al-Sham) and Ahrar al-Sham (a group combining the Salafi Jihadists Takfiri and the Muslim brotherhood doctrines) around Damascus. This means, these jihadists will be forced to flee Ghouta for Idlib once they understand the battle to be lost. That will definitely create a push for an exchange with the inhabitants of the besieged cities of Fua and Kfarya, surrounded by Jihadists in north Idlib for over three years.

A similar exchange took place in December 2016 when jihadists and civilians were offered free passage from Aleppo in exchange for Fua and Kfarya civilians (of which dozens were killed while they were crossing, by a suicide bomber from Jund al-Aqsa, the organization close to the “Islamic State” (ISIS) which works alongside al-Qaeda in northern Syria).

4. Ending the battle of Al-Ghouta will free tens of thousands of Syrian soldiers so these can go directly to the southern city of Daraa and also liberate the border area with Israel. One of the Syrian Army’s main targets is expected to be the stronghold of “Khaled Bin Al Waleed’s Army” in the Yarmouk basin on the borders with Israel. This is composed of factions previously associated with ISIS (implying identical methods of operation and ideology), repetitively praised by the ISIS official media outlet A’maq and Al-Battar.

Israel supports at least seven Syrian organisations in the Golan region with weapons, equipment, and money, and provides intelligence and unmanned aerial vehicles on their behalf. Not long ago, the Syrian army regained the area of ​​Beit Jinn and got very close to the Golan occupied territory.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has frequently requested Russia to keep the Syrian army at least 60 kilometres away from “his” border as a buffer zone. President Vladimir Putin has refused to respond to Netanyahu’s request because he regards the Golan as an occupied territory that belongs to Syria and does not want to interfere in this Arab-Israeli conflict.

Therefore, the Syrian army has become stronger and more resilient today than ever, and will be heading towards the southern front after Ghouta. This expected move may very well provoke the anger of Israel and its ally the US, and thus these will try to impede this process if possible by supporting Al-Ghouta through the “blind eye” of the humanitarian channels, the United Nations (under various flags) and the support of the world mainstream media. They will even go so far as to support an organisation like al-Qaeda based in al-Ghouta.

Actually, the presence of al Qaeda represents a relatively weak US argument (and Russia’s strong one) to liberate al-Ghouta. Before the military campaign against east Damascus, al-Qaeda was estimated to have between 1,500 and 2,000 fighters in this area, while the number of fighters from other organisations was in the range of 8,000 to 10,000 in this same area.

Al-Qaeda, through an expected bluff, has tried to reduce the known number to almost 10% of its actual size (claiming about 200 fighters present in Ghouta). However, the UN Resolution 2401 expressly excludes al-Qaeda (Jahbat al-Nusra or Hay’atTahrir al-Sham) and other jihadi organisations from the ceasefire.

In Ghouta, there are various organisations like “the Army of Islam” in Duma, which carries the Salafist-jihadi ideology. Then comes “Al Qaeda” operating with “Faylaq al-Rahman” and “Fajr al-Ummah” in addition to a smaller number of “Ahrar Sham”. These are spread in the farms located between Duma, Harasta, Joubar, Saqba, Zamaleka and Muhammadiyah.

“Fajr al-Ummah” is an al-Qaeda ally and shares organisation, weapons and men with the jihadists – despite being classified as a “Free Syrian Army”. But all of these groups have announced since 2013 that they are “all Jabhat al-Nusra”, even if the relationship between al-Qaeda and other Syrian groups differs today in the north of Syria from what was happening previously in the first years of war.

There were more than 2.5 million people living in the eastern Ghouta region before 2011. However recent estimates indicate that there are about 200,000 to 300,000 people in the area today. Because of this, Russia has announced that it has opened a humanitarian corridor for the exit of civilians through the crossing of al-Wafedeen. There are Russian surveillance forces, buses, 46 trucks waiting to supply Ghouta inhabitants with food and medicine, and the Syrian Red Crescent awaiting civilians escaping from the jihadist controlled area. But these jihadists are preventing civilians from leaving, imposing a curfew during the five hours allocated for civilian evacuation, to keep pressure on Russia and Syria, who are insisting on the return of al-Ghouta to the control of the central government in Damascus.

The Syrian army, fighting alone without allied forces (due to its recovery and robust combat ideology), has been able to recover a significant portion of Ghouta in recent days (almost 40%), and is confident it will be freed soon. The Syrian army is about to divide Ghouta in two parts and the evacuation to Idlib and the exchange negotiation with Fua and Kfarya inhabitants are expected to begin in the coming days.

The battle of Ghouta, as I write, is indeed a war between Russia and the United States over influence and dominance in the Levant. Russia wants to end the war to prove its ability to bring peace, not only to wage war. And the US is doing everything possible to spoil this pleasure for President Putin. This struggle required a confrontation arena (Syria) where the two superpowers could fight.

One thing is certain: unilateral US dominant rule in the Middle East – whatever the outcome of the war in Syria – is over.