Russia Begins Operations in Syria: End Game for the US Empire?
- Thread starter Ocean
- Start date
I doubt it. The tweets are very much 'Trump style' ('Animal Assad' sounds like 'Rocket Man Kim Jong-Un'; finishes of with a one word comment in capitals and exclamation: 'SICK!), and he is said to be very jealous and uncontrollable regarding his tweets. However, IF he really didn't write them, then that just confirms he is a complete puppet and has absolutely NO power whatsoever.
BlackCartouche
Jedi Master
Maybe not "absolutely NO power" and "complete puppet" - just very limited 'power'. The C's said something about Trump seriously underestimating the power of the deep state.
This is interesting:
Does Trump write his own tweets? Apparently not this one
Trump’s core base sees through latest Deep State Syrian chemical weapons false flag.
http://theduran.com/trumps-core-bas...eep-state-syrian-chemical-weapons-false-flag/
April 9, 2018, 17:37
POTUS Trump is better served listening to his base.
In a recent article published by right leaning, conservative website, The Gateway Pundit entitled, “POTUS Trump Threatens “Animal Assad,” Calls Out Putin Over Alleged Chemical Attack In Syria“, a large community of readers that has supported Trump, from his election campaign to the White House, saw through the bulls**t Syria chemical weapons false flag.
POTUS Trump is better served listening to his base, otherwise he faces the risk of being swallowed up by the Deep State swamp he promised to drain.
Here is a just a very sample of the comments on TGP, after another false flag in Syria, meant to bait the US into a reckless, and potentially devastating war in Syria.
http://theduran.com/trumps-core-bas...eep-state-syrian-chemical-weapons-false-flag/
April 9, 2018, 17:37
POTUS Trump is better served listening to his base.
In a recent article published by right leaning, conservative website, The Gateway Pundit entitled, “POTUS Trump Threatens “Animal Assad,” Calls Out Putin Over Alleged Chemical Attack In Syria“, a large community of readers that has supported Trump, from his election campaign to the White House, saw through the bulls**t Syria chemical weapons false flag.
POTUS Trump is better served listening to his base, otherwise he faces the risk of being swallowed up by the Deep State swamp he promised to drain.
Here is a just a very sample of the comments on TGP, after another false flag in Syria, meant to bait the US into a reckless, and potentially devastating war in Syria.
Phill4
The Living Force
Watching Nikki Haley at the UN Security Council was infuriating, a psychopath, it was comforting to read the comments of many people seeing through this nonsense and even more to hear from Russia regarding this as "fake news", it seems they are preparing for yet another series of "legal" attacks and needed a justification to set the stage for it. Just like they used Skripal to remove diplomats from several countries.
Without any investigation whatsoever they went ahead and did this and that. the sanctions, the diplomats and Trump's threat.
After watching his response, i found it interesting that he stopped reading when he referred to North Korea, it reminded me when Putin and Obama were at the ONU meeting and Putin was reading the statement the whole way through and Obama was just regurgitating rhetoric on the podium, almost like whatever comes to his mind about children and this and the third. I am inclined to believe that Trump didn't make the tweets but that he is out of options to do anything to change the foreign policy, He has to play it out.
Interesting though, I went to NBC and CBS news, on NBC they chopped pieces of Nikki Haley garbage and the reporter stated again that Syria was behind the attack, CBS did share some of the accounts of the Russian ambassador , but both provided the images saying "we cannot confirm these images individually" and "oh the doctor treated 70 patients and wish to remain anonymous" (in the mist of a serious international incident?)
Seriously ?! the video was one only, and they couldn't verify? and that doctor must have godlike speed or something... again where is this so called doctor on the images?
Sorry for the rant, been all over this story and it's like really?
Without any investigation whatsoever they went ahead and did this and that. the sanctions, the diplomats and Trump's threat.
After watching his response, i found it interesting that he stopped reading when he referred to North Korea, it reminded me when Putin and Obama were at the ONU meeting and Putin was reading the statement the whole way through and Obama was just regurgitating rhetoric on the podium, almost like whatever comes to his mind about children and this and the third. I am inclined to believe that Trump didn't make the tweets but that he is out of options to do anything to change the foreign policy, He has to play it out.
Interesting though, I went to NBC and CBS news, on NBC they chopped pieces of Nikki Haley garbage and the reporter stated again that Syria was behind the attack, CBS did share some of the accounts of the Russian ambassador , but both provided the images saying "we cannot confirm these images individually" and "oh the doctor treated 70 patients and wish to remain anonymous" (in the mist of a serious international incident?)
Seriously ?! the video was one only, and they couldn't verify? and that doctor must have godlike speed or something... again where is this so called doctor on the images?
Sorry for the rant, been all over this story and it's like really?
Those UNSC meetings are just plain theatre, where everyone is reading from their pre-written scripts. I have never seen any kind of serious dialogue, where those attending would actually try to think things over, like when true adults try to find a solution to a problem. However, those meetings provide a clear window to see "who's on who's side" by listening to what they say, e.g. which nations are US vassal states etc. I don't think that Haley is any kind of "psychopathic mastermind", she's just repeating things that they have told her to say. Her intelligence is probably quite low.
angelburst29
The Living Force
10/04/2018 - Breaking: Russian A-50 jet circles Syrian coast as US threatens to attack
Breaking: Russian A-50 jet circles Syrian coast as US threatens to attack
A Russian A-50 jet is currently circling the Syrian coast this morning after reports of a U.S. warship left nearby Cyprus for Syria’s territorial waters.
According to local military reports from the Tartous Governorate, the Russian A-50 is circling the provinces of Latakia and Tartous, which are both located along the Syrian coast.
The A-50 is an early warning and control jet that was developed in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and still presently used by the Russian Aerospace Forces.
The last time the U.S. launched their tomahawk cruise missiles towards the Al-Seen Airbase in Homs, they sent a warship towards these two coast provinces.
10.04.2018 - US Warships reportedly Converging in the Mediterranean as Tensions Shoot Up
US Warships Reportedly Converging in the Mediterranean As Tensions Shoot Up
The US is mulling several options for striking Syria in response to a suspected chemical-weapons attack in Douma, which Washington blames on Damascus.
The next few days may see already a second US Navy destroyer entering the Mediterranean Sea, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources at the Pentagon.
“The US already has one guided-missile destroyer, the USS Donald Cook, in the eastern Mediterranean, where it could take part in any strike on Syria, according to US defense officials. A second, the USS Porter could get there in a few days,” the newspaper wrote. The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet wrote that Russian warplanes had allegedly buzzed the Donald Cook at least four times, but the report was later denied by the Pentagon.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump accused Russia and Iran of providing support to the Syrian President Bashar Assad and said that he would make a decision within 48 hours on how to respond to Saturday’s alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma which Damascus is being blamed for. He didn’t rule out a military option.
Moscow and Damascus dismissed reports of a chlorine bomb allegedly dropped by Syrian warplanes on Douma, with the Russian Foreign Ministry describing them as an attempt to help the terrorists and justify possible military intervention in Syria from abroad.
10/04/2018 - Israeli warplanes continue to fly near Syrian border: report
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/israeli-warplanes-continue-to-fly-near-syrian-border-report/
Israeli warplanes launched several missiles into Syria on Monday, striking the strategic T-4 Military Airport in eastern Homs from the Lebanese border.
As a result of this attack, at least 14 military personnel were killed, including members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Not long after launching the attack, the Israeli Air Force would continue to violate Lebanese airspace, flying several times over the Syrian-Lebanese border, a military source told Al-Masdar this morning.
The Israeli warplanes would also conduct several flights over southern Lebanon, with a high concentration on the Nabatiyeh Governorate, the National News Agency reported.
09/04/2018 - Breaking: Pictures show aftermath of Israeli missile strike on Syrian airbase
https://www.almasdarnews.com/articl...-of-israeli-missile-strike-on-syrian-airbase/
Pictures (below) have been released showing the aftermath of the missile strike conducted by Israeli warplanes against Syria’s T-4 military airbase early on Monday morning.
The pictures have been released by the Russian Federal New Agency.
Based on the images shown, it appears not much damage was done to the Syrian military site with only one or two hangars (likely used for storing ammunition) being partially damaged.
According to sources, at least two Israeli F-15 fighters attacked the T-4 airbase from hundreds of kilometers away with 8 cruise missiles – five were reportedly intercepted by Syrian air defense units and the remaining three struck the western part of the installation around 3:30 A.M. local time.
Mon Apr 09, 2018 - Military Source: Israeli Missile Strikes against T4 Carried Out in Coordination with US
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970120001207
The Arabic service of RT news channel quoted a Syrian military source as saying that the recent Israeli attack would not be launched without full coordination with the US.
He also dismissed as sheer lies the Israeli claims that its attacks on T4 are due to the presence of the Iranian forces, noting that the real reason is that Tel Aviv is aware of the possibilities and quality of equipment used at the airbase and is attempting to wear off Damascus' capabilities by destructive moves, given the fact that the crisis in Syria is ending.
The source said that interception of 5 out of 8 missiles fired at T4 shows the defense capabilities of the airbase, adding that the Israeli fighter jets are no more willing to enter the Syrian airspace after an F-16 warplane was shot down by Syria over a month ago.
In a statement on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said two Israeli F-15s had fired eight guided missiles at the T-4 airfield, but five rockets were shot down by Syrian air-defense systems.
It added that the Israeli aircraft did not enter Syrian airspace and launched the strikes while flying over Lebanon.
Syrian state TV quoted an unnamed military official as saying that Israeli F-15 warplanes fired several missiles at T4. It gave no further details.
Several Israeli ministers accused Damascus of launching chemical attack in Douma in Eastern Ghouta, and called for the US army attack on Syrian army's strongholds.
In April 2017, the US Navy fired a sum of 59 Tomehawk missiles at Syria's al-Sha'eirat base in Homs province under the pretext of a false-flag chemical attack by terrorist groups on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Southern Idlib.
Mon Apr 09, 2018 - Syrian Army Seizes Vast Network of Terrorists' Tunnels in Eastern Ghouta
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970120000989
The Syrian Army troops found a vast network of tunnels and trenches dug by Jeish al-Islam terrorists in farms near the town of Douma on Monday.
The army men carried out a mop-up operation in farms near Douma and discovered a long and vast network of tunnels and trenches connecting Mesraba and al-Shifouniyeh to Douma.
In the meantime, the army men, deployed East of Douma, seized a main tunnel of the terrorists four or five kilometers in length and with several branches, linking terrorists' defense lines to their command posts.
The army has been capable of prevailing over the first and second defense lines of Jeish al-Islam terrorists, and eventually managed to impose control over their third line of defense in the last two days.
Earlier reports said that the first group of civilians who had been kidnapped by Jeish al-Islam in Douma left the town for Damascus via al-Wafedeen safe corridor on Sunday afternoon.
The freed civilians were mainly children and women.
Most of the released civilians were kidnapped and transferred to Douma by the terrorists in 2013 when they occupied the town of Adra al-Omaliyah.
A large number of civilians were massacred by terrorists in Adra al-Omaliyah at the time.
Syrian Reconciliation Minister Ali Heidar had announced that over 5,000 people were in Jeish al-Islam's jails.
Also, seven buses transferred a number of Jeish al-Islam militants and their family members from Douma to the town on Jarabulus in Northeastern Aleppo.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that 8,000 Jeish al-Islam militants and 40,000 of their family members are to leave Douma for other militant-held regions based on the newly-concluded agreement.
Mon Apr 09, 2018 - Lavrov Underscores Russia's Commitments to Military Agreements with Syrian Gov't
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970120001082
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recalled Russia's obligations to the agreement with the legal government of Syria in response to warnings from the US officials that Washington isn’t ruling out the possibility of striking Syria.
"As for the warnings from the US President's officials that Washington does not exclude the possibility of striking Syria — you know, our military has already reacted to this. We have our obligations to Syria. Obligations based on our agreement concluded with the legitimate, legal government of the Syrian Arab Republic at the request of this government, which is, incidentally, a UN member-state," Lavrov said at a briefing in Moscow, Sputnik reported.
Russia stands for an honest investigation into the alleged chemical attack in Syria, but against the appointment of the perpetrators without any evidence.
"When they require an investigation, an honest and immediate one, we are only for it. But when this investigation is based on the need to come to a given point, and the given point here is 'Assad did it with the support of Putin', there is no serious conversation here," he said.
He noted that the reaction of the west to the reports of the alleged chemical attack in Syria has been reduced to "simple slogans."
"Of course, the regime did this, and since Russia supports it, Russia and Iran are still to blame, and, of course, it needs to be investigated," he said.
Mon Apr 09, 2018 - ISIL Terrorists Storm Syrian Army Positions in Homs amid Missile Attack on T4 Airbase
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970120000572
Local sources reported that the ISIL terrorists launched a heavy offensive against the Syrian Army troops' positions in Southwestern Deir Ezzur on Monday following a missile attack on the T4 airbase in Northern Homs.
Al-Mayadeen TV quoted local sources as reporting that the ISIL stormed the pro-government forces' positions and tried hard to advance towards Saba'a Bayar region and T2 Oil pumping Station in a desert region between Western Deir Ezzur and Eastern Homs.
It added that the ISIL attack came after a number of missile fired at the army's T4 airbase in Northern Homs a few hours ago.
Local sources had earlier reported that the ISIL intended to reinvigorate its fighters' combat power via creation of a safe zone in Eastern Syria by the US forces.
Some sources claim that the US launched missile attack on T4 while some others reported that Israeli fighter jets did the attack.
Syria's al-Watan daily quoted the field sources as reporting on Sunday that the army units managed to advance in the depth of Eastern Homs Badiyeh towards al-Tanf region that is home to a US-run airbase, adding that the army men imposed control over more points near Mount al-Qorab 50 km Northwest of al-Tanf region.
The army had previously seized Mount al-Qorab in an operation.
The daily further reported that the army exchanged fire with the ISIL terrorists near al-Mo'ayzileh region in Eastern Badiyeh.
The army units further clashed with ISIL in the Eastern part of al-Alyaniyeh region in Eastern Homs.
Also, the Syrian Air Force pounded terrorists' positions in Eastern Homs, inflicting major losses on the militants.
Breaking: Russian A-50 jet circles Syrian coast as US threatens to attack
A Russian A-50 jet is currently circling the Syrian coast this morning after reports of a U.S. warship left nearby Cyprus for Syria’s territorial waters.
According to local military reports from the Tartous Governorate, the Russian A-50 is circling the provinces of Latakia and Tartous, which are both located along the Syrian coast.
The A-50 is an early warning and control jet that was developed in the Soviet Union in the 1970s and still presently used by the Russian Aerospace Forces.
The last time the U.S. launched their tomahawk cruise missiles towards the Al-Seen Airbase in Homs, they sent a warship towards these two coast provinces.
10.04.2018 - US Warships reportedly Converging in the Mediterranean as Tensions Shoot Up
US Warships Reportedly Converging in the Mediterranean As Tensions Shoot Up
The US is mulling several options for striking Syria in response to a suspected chemical-weapons attack in Douma, which Washington blames on Damascus.
The next few days may see already a second US Navy destroyer entering the Mediterranean Sea, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources at the Pentagon.
“The US already has one guided-missile destroyer, the USS Donald Cook, in the eastern Mediterranean, where it could take part in any strike on Syria, according to US defense officials. A second, the USS Porter could get there in a few days,” the newspaper wrote. The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet wrote that Russian warplanes had allegedly buzzed the Donald Cook at least four times, but the report was later denied by the Pentagon.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump accused Russia and Iran of providing support to the Syrian President Bashar Assad and said that he would make a decision within 48 hours on how to respond to Saturday’s alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma which Damascus is being blamed for. He didn’t rule out a military option.
Moscow and Damascus dismissed reports of a chlorine bomb allegedly dropped by Syrian warplanes on Douma, with the Russian Foreign Ministry describing them as an attempt to help the terrorists and justify possible military intervention in Syria from abroad.
10/04/2018 - Israeli warplanes continue to fly near Syrian border: report
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/israeli-warplanes-continue-to-fly-near-syrian-border-report/
Israeli warplanes launched several missiles into Syria on Monday, striking the strategic T-4 Military Airport in eastern Homs from the Lebanese border.
As a result of this attack, at least 14 military personnel were killed, including members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Not long after launching the attack, the Israeli Air Force would continue to violate Lebanese airspace, flying several times over the Syrian-Lebanese border, a military source told Al-Masdar this morning.
The Israeli warplanes would also conduct several flights over southern Lebanon, with a high concentration on the Nabatiyeh Governorate, the National News Agency reported.
09/04/2018 - Breaking: Pictures show aftermath of Israeli missile strike on Syrian airbase
https://www.almasdarnews.com/articl...-of-israeli-missile-strike-on-syrian-airbase/
Pictures (below) have been released showing the aftermath of the missile strike conducted by Israeli warplanes against Syria’s T-4 military airbase early on Monday morning.
The pictures have been released by the Russian Federal New Agency.
Based on the images shown, it appears not much damage was done to the Syrian military site with only one or two hangars (likely used for storing ammunition) being partially damaged.
According to sources, at least two Israeli F-15 fighters attacked the T-4 airbase from hundreds of kilometers away with 8 cruise missiles – five were reportedly intercepted by Syrian air defense units and the remaining three struck the western part of the installation around 3:30 A.M. local time.
Mon Apr 09, 2018 - Military Source: Israeli Missile Strikes against T4 Carried Out in Coordination with US
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970120001207
The Arabic service of RT news channel quoted a Syrian military source as saying that the recent Israeli attack would not be launched without full coordination with the US.
He also dismissed as sheer lies the Israeli claims that its attacks on T4 are due to the presence of the Iranian forces, noting that the real reason is that Tel Aviv is aware of the possibilities and quality of equipment used at the airbase and is attempting to wear off Damascus' capabilities by destructive moves, given the fact that the crisis in Syria is ending.
The source said that interception of 5 out of 8 missiles fired at T4 shows the defense capabilities of the airbase, adding that the Israeli fighter jets are no more willing to enter the Syrian airspace after an F-16 warplane was shot down by Syria over a month ago.
In a statement on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said two Israeli F-15s had fired eight guided missiles at the T-4 airfield, but five rockets were shot down by Syrian air-defense systems.
It added that the Israeli aircraft did not enter Syrian airspace and launched the strikes while flying over Lebanon.
Syrian state TV quoted an unnamed military official as saying that Israeli F-15 warplanes fired several missiles at T4. It gave no further details.
Several Israeli ministers accused Damascus of launching chemical attack in Douma in Eastern Ghouta, and called for the US army attack on Syrian army's strongholds.
In April 2017, the US Navy fired a sum of 59 Tomehawk missiles at Syria's al-Sha'eirat base in Homs province under the pretext of a false-flag chemical attack by terrorist groups on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Southern Idlib.
Mon Apr 09, 2018 - Syrian Army Seizes Vast Network of Terrorists' Tunnels in Eastern Ghouta
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970120000989
The Syrian Army troops found a vast network of tunnels and trenches dug by Jeish al-Islam terrorists in farms near the town of Douma on Monday.
The army men carried out a mop-up operation in farms near Douma and discovered a long and vast network of tunnels and trenches connecting Mesraba and al-Shifouniyeh to Douma.
In the meantime, the army men, deployed East of Douma, seized a main tunnel of the terrorists four or five kilometers in length and with several branches, linking terrorists' defense lines to their command posts.
The army has been capable of prevailing over the first and second defense lines of Jeish al-Islam terrorists, and eventually managed to impose control over their third line of defense in the last two days.
Earlier reports said that the first group of civilians who had been kidnapped by Jeish al-Islam in Douma left the town for Damascus via al-Wafedeen safe corridor on Sunday afternoon.
The freed civilians were mainly children and women.
Most of the released civilians were kidnapped and transferred to Douma by the terrorists in 2013 when they occupied the town of Adra al-Omaliyah.
A large number of civilians were massacred by terrorists in Adra al-Omaliyah at the time.
Syrian Reconciliation Minister Ali Heidar had announced that over 5,000 people were in Jeish al-Islam's jails.
Also, seven buses transferred a number of Jeish al-Islam militants and their family members from Douma to the town on Jarabulus in Northeastern Aleppo.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that 8,000 Jeish al-Islam militants and 40,000 of their family members are to leave Douma for other militant-held regions based on the newly-concluded agreement.
Mon Apr 09, 2018 - Lavrov Underscores Russia's Commitments to Military Agreements with Syrian Gov't
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970120001082
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recalled Russia's obligations to the agreement with the legal government of Syria in response to warnings from the US officials that Washington isn’t ruling out the possibility of striking Syria.
"As for the warnings from the US President's officials that Washington does not exclude the possibility of striking Syria — you know, our military has already reacted to this. We have our obligations to Syria. Obligations based on our agreement concluded with the legitimate, legal government of the Syrian Arab Republic at the request of this government, which is, incidentally, a UN member-state," Lavrov said at a briefing in Moscow, Sputnik reported.
Russia stands for an honest investigation into the alleged chemical attack in Syria, but against the appointment of the perpetrators without any evidence.
"When they require an investigation, an honest and immediate one, we are only for it. But when this investigation is based on the need to come to a given point, and the given point here is 'Assad did it with the support of Putin', there is no serious conversation here," he said.
He noted that the reaction of the west to the reports of the alleged chemical attack in Syria has been reduced to "simple slogans."
"Of course, the regime did this, and since Russia supports it, Russia and Iran are still to blame, and, of course, it needs to be investigated," he said.
Mon Apr 09, 2018 - ISIL Terrorists Storm Syrian Army Positions in Homs amid Missile Attack on T4 Airbase
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970120000572
Local sources reported that the ISIL terrorists launched a heavy offensive against the Syrian Army troops' positions in Southwestern Deir Ezzur on Monday following a missile attack on the T4 airbase in Northern Homs.
Al-Mayadeen TV quoted local sources as reporting that the ISIL stormed the pro-government forces' positions and tried hard to advance towards Saba'a Bayar region and T2 Oil pumping Station in a desert region between Western Deir Ezzur and Eastern Homs.
It added that the ISIL attack came after a number of missile fired at the army's T4 airbase in Northern Homs a few hours ago.
Local sources had earlier reported that the ISIL intended to reinvigorate its fighters' combat power via creation of a safe zone in Eastern Syria by the US forces.
Some sources claim that the US launched missile attack on T4 while some others reported that Israeli fighter jets did the attack.
Syria's al-Watan daily quoted the field sources as reporting on Sunday that the army units managed to advance in the depth of Eastern Homs Badiyeh towards al-Tanf region that is home to a US-run airbase, adding that the army men imposed control over more points near Mount al-Qorab 50 km Northwest of al-Tanf region.
The army had previously seized Mount al-Qorab in an operation.
The daily further reported that the army exchanged fire with the ISIL terrorists near al-Mo'ayzileh region in Eastern Badiyeh.
The army units further clashed with ISIL in the Eastern part of al-Alyaniyeh region in Eastern Homs.
Also, the Syrian Air Force pounded terrorists' positions in Eastern Homs, inflicting major losses on the militants.
From South Front Today 10.04.2018 The Russian Punch-Back Begins
Conflict In Syria Is About To Turn Into Global War
Russia to take tit-for-tat steps should US strike Syria, senior MP warns
April 10, 12:43 UTC+3
Israel earlier launched a strike without notifying Russia through the channels of the Russian General Staff or the Foreign Ministry
U.K. Prepares To Join Trump's Strikes On Syria
10.04.2018
U.S. Dept of DefenseVerified account @DeptofDefense (Video)
11:41 AM - 9 Apr 2018
This morning,#SecDef Mattis welcomed Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, emir of #Qatar, to the #Pentagon, where the leaders discussed security and regional counterterrorism efforts. @TamimbinHamad @QatarEmbassyUSA
Russia Delivered 40 Pantsir-S1 Air Defense Systems To Syria - State Media
10.04.2018
April 10, 12:43 UTC+3
Israel earlier launched a strike without notifying Russia through the channels of the Russian General Staff or the Foreign Ministry
U.K. Prepares To Join Trump's Strikes On Syria
10.04.2018
U.S. Dept of DefenseVerified account @DeptofDefense (Video)
https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense/status/98341456879268249611:41 AM - 9 Apr 2018
This morning,
Russia Delivered 40 Pantsir-S1 Air Defense Systems To Syria - State Media
10.04.2018
angelburst29
The Living Force
10/04/2018 - Breaking: Russian Black Sea fleet on high alert as US warship heads towards Syrian waters
Breaking: Russian Black Sea fleet on high alert as US warship heads towards Syrian waters
The Russian Navy’s Black Sea fleet has been placed on high alert after a U.S. ship reportedly left Cyprus for Syrian waters.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, their Black Sea fleet is currently on a high level combat alert in preparation for a potential attack by the U.S.
No further details have been released.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he is discussing a potential attack against the Syrian government with his country’s top military commanders.
10.04.2018 - Breaking: Russian military blocks signals from US drones in Syria
Breaking: Russian military blocks signals from US drones in Syria
The Russian military has been scrambling some US military drones performing in Syria, seriously disrupting American military operations, the channel NBC announced, citing anonymous US officials.
According to US officials, the Russians had started blocking some smaller US drones several weeks ago after a “series of alleged chemical weapons attacks on civilians in Eastern Ghouta.”
The NBC network’s sources stated that the Russian military was concerned that the US military would take revenge for the attacks and began jamming the GPS systems of the drones operating in the area.
“GPS receivers in most drones can be fairly easily jammed,” Dr. Todd Humphreys, the director of the Radionavigation Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin said.
The Defense Department can’t certainly state whether the jamming is the cause of drones crashing, according to the operational security.
“The US military maintains sufficient countermeasures and protections to ensure the safety of our manned and unmanned aircraft, our forces and the missions they support,” said Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon.
10.04.2018 - Russia Denies Reports about Blocking Signals from US Drones in Syria
Russia Denies Reports About Blocking Signals From US Drones in Syria
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security Yevgeny Serebrennikov has denied reports that Russia has blocked signals of US drones in Syria.
This is more fake information from American media, which appears so often in recent times. Russia has repeatedly said that its actions, including in Syria, are made only in accordance with international treaties, such actions could not really have taken place," Serebrennikov said.
10.04.2018 - US warplanes flying close to Russian airbase in Syria (Map)
US warplanes flying close to Russian airbase in Syria
A U.S. warplane is reportedly flying close to the Russian airbases in the Latakia and Tartous provinces of Syria, a military air monitor (Twitter: @Aircraftspots) reported this afternoon.
According to the Twitter account of Aircraft Spots, a US Navy P-8A 168439 PS102 departed from Sigonella in the eastern Mediterranean towards the Syrian coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartous.
The aircraft monitor was able to track the route of the aircraft, showing that it was circling the Mediterranean between Syria and Cyprus.
This latest report comes just hours after the Russian A-50 jet began flying along the Syrian coast to track any potential U.S. air activity in the eastern Mediterranean.
10.04.2018 - Russia summons Israeli ambassador after attack on T-4 Airport: report
Russia summons Israeli ambassador after attack on T-4 Airport: report
Russia has summoned their Israeli ambassador, Gary Koren, in order to consult the diplomat on yesterday’s attack on the T-4 Military Airport in Syria’s Homs Governorate, the Sputnik News Agency reported this afternoon.
According to Ynet News Agency, the Israeli Embassy in Moscow has declined to comment on the summoning of their ambassador.
The Israeli Air Force fired several missiles at the T-4 Airport, yesterday, killing at least 14 military personnel, including seven Iranian soldiers.
The Russian Ministry of Defense released a statement on Monday that confirmed the Israeli military was behind the attack on the T-4 Airport.
10.04.2018 - Israeli Ambassador arrives at Russian Foreign Ministry after Strike on Syria
Israeli Ambassador Arrives at Russian Foreign Ministry After Strike on Syria
Israel’s envoy to Russia has been summoned by the Russian Foreign Ministry regarding an airstrike on April, 9 on a base in Syria attributed to Israel, where two Israeli F-15 fighter jets had carried out a strike against Syria's T-4 airbase amid reports by Syrian media that the military facility had been targeted by missiles.
Israel’s envoy to Russia Gary Koren has explained that the meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Bogdanov was just a regular conversation.
"Ongoing discussions are being constantly held with the Russians and therefore the ambassador will today meet with Deputy Minister Bogdanov," the Foreign Ministry said.
10.04.2018 - Breaking: Trump cancels South America trip to focus on Syria
Breaking: Trump cancels South America trip to focus on Syria
U.S. President Donald Trump has cancelled his upcoming trip to South America in order to focus on Syria, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders stated on Tuesday.
“President Trump will not attend the 8th Summit of the Americas in Lima, Peru or travel to Bogota, Colombia as originally scheduled. At the President’s request, the Vice President will travel in his stead. The President will remain in the United States to oversee the American response to Syria and to monitor developments around the world,” Sanders announced.
Trump recently stated that he will make his decision to strike Syria in the next 24-48 hours, despite not having congressional approval.
10.04.2018 - Russia to take tit-for-tat steps should US strike Syria, senior MP warns
Russia to take tit-for-tat steps should US strike Syria, senior MP warns
Russia will take all political, diplomatic and military retaliatory measures if necessary should the United States deliver a strike on Syria, Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) Defense Committee Chairman and former Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Airborne Troops Vladimir Shamanov said on Tuesday.
“The politics of double standards have hit rock bottom. And here the United Russia party conscientiously states that all political, diplomatic and military measures if necessary will be taken. No illegal action will remain unanswered,” Shamanov vowed at a plenary meeting of the State Duma.
The senior MP was indignant over US President Donald Trump’s statement about Washington’s response within 48 hours, saying: “They should not pin their hopes on their naval task forces and their deceptions. We are a sovereign country and we have allies and guarantors for those events taking place in Syria. We won’t let the Americans hammer nails on someone else’s anvil.”
Shamanov stressed that Russia’s possible measures need to be considered and responsible. He also emphasized that the report on the alleged chemical attack in Syria’s Douma is absolute provocation.
“Today military chemists have confirmed in the presence of members of Syria’s administration that no traces were found in the hospital where these fakes were made, and no victims have been confirmed and discovered,” he noted.
The lawmaker said the number of countries taking part in the Syrian conflict has increased. “In total violation of international rules, a couple of Israeli jets entered Lebanese airspace, delivered a strike on a neighboring sovereign country…directly on an airfield of the Syrian army. So, the number of countries involved in the conflict is rising.”
10.04.2018 - Israeli attack on T-4 Airbase killed 7 Iranian soldiers (Photos)
Israeli attack on T-4 Airbase killed 7 Iranian soldiers
The Israeli attack on the T-4 Military Airport, yesterday, killed a total of seven Iranian soldiers, the Islamic World News reported this afternoon.
In addition to the seven Iranian soldiers, another seven Syrian military personnel were among the dead at the T-4 Airport yesterday.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry slammed the Israeli attack on Monday, stating that the latter is attempting to escalate the violence in Syria.
Israel has not issued an official statement regarding the attack.
10.04.2018 - Iraqi forces preparing to seal Syrian border (video)
Iraqi forces preparing to seal Syrian border (video)
The Iraqi military is preparing for a major operation that is meant to officially seal off the Iraqi-Syrian border once and for all.
Led by their Popular Mobilization Units (var. Hashd Al-Sha’abi), the Iraqi military has deployed a large number of personnel to the western countryside of the Al-Anbar Governorate.
The Iraqi military will attempt to clear all of the Islamic State’s (ISIS) sleeper cells around the Deir Ezzor-Anbar axis, which would be a difficult task without cooperation from the Syrian Army and Kurdish-led forces.
According to local reports in Deir Ezzor, the Iraqi military will be launching this operation in coordination with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), marking the first time during this war that either entity has worked together.
10.04.2018 - Russia Hopes Turkey returns Afrin under Syrian Gov't Control - Lavrov
Russia Hopes Turkey Returns Afrin Under Syrian Gov't Control - Lavrov
Moscow hopes Turkey will return Afrin under the Syrian government control, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
"[Turkish] President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan has never said that Turkey wants to occupy Afrin. We always proceed from the fact that the easiest way to normalize the situation in Afrin now that Turkish representatives say that the main goals they set there have been achieved would be to return the territory under the control of the Syrian government," Lavrov said.
10.04.2018 - Erdogan rejects Russian proposal to handover Afrin to Syrian government
Erdogan rejects Russian proposal to handover Afrin to Syrian government
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday criticized the proposal of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who suggested that Ankara might yield the control of the Syrian city of Afrin to Damascus.
“Lavrov’s approach is not correct. We know better than anyone to which side Afrin should be transferred. When the time comes, we will give Afrin to its inhabitants,” Erdogan told reporters.
The president commented on Monday’s statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said that Moscow was hoping that Turkey would return the control of the city to the Syrian government.
Speaking about the Kurdish-dominated Syrian city of Afrin, which fell under the full control of Turkish armed forces on March 24, country’s Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag stated that the Turkish army would pull out from the city after a political settlement in the country is reached.
10.04.2018 - Turkish military will withdraw from Afrin when Syrian war ends: Deputy PM
Turkish military will withdraw from Afrin when Syrian war ends: Deputy PM
The Turkish military will withdraw from the Afrin region of Aleppo once the Syrian war ends, the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag stated on Tuesday.
“We came here not as conquerors and we don’t plan to remain here – respecting the territorial integrity of Syria,” Bozdag stated.
“We cleared Afrin from terrorists, we are now continuing demining efforts. There is a power vacuum in Syria now, there are different forces. We will give the authority in Afrin to the local people, who themselves will settle their life. Now the important thing is to find a political solution to the crisis, and when this happens, we will leave Afrin,” he added.
Bozdag’s statement comes just a month after the Turkish forces seized the strategic city of Afrin and much of this large district in the Aleppo Governorate.
US Navy Moves Destroyers And Subs With Hundreds Of Cruise Missiles Closer To Syria
10.04.2018
[The US Navy is creating a strike group with over hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles for a possible attack on Syria.
angelburst29
The Living Force
10.04.2018 - EASA Issues Alert for Eastern Mediterranean Due to possible Airstrikes on Syria
EASA Issues Alert for Eastern Mediterranean Due to Possible Airstrikes on Syria
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Issues rapid alert notification for "Eastern Mediterranean/Nicosia FIR Area" due to possible airstrikes on Syria in next 72 hours.
According to the agency, the alert was issued "due to the possible launch of airstrikes with air-to-ground and/or cruise missiles within the next 72 hours, and the possibility of intermittent disruption of radio navigation equipment, due consideration needs to be taken when planning flight operations in the Eastern Mediterranean/Nicosia FIR area".
According to the European-based media reports, the initial alert notification was issued by the Network Manager Operations Centre (NMOC).
Earlier in the day, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters that the United States was seeking a coordinated response together with its allies to the recent alleged chemical attack in the Syrian city of Douma
"The United States through the White House, through the State Department and others as well have been having conversations with our allies and partners overseas," Nauert said. "We are looking for a coordinated response, whatever that response might be, to the situation in Syria."
Meanwhile, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman has left from Norfolk, Virginia for a deployment in the Middle East and Europe, US media reported earlier. The guided-missile cruiser Normandy and guided-missile destroyers Arleigh Burke, Bulkeley, Forrest Sherman and Farragut also accompany the Harry S. Truman, Stars and Stripes reported earlier citing US Navy officials.
In addition, US Navy officials have said that about 6,500 servicemen with the carrier strike group would be deployed to the region.
Russian Envoy to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia has told earlier on Tuesday at the UNSC's meeting that the US would bear the responsibility if it launches the military operation against Syrian government ignoring the lack of UN Security Council approval.
"If you took the decision to carry out an illegal military adventure — and I do hope that you will come to your senses — well, then you will have to bear responsibility for it yourselves," Nebenzia said.
10 Apr, 2018 - Europe air traffic control issues alert over ‘possible air strikes on Syria within 72 hours’
Europe air traffic control issues alert over ‘possible air strikes on Syria within 72 hours’
Eurocontrol, an EU body responsible for handling air traffic over the continent, has issued a Rapid Alert Notification to flight operators in the eastern Mediterranean, warning them to be ready for NATO rocket launches into Syria.
Due to the possible launch of air strikes into Syria with air-to-ground and / or cruise missiles within the next 72 hours, and the possibility of intermittent disruption of radio navigation equipment, due consideration needs to be taken when planning flight operations in the Eastern Mediterranean / Nicosia FIR area,” the alert said.
The alert warns pilots to be ready for specific NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen), concerning flight risks and obstacles that may arise.
10 Apr, 2018 - UNSC meeting suspended as US & Russian drafts on Syria chem probe fail, vote to back OPCW pending
Russian-drafted UN Security Council resolution backing OPCW probe into Syria chem 'attack' fails
Russia has vetoed a US-sponsored resolution on the alleged chemical incident in Syria in a UN Security Council vote. Two consecutive Russian-proposed drafts then failed to get the necessary minimum votes.
The US draft was designed to fail and thus “justify” unauthorized action in Syria, Russia’s UN envoy said. “If you made a decision to carry out an illegal military endeavour, we hope that you will come to your senses. You will be responsible for it yourselves,” Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, warned.
The US-sponsored resolution has received 12 votes in favor, two against and one abstention. As Russia used its veto right, the resolution was not adopted. The first Russian-sponsored resolution did not get the minimum nine votes needed to pass, with six votes for, seven against and two abstentions.
Russia then proposed another resolution, based on an earlier draft by Sweden, which voices support for the new OPCW probe into the Douma incident. The UNSC meeting was suspended for consultations, on Sweden's request, before putting the resolution to vote.
Nebenzia said the US resolution, despite Washington claiming to take Moscow’s concerns into consideration, was effectively an attempt to resurrect the deprecated Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM). Even if the US project was adopted, it would take months to implement, the diplomat said, adding that the draft was a “provocative step” that had “nothing to do with the desire to investigate the Douma incident.”
He said it was obviously designed to fail in order to serve as a justification for unauthorized military action against Syria.
“Why do you need the attribution mechanism, if you’ve already named the perpetrators before any investigation?” Nebenzia said, referring to blatant accusations against Damascus coming from the US and its allies.
10 Apr, 2018 - OPCW to send chemical weapons investigators to Syria’s Douma – statement
OPCW to send chemical weapons investigators to Syria’s Douma – statement
The international chemical weapons watchdog will send a fact-finding mission to Douma, Syria, to investigate the reports of an attack there. The move follows calls from Moscow and Damascus to launch an international investigation.
Today, the OPCW Technical Secretariat has requested the Syrian Arab Republic to make the necessary arrangements for such a deployment. This has coincided with a request from the Syrian Arab Republic and the Russian Federation to investigate the allegations of chemical weapons use in Douma. The team is preparing to deploy to Syria shortly,” the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said in a statement on Tuesday
11.04.2018 - Bashar Assad with Family still in Syria - Source
Bashar Assad With Family Still in Syria - Source
Syrian President Bashar Assad with his family has not left the country, a source familiar with the matter told Sputnik on Wednesday.
Several Middle East-based media outlets have reported about the alleged evacuation of the Syrian leader and all of his relatives to Tehran, as fears of military actions by Western states against Syria loom.
A source close to the matter, however, has said "These reports are completely wrong."
Meanwhile, The US military is reportedly developing several options for striking Syria following an alleged recent chemical attack against civilians in the town of Douma.
The Washington Examiner has earlier reported, citing Pentagon sources that there were several possible plans for a military action response in Syria. One option includes a strike similar to last year's when the United States launched 59 cruise missiles on a Syrian Air Force airfield in Homs, the report said.
US President Donald Trump could reportedly choose an even stronger option against Bashar Assad. However, Trump did not rule out military action in response to the alleged chemical attacks and said that all options were on the table.
Moreover, the US State Department spokesperson told Sputnik on Monday that Washington and its allies were in close consultations over a possible response to the alleged chemical attack in the Syrian city of Douma.
"The President and his national security team are consulting closely with allies and partners to determine the appropriate response," the spokesperson said. "As President [Donald] Trump clearly stated, there will be consequences for this unacceptable atrocity."
Meanwhile, the European Aviation Safety Agency has alreasy issued an alert notification for Eastern Mediterranean area due to the possible missile strikes on Syrian coast within the next 72 hours.
Russian Envoy to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia has warned at the UNSC's meeting on Tuesday that the United States would bear responsibility if it launches military operation against Damascus.
"If you took the decision to carry out an illegal military adventure — and I do hope that you will come to your senses — well, then you will have to bear responsibility for it yourselves," Nebenzia said. DETAILS TO FOLLOW
***
*** Just a note ... Has anyone come across any statements or reports from NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on these new developments? I would imagine, he's busy lining up all his ducks and hardware and pointing it in the direction of Syria/Russia?
The last statement I can find - was on April 4th?
NATO Chief says alliance is not trying to isolate Russia
NATO chief says alliance is not trying to isolate Russia
NATO is not aiming to isolate Russia after a nerve agent attack on a former Russian agent and his daughter in Britain last month but had to crack down to show its unhappiness with Moscow, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday.
The alliance last week expelled seven diplomats from the Russian mission to NATO and cut the maximum size of the delegation to 20 from 30 after the attack, which the West blames on Moscow, although the Kremlin denies it.
“We continue to strive for a better relationship with Russia because Russia is our neighbor, Russia is there to stay. We are not aiming at isolating Russia,” Stoltenberg said in remarks at the University of Ottawa.
Stoltenberg said NATO was concerned by a more assertive Russia that he said had annexed Crimea, destabilized eastern Ukraine, backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and meddled in the affairs of other nations.
“That was the reason why NATO allies and partners reacted the way they reacted after the attack in Salisbury. Because that is not a single event,” he said. “It is an attack which has taken place (against) the backdrop of a pattern of behavior which we have seen over many years from Russia.”
More than 100 Russian diplomats have been expelled by Western countries to punish the Kremlin over the March 4 attack in Salisbury, England.
NATO suspended all practical military and civilian cooperation with Russia after the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
EASA Issues Alert for Eastern Mediterranean Due to Possible Airstrikes on Syria
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Issues rapid alert notification for "Eastern Mediterranean/Nicosia FIR Area" due to possible airstrikes on Syria in next 72 hours.
According to the agency, the alert was issued "due to the possible launch of airstrikes with air-to-ground and/or cruise missiles within the next 72 hours, and the possibility of intermittent disruption of radio navigation equipment, due consideration needs to be taken when planning flight operations in the Eastern Mediterranean/Nicosia FIR area".
According to the European-based media reports, the initial alert notification was issued by the Network Manager Operations Centre (NMOC).
Earlier in the day, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters that the United States was seeking a coordinated response together with its allies to the recent alleged chemical attack in the Syrian city of Douma
"The United States through the White House, through the State Department and others as well have been having conversations with our allies and partners overseas," Nauert said. "We are looking for a coordinated response, whatever that response might be, to the situation in Syria."
Meanwhile, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman has left from Norfolk, Virginia for a deployment in the Middle East and Europe, US media reported earlier. The guided-missile cruiser Normandy and guided-missile destroyers Arleigh Burke, Bulkeley, Forrest Sherman and Farragut also accompany the Harry S. Truman, Stars and Stripes reported earlier citing US Navy officials.
In addition, US Navy officials have said that about 6,500 servicemen with the carrier strike group would be deployed to the region.
Russian Envoy to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia has told earlier on Tuesday at the UNSC's meeting that the US would bear the responsibility if it launches the military operation against Syrian government ignoring the lack of UN Security Council approval.
"If you took the decision to carry out an illegal military adventure — and I do hope that you will come to your senses — well, then you will have to bear responsibility for it yourselves," Nebenzia said.
10 Apr, 2018 - Europe air traffic control issues alert over ‘possible air strikes on Syria within 72 hours’
Europe air traffic control issues alert over ‘possible air strikes on Syria within 72 hours’
Eurocontrol, an EU body responsible for handling air traffic over the continent, has issued a Rapid Alert Notification to flight operators in the eastern Mediterranean, warning them to be ready for NATO rocket launches into Syria.
Due to the possible launch of air strikes into Syria with air-to-ground and / or cruise missiles within the next 72 hours, and the possibility of intermittent disruption of radio navigation equipment, due consideration needs to be taken when planning flight operations in the Eastern Mediterranean / Nicosia FIR area,” the alert said.
The alert warns pilots to be ready for specific NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen), concerning flight risks and obstacles that may arise.
10 Apr, 2018 - UNSC meeting suspended as US & Russian drafts on Syria chem probe fail, vote to back OPCW pending
Russian-drafted UN Security Council resolution backing OPCW probe into Syria chem 'attack' fails
Russia has vetoed a US-sponsored resolution on the alleged chemical incident in Syria in a UN Security Council vote. Two consecutive Russian-proposed drafts then failed to get the necessary minimum votes.
The US draft was designed to fail and thus “justify” unauthorized action in Syria, Russia’s UN envoy said. “If you made a decision to carry out an illegal military endeavour, we hope that you will come to your senses. You will be responsible for it yourselves,” Russia’s envoy to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, warned.
The US-sponsored resolution has received 12 votes in favor, two against and one abstention. As Russia used its veto right, the resolution was not adopted. The first Russian-sponsored resolution did not get the minimum nine votes needed to pass, with six votes for, seven against and two abstentions.
Russia then proposed another resolution, based on an earlier draft by Sweden, which voices support for the new OPCW probe into the Douma incident. The UNSC meeting was suspended for consultations, on Sweden's request, before putting the resolution to vote.
Nebenzia said the US resolution, despite Washington claiming to take Moscow’s concerns into consideration, was effectively an attempt to resurrect the deprecated Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM). Even if the US project was adopted, it would take months to implement, the diplomat said, adding that the draft was a “provocative step” that had “nothing to do with the desire to investigate the Douma incident.”
He said it was obviously designed to fail in order to serve as a justification for unauthorized military action against Syria.
“Why do you need the attribution mechanism, if you’ve already named the perpetrators before any investigation?” Nebenzia said, referring to blatant accusations against Damascus coming from the US and its allies.
10 Apr, 2018 - OPCW to send chemical weapons investigators to Syria’s Douma – statement
OPCW to send chemical weapons investigators to Syria’s Douma – statement
The international chemical weapons watchdog will send a fact-finding mission to Douma, Syria, to investigate the reports of an attack there. The move follows calls from Moscow and Damascus to launch an international investigation.
Today, the OPCW Technical Secretariat has requested the Syrian Arab Republic to make the necessary arrangements for such a deployment. This has coincided with a request from the Syrian Arab Republic and the Russian Federation to investigate the allegations of chemical weapons use in Douma. The team is preparing to deploy to Syria shortly,” the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said in a statement on Tuesday
11.04.2018 - Bashar Assad with Family still in Syria - Source
Bashar Assad With Family Still in Syria - Source
Syrian President Bashar Assad with his family has not left the country, a source familiar with the matter told Sputnik on Wednesday.
Several Middle East-based media outlets have reported about the alleged evacuation of the Syrian leader and all of his relatives to Tehran, as fears of military actions by Western states against Syria loom.
A source close to the matter, however, has said "These reports are completely wrong."
Meanwhile, The US military is reportedly developing several options for striking Syria following an alleged recent chemical attack against civilians in the town of Douma.
The Washington Examiner has earlier reported, citing Pentagon sources that there were several possible plans for a military action response in Syria. One option includes a strike similar to last year's when the United States launched 59 cruise missiles on a Syrian Air Force airfield in Homs, the report said.
US President Donald Trump could reportedly choose an even stronger option against Bashar Assad. However, Trump did not rule out military action in response to the alleged chemical attacks and said that all options were on the table.
Moreover, the US State Department spokesperson told Sputnik on Monday that Washington and its allies were in close consultations over a possible response to the alleged chemical attack in the Syrian city of Douma.
"The President and his national security team are consulting closely with allies and partners to determine the appropriate response," the spokesperson said. "As President [Donald] Trump clearly stated, there will be consequences for this unacceptable atrocity."
Meanwhile, the European Aviation Safety Agency has alreasy issued an alert notification for Eastern Mediterranean area due to the possible missile strikes on Syrian coast within the next 72 hours.
Russian Envoy to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia has warned at the UNSC's meeting on Tuesday that the United States would bear responsibility if it launches military operation against Damascus.
"If you took the decision to carry out an illegal military adventure — and I do hope that you will come to your senses — well, then you will have to bear responsibility for it yourselves," Nebenzia said. DETAILS TO FOLLOW
***
*** Just a note ... Has anyone come across any statements or reports from NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on these new developments? I would imagine, he's busy lining up all his ducks and hardware and pointing it in the direction of Syria/Russia?
The last statement I can find - was on April 4th?
NATO Chief says alliance is not trying to isolate Russia
NATO chief says alliance is not trying to isolate Russia
NATO is not aiming to isolate Russia after a nerve agent attack on a former Russian agent and his daughter in Britain last month but had to crack down to show its unhappiness with Moscow, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday.
The alliance last week expelled seven diplomats from the Russian mission to NATO and cut the maximum size of the delegation to 20 from 30 after the attack, which the West blames on Moscow, although the Kremlin denies it.
“We continue to strive for a better relationship with Russia because Russia is our neighbor, Russia is there to stay. We are not aiming at isolating Russia,” Stoltenberg said in remarks at the University of Ottawa.
Stoltenberg said NATO was concerned by a more assertive Russia that he said had annexed Crimea, destabilized eastern Ukraine, backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and meddled in the affairs of other nations.
“That was the reason why NATO allies and partners reacted the way they reacted after the attack in Salisbury. Because that is not a single event,” he said. “It is an attack which has taken place (against) the backdrop of a pattern of behavior which we have seen over many years from Russia.”
More than 100 Russian diplomats have been expelled by Western countries to punish the Kremlin over the March 4 attack in Salisbury, England.
NATO suspended all practical military and civilian cooperation with Russia after the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
angelburst29
The Living Force
Tue Apr 10, 2018 - Syrian Army Finds White Helmets' Video Shooting Location
Farsnews
Al-Ahd news website reported that the army has discovered a location in the small town of Saqba in Eastern Ghouta that was used by the White Helmets to shoot and produce videos that depict the army as a savage force that kills civilians mercilessly.
It further said that the army men found a series of cameras and film-production equipment at the site.
On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry denied reports of an alleged chemical bomb being dropped on Douma, suggesting that a number of Western states as well as NGOs like the White Helmets turned to such claims in order to undermine the evacuation of Jeish al-Islam terrorists from the area.
"We strongly deny these claims and announce our readiness to send Russian experts in radiation, chemical and biological defense to Douma after its liberation from terrorists to gather evidence, which would prove that the allegations on the chemical weapons use was staged," Maj. Gen. Yuri Yevtushenko, commander of the Russian Center for Syria reconciliation, said.
The Syrian government has also denied allegations of having used chemical weapons in the city of Douma in Eastern Ghouta, saying it doesn't need such measures to stop the terrorists.
According to the statement, issued by the Syrian authorities on the state-run SANA news agency, such claims have been made by terrorists and are aimed at hindering Syrian forces, which have made “a swift and determined advance” and do not need such measures to deter the terrorists.
"The chemical fabrications, which did not serve the terrorists and their sponsors in Aleppo and Eastern Ghouta, will not serve them today either, as the Syrian state is determined to end terrorism in every square inch of Syrian territory," the statement read.
Tue Apr 10, 2018 - Syria Using 40 Advanced Pantsir-S1 for Air Defense
Farsnews
The Arabic-language website of Sputnik quoted a military source in the Russian Defense Ministry as reporting that Russia has delivered 40 different models of advanced Pantsir-S1 air defense systems to Syria in recent years.
It further said that the Russia-made Pantsir-S1 has been designed for protecting military and non-military sites and for protecting other mid-range and long-range anti-aircraft missile systems, including S300 and S400 against aerial threats.
The system is also capable of destroying ground and sea targets that use light shields from 20km in distance.
The Arabic-language website of RT reported in January that the Syrian Army was vastly using Mirage-2 Electronic Defense System to deactivate the US-manufactured TOW anti-tank missiles.
The Arabic RT further said that the System that was mounted on the army tanks, armored and light vehicles was capable of deactivating TOW missiles.
The Mirage-2 System is equipped with more noise breaks in comparison with the older version of Mirage-1.
Tue Apr 10, 2018 - Envoy: Certain UNSC Permanent Members Try to Lie to Create Pretext for Aggression against Syria
Farsnews
Al-Jaafari, during the UN Security Council session on the situation in Syria on Monday evening, condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli aggression on T4 Airport in Homs province as a flagrant violation of the UN Security Council Resolution No. 350 of 1974 and relevant UN Security Council resolutions on combating terrorism, SANA reported.
He confirmed that the Israeli aggression represents an indirect response to the success of the Syrian Army in expelling the terrorist groups from the suburbs of Damascus City and its countryside and other Syrian areas.” The repeated Israeli aggressions will not dissuade the Syrian Army from continuing the decisive military achievements in combating terrorism,”
Al-Jaafari stressed that it has been proven that the campaigns launched by some states including member states at the Security Council on the deterioration of the humanitarian conditions in the Eastern Ghouta have been just lies.
The Permanent Representative said that the governments of some states are accustomed to lying, yet they fortunately lack the preciseness in making their lies, adding that the effects of lying policy adopted by some of the Security Council’s member states have become like mass destruction weapons.
He clarified that the evidence on their lies and allegations is that the locals of Douma exited safely and the terrorists chose to reach an agreement with the Syrian state.
The Representative wondered whether the goal behind the call by France, Britain, and the US for holding a session of the Security Council is to legitimize the Israeli aggression on Syria which took place on Monday morning or to stop the implementation of the agreement which its tools wanted.
“Before the Sarin gas attack launched by the terrorist groups on Khan al-Asal in Aleppo in on March 19th 2013, Syria informed the Security Council on December 10th 2012 that the US, England and France have launched a campaign of allegations on the possibility of launching such an attack by the Syrian Government, and we warned that these allegations pave the way for providing chemical weapons to the armed terrorist groups by the governments which sponsor them,” al-Jaafari said.
He reiterated that Syria has warned many times of the fact that the terrorist groups are preparing for using chemical weapons against the innocent Syrians and that they work through their media tools to fabricate evidence on such attacks.
“We note in every chapter of the scenario of the alleged use of chemical materials that these materials do not target militants at all but only target children and women,” al-Jaafari said.
He confirmed that Syria is ready to facilitate the entry of a fact-finding mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to Douma as soon as possible to verify the allegations of the attack as it supports the Russian demand on holding a session for listening to a briefing on the visit by assessment mission to Raqqa.
Today we directly accuse Washington, Paris, London, Riyadh, Doha and Ankara on supplying ISIL, Al-Nusra, Jeish al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman and scores of other terrorist groups affiliated to them with poisonous chemical substances to use them against the Syrian civilians, al-Jaafari said.
He stressed that the threat of the United States Permanent Representative to the UN Nikki Haley to Syria at the Security Council means that she pays no heed neither to the Council nor to the international law or the UN Charter.
Tue Apr 10, 2018 - Lavrov: Russia Demands Just Probe into Reported Chemical Attacks in Syria
Farsnews
Russia advocates a fair investigation into the alleged chemical attacks in Syria, and is strongly against assigning anyone the blame without finding any proof, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during Monday’s press conference.
"We are in total support of a fair and immediate investigation, when they ask for it. However, when the investigation is intended to come at a predetermined point - that is, it was done by Assad with Putin’s support - there are no grounds for a serious discussion," Lavrov noted, TASS reported.
"We had already commented on this situation before it became a reality," the top diplomat stressed. "Our military currently in Syria and the Syrian government have warned countless times that a serious provocation is being concocted, aimed at blaming Damascus for using chemical weapons against civilians."
Russia’s top diplomat noted that, according to the reports about the phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump, they "exchanged proof" about the alleged use of chemical weapons by Bashar Assad’s forces. "The speed of reporting this information by the experts who had come to this conclusion… I wouldn’t want to make light of this situation, but this doesn’t add up to what could have actually occurred there," Lavrov pointed out.
"As for the reaction of our foreign colleagues in Washington, Paris, London, and other places, it is all quite simple: this was done by Damascus, and if Russia supports Damascus, then it is both Russia’s and Iran’s fault, and it is necessary to conduct an investigation," the foreign minister noted. "It is rather difficult for a logical person to understand the correlation between one and the other."
On April 7, a number of NGOs, including the White Helmets, alleged that chemical weapons were used in Douma, Eastern Ghouta. According to the statement published on the organization’s website on April 8, chlorine bombs had been dropped on the town, killing dozens and poisoning many locals who had to be brought to the hospital. The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed that report as fake news. The Defense Ministry added that the White Helmets were notorious for spreading falsehoods.
11/04/2018 - Jihadist rebels launch several missiles at Assad’s hometown in Latakia
Jihadist rebels launch several missiles at Assad's hometown in Latakia
The jihadist rebels launched several missiles towards the hometown of the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Tuesday, a military source told Al-Masdar News last night.
According to the source, the jihadist rebels of Jabhat Tahrir Souriya fired at least four missiles at the Latakia Governorate town of Qurdaha on Tuesday evening.
The source added that the jihadist missiles were fired from the nearby Al-Ghaab Plain in the Idlib Governorate.
In retaliation for the jihadist missile strike, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) began targeting Jabhat Tahrir Souriya’s positions in the Al-Ghaab Plain town of Al-Ziyarah, scoring several direct hits on the jihadist rebels.
11/04/2018 - Breaking: Trump to announce decision on Syria strike ‘soon’ – Fox News
Breaking: Trump to announce decision on Syria strike 'soon' - Fox News
U.S. President Donald Trump will make an announcement on whether or not he will strike Syria ‘soon,’ Fox News reported.
Trump has recently hinted that he will likely use force against the Syrian government, adding that they will have to “pay a big price” for the alleged chemical weapons attack on the East Ghouta town of Douma.
A U.S. naval vessel reportedly left Cyprus in order to head east towards the Syrian coast; however, its currently location is unknown.
The Russian Air Force has been repeatedly conducting flights along the Syrian coast in anticipation for a possible U.S. strike.
Farsnews
Al-Ahd news website reported that the army has discovered a location in the small town of Saqba in Eastern Ghouta that was used by the White Helmets to shoot and produce videos that depict the army as a savage force that kills civilians mercilessly.
It further said that the army men found a series of cameras and film-production equipment at the site.
On Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry denied reports of an alleged chemical bomb being dropped on Douma, suggesting that a number of Western states as well as NGOs like the White Helmets turned to such claims in order to undermine the evacuation of Jeish al-Islam terrorists from the area.
"We strongly deny these claims and announce our readiness to send Russian experts in radiation, chemical and biological defense to Douma after its liberation from terrorists to gather evidence, which would prove that the allegations on the chemical weapons use was staged," Maj. Gen. Yuri Yevtushenko, commander of the Russian Center for Syria reconciliation, said.
The Syrian government has also denied allegations of having used chemical weapons in the city of Douma in Eastern Ghouta, saying it doesn't need such measures to stop the terrorists.
According to the statement, issued by the Syrian authorities on the state-run SANA news agency, such claims have been made by terrorists and are aimed at hindering Syrian forces, which have made “a swift and determined advance” and do not need such measures to deter the terrorists.
"The chemical fabrications, which did not serve the terrorists and their sponsors in Aleppo and Eastern Ghouta, will not serve them today either, as the Syrian state is determined to end terrorism in every square inch of Syrian territory," the statement read.
Tue Apr 10, 2018 - Syria Using 40 Advanced Pantsir-S1 for Air Defense
Farsnews
The Arabic-language website of Sputnik quoted a military source in the Russian Defense Ministry as reporting that Russia has delivered 40 different models of advanced Pantsir-S1 air defense systems to Syria in recent years.
It further said that the Russia-made Pantsir-S1 has been designed for protecting military and non-military sites and for protecting other mid-range and long-range anti-aircraft missile systems, including S300 and S400 against aerial threats.
The system is also capable of destroying ground and sea targets that use light shields from 20km in distance.
The Arabic-language website of RT reported in January that the Syrian Army was vastly using Mirage-2 Electronic Defense System to deactivate the US-manufactured TOW anti-tank missiles.
The Arabic RT further said that the System that was mounted on the army tanks, armored and light vehicles was capable of deactivating TOW missiles.
The Mirage-2 System is equipped with more noise breaks in comparison with the older version of Mirage-1.
Tue Apr 10, 2018 - Envoy: Certain UNSC Permanent Members Try to Lie to Create Pretext for Aggression against Syria
Farsnews
Al-Jaafari, during the UN Security Council session on the situation in Syria on Monday evening, condemned in the strongest terms the Israeli aggression on T4 Airport in Homs province as a flagrant violation of the UN Security Council Resolution No. 350 of 1974 and relevant UN Security Council resolutions on combating terrorism, SANA reported.
He confirmed that the Israeli aggression represents an indirect response to the success of the Syrian Army in expelling the terrorist groups from the suburbs of Damascus City and its countryside and other Syrian areas.” The repeated Israeli aggressions will not dissuade the Syrian Army from continuing the decisive military achievements in combating terrorism,”
Al-Jaafari stressed that it has been proven that the campaigns launched by some states including member states at the Security Council on the deterioration of the humanitarian conditions in the Eastern Ghouta have been just lies.
The Permanent Representative said that the governments of some states are accustomed to lying, yet they fortunately lack the preciseness in making their lies, adding that the effects of lying policy adopted by some of the Security Council’s member states have become like mass destruction weapons.
He clarified that the evidence on their lies and allegations is that the locals of Douma exited safely and the terrorists chose to reach an agreement with the Syrian state.
The Representative wondered whether the goal behind the call by France, Britain, and the US for holding a session of the Security Council is to legitimize the Israeli aggression on Syria which took place on Monday morning or to stop the implementation of the agreement which its tools wanted.
“Before the Sarin gas attack launched by the terrorist groups on Khan al-Asal in Aleppo in on March 19th 2013, Syria informed the Security Council on December 10th 2012 that the US, England and France have launched a campaign of allegations on the possibility of launching such an attack by the Syrian Government, and we warned that these allegations pave the way for providing chemical weapons to the armed terrorist groups by the governments which sponsor them,” al-Jaafari said.
He reiterated that Syria has warned many times of the fact that the terrorist groups are preparing for using chemical weapons against the innocent Syrians and that they work through their media tools to fabricate evidence on such attacks.
“We note in every chapter of the scenario of the alleged use of chemical materials that these materials do not target militants at all but only target children and women,” al-Jaafari said.
He confirmed that Syria is ready to facilitate the entry of a fact-finding mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to Douma as soon as possible to verify the allegations of the attack as it supports the Russian demand on holding a session for listening to a briefing on the visit by assessment mission to Raqqa.
Today we directly accuse Washington, Paris, London, Riyadh, Doha and Ankara on supplying ISIL, Al-Nusra, Jeish al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman and scores of other terrorist groups affiliated to them with poisonous chemical substances to use them against the Syrian civilians, al-Jaafari said.
He stressed that the threat of the United States Permanent Representative to the UN Nikki Haley to Syria at the Security Council means that she pays no heed neither to the Council nor to the international law or the UN Charter.
Tue Apr 10, 2018 - Lavrov: Russia Demands Just Probe into Reported Chemical Attacks in Syria
Farsnews
Russia advocates a fair investigation into the alleged chemical attacks in Syria, and is strongly against assigning anyone the blame without finding any proof, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during Monday’s press conference.
"We are in total support of a fair and immediate investigation, when they ask for it. However, when the investigation is intended to come at a predetermined point - that is, it was done by Assad with Putin’s support - there are no grounds for a serious discussion," Lavrov noted, TASS reported.
"We had already commented on this situation before it became a reality," the top diplomat stressed. "Our military currently in Syria and the Syrian government have warned countless times that a serious provocation is being concocted, aimed at blaming Damascus for using chemical weapons against civilians."
Russia’s top diplomat noted that, according to the reports about the phone call between French President Emmanuel Macron and US President Donald Trump, they "exchanged proof" about the alleged use of chemical weapons by Bashar Assad’s forces. "The speed of reporting this information by the experts who had come to this conclusion… I wouldn’t want to make light of this situation, but this doesn’t add up to what could have actually occurred there," Lavrov pointed out.
"As for the reaction of our foreign colleagues in Washington, Paris, London, and other places, it is all quite simple: this was done by Damascus, and if Russia supports Damascus, then it is both Russia’s and Iran’s fault, and it is necessary to conduct an investigation," the foreign minister noted. "It is rather difficult for a logical person to understand the correlation between one and the other."
On April 7, a number of NGOs, including the White Helmets, alleged that chemical weapons were used in Douma, Eastern Ghouta. According to the statement published on the organization’s website on April 8, chlorine bombs had been dropped on the town, killing dozens and poisoning many locals who had to be brought to the hospital. The Russian Foreign Ministry dismissed that report as fake news. The Defense Ministry added that the White Helmets were notorious for spreading falsehoods.
11/04/2018 - Jihadist rebels launch several missiles at Assad’s hometown in Latakia
Jihadist rebels launch several missiles at Assad's hometown in Latakia
The jihadist rebels launched several missiles towards the hometown of the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Tuesday, a military source told Al-Masdar News last night.
According to the source, the jihadist rebels of Jabhat Tahrir Souriya fired at least four missiles at the Latakia Governorate town of Qurdaha on Tuesday evening.
The source added that the jihadist missiles were fired from the nearby Al-Ghaab Plain in the Idlib Governorate.
In retaliation for the jihadist missile strike, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) began targeting Jabhat Tahrir Souriya’s positions in the Al-Ghaab Plain town of Al-Ziyarah, scoring several direct hits on the jihadist rebels.
11/04/2018 - Breaking: Trump to announce decision on Syria strike ‘soon’ – Fox News
Breaking: Trump to announce decision on Syria strike 'soon' - Fox News
U.S. President Donald Trump will make an announcement on whether or not he will strike Syria ‘soon,’ Fox News reported.
Trump has recently hinted that he will likely use force against the Syrian government, adding that they will have to “pay a big price” for the alleged chemical weapons attack on the East Ghouta town of Douma.
A U.S. naval vessel reportedly left Cyprus in order to head east towards the Syrian coast; however, its currently location is unknown.
The Russian Air Force has been repeatedly conducting flights along the Syrian coast in anticipation for a possible U.S. strike.
I never saw this much war rhetoric and parallel deployments since 2014. Almost incessant. Normally, Russian diplomacy, creating and using de-escalation communication channels to avoid the unnecessary war triggers (Putin knows West don't care and wants War but anyway he does it), Warnings of possible consequences, Jamming the skies and even outright threats tend to calm things. These are very rare pro-active steps despite West's constant insults.
This time, the level of escalation is crazy. It makes me wonder, these psychos are going as if there is no tomorrow. Probably Putin's March 1st speech (Russian War capabilities) might have triggered something. Last month's Russian diplomat expellings (as if they want to test 'who is with us' like an opinion poll), embarrassing Skripal saga, Israel attack on T-4, Fake Chemical attack in Douma, Gaza protest killings (700 injured, 17 killed - this is a massacre). Event after Event in span of days. Interesting is MSM is crying that Russia Jammed the Syrian skies, none the less they are sending all these ships, and constantly barking as if nothing matters. Does these Pentagon gang thinks they can gain something from this?. If not, how embarrassing it all become for these image-conscious politicians. Probably, they are mad as hell.
