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


Video: Massive Government Convoy Including Battle Tanks And Artillery Is Heading To Daraa Ahead Of Expected Offensive
18.06.2018


Israel Did That! US Official Blames Syria Strike on IDF
02:18 19.06.2018
What Sputnik reported earlier as a US-led coalition strike on Syria has turned out to be an Israeli airstrike - at least according to one US official who spoke with CNN.

Israel, not the US, is responsible for an airstrike that killed dozens near the Syria-Iraq border, an anonymous US official said Monday, CNN reported. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official told reporters that the Pentagon is going out of its way to publicly make clear that it was not involved in the attack.

As Sputnik reported earlier, the Sunday night airstrike targeted positions in the Syrian settlement of al-Harra, which is southeast of Abu Kamal, near the border with Iraq. An unnamed commander of forces in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Reuters that "probably American" drones bombed the positions between Abu Kamal and al-Tanf.

According to Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, 22 of its members were killed, while estimates by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights say the total death toll was 52 people, Haaretz reported.

"At 22:00 last night, a US plane hit a fixed headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces' 45th and 46th brigades, defending the border strip with Syria, using two guided missiles which led to the martyrdom of 22 fighters," Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces said in a statement Monday, demanding an explanation from the United States.

"Among [those killed] are at least 30 Iraqi fighters and 16 Syrians, including soldiers and members of loyalist militias," Syrian Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman told reporters.

US Department of Defense spokesman Adrian Rankine-Galloway immediately denied involvement by either the US or the US-led coalition against Daesh in the attack.

"Not a US or coalition strike," Rankine-Galloway said Sunday.

"No member of the US-led coalition carried out strikes near Abu Kamal," Major Josh Jacques, a US Central Command spokesperson, told Reuters.


According to the anonymous US official who spoke with CNN, the US military is concerned the Iraqi Mobilization Forces might retaliate against US troops stationed in Iraq, which the current government, led by cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, has publicly called an "occupation." The official said that the Pentagon is doing everything it can to minimize the risk of retaliatory action.

In the meantime, Iraq's Foreign Ministry issued a statement, in which it expresses rejection and condemnation of any air operations that target forces fighting Daesh, be it in Iraq or Syria, PressTV reported.

An Israeli military spokesperson refused to comment on the issue, the Jerusalem Post noted Monday.

"We do not comment on foreign reports," the spokesperson said.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly said this weeked during his phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Israel will conduct strikes against what it sees as "entrenchment" by Iran and its allies in Syria.

"We will take action, and are already taking action, against the attempted military entrenchment of Iran and its proxies, both close to the border and deep within Syria," he is quoted by the Jerusalem Post as saying.

"Iran must clear out of all of Syria," the head of the Israeli government added.
 
The Kremlin comments on the possible meeting between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump;

June 19, 2018 - Kremlin promises to inform media about preparations for Putin-Trump meeting
Kremlin promises to inform media about preparations for Putin-Trump meeting

There is no understanding yet regarding the possible meeting between Russian and US Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"No, as soon as there is any clarity, we will inform you," Peskov said when asked whether there are any details concerning the two leaders’ meeting.

Putin and Trump agreed in a phone call in March that the meeting should be organized. However, no additional steps to get ready for the summit followed since then, the Kremlin spokesman noted.

On Saturday, the Washington Post reported citing a high-ranking US administration official and two diplomats that Trump was expected to meet with Putin in Europe in July during the US leader's visit to Brussels to take part in a NATO summit.


June 16, 2018 - Trump to meet with Putin in Europe in July — media
Trump to meet with Putin in Europe in July — media

"President Trump is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next month while he is in Europe for a NATO summit," the newspaper wrote. "In a nod to those plans, Trump told reporters on Friday that ‘it’s possible’ he would meet with Putin this summer," The Washington Post added. NATO is expected to hold a summit in Brussels on July 11-12.

According to the newspaper, Trump’s "interest in a meeting with Putin became public in March after the Kremlin disclosed that Trump extended an invitation in a phone call with the Russian leader. But US officials say Trump privately has been asking his aides for a bilateral meeting ever since he met with Putin in Vietnam in November on the sidelines of a multilateral economic summit." "After that meeting, the president said he wanted to invite Putin to the White House," a US official said as cited by The Washington Post. "We ignored it," the official added.

The newspaper also said that "at the time, top aides in the National Security Council opposed the idea of a meeting and said they didn’t view Trump’s interest in a summit as an order to set one up." "They decided: Let’s wait and see if he raises it again," said the official.

Resistance from Aides

"The push for engagement with the Kremlin follows months of prodding by Trump, who has faced resistance from senior political aides and diplomats questioning the value of meeting with Putin and worry that the tete-a-tete could cast a shadow over the NATO summit in Brussels," The Washington Post went on to say.

Senior officials at the State Department have acknowledged that a meeting between the two leaders could, in theory, help resolve long-standing differences on Ukraine, Syria, cybersecurity issues and interference in foreign elections. But some of those officials have said a summit between the two leaders is premature given the lack of progress on resolving minor issues, such as the return of Russian dachas on the East Coast, which were seized as punishment for Moscow’s interference in the election," the newspaper noted.


June 18, 2018 - US Republican Party senators to visit Russia
US Republican Party senators to visit Russia

On Saturday, the Washington Post reported that US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman is working to arrange a visit by a group of US Republican senators to Russia.

A group of US senators representing the Republican Party can visit Russia in early July, Head of Russia’s Federation Council (upper house of parliament) International Affairs Committee Konstantin Kosachev told reporters on Monday.

"A group of senators from the Republican Party has asked for a meeting in the beginning of July," Kosachev told reporters answering a question from a TASS correspondent.

On Saturday, the Washington Post reported that US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman is working to arrange a visit by a group of US Republican senators to Russia to hold consultations with Russian officials and explore the possibility of ironing out relations between the two countries.

According to the Washington Post, Huntsman is one of the few members of the Trump administration who strongly support cooperation between Moscow and Washington. The US ambassador plans to organize the visit of Senators Richard Shelby (Alabama), John Neely Kennedy (Louisiana) and John Hoeven (North Dakota).


June 19, 2018 - Washington committed to Syrian southwest ceasefire arrangement, Pompeo tells Lavrov
Washington committed to Syrian southwest ceasefire arrangement, Pompeo tells Lavrov

According to US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert, Lavrov and Pompeo had discussed "issues and concerns related to Syria and the bilateral relationship".

The United States is committed to maintaining a de-escalation zone in southeast Syria, warning Moscow and Damascus against unilateral activity in the area, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov over the phone on Monday.

According to US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert, Lavrov and Pompeo had discussed "issues and concerns related to Syria and the bilateral relationship." "Secretary Pompeo reemphasized the US commitment to the (Syrian) southwest ceasefire arrangement that was approved by President (Donald) Trump and President (Vladimir) Putin one year ago," Nauert said.

US Secretary of State noted that "it was critical for Russia and the Syrian regime to adhere to these arrangements and ensure no unilateral activity in this area," she added.

The Syrian southwest de-escalation zone has been agreed between Moscow, Washington and Amman. In a joint statement made on the margins of the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) conference in Vietnam’s Da Nang on November 11, 2017, Putin and Trump confirmed that there is no military solution to the conflict in Syria. They also agreed that the ultimate political solution to the conflict must be forged through the Geneva process pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 2254.


June 18, 2018 - De Mistura calls Russia-Iran-Turkey meeting on Syria ‘very important’
De Mistura calls Russia-Iran-Turkey meeting on Syria ‘very important’

The countries-guarantors of the Syrian ceasefire - Russia, Iran and Turkey-are holding two-day consultations in Geneva.

The meeting in Geneva on Syria between Russia, Iran and Turkey due to begin on Monday is very important, UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura told TASS.

"I am very interested in this meeting because it is very important," De Mistura stressed.

The countries-guarantors of the Syrian ceasefire - Russia, Iran and Turkey-are holding two-day consultations in Geneva. On June 19, De Mistura is due to attend a plenary meeting. Representatives of the Syrian opposition have also arrived in the Swiss city.

The meetings will focus on setting up the Syrian constitutional committee. The Russian delegation is represented by Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev and Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin.


19 June، 2018 - Syria strongly condemns Turkish and US incursion in Manbij vicinity
Syria strongly condemns Turkish and US incursion in Manbij vicinity – Syrian Arab News Agency

“The Syrian Arab Republic expresses its strong condemnation and absolute rejection of the incursion of Turkish and US troops in the vicinity of the city of Manbij, which comes in the context of the continued Turkish and US aggression against the Syrian sovereignty and territorial integrity,”an official source at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said in a statement to SANA.

The source added that the Syrian people and the Syrian Arab Army which made successive achievements against terrorist groups, are more resolute to liberate the entire Syrian soil from any foreign presence and preserve the sovereignty and unity of Syria.

The source concluded its statement by saying that Syria calls on the international community to condemn the US and Turkish aggressive behavior, which constitutes a flagrant violation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.


5 June، 2018 - Foreign Ministry says US-led Coalition’s attacks against civilians a retribution for their refusal to join separatist militias
Foreign Ministry says US-led Coalition’s attacks against civilians a retribution for their refusal to join separatist militias – Syrian Arab News Agency

Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said the illegitimate US-led International Coalition has been targeting civilians in the villages of al-Hasaka, Raqqa and Deir Ezzor as a retribution for their refusal to join US-allied separatist militias.

In a letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General and President of the United Nations Security Council, the ministry lambasted the Coalition’s incessant aggressions targeting innocent Syrian civilians and Syria’s sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity.

Citing a slew of atrocities the Coalition perpetrated in the villages of al-Hasaka, which left scores of civilians dead and many others injured, the ministry said the attacks are intended to punish the locals for their reluctance to join separatist militias allied to the United States.

According to the letter, the US has been restructuring relations with Daesh terrorists, integrating some within these militias and using others in mounting attacks against the Syrian Arab army’s sites with a view to recapturing areas the Syrian army and allies have liberated from terrorism.

The letter said the Coalition had not balked at providing overt military backing to Daesh terrorists against the Syrian army, the latest of which was on May 24 when its warplanes targeted military outposts for the Syrian army between al-Bukamal and Humaima in Deir Ezzor countryside 24 hours after the Syrian army managed to abort Daesh attack against these sites.

The Coalition’s sole aim is to undermine Syria’s sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity and prolong the crisis in it which contravenes the UN Security Council’s resolutions, added the letter.

The ministry urged the Coalition’s member country to pull out of this “outrageous coalition,” calling on the UNSC to assume its responsibilities in preserving international peace and security and take immediate action to end its massacres.

The letter also called for terminating the illegal US and foreign presence on the Syrian territories and to call a halt to the US plans in support of terrorism.

“The US hostile polices in Syria, the region and the world lack ethical grounds because it has become part and parcel of the threats which endanger international peace and security,” the ministry’s letter concluded.


2018-06-19 - Israel’s National Security Advisor presses Russia to force Iran to leave Syria
Israel's National Security Advisor visits Moscow to discuss Iran in Syria

Israel’s National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat recently visited Moscow to meet with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev and several other officials, Channel 10 reported.

Ben-Shabbat told Channel 10 that during his meeting, he pressed the Russians to force Iranians to leave Syria.

“I made clear to them our principles on this matter,” he said.

“Iran must leave Syria and we will act and are already acting against Iran’s attempts to establish itself in that country,” he added.

Ben-Shabbat’s visit comes just days after Israel’s Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman traveled to Moscow to meet with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoygu.


2018-06-19 - Breaking: Syrian military claims Israeli UAV downed near occupied Golan Heights
Syrian military claims Israeli UAV downed near occupied Golan Heights

The Syrian military claimed on Tuesday afternoon that their forces in the Al-Quneitra Governorate had downed an Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near the occupied Golan Heights.

The Syrian military claims the drone was shot down by their forces and did not crash due to technical issues.

The downing of this alleged spy drone comes just 24 hours after the jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham attempted to carry out an ambush against the Syrian military near the hilltop town of Tal Kroum.


19.06.2018 - Israeli Military Drone Falls on Syrian Territory While Patrolling Border
Israeli Military Drone Falls on Syrian Territory While Patrolling Border

It remains unclear as to why the drone fell by the northern border, into Syrian territory on Tuesday.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, no information could have been leaked from the drone, as it was patrolling the northern border for reconnaissance purposes only.

The drone, known as Sky Rider or Rochev Shamayim, is manufactured by Elbit Systems and is used for different tactical intelligence purposes with units of the ground forces.

As Sputnik reported earlier, on Sunday night an airstrike targeting positions in the Syrian settlement of al-Harra were conducted, killing dozens. An unnamed commander of forces in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told Reuters that "probably American" drones had bombed positions between Abu Kamal and al-Tanf.

Following the incident, conflicting reports suggested that the attack could have been conducted by Israel, an anonymous US official said Monday, CNN reported.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official told reporters that the Pentagon is going out of its way to publicly make clear that it was not involved in the attack.

Despite the blame game, neither Israel nor the US has taken responsibility for the attack.


2018-06-19 - Largest Army convoy heading south for Daraa offensive (Video_
VIDEO: Largest Army convoy heading south for Daraa offensive

The largest convoy for the Syrian Army has just been filmed en route to the country’s south for the long-awaited Daraa assault amid US warnings.

The convoy, led by Brigadier General Suheil al-Hassan aka The Tiger, includes armored vehicles, T-72 and T-90 tanks, MLR launchers, artillery and machinegun-equipped vehicles.

On the field, the Syrian Army pounded, with heavy artillery, several villages and towns of Lajat area located to the north and northwest of the provincial capital.

Reinforcements pour into the battleground in spite of US warning the Syrian government of launching the attack.

The Syrian government has vowed to retake all rebel-held areas in the southern province while offering militants a chance to accept an evacuation deal.


2018-06-18 - Exclusive: Syrian Army’s elite group redeploys from Golan region to lead east Daraa offensive
SAA's 42nd Brigade redeploys from Golan region to east Daraa

The Syrian Arab Army’s elite 42nd Brigade (Ghiath Forces) of the 4th Division has been given orders to redeploy from the occupied Golan Heights region to the eastern countryside of the Dara’a Governorate, an officer from the unit told Al-Masdar News this evening.

According to the officer, the 42nd Brigade will be leading the offensive to retake the strategic Nassib Crossing in southeast Dara’a.

The 42nd Brigade will be joined by a number of brigades from the 4th and 7th divisions, along with several units from the Republican Guard.

This major operation will be led by the prominent commander of the 42nd Brigade, Colonel Ghiath Dalla.

Colonel Dalla has commanded the 42nd Brigade in several operations in the past, including the battles for Beit Jinn, Al-Zabadani, Khan Al-Sheih, and Darayya.

The 42nd Brigade commander is considered one of the Syrian military’s most intelligent officers, as his track record in battle has been perfect.

Colonel Dalla will not put his expertise to work in east Daraa, as the capture of the Nassib Crossing is one of the top priorities of the southern Syria offensive.

According to a military source in Damascus, the Syrian Arab Army’s first major operation in the Dara’a Governorate will concentrate on the eastern countryside of the province.

In particular, the Syrian military offensive will focus on the Nassib Crossing and the towns surrounding this imperative border region.

The Syrian Arab Army lost the Nassib Crossing to the Islamist rebels in early 2015.

The loss of the Nassib Crossing led to the Syrian Army’s complete collapse in the southeastern countryside of Dara’a, as they would later lose the historical city of Busra Al-Sham.


2018-06-19 - Watch: Tiger Forces commander enters Daraa with Russian ground, air escort
Tiger Forces commander enters Daraa with Russian ground, air escort

The commander of the Tiger Forces, Major General Suheil Al-Hassan, was filmed this past weekend entering the Dara’a Governorate with a large number of Russian bodyguards.

The veteran commander was escorted by a large arsenal of Russian ground and air bodyguards.

As shown in the video below, Russian military choppers could be seen following the Tiger Forces commander in order to ensure his safety.


2018-06-19 - Syrian choppers drop thousands of leaflets calling on Daraa residents to kick out rebels
Syrian choppers drop thousands of leaflets over rural Daraa

The Syrian Arab Air Force dropped thousands of leaflets over the Dara’a countryside on Tuesday, calling on the residents to kick out the militants inside their towns.

According to a military report, the helicopters of the Syrian Air Force dropped these leaflets over the towns of Ibtaa and Da’el in northern Dara’a.

The leaflets dropped by the air force specifically called on the residents of these two towns to kick out the rebel forces and reconcile with the Syrian government.

Both Da’el and Ibtraa are expected to be the first towns to be targeted by the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) during as they are closest to their front-lines.


Tue Jun 19, 2018 - Northern Syrian Tribes Provide Backup for Army's Anti-Terrorism Campaign
Farsnews

Elites and leaders of a number of tribes in the provinces of Idlib, Aleppo and Hama, in a meeting on Tuesday, declared their support for the Syrian Army's war on terrorism.

Tribesmen and elite members of the tribes in Idlib, Hama and Aleppo held a meeting in the village of Waridah al-Zaher East of the town of Abu al-Dhohour in Idlib province, declaring their support for the army.

They further welcomed liberation of hundreds of villages of and towns by the army in Abu al-Dhohour and also the return of civilians to their regions.

The tribal leaders, meantime, said that they will provide backup for the army until they root out terrorism and militancy across Syria.

The representative of the chief commander of the Syrian Armed Forces, who had participated in the meeting, underlined the army's firm will to restore security to the entire regions in the country.

In a relevant development but in Southern Syria in Novembers 2017, a new pro-gov't Army of Tribes was formed in Dara'a province to combat terrorist groups in Southern Syria.

The Arabic-language al-Hadath news quoted well-informed sources as saying that a new army had been formed under the name of Jeish al-Ashayer (Army of Tribes) in Dara'a province to fight against the threat of the terrorist groups.

Al-Hadath further said that the Army of Tribes would be under the command of the Syrian Presidential Guard deployed in the province.

In the meantime, 160 ex-militants, including a number of commanders, that had received government amnesty, applied to join the Army of Tribes in Dara'a.


19.06.2018 - Ex-Congressman: US Didn't Defeat Terrorists in Syria - Russia and Assad Did
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201806191065543946-us-congressman-syria-daesh/

The multisided conflict in Syria has drawn in numerous foreign powers, with some deploying forces to fight terrorism, while others have attempted to prop up local proxies to serve their interests.

Discussing the US' military role in Syria on Monday, American ex-Congressman Ron Paul identified which parties had played the largest role in defeating terrorist groups throughout the Arab Republic, and said the US should withdraw its troops.

“The real hypocrisy comes in our justification: We’re there to fight for our constitution, our liberties, and get rid of al-Qaeda* (and Daesh*), because al-Qaeda is the threat. But there’s no evidence that we ever did anything – al-Qaeda is losing but it was in spite of us. There’s no evidence we ever did much – it was the Russians and Assad who bought it to the point where we’re just about ready to get rid of al-Qaeda,” he said.

Explaining the difference between Russia’s military campaign in Syria and the US’ intervention, the ex-congressman said “First off, our government has no authority to be there. Another thing is it [Syria] is 6,000 miles away from home, there’s no threat to our security, our constitution, or our liberties. And we weren’t invited to be in there.”

“But on the other hand, it’s close to Russia, Russia has a base there, they were invited in, and Russia is fighting al-Qaeda. And yet, that information never gets out.”

Mr. Paul’s comments were made shortly after an alleged US airstrike targeted the Syrian Army in the oil-rich province of Deir ez-Zor on June 18.

Government forces liberated much of the province from Daesh terrorist earlier this year, and are continuing to battle the remaining pockets of Daesh resistance.

US warplanes have attacked Syrian military forces in the province on a number of occasions, most notably in late 2016, when almost 40 airstrikes by the US-led aerial coalition destroyed a Syrian Army base and allowed Daesh forces to seize a strategic nearby mountain.

The Syrian government has repeatedly insisted that this incident is proof of US-Daesh collusion, while Washington has claimed the assault was unintentional.
 
Gives new meaning to the declaration, "Out of Russia - will come Peace to the World!"

In regards to Putin and Xi insisting on reforming the United Nations, consider the background and present position of Russia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov.

13970320000315_Test_PhotoI.jpg

https://trc.taboola.com/sputnik-en/...29tMgh3YXRlcjgyMjiAvJfLBECRpA5I7sEPUO3aE1i2BA

Well, here we go ... nice Chess move by Russia!

The US steps back (exits) - the United Nations Human Rights Council and Russia proposes "its candidacy for membership of the Human Rights Council for 2021-2023." It has Sergey Lavrov's finger prints - all over it!

If Putin and Xi are intent on reforming and realigning the United Nations, to fulfill it's original Mandates towards impartiality and addressing violations of fundamental human rights, they might want to begin - by investigating allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation by the UN's own Staff members and Peacekeepers? Looks like "a little house cleaning" is in order?

20.06.2018 - Russia Nominates For UN Human Rights Council Election - Permanent Mission to UN
Russia Nominates For UN Human Rights Council Election - Permanent Mission to UN

Russia put forward its candidacy for membership of the UN Human Rights Council for 2021-2023, the Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations said on Wednesday.

"Russia will continue its effective work in the Human Rights Council to maintain equal dialogue and cooperation in the human rights sphere. For this purpose, Russia has proposed its candidacy for membership of the Human Rights Council for 2021-2023," First Secretary of the Russian Mission to the United Nations, Fedor Strzhizhovskiy, said.

On Tuesday, US Envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley announced that the United States is officially withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council.

As we said we would do a year ago, if we did not see any progress, the United States is officially withdrawing from the UN Human Rights Council," Haley told reporters.

The US ambassador continued, "In doing so, I want to make it crystal clear that this step is not a retreat from human rights commitments." Haley added that there is a chronic bias against Israel at the UN Human Rights Council.

The Russian Permanent Mission to the UN said in a statement that the US' attempts to accuse the UN Human Rights Council of politicization seemed "cynical."

"Apparently, the United States wanted to turn the Council into a handy tool for promoting its interests and punishing unwanted states. In this context, the US attempts to accuse almost the whole world of politicization of the Council and failure of its initiative, look cynical," the statement read.

The Russian Mission to the United Nations stressed that the Council, despite some weak points, is a key international platform for cooperation in the human rights field which works on the principles of impartiality, neutrality and cooperation.

* 20.06.2018 - US Makes Controversial Move by Exiting From UN Human Rights Council
US Makes Controversial Move by Exiting From UN Human Rights Council

* 20.06.2018 - US Pulls Out of UN Human Rights Council after Accusing Body of Anti-Israel Bias
US Pulls Out of UN Human Rights Council After Accusing Body of Anti-Israel Bias

* 20.06.2018 - US Exit from UN Human Rights Council Shows Double Standards - Foreign Ministry
US Exit From UN Human Rights Council Shows Double Standards - Foreign Ministry

* Back-dated 03.04.2016 - UN 'Turned Blind Eye' to Horrible Sexual Assaults by Its Peacekeepers
UN 'Turned Blind Eye' to Horrible Sexual Assaults by Its Peacekeepers

* Back-dated 19.04.2017 - 'A Slap in the Face of National Dignity': UN Mission's Dark Deeds in Hatiti
'A Slap in the Face of National Dignity': UN Mission's Dark Deeds in Haiti

* 31.05.2018 - Peace Destroyers: Child Sex Abuse by UN, NGO Workers - From S. Sudan to Haiti
Peace Destroyers: Child Sex Abuse by UN, NGO Workers - From S. Sudan to Haiti

* 02.05.2018 - UN Received 54 Sexual Abuse Allegations in First Three Months of 2018
UN Received 54 Sexual Abuse Allegations in First Three Months of 2018


On another note ...

20.06.2018 - Russia Trip: US Senators Testing the Waters Before Potential Trump-Putin Meeting
Russia Trip: US Senators Testing the Waters Before Potential Trump-Putin Meeting

US lawmakers are reportedly about to test the waters in Russia while seeking ways to "have a better relationship" with Moscow. However, what could really bring hope for a new détente is a potential Trump-Putin summit in Europe in early July, scholars told Sputnik.

A group of US senators is reportedly going to visit Russia ahead of a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart, Donald Trump, in Vienna, Austria, in early July.

While the forthcoming visit of the American lawmakers is unlikely to translate into a breakthrough in relations between the two countries, it is important nevertheless, Alexei Arbatov, director of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Center for Global Security, told Sputnik.

"If Russia and the United States do not want to completely part company and then suddenly find themselves in a state of nuclear war, any contacts are welcome," Arbatov said.

He recalled that previously, Moscow and Washington had maintained a wide range of contacts, including inter-parliamentary, government, business, defense and security, let alone regular top-level negotiations. All these activities have recently been brought to naught, the scholar highlighted.

Alexander Orlov, former Russian diplomat and director of the Institute of International Studies at Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), echoes Arbatov: He believes that "contacts are better than a war of words."

In my opinion, this is an attempt by a certain part of the US establishment to find some ways to establish relations with Russia. Inter-parliamentary ties between the USSR and the United States were preserved even during the Cold War, now they are completely frozen, and it is very important to restore them," Orlov emphasized.

On June 15, The Washington Post reported that US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman was arranging for a delegation of Republican senators, namely, Richard C. Shelby of Alabama, John Neely Kennedy of Louisiana and John Hoeven of North Dakota, to visit Moscow. It added that Huntsman "is among the few Trump officials who have actively supported engagement with Russia."

Having confirmed his interest in the upcoming visit, Kennedy told the media outlet that the visit could help understand how Washington can "have a better relationship with Russia."

He added that the lawmakers would "try to figure out what Russia is thinking. . . what their attitude is [and] to what extent Mr. Putin really speaks for the average Russian."

For its part, The New York Daily News specified that Shelby, Kennedy and Hoeven are "on neither the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee or on the Senate Intelligence Committee that issued a report last month saying Russia tried to influence the 2016 election."

Responding to Sputnik's request, the US Embassy in Russia confirmed the upcoming event and expressed hope that the establishment of an inter-parliamentary dialogue "will serve to the development of Russian-American ties and positively affect the entire complex of our relations."

Previously, in December 2017, two Republican Senators Ron Johnson and John Barrasso scrapped their trip to Russia after Moscow denied a visa to their Democratic counterpart, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, an ardent proponent of anti-Russian sanctions. As US rejected to grant visa "on a reciprocal basis" to any of the Russians who were under United States sanctions, Shaheen could not join her GOP colleagues, who subsequently decided to cancel the visit.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post also dropped the hint that Donald Trump may meet Vladimir Putin while in Europe for a NATO
summit this July.

On June 19, Reuters specified that the Austrian capital, Vienna, is under consideration as the site of an expected summit, citing two sources with knowledge of the matter. The media outlet added that the meeting could take place before a July 11-12 NATO summit in Brussels.

According to Arbatov, the potential Trump-Putin meeting may bring hope for a new thaw and new détente between the countries, "especially if it leads to the signing of some important treaty: For example, on the next stage in the reduction of strategic weapons or on maintaining the agreement on medium-range missiles."

Following US President George W. Bush's decision to pull out of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty on December 13, 2001, the two countries remain at odds on a range of issues concerning medium-range missiles, strategic weapons and the deployment of the US missile defense shield in Europe in close proximity to Russia's borders.
 
At least one Syrian soldier was killed in a US-led coalition airstrike on Syrian army positions in the east of Homs province on Thursday, a Syrian field commander told Sputnik.

21.06.2018 - US-Led Coalition Strikes Syria's Homs Province: Syrian Soldier Killed - Reports
US-Led Coalition Strikes Syria's Homs Province: Syrian Soldier Killed - Reports

"The combat planes belonging to the coalition led by the United States, attacked the army position in Jabal Ghurab, some 150 kilometers [93 miles] east of Palmyra near the border with Iraq," the commander said.

"One serviceman was killed and several others wounded," he added.

According to a Syrian field commander, the sudden US-led coalition air assault occured after Syrian forces responded to an open fire from three coalition's vehicles, moving towards positions of governmental forces.

A sudden airstrike has claimed the life of a Syrian Officer, leaving several other Syrian soldiers injured.

According to a Syrian field commander, coalition vehicles were spotted moving away from At Tanf district, where the US-led coalition base is situated.

Such an open skirmish between Syrian governmental forces and US-led coalition troops reportedly occured for the first time since the outbreak of the war in Syria.

Last week, the Russian reconciliation center reported that the Syrian government troops backed by the Russian Aerospace Forces prevented militants' audacious breakthrough out of the At Tanf area towards Palmyra.


21.06.2018 - At Least 8 Killed After US-Led Coalition Airstrikes in Deir Ez-Zor - Reports
At Least 8 Killed After US-Led Coalition Airstrikes in Deir Ez-Zor - Reports

At least eight people were killed and many others were wounded on Thursday in a series of airstrikes by the US-led international coalition in Syria's Deir ez-Zor province, Syria's state-run SANA news agency reported.

According to SANA, the coalition airstrikes targeted the village of al-Sha'afa and destroyed a number of houses and infrastructure in addition to civilian casualties.

On Monday, The US-led coalition reportedly hit the positions of the Syrian Armed Forces in Al Bukamal area of the eastern Syrian Deir ez-Zor province, killing several Syrian servicemen and injuring others.

On Wednesday, Syrian government army and allied forces have reportedly fully liberated a nearly 1,000-square mile territory from the Daesh terrorist group to the east from Palmyra.

According to Sana news agency, the government forces have liberated a part of the desert between Homs and Deir ez-Zor provinces reaching the border with Iraq.

Last week, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that the Free Syrian Army and the US special operations forces were preparing a provocation with the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian province of Deir ez-Zor.

According to the Russian official, Free Syrian Army militants have already brought canisters with chlorine to a settlement in Deir ez-Zor to stage another "chemical attack against civilians.


21.06.2018 - Washington Deployed 19 Military Facilities in Syria to Train Militants - Analyst
Washington Deployed 19 Military Facilities in Syria to Train Militants - Analyst

The United States has deployed 19 military bases in Syria and 22 bases in neighboring countries to train and supply militants opposing the legitimate Syrian government, a leading expert at the Center for Military and Political Studies of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations told Sputnik.

"The Pentagon has deployed 19 military bases and strongholds in Syria, as well as 22 military bases in neighboring countries in order to ensure the uninterrupted supply of weapons, ammunition, fuel, and food to militants from terrorist organizations," Prof. Vladimir Kozin said.

The military expert cited the example of US base in Al-Tanf, in the south of Syria. According to Kozin, the airspace over the town and about 30 miles around its borders was closed off, although Damascus never agreed to that.

The expert pointed out that the direct aid to the militants was in contradiction to the UN regulations and agreements on de-escalation zones in Syria.

According to Kozin, Washington is supporting the militants to preserve the US influence on the military and political situation in Syria.

Kozin added that Washington's endgame in Syria, freezing the political settlement process and helping someone backed by the United States come to power, remained unchanged since 2011.

Terrorists in Syria Pitting Moderate Opposition Groups Against Each Other - The Daesh* and Jabhat Al-Nusra Front* terrorist groups are pitting the groups of moderate Syrian opposition against each other in order to foil peace in Syria's southwestern de-escalation zone, Kozin noted.

"The relations between illegal armed formations in Syria are characterized by the permanent struggle for redistribution of areas of influence within the de-escalation zone, which results in direct clashes. Leaders of the Free Syrian Army [FSA] and Ahrar al-Sham are known to be somehow ready to reconcile with the Syrian government and transfer the control over their territories to the government. However, leaders of Al-Nusra Front and Daesh, who control the half of the territory together, are not open to dialogue and continue to exert pressure on more moderate formations thus undermining the reconciliation process,” Vladimir Kozin said.

He pointed out that in the southwestern de-escalation zone, which includes territories of the provinces of As Suwayda, Al Qunaitra and Daraa, there are four major groups with the whole number of fighters reaching 12,000.

"The first group is the Free Syrian Army, which includes more than 20 units with up to 7,000 militants. It is supported by Israel and is regarded by the international community as armed opposition, which sometimes behaves as moderate one and sometimes not. Now the Free Syrian Army controls 34-40 percent of the mentioned zone," Kozin said.

According to the expert, the second group is Al-Nusra Front, which includes up to 20 armed units with about 3,500 militants. It is supported by Saudi Arabia and Qatar but recognized as a terror group by the international community. It controls up to 15 percent of the territory of the de-escalation zone.

"The fourth group is the quasi Islamic State* which is a successor of the infamous ISIS. That is the most radical group uniting four main units with the whole number of militants amounting to 1,500. It is extorting from locals and illegally supported by the United States despite the US participation in the creation of this de-escalation zone. It is recognized by the international community as an international terrorist organization. It controls up to 15 percent of the de-escalation zone," Kozin noted.

The expert added that the fourth group was Ahrar al-Sham, which has five main units with up to 800 militants. They are formed on a local basis and regard themselves as independent formations, not linked to other groups. Ahrar al-Sham controls up to 10 percent of the zone’s territory.

Syria has been engulfed in a civil war since 2011 with the government forces fighting against a number of opposition groups and terrorist organizations.


Thu Jun 21, 2018 - Russian Analyst: US Training Terrorists in 19 Military Bases
Farsnews

A prominent Russian military analyst revealed that the US is training terrorists in 19 military bases in Syria in pursuit of its military and political objectives in the country.

Vladimir Kozin, a military expert at Moscow State Institute of International Relations, was quoted by the Arabic website of RT as saying that the US has 19 bases in Syria to train the terrorists.

He added that the weapons, ammunition, fuel and foodstuff needed in these centers are provided by 22 US military bases outside Syria.

Kozin said that the American forces train the terrorists at al-Tanf base in Syria's Badiyeh region in the South, adding that the US army has closed the airspace of this region in a radius of 50km without any agreement with the Damascus government.

He described Washington's military and technical support for terrorist groups as a violation of the UN Charter and agreements to decrease tensions in Syria, and said the US supports the terrorists to maintain its influence on the political and military situation of the country.


Thu Jun 21, 2018 - Syrian Army Imposes Full Control over ISIL-Occupied Region in Southern Deir Ezzur
Farsnews

The Syrian army troops could fully cleanse an ISIL-occupied region in Southern Deir Ezzur and Eastern Homs during extensive military operations on Thursday.

Field sources reported that the army forces won back control of a region extending from areas near the T2 station in Southeastern Homs to Mo'eizileh region in Southern Deir Ezzur which was occupied by the ISIL.

They added that 1,200sq/km of lands have been purged of terrorists by the army, saying that the army forces killed over 50 militants in the operations and destroyed their military equipment.

In a relevant development on Tuesday, the Syrian army troops stormed the strongholds of the remaining pockets of ISIL terrorists in Western Deir Ezzur and Eastern Homs, and managed to restore security to more regions at the border with Iraq.

The army men managed to advance against ISIL in a vast region some 45km wide and 60km long in Eastern Homs after purging Ba'ar Atshan, Wadi al-Lawizeh and Tal Shadid regions of terrorists.

The strategic Humeimeh and T2 station are now fully safe and secured.


Thu Jun 21, 2018 - Syrian Army Drives ISIL out of 12 Regions in Badiyeh of Sweida
Farsnews

The army forces continued clashes with remnants of the ISIL terrorists in Northeastern Badiyeh of Sweida on Thursday, and captured Tal Qabr Sayah, Tal al-Zahaya, Tal Darbas, Tal al-Zabab, Tal Lathawi, Tal al-Kheyal, Tal Um al-Janbaris, Tal al-Zars, Tal Ali, Tal al-Habariyeh and Khabrat Hawi Hossein.

Meantime, the Syrian army's artillery and missile units targeted the terrorists' positions in the region, inflicting heavy damage and tolls on them.

In a relevant development on Wednesday, the Syrian army troops stormed the remaining pockets of ISIL in the Eastern Badiyeh of Sweida and managed to make remarkable advance against terrorists in three flanks.

The army men engaged in fierce clashes with ISIL in Rasm al-Hatiti flank and captured Wadi Shatayeb Suleiman, Tal Lathawi, Souh al-Majidi, Arazi Joweis and Wadi al-Sahal regions.

Other units of the army soldiers stormed ISIL in a region between al-Shaqiyeh and Khirbet al-Ambashi and seized control over Tal Qabr Sayah, Rasm Abu Rour and Tal Zahaya.

The army men further advanced and drove ISIL out of Khirbet al-Ambashi.

In the third flank, other units of the army clashed with ISIL in a region between al-Qasr and Khirbet al-Ambashi and purged Rasoum Bu Layeh, Rasm al-Samahiyeh and Sir Abu Sarwal of terrorists.


Thu Jun 21, 2018 - Tahrir Al-Sham Commander Assassinated as Tensions Soar in Aleppo
Farsnews

A notorious commander of Tahrir al-Sham Hay'at (the Levant Liberation Board or the Al-Nusra Front) terrorist group was assassinated in Western Aleppo as infighting increased between Tahrir al-Sham and Syria's Tahrir Front.

Local sources in Western Aleppo reported on Thursday that unknown assailants attacked Tahrir al-Sham commander Abu Ahmad al-Sharoukh at the entrance of al-Mohandeseen region, and killed him.

Meantime, Tahrir al-Sham terrorists gained control of farms near the village of al-Jineh in Western Aleppo, erecting several checkpoints at its entrances.

The sources said that Tahrir al-Sham and Syria's Tahrir Front militants are now on alert in the region, adding that the latter has given a one-day ultimatum to Tahrir to leave the region.


2018-06-21 - US warns Syrian gov’t, Russians about escalating southwest Syria operations
US warns Syrian gov't, Russians about escalating SW Syria operations

The U.S. State Department issued another warning to the Russian and Syrian governments regarding the latter’s ongoing operations in southwest Syria.

“The United States remains deeply troubled by reports of increasing Syrian regime operations in southwest Syria within the boundaries of the de-escalation zone negotiated between the United States, Jordan, and the Russian Federation last year and reaffirmed between Presidents Trump and Putin in Da Nang, Vietnam in November,” U.S. State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert began.

“The Syrian regime military and militia units, according to our reports, have violated the southwest de-escalation zone and initiated airstrikes, artillery, and rocket attacks,” she continued.

“The United States continues to warn both the Russian government and the Assad regime of the serious repercussions of these violations and demands that Russia restrain pro-regime forces from further actions within the southwest de-escalation zone. During their call this weekend, Secretary Pompeo stressed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov the critical nature of mutual adherence to this arrangement and the unacceptable nature of any unilateral activity by the Assad regime or Russia.
The United States expects all parties to respect the ceasefire, protect civilian populations, and avoid broadening of the conflict. We remain committed to maintaining the stability of the southwest de-escalation zone and to the ceasefire underpinning it,” Nauert added.

The Syrian military has launched several attacks over the last 72 hours against the jihadist rebels in northeastern Dara’a.

These attacks have resulted in the jihadist rebels being effectively besieged in the northeastern countryside of Dara’a.
 
$1.4M terrorist drug cache seized, destroyed in southern Syria
https://twitter.com/OIRSpox/status/1009089665587122177
June 18, 2018
SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Coalition-supported forces destroyed a large cache of Daesh's narcotic drugs June 12.

The drugs, estimated to have a black market value of $1.4M, were seized by the Coalition's Maghawir al- Thowra partners during counter-Daesh operations within the 55km deconfliction zone near At Tanf, Syria May 31.

Despite Daesh's façade of Islamic purity, its criminal terrorists are known drug users and traffickers. The cache included more than 300,000 pills of Captagon, an illegal drug frequently trafficked and used by Daesh members.

Captagon is a highly-addictive amphetamine-based drug that is banned in many countries. It is informally referred to as the "jihadists' drug."

MaT forces actively patrol the At Tanf de-confliction zone to disrupt and prevent Daesh operations there. The seizure and destruction of drugs, weapons and other contraband further reduces Daesh's abilities to fund and conduct combat operations.

"Our dedicated partner forces are committed to the defeat-Daesh mission," said Maj. Gen. James Jarrard, commander of the Special Operations Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve.

"This is another great example of their dedication and professionalism in the fight against Daesh and in the protection of the people of southern Syria."

Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve's mission is to defeat Daesh n designated parts of Iraq and Syria, and to set conditions for follow-on operations to increase regional stability.





Published on Jun 21, 2018 / 43:34
Live chat between Kevork Almassian and Vanessa Beeley on the Syrian Arab Army; its foundation, officers, ideology/sectarianism, loyalty, and its role during the ongoing proxy war.


South Front
Syrian War Report – June 21, 2018: Government Forces Pressure ISIS Cells On Multiple Fronts
Published on Jun 21, 2018 / 3:39
 
The mission to probe the fact of chemical weapons use in Syria has strongly protracted the timing of the investigation in favor of the US and their allies’ interests, the Russian Defense Ministry stated.

22.06.2018 - Equipment in Syria's Douma Chemical Lab Made in EU, N America - Russian MoD
Equipment in Syria’s Douma Chemical Lab Made in EU, N America - Russian MoD

Chemical weapons in Syria were produced by militants and equipment was manufactured in Western Europe, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

"The equipment, the leakage of which came out a few days ago… I would like to say that some of it is equipment that was used by militants, terrorists. It was discovered in the city of Douma," Zakharova said at a briefing of the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Defense for the diplomatic corps to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

The militants' chemical lab in Syria's Douma produced high-tech pentaerythritol tetranitrate (TEN) explosives and also had precursors of mustard agent and chlorine, Maj. Gen. Igor Kirillov said.

"With the help of this equipment, [militants] produced high-tech and high-quality TEN explosives. During the search of the lab, [the Russian military] also found thiodiglycol and triethanolamine, which can be used for the production of sulfur and nitrogen mustard, as well as hexamine," Kirillov said at a briefing on the investigation into the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Kirillov added that the military had also found a chlorine gas cylinder, similar to the one used by militants in the staged chemical weapons attack in Douma.

Equipment in Syria’s Douma Chemical Lab Made in EU, N America - Russian MoD

Some equipment parts for the synthesis of a mustard agent, which had been found in militants’ chemical laboratories in the Syrian city of Douma, were produced in the European Union and North America, Maj. Gen. Igor Kirillov said.

"We would like to draw your attention to the fact that certain parts of the equipment and reagents were produced in the EU and North American countries," Kirillov told a briefing, held jointly by the Russian defense and foreign ministries.

Cylinders from the scene of the alleged chemical attack in the Syrian city of Douma were only sealed by OPCW representatives a month and a half after the incident took place, in violation of the OPCW standards, Kirillov noted.

What kind of results can we expect from a Fact-Finding Mission investigating this incident that has already led to a massive missile strike by the US, UK and French aircraft on the territory of the sovereign state in violation of international legal mechanisms? Obviously, they are preparing yet another accusatory report based on pseudo-evidence," Kirillov stressed.

In April, the fact-finding mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has visited a site in the Damascus suburb of Douma to collect samples in connection with the alleged April 7 chemical attack.

The footage presented by the White Helmets has been confirmed as fake by a boy who was filmed and his father, as well as another boy who got food for taking part and a doctor at Douma's hospital where the shooting took place.

Russian servicemen have found no evidence of any attack at the site but discovered a militant laboratory equipped for producing chemical weapons.

US, UK, France, Allies Trying to Turn OPCW Into Politicized Institution

"While conducting investigations into chemical incidents in Syria, compliance with a strict sequence of actions to preserve evidence has been violated," Maj. Igor Kirillov, chief of the Russian Armed Forces' Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops, said.

The Russian Defense Ministry’s representative stressed that the neglect of the OPCW standards "led to contradictions, inconsistencies and falsifications of facts in the reports on the results of investigations, which are clearly anti-Syrian in nature."

"The United States, the United Kingdom, France and their allies are again misleading the international community and are striving for confrontation. Using staged chemical attacks they accuse Syria of violating the [Chemical Weapons] Convention, and Russia of facilitating this [violation]. Against this background, a campaign has been organized to turn the OPCW into a politicized structure that has the authority to issue strict guilty verdicts against individual states and their leaders," Kirillov said.

He stressed that "the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission into the use of chemical weapons in Syria, which is carrying out investigations depending on the United States and its allies, plays an unenviable role here."

"In order to satisfy the interests of the United States and its allies, the mission delayed the investigation of the incidents in every possible way, and the final report on the Ltamenah incident was published one and a half year after the incident. [It was done] only to use this fact to advance the decision about giving the OPCW the 'pseudo-judicial' functions of appointing the perpetrators and determining the punishment," he said.

Damascus has repeatedly refuted the allegations of the chemical weapons use, saying that the full destruction of its arsenal was confirmed by the OPCW in 2016.

According to Kirillov, the productive position of Syria and Russia, the desire for dialogue with the OPCW have been confirmed by the efforts made to provide comprehensive assistance and support to the mission to establish if chemical agents were used in Douma.

More than 40 tons of poisonous substances were found on the territories liberated from terrorists in Syria in 2017, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has invariably declined requests by the country’s authorities to conduct inspections in militant warehouses with poisonous chemicals, Kirillov said.

White Helmets Used Low-Grade Bomb in Khan Shaykhun in 2017, Not Chemical Weapons

The White Helmets used a low-grade explosive device in the Syrian settlement of Khan Shaykhun last year to stage a chemical weapons attack, later blamed on the Syrian government forces, Maj. Gen. Igor Kirillov, chief of the Russian Armed Forces' Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops, said.

"The characteristics of the crater show that it was formed as a result of the detonation of a land-based low-power explosive device, rather than an aviation bomb launched from an aircraft," Kirillov told a briefing.

Kirillov pointed out that the crater had been cemented before the investigation of the incident could finish.

The Russian military commander mentioned photos and videos showing people in the first hours after the attacks without any special protective clothing.

"This points to the absence of sarin in the crater as there is usually a lethal concentration [of a chemical agent] inside and around a crater after a chemical weapon has detonated, and the people close to it as well as those who were helping the injured would not have been able to avoid exposure," Kirillov said.

An analysis of photos of munition, allegedly used in the chemical attack in Syria's Al Lataminah, has shown that these were fragments of a conventional blast bomb, not a chemical one, he stressed.

"A crater by an explosion is different from what could have been done by an explosion of air-dropped chemical munition and suspiciously resembles a crater by an 'air-dropped chemical munition' faked by the While Helmets in Khan Sheikhun," Kirillov told a briefing, held jointly by the Russian defense and foreign ministries.

Provocateurs Added Sarin to Samples to Blame Alleged Chemical Attacks on Damascus

Sarin chemical agent was added to samples from Syria by provocateurs in order to further accuse the Syrian government forces of carrying out chemical attacks against civilians, Maj. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the chief of the Russian Armed Forces' Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops, said.

"In our opinion, it [sarin] was purposefully added to the samples by provocateurs in order to accuse the Syrian government forces," Kirillov said.

The Russian side, as well as the Syrian government, have warned repeatedly about the possibility of opposition provocations in the form of an alleged chemical attack.

Chemical Incident Probes in Syria Without On-Site Visits Unprofessional

Investigations into alleged chemical incidents in Syria's Khan Shaykhun, Saraqib and Ltamenah without on-site visits cannot be called professional, Maj. Gen. Igor Kirillov, chief of the Russian Armed Forces' Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops, said Friday.

"Holding investigations into alleged chemical incidents in Khan Shaykhun [April 4, 2017], Saraqib [February 4, 2018] and Ltamenah [March 24, 25, 30, 2017] and making conclusions on them without on-site visits, shows a non-professional approach," Kirillov said at a briefing.

Kirillov noted that the reports of international investigators are full of such words as "probably," "possibly," or "we can assume."

"Such vocabulary is inadmissible for a serious document, which must be based on irrefutable evidence," the Russian official explained.

According to Kirillov, compliance with a strict sequence of actions to preserve evidence has been violated during the investigations as well.

"While holding investigations into these incidents, the fundamental principle of permanent control was violated, namely, the Chain of custody, which prescribes the necessity to follow a strict sequence of actions to ensure the preservation of evidence," Kirillov stressed.

The Defense Ministry's representative stressed that the neglect of the standards of the OPCW "has led to contradictions, inconsistencies and fabrication of facts in investigation reports that have a clear anti-Syrian nature."

According to Kirillov, two designated OPCW laboratories, which analyzed the samples handed over to the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission by the White Helmets, received contradictory results.

In February, the Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation received information from a local resident in a village in Idlib that Al-Nusra Front* terrorists and White Helmets, the so-called Syrian Civil Defense, were preparing to stage a provocation involving the use of chemical weapons and blame it on Damascus.

Kirillov emphasized that "one laboratory found organic chlorine elements in 14 samples, while another laboratory did not find them at all." According to Kirillov, a number of samples contained traces of explosives, but eyewitnesses reported that there was no explosion of the balloons.

"The samples contained chemicals that cannot be explained either as natural elements that can be seen in the environment nor as related to chlorine… In our opinion, the only explanation for the presence of these substances in the samples is that they were deliberately put there by the White Helmets, who handed these samples to the OPCW Mission," he said.

Damascus Destroyed Chemical Weapons Facility in June, 1 Last Place Left

The Syrian authorities have dismantled a facility in Al Maliha related to the former chemical weapons program on June 8, one last facility still awaits destruction, the chief of the Russian Armed Forces' Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops, said Friday.

"Syria is doing everything possible to meet all the objectives it assumed on dismantling the facilities linked to the former Syrian military chemical program. One facility, in Al Maliha, was destroyed by the Syrians on June 8, 2018, after they failed to receive assistance from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, and the proof was sent to the OPCW," Kirillov noted.

According to Kirillov, the Syrian authorities are currently working on dismantling the last remaining facility, in Tel Kurdi.

The situation in Syria seriously escalated in several months after a number of media outlets and Western countries blamed Damascus for using chemical weapons in the town of Duma.

The Syrian government and Russia have denied the accusations, saying that the alleged attack in Douma was staged by militants and the White Helmets organization to influence public opinion and justify possible foreign intervention.

Despite this, on April 14, the United States, France and the United Kingdom carried out a missile attack on a number of targets in Syria, including the facilities in Barzeh and Jamraya, in response to the alleged attack in Douma.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, a total of 103 cruise missiles were launched by the United States and its allies, 71 of which were intercepted by Syria's air defense systems. *Tahrir al-Sham (also known as Jabhat al-Nusra) is a terrorist group banned in Russia.


Jun 22, 2018 - Russia’s Defense Ministry: OPCW missions in Syria violate Chemical Weapons Convention
Russia’s Defense Ministry: OPCW missions in Syria violate Chemical Weapons Convention

Russia is trying to help the OPCW to overcome systemic failures, the general said.

The OPCW’s missions in Syria violate the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention, Major-General Igor Kirillov, Chief of the Russian Armed Forces’ Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops, said on Friday.

"The remote nature of investigations as well as the collection, analysis and use of the documents obtained without specialists’ trips to the alleged sites of chemical weapons use, is in direct contradiction to the Convention’s provisions," Kirillov told reporters at a joint press briefing of the Russian Foreign Ministry and Russia’s Defense Ministry.

He noted that the West seeks to grant the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) the right to issue guilty verdicts against certain countries and their leaders.

"The United States, the UK, France and their allies are once again trying to mislead the global community and seek confrontation," he said. "Taking advantage of staged chemical weapons attacks, they accuse Syria of violating the Chemical Weapons Convention and Russia of complicity in that. At the same time, a campaign has been launched to turn the OPCW into a politicized institution with the right to issue guilty verdicts against certain countries and their leaders," Kirillov said.

He added that the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, which conducts its investigations relying on the US and its allies, plays an unsavory role.

Douma incident

Russia is concerned that the western investigation into the April chemical weapons incident in Syria’s Douma will result in groundless accusations against Damascus, Kirillov said.

He pointed out that at the West’s behest, the White Helmets had acted in accordance with a scenario tested in Khan Shaykhun in 2017, staging a chemical weapons attack in Douma on April 7, 2018. Russian experts assessing information about the incident came to the conclusion that it had been orchestrated, the Russian general said.

"Clearly, preparations are being made for presenting another accusatory report that would contain no evidence," Kirillov noted.

A number of non-government organizations, including the White Helmets, alleged that a chemical weapons attack had taken place in Eastern Ghouta’s town of Douma on April 7. The Russian Foreign Ministry slammed this allegation as a bogus story, while Russia’s Defense Ministry pointed out that the White Helmets were known for spreading fabricated news. On April 9, officers from the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria visited Douma but did not find any traces of chemical weapons.

On April 25, Moscow and Damascus held a briefing at the OPCW headquarters, which particularly involved 17 witnesses to the events that had occurred in Douma on April 7. They confirmed that there had been no chemical weapons attack while the video released by the White Helmets had been staged.

Other shortcomings in OPCW work

Laboratories belonging to the OPCW have presented contradictory information concerning an alleged chemical weapons incident in Syria’s Saraqib in February 2018, as one group of experts found chorine traces in samples, while the other did not, Kirillov said.

"One of the laboratories found chlorine-organic compounds in 14 samples, while the other did not any traces at all," he said. "A thing to note is that a number of samples had traces of an explosive substance though according to eye witnesses, there were no explosions of tanks allegedly containing chlorine," the Russian general added.

The OPCW is reluctant to send experts to the liberated areas of Syria in order to examine militant chemical agent stockpiles, Kirillov said.

"More than 40 tonnes of chemical agents have been discovered in areas liberated from terrorists," he said. "Syrian authorities have many times requested that the OPCW send experts to these areas but the organization either refused to do that citing the lack of security or said that chlorine, in particular, could have been used to disinfect swimming pools," the Russian general said.

At the same time, in Kirillov’s words, the equipment found at a militant chemical facility in Douma was made in EU member states and North American countries. A mined chemical laboratory and a chemical warehouse were discovered on April 17, 2018. "OPCW experts were provided with an opportunity to visit both of the facilities but for obvious reasons they did not show due interest," the general noted.

"We would like to point out that some equipment and treating agents were made in EU member states and North American countries," he said, adding that the equipment had been used for producing a high-quality explosive substance. Besides, thiodiglycol and triethanolamine used for manufacturing sulfur mustard gas and nitrogen-mustard gas were also found in the laboratory, as well as the hexamine stabilizer and a tank containing chlorine, similar to the one that militants used while preparing to stage a chemical weapons attack.

The general also said that biomedical samples in Syria’s Al Lataminah were collected with the same violations as in the Skripals case.

"It should be emphasized that the procedure for selecting biomedical samples has been violated once again, the way it was in the Skripals’ case. We all remember that all media outlets reports that the mission, which came to Salisbury and which selected the samples, did it personally. Paragraph 19 of a report (on Al Lataminah - TASS) states that blood sampling was carried out by the hospital’s staff under the supervision of a medical expert group using OPCW equipment," he said.

Russia's position

Russia is trying to help the OPCW to overcome systemic failures and flaws and cares about the organization’s reputation, according to Kirillov.

Russia always seeks to use specific facts and arguments whereas "Western opponents usually avoid a substantive talk and reply with slogans," accusing Russia of undermining the OPCW’s prestige and reputation, the general told a joint news briefing of Russia’s Foreign and Defense Ministries.

"The Russian Federation, on the contrary, cares about the OPCW’s reputation and seeks to help this organization overcome systemic failures and drawbacks and prevent a politicized and biased approach in its work," the general said.

Russia holds a clear-cut and unambiguous position: the use of chemical weapons in the world is inadmissible and those guilty of their use must be held liable, Kirillov stated.

"Russia has fulfilled all its obligations and destroyed all its chemical weapons," the general said.


Wed Jun 20, 2018 - Russia’s Chief Negotiator Vows Russian Continuation of Anti-Terrorism Operations in Syria’s Idlib
Farsnews


Moscow is interested in the stabilization of the situation in Syria’s Idlib and is set to continue efforts to exterminate terrorists in that region, Russian President’s special Envoy for Syrian settlement Alexander Lavrentyev said after a meeting of the three Syrian ceasefire guarantor nations (Russia, Iran and Turkey) in Geneva.

"The situation in Idlib is alarming because of the great number of militants, including Al-Nusra Front terrorists are staying there," Lavrentyev said, TASS reported.

"Turkey has undertaken to stabilize the situation there, to prevent possible provocations, attacks on government forces and stop flights of drones. We hope the situation around Idlib finally stabilizes. It in no way means we are stepping back from the problem. In no way, absolutely."

"The war on terrorist groups will be continued," he stressed.

"The more so as a number of groups, with Russian citizens among their members as well, are finding shelter in Idlib. We will continue the war on them. We don’t want them to come back to Russia, well-trained in combat conditions, to wreak discord and havoc in our territory."

"We will spare no effort not to let it happen," he pledged.


Jun 21, 2018 - Russia open to dialogue with US — Lavrov
Russia open to dialogue with US — Lavrov

Russia is open to contacts with US on all issues, but it will not react to leaks concerning the possibility of a Russian-US summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

"I keep counting the leaks in Washington to the effect a summit is about to take place or a proposal for holding a summit is to follow soon. We do not react to leaks," he said. "That we are always prepared for contacts is common knowledge."

"If we have agreements on meetings at a high, let alone summit level, they will be announced in due time, of course," Lavrov said.
 
СРОЧНО: Армия России убедила крупную группировку боевиков перейти на сторону Асада
22.06.2018 - 23:25
http://rusvesna.su/sites/default/fi...aya_policiya_pered_vhodom_v_anklav_rastan.jpg

Translation
URGENT: Russian Army persuaded a large group of militants to move to the side of Assad
22.06.2018 - 23:25

As reported today, "Russian Spring", the Russian military held successful negotiations with a number of leaders of the FSA on the refusal of armed resistance and the settlement of its status.
The commanders of the two divisions of the SSA, located on the border of the provinces of as-Suwayda, and Daraa, adopted a decision to transfer their settlements to government forces. So far known only by their call signs: Abu-Qusayr and Omar es-Suwaidi, later to be revealed names.
Just confirmed information in the Ministry of defence of Russia.
The first large group of "Free Syrian army" in the southern zone of de — escalation of Syria has moved to the side of official Damascus-said in a statement of the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties.
As report "Russian Spring" a military source, we are talking about the group", Tagamoa al-Fiat al- 'umari".
"Despite the Efforts of the center for reconciliation in the southern de-escalation zone, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating due to the actions of militants. The leaders of illegal armed groups that control the distribution of essential goods in the settlements of South-Western Syria, do not provide the population with enough food and medicines, withdrawing them in favor of the militants", — also reported in the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties.

СРОЧНО: Армия России убедила крупную группировку боевиков перейти на сторону Асада
 
СРОЧНО: Армия России убедила крупную группировку боевиков перейти на сторону Асада
22.06.2018 - 23:25
http://rusvesna.su/sites/default/fi...aya_policiya_pered_vhodom_v_anklav_rastan.jpg

Translation
URGENT: Russian Army persuaded a large group of militants to move to the side of Assad
22.06.2018 - 23:25

As reported today, "Russian Spring", the Russian military held successful negotiations with a number of leaders of the FSA on the refusal of armed resistance and the settlement of its status.
The commanders of the two divisions of the SSA, located on the border of the provinces of as-Suwayda, and Daraa, adopted a decision to transfer their settlements to government forces. So far known only by their call signs: Abu-Qusayr and Omar es-Suwaidi, later to be revealed names.
Just confirmed information in the Ministry of defence of Russia.
The first large group of "Free Syrian army" in the southern zone of de — escalation of Syria has moved to the side of official Damascus-said in a statement of the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties.
As report "Russian Spring" a military source, we are talking about the group", Tagamoa al-Fiat al- 'umari".
"Despite the Efforts of the center for reconciliation in the southern de-escalation zone, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating due to the actions of militants. The leaders of illegal armed groups that control the distribution of essential goods in the settlements of South-Western Syria, do not provide the population with enough food and medicines, withdrawing them in favor of the militants", — also reported in the Russian center for reconciliation of the warring parties.

СРОЧНО: Армия России убедила крупную группировку боевиков перейти на сторону Асада

It's a good report, Youlik! A perfect example of "what can be accomplished through the reconciliation process".

"On June 22, after talks between the representatives of the Russian reconciliation center and the Syrian authorities with the militants of the Free Syrian Army in the Southern zone of de-escalation, the leader of the Tajammu al-Wiyat al-Omari [Omari Brigades] announced that his group is siding with the Syrian government," the center said in a statement.

According to the statement, the Omari Brigades leader also stressed that his group will fight against militants from Nusra Front* and Daesh* together with the Syrian army in the south of the country.
First Free Syrian Army Group Sides With Syrian Gov't Forces - Russian MoD


Fri Jun 22, 2018 - Syrian Army Dispatches More Troops to Military Airport in Sweida
Farsnews

The Syrian Army has dispatched a long convoy of vehicles to a military airport in Northern Sweida, a field source reported on Friday.

The source further said that the airbase is located at contact line with terrorists' positions in Eastern Dara'a, including those in al-Lajah, adding that the army is possibly planning to use the airbase as its Command Center for military operations in Eastern Dara'a.

The source went on to say that the army has been forwarding a large number of soldiers and a large volume of military hardware to Western and Northwestern Sweida.

In a relevant development on Wednesday, the Syrian army troops stormed the remaining pockets of ISIL in the Eastern Badiyeh of Sweida and managed to make remarkable advance against terrorists in three flanks.


22 June، 2018 - Terrorists fire shells at Dama village in Sweida countryside
Terrorists fire shells at Dama village in Sweida countryside – Syrian Arab News Agency

Terrorists located in the eastern countryside of Daraa province targeted with mortar shells the village of Dama in the northwestern countryside of Sweida province, causing material damage.

SANA’s correspondent in Sweida said that terrorists located in al-Lajat area in Daraa’s eastern countryside fired 5 mortar shells at Dama village in the far northwestern countryside of Sweida province, causing material damage to homes, but thankfully there were no injuries.


Fri Jun 22, 2018 - Syria’s Idlib Rocked by Twin Bomb Blasts, Five Killed
Farsnews

13961204000462_Test_PhotoI.jpg


At least five civilians were killed and dozens more injured by a twin bomb attack that rocked Syria’s Northwestern city of Idlib, local sources reported.

A car-bomb exploded near the city’s Western entrance, Anadolu quoted the sources as saying.

Shortly afterward, a bomb-laden motorcycle exploded in the same area.

Thirty-five people were injured in the blast, many of them seriously, while a number of nearby buildings were severely damaged, he added. There has as yet been no claim of responsibility for the deadly attack.


22 June، 2018 - Terrorists set fire to fields in Quneitra countryside
Terrorists set fire to fields in Quneitra countryside – Syrian Arab News Agency

Terrorists set fire to farmlands in Tal al-Hamriya area south of Hadar village in Quneitra countryside.

SANA’s correspondent said that terrorists set fire to vineyards and orchards in Tal al-Hamriya area on Friday evening, causing a large number of fruit trees to burn down.

The correspondent said that it is difficult to reach the area and extinguish the flames because terrorists target with shells and gunfire any person or vehicle that approaches the area, asserting that the flames are still burning as of the time of reporting this incident.

He added that the fire caused considerable damage in Hersh Sheita area that contained pine trees that are over 25 years old.

This is the third time that terrorists started fire in farmlands during the past two weeks.


21 June، 2018 - Antiquities Directorate prepares file about stolen antiquities to be submitted to UNESCO, INTERPOL
Antiquities Directorate prepares file about stolen antiquities to be submitted to UNESCO, INTERPOL – Syrian Arab News Agency

Head of the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums, Mahmoud Hamoud, said that the Directorate is filing a file for stolen antiquities to be submitted to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL with the aim of intensifying international cooperation and efforts to recover these ancient artifacts due to their significance as part of the international cultural and civilization heritage.

In a statement to SANA, Hamoud highlighted the Directorate’s efforts to remain in touch with international bodies and organizations concerned with cultural heritage protection to repatriate archaeological artifacts stolen and smuggled abroad by terrorist groups.

“ The news circulated recently by some media outlets about Jewish artifacts looted by terrorist groups from one of the world’s oldest synagogues in the Suburb of Jobar in Damascus and smuggled to Turkey then to the Israeli entity reveal the seriousness of the conspiracy and aggressive scheme targeting Syria and its civilization.” Hamoud said.

He added that after the liberation of Jobar neighborhood thanks to the heroism of Syrian Arab army, numerous archaeological artifacts have been discovered in houses’ basements and transferred to the National Museum of Damascus.

Hamoud pointed out that there are many reports about Syrian archaeological artifacts that have been stolen and smuggled to Jordan, adding that the Jordanian authorities have confiscated many of them.

On Sunday, Associated Press report revealed that Jewish artifacts, including ancient parchment torahs from one of the world’s oldest synagogues, have gone missing from the Syrian capital with some precious items to appear again in Turkey and Israel.

Activists say the artifacts, moved from Jobar Synagogue in Damascus’ eastern Ghouta suburb when it was under terrorist organizations control.

The main missing cache, they say, contained torahs written on gazelle leather as well as tapestries and chandeliers, and was given by the so-called “local council” to “Failaq al-Rahman” terrorist organization before they were defeated by the Syrian Arab Army.

Another set of objects appears to have been stolen in 2014 after it was given to one of the “ local council” members to hide the items in his home; this man disappeared with the artifacts. Some of the items that went missing have started surfacing now in Turkey.


Fri Jun 22, 2018 - Syria's president calls current negotiations with US ‘a waste of time’
Syria's president calls current negotiations with US ‘a waste of time’



According to the Syrian leader, US presidents become "hostages to lobbyists, media and big corporations".

Negotiations between the US and Syria at the present moment will be a waste of time, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stated in an interview with the NTV channel. The Syrian leader’s administration posted a fragment of the interview on Friday on its official Telegram channel.

"The negotiations with the US will not lead to anything right now, it’s a waste of time. We don’t want to talk with the Americans not because they’re American. We are ready to talk with anyone, if we can achieve results together. We think that the US policy will not change in the future," al-Assad said in response to the question about whether a meeting between him and US President Donald Trump is possible.

According to the Syrian leader, US presidents become "hostages to lobbyists, media and big corporations."

"They [the presidents - TASS] can tell you what you want to hear, but do the opposite. And the situation is becoming worse and worse," he added.
 
Defamation: Clinton calls Putin 'authoritarian white supremacist' - Fort Russ
Jun 23, 2018
Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom she accused of weakening Europe.

Clinton gave a speech at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, where she received an honorary degree on Friday.

Speaking to an audience of students, she criticized US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

“Vladimir Putin has positioned himself as the leader of an authoritarian, white supremacist and xenophobic movement that wants to end the EU, weaken traditional US alliances and undermine democracy,” Clinton said.

“We can see this authoritarian movement emerging in the Kremlin, reaching across Europe and beyond. It is encouraging right-wing, separatist, racist and even neo-Nazi nationalists,” she continued.

This has become the common line in the democratic party, but even among ostensible critics of imperialism who have gone the way of Russophobia and neo-McCarthyism.


Contrary to this, in 2016, Russian envoy Vladimir Chizhov said that Russia wants the EU to remain intact and to become strong.

“We want to see the EU united, powerful, with a positive attitude towards our country and, importantly, more independent in making decisions,” he said at the time. He reiterated this position in March 2017.

In February 2018, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also reiterated Moscow’s position on the EU.

“Europe is still our biggest partner – and an investment partner,” he told Euronews. “We want to see Europe as powerful and stable as our biggest trading and economic partner, despite all the events of the last three years.”

Clinton once again stated that the Russian meddling was the reason for her defeat in the elections. She said that Moscow’s interference in the 2016 presidential election was “more than alarming” and threatened all democracies, according to a report from the Irish news website RTE.

Clinton also criticized Trump, saying the current administration is “determined to wage a war against the rule of law,” “undermining truth and reason,” and “perpetrating blatant corruption.”

Before the speech, Clinton met with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar to discuss “gender equality issues,” according to the Irish Independent.

The Irish people, on May 26, voted en masse for the decriminalization of abortion.


PS: The comments on this tweet....LOL

Just like the sessions say, "beware of the pied piper's".
 
IRGC commander killed in Syria
2018-06-25
f9cbedd6347280192648a572f030181a.png


Al-Nusra Attack at Pro-Gov't Settlements in South Syria Repelled - MoD
09:21 25.06.2018
The Nusra Front* militants have caried out an attack targeting the settlements that had joined the government forces in the southern de-escalation zone, the Russian military reported.

According to the Russian Center for Syrian reconciliation, almost 70 al-Nusra militants were killed, as the government forces jointly with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) repelled the terrorist group's attack in Syria's southern de-escalation zone. The Russian military noted that there were no losses among the Syrian army’s servicemen, but provided no details regarding casualties among the FSA units

"Over the past 24 hours, Jabhat al-Nusra militants have attacked the settlements in the southern zone of de-escalation, which joined the legitimate government," the center's statement reads.

In addition, Syrian government troops have destroyed 3 armored vehicles and 14 pickups carrying heavy machine guns of militants, according to the statement.

READ MORE: US Will Not Intervene in South Syria to Back Anti-Gov't Forces — Reports

The total number of settlements in the southern de-escalation zone which joined the Syrian government forces increased to 12 on Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry pointed out.

The day before, Syrian President Bashar Assad warned in his interview to a Russian broadcaster that the terrorists from the Nusra Front can return to the idea of building a so-called caliphate with Western help.

On Saturday, the government forces, together with FSA detachments, repelled over a thousand Nusra Front attacks in the southern de-escalation zone in parts of the country's Daraa and Quneitra provinces, as the Syrian military is currently carrying out an anti-terrorist operation in the area.

Most of Syria's territory has already been liberated by the government forces backed by Russian Air Force, however, there are still some terrorist pockets located mainly in the southwest US-controlled areas.

The international community has actively been making an effort to find a solution to the Syrian conflict and forge peace within the country. As a result of the Astana talks, four de-escalation zones have been established in Syria, among which is a southern de-escalation zone.

Syria Accuses US, UK, France of Backing Terror Through Support for White Helmets
(updated 19:44 24.06.2018)

PressTV Published on Jun 24, 2018
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says Damascus will take control of the country’s north BY FORCE if forces backed by the U-S and Turkey refuse to surrender. In an interview with a Russian TV channel,

Assad said fighting with US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces is not the best option for Damascus. He, however, stressed that fighting is the ONLY way to get control of the country.

He was referring to the northern town of Manbij where S-D-F forces hold some territory. Meanwhile, the Syrian president said his country will not accept any fund from foreign countries to rebuild Syria. Assad said Syria has enough strength to do so and if it does not have the money, it will ask its friends for help.

Russian Air Force officially enters southwest Syria offensive | June 24th 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6HZMFCVYNw
Fours Hours ago




Syriana Analysis on Twitter
ea06176eeefc4ec0b2deb01d2b21ef9c.png



Assad: Syria's current negotiations with US is 'a waste of time' -- Sott.net
TASS Fri, 22 Jun 2018 19:18 UTC
 
Last edited:
Американские вертолёты эвакуируют главарей ИГИЛ на базу США в Сирии, — SANA
25.06.2018 - 22:10

Translation
U.S. helicopters evacuated the leaders of ISIS on a U.S. base in Syria — SANA

25.06.2018 - 22: 10
Two American helicopters from the international anti-terrorist coalition evacuated two important field commanders of ISIS* from the area of Tolmin (South-Eastern province of Hasaka) on the US military base in the city of Al-Hasaka province Shadadi.

This is reported by the official Syrian news Agency "Sana".

The operation was carried out in cooperation with the Kurdish group "Syrian Democratic forces".

It is noted that rescue operations of this kind are carried out by the US on a permanent basis, providing information support to the ISIS forces during raids on military bases of the Syrian Arab army.


Американские вертолёты эвакуируют главарей ИГИЛ на базу США в Сирии, — SANA
 
Syrian Army uncovers large tunnel used by jihadists to store weapons (photos)
By Leith Aboufadel 2018-06-26 BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:40 P.M.)

Governent Forces Captured 5 Battle Tanks From Militants In Liberated Town Of Busra al-Harir In Southern Syria (Photos)
26.06.2018
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the Tiger Forces have liberated the town of Busra al-Harir from militants in the southern Syrian province of Daraa, according to pro-government sources.

According to Russian journalist Eugene Poddubny, government forces captured 5 battle tanks abandoned by militants in the town.

The success in Busra al-Harir comes after the full liberation of the Lajat district in the northeastern part of the province of Daraa, which took place on June 25.

The SAA and the Tiger Forces are developing their advance.
4-20-768x576.jpg






UN says 45,000 people displaced due to fighting in southwest Syria
2018-06-26

AMN You Tube
f6e28527bd1b272447f319507cd69ae9.png

Al-Masdar Al-'Arabi (The Arab Source / المصدر نيوز) is dedicated to providing the latest news and analysis from the Arab world.

OPCW report on Syria is 'cynical and politicized' - Fort Russ
Jun 26, 2018
Moscow has classified the report of the Technical Secretariat of the OPCW on the results of the inspection of facilities in the Syrian regions of Barza and Dzhamraye as “cynical and politicized”. According to a note from the Russian Foreign Ministry, the document was approved under heavy pressure the US.

“We pay attention to the report of the Technical Secretariat of the Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on the implementation of the decision of the 83rd session of the OPCW Executive Council, in which case the target, of course, was the Research Center with facilities in the cities of ‘Barza’ and ‘Dzhamrayya’,” the statement said.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, “for Syria, it had a key importance from the national economic point of view.”

“This civil facility was erased from the face of the Earth on April 14 as a result of a joint missile attack from the US, UK and France,” the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Information and Press Department said.


“We have repeatedly pointed out that the requirements set out in the report for Syria go beyond the framework of the Chemical Conventions. The attempt to gain unrestricted and unconditional access by OPCW inspectors to any military and civilian infrastructure does not fit into any international legal framework. Clearly, such a document was adopted under the strongest pressure from the United States and its closest allies,” the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.

The Foreign Ministry added that “it would be interesting to look at the US itself if anyone wanted to inspect their own facilities in a similar way.”

The Foreign Ministry also noted the “provocative and cynical nature of the OPCW report”.

Russia also did not highlight the hypocrisy that Israel never has its nuclear and chemical weapon facilities ever inspected by the OPCW.

Syriana Geopolitical Report/Daraa (26-06-2018)
Syriana Analysis Published on Jun 25, 2018 / 7:38
Syriana Analysis latest geopolitical report in regards to Syria, particularly the latest military and political developments the southern city of Daraa, where the Syrian Arab Army and its allies launched a decisive military operation to liberate the city from the Islamist armed groups.
 
Russia sets no deadlines for withdrawal of its taskforce from Syria, says top diplomat
June 29, 21:33 UTC+3
Moscow has been consistently reducing its military presence in Syria, Sergey Lavrov noted
MOSCOW, June 24. /TASS/. Moscow sets no artificial deadlines for the withdrawal of its troops from Syria as this process depends on the situation on the ground, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the UK’s Channel 4 on Friday.

"We don’t like artificial deadlines," Lavrov said. "We have been consistently reducing our military presence in Syria. And the last reduction took place few days ago and President [Vladimir] Putin mentioned about this that about more than one thousand troops have come back to Russia, and some aircraft and other equipment. So, it [withdrawal of the Russian taskforce] depends on what is the actual situation on the ground."

According to the Russian top diplomat, Russia, together with the Syrian army and what he called the patriotic opposition managed not to allow Islamic State (a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia) implement its plans to create a caliphate. "But some remnants of ISIL are still there, Jabhat al Nusra is still there. They are now preventing the deal on Syria's southern de-escalation area to be implemented fully," Lavrov said. "So, there are some leftovers and, besides, we do have, not actually a full-fledged bases but we have two places where our naval ships, our aircraft are allocated in Syria and they might be usefully kept for quite some time."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia had withdrawn 13 warplanes, 14 helicopters and 1,140 troops from Syria in the past few days alone.

Syriana Analysis Published on Jun 28, 2018
Syriana Analysis latest geopolitical report (29 June 2018) in regards to Syria, particularly the latest military and political developments the southern city of Daraa, where the Syrian Arab Army and its allies continuing the decisive military operation to liberate the city from the Islamist armed groups.

Syrian crisis caused by attempts from outside to change Middle East’s map — Lavrov
June 29, 23:4 UTC+3
MOSCOW, June 29. /TASS/. Attempts by outside forces to use the situation in Syria to reshape the map of the Middle East and North Africa led to the crisis in this Arab country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday in an interview with UK Channel 4.

"It’s a war, which started by mistakes made on the part of everyone, including the Syrian government. I believe these disturbances could be handled politically at the early stage," Lavrov said.
"But we have now on our hands what is the result of outside forces… having tried to use this situation in order to reshape the map of the Middle East and Northern Africa by trying to get into Syria without any invitation and trying to promote their own agenda there," he continued.

Russia’s top diplomat added that Russia was now undertaking efforts together with Turkey and Iran, both present on the ground (Turkey without invitation, Iran with invitation of the Syrian government). To that end, the three nations "managed pragmatically to create what we call ‘Astana process’ or the ‘Astana format,’" Lavrov said.

"Given the fact that Russia, Iran cooperate with Turkey on the basis of decisions which lead to de-escalation, the Syrian government accepted Astana process as such and it is part of the process together with the armed opposition," he said. "They regularly meet and try to create conditions for the resolution of the Security Council - Resolution 2254 - to be implemented.".

Kremlin doubts veracity of CNN report on Trump’s plans for Syria
There can be no doubt that Syria will be discussed at the summit comprehensively, the Kremlin added
MOSCOW, June 29. /TASS/.The topic of Syria will be fully discussed at the July 16 summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump in Helsinki, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media on Friday.

On Thursday, CNN reported that Trump had hoped to clinch a deal with Putin in Helsinki that would allow for prompt pullout of US troops from Syria.

"I have no idea what the CNN report is based on, or if there is anything factual behind this report. We know nothing about it and it makes you wonder," Peskov said, elucidating that he can’t understand where the TV network got their information from.

"They say Trump is going to negotiate this issue. We know nothing about what Trump is going to discuss. There can be no doubts that Syria will be covered comprehensively at the summit, though. A rather detailed discussion on Syria is anticipated."




 
SouthFront on Twitter
Syrian War Report – July 2, 2018: Militants In Over 15 Settlements Surrender To Syrian Army

SouthFront on Twitter
British Military Claims It Struck Syrian Troops In Act Of "Self-Defense"

Canada gravely concerned by SAA operation in Daraa!
Syriana Analysis Published on Jun 30, 2018 / 8:01
Canada is gravely concerned by the Syrian regime’s offensive in southwest Syria says Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland. “The regime’s actions and those of its ally—Russia—are having a catastrophic impact on civilians, including the displacement of tens of thousands of people,” Freeland said in a statement. “Canada calls on the Syrian regime to immediately end the violence and to allow for rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access, and urges all parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law.” Syriana Analysis addresses the concerns of Canada and the recent military updates in Daraa.

Jordan To Hold Talks With Russia This Week Over Situation At Syrian-Jordanian Border
02.07.2018
This week, Jordan will hold talks with Russia over a ceasefire in southwestern Syria and improving the humanitarian situation there, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on July 2.

On July 3, Safadi will travel to Moscow to meet his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

The talks will be held amid an offensive of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) against militants in the southern province of Daraa, that borders Jordan.

The SAA has already liberated a high number of villages. However, some radical armed groups, first of all Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra), still hopes that some foreign intervention will save them from the defeat.

In June, Jordan deployed additional forces along the border with Syria in a move aimed at preventing members of militant groups operating in the nearby country from entering Jordan.

Syraq SITREP 60: Putin and Trump Plan Syria Talks at Helsinki Summit, Neocons Claim Kremlin and Iran Plotting Attacks on U.S. Troops
James Russia Analyst July 01, 2018 Multiple Videos associated with this link:
John Bolton: An Amusing Choice as Trump's Neocon Messenger to Moscow
Retired Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) analyst and Army Colonel Patrick Lang, a longtime observer of the Syria War, is bemused that National Security Adviser John Bolton served last week as Trump's direct envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Given the history between the Bush 43 Administration's former UN Ambassador Bolton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, however, the White House choice is not as cointer-intuitive as it would seem. With White House chief of staff John Kelly reportedly on his way out and Trump allegedly exasperated with Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Bolton the Putin-bashing Russia hawk -- whose main beef with the Russians is they foiled regime change in Syria and are allied with his chief enemy Iran -- therefore fulfilled the role of Nixon the fierce anti-Communist going to 'Red China' and shaking hands with Mao.

Of course, it's possible that Bolton is sincerely committed to the Administration's course of talks with Putin about Syria -- if only because the Israelis who have been the lodestar of his foreign policy career are on board. Israeli journalist Anshel Pfeffer's article of June 21 for Haaretz "New U.S.-Russia-Saudi Oil Alliance Could Have Implications for Israel and Iran" suggests the Saudis wooing of the Russians with mutually coordinated actions in the global oil market is coordinated with the Americans and Israelis. If true, then this would create a strategic backdrop for President Trump's America unbound policy to weaken the EU and downgrade NATO. As Trump hinted in his Air Force One conversation with reporters this week, "I'll talk with [Putin] about everything" -- Crimea (which the Kremlin secured from the U.S. backed Kiev coup junta in part to maintain its vital Black Sea Fleet and strategic position in the Med), 'election interference', and above all Syria.

RogueMoney readers who closely follow the Russian Analyst already know that driving a wedge between the Kremlin and Tehran in Syria and elsewhere (Yemen) has been behind Trump's otherwise inexplicable to the foreign policy establishment praise for Putin from the start. Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn's widely denounced visit to Moscow for the Russia Today (RT) tenth anniversary gala in 2015 was likely just one piece of the back channel diplomacy that started the discussion. Flynn's phone conversations with Russian Amb. Sergey Ivanovich Kislyak that Flynn had to have known were recorded by the NSA and FBI during the presidential transition were about getting the Russians to abstain from a UN measure condemning Israel -- which elements of the lame duck Obama Administration were pushing as a parting gift to Netanyahu. The other meetings with Russian business people or willingness to at least give some appearance of openness to detente through the former Blackwater/Academi CEO Erik Prince/UAE channel, with more facts coming out, are revealed as Israel/GCCgate, not Russiagate.

acf68cd8b3a10a5f97c0fd7f6b48516d.png

Nonetheless, the small country in the southeastern Mediterranean is bound to the former Soviet space by over 1/7th of its population speaking Russian. Israel's status as an enemy to Russia's Syrian and pro-Iranian Shi'a allies but a frenemy to Moscow has been evident since before Netanyahu joined Putin for May 9th's Victory Day march on Red Square. Likely Mossad fronts like WikiStrat whose CEO Joel Zamel spoke with Trump campaign advisers in 2016 have long been interested in what Russia had to offer Israel in terms of Egypt/Israel tourism, Russian Orthodox Church diplomacy to the Greeks (both mainland and Cypriots), and Mediterranean gas. Throw in China's Maritime Silk Road, which the Israelis have very quietly put out feelers to join alongside Egypt's expanded Suez Canal industrial zones, and you have the makings of a very big deal. With the Sinai industrial parks employing Gaza Palestinians as an inducement to Hamas declaring a ten year hudna or truce with Israel. A few of the more savvy Russiagate promoters at Politico have been willing to hint at the truth, when they discuss the Jewish organization Chabad, which has received lucrative parcels of land in Moscow for synagogue construction, and presidential son in law Jared Kushner's known ties to the Lubavitcher sect.
Col. Lang, an astute observer of the D.C. Swamp and the military/intelligence communities from his place in northern Virginia, summed up team Trump's plan in a June 27 post:

1. Peace in Syria in the context of abandonment of regime change. Trump the pragmatist recognizes that the R+6 forces have won the civil war and, therefore he wishes to accept the sunk costs of previous American ineptitude in Syria and to walk away. US Embassy Amman has signaled to the FSA rebels in SW Syria that they should not expect the US to defend them. This is a traditional American stab in the back for guerrilla allies but the warning indicates to me that some group in the US Government (probably the CIA) has enough conscience to want to give warning. As soon as that warning was issued the rate of surrenders to the SAA rose.

2. The US has thus made it clear that the SAA and Russian forces in Syria have a free hand in the SW and it seems that Israeli air and missile attacks are unlikely against the SW offensive. This has been insured through a Russian mandate that Hezbullah and IRGC dominated Shia militias stay out of the fight in Deraa and Quneitra Provinces.

3. The Egyptians have been talking to Hamas about their willingness to enter into a hudna (religiously sanctioned truce) with Israel. Hamas has frequently offered this before. Such truces are renewable and are often for 10 years. Kushner's team thinks it has attained Netanyahu's support for this. The deal would supposedly include; a Gaza-Egyptian industrial zone in the area of Raffa, an airport, a seaport. In return Hamas would be expected to police the truce from their side of the border. People on SST who have deep access in Israel doubt the sincerity of apparent Israeli assent, but there is little doubt I think that DJT considers this part of the Grand Bargain he is attempting to forge.
--
What is John Bolton's role in Trump's ME drama?


Are We on the Cusp of an Incredible Realignment in Global Politics, With Israel Joining the One Belt One Road Alongside Newly Elected Nationalist European Governments?
Another article by Pfeffer for Haaretz, "Angela Merkel is Losing to the Orban-Trump-Netanyahu Camp" supports the Russian Analyst's thesis that the 'Zionist' faction has split with the 'Anglo' section of what our Swiss White Russian friend The Saker calls the Anglo-Zionist Empire. As Pfeffer makes clear, many of the nationalist or anti-open borders movements in Europe that the legacy media and hysterical neocons and neoliberals insist are under Russian influence are staunchly pro-Israel (PEGIDA in Germany being one of them, where many activists wave Israeli flags to debunk the media and antifas falsehood that they are neo-Nazis).

While we will return to the subject of what's happening in Europe ahead of the NATO summit, we can confidently say the great refugee crisis of 2015 that Merkel's open borders policy exacerbated has contributed to a historic realignment, and undermined the London-centric and Soros globalists Cold War 2 policy. By intervening to clean up the terrorist and failing state mess that the Obama Administration left behind in Syria, Russia created an opening for Syria refugees to begin returning home, Turkey to pivot away from the EU, and for Israel to drop its support for the jihadists without Netanyahu losing face at home.


With the Syrian Arab Army already reaching the Jordanian border where Damascus plans to reopen the long closed highway to Amman for international trade, the last obstacle to cleaning out the terrorists from Syria's southwest is along the Golan Heights. The area where Israeli generals had frankly admitted they would rather see ISIS fighters than Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) or Hezbollah forces. After Netanyahu and Putin reached a deal on Victory Day, Russian military police, many of them Sunni Muslims from Chechnya or Russia's other Caucuses republics Dagestan and Ingushetia, are almost certain to be the ones patroling the Golan demarcation line alongside local pro-Damascus National Defense Forces (NDF). The only thing that can seemingly stop or slow the Trump-Putin summit train, it would seem, is a false flag incident involving either chemical weapons being used, attacks on American troops, or both.


Desperation Time for British-Led Neocons as They Try to Weaponize the OPCW for a Chemical False Flag Attack or Set the Stage for a Clash Between Pro-Damascus and U.S. Forces That Can Be Blamed on Russia Before or Immediately After the Trump-Putin Summit
Not surprisingly, we have seen multiple articles from the neocons who haven't gotten with the program, and believe that support for Israel is synonymous with eternal hostility to the Russian State if not Russians as a people (at least since Boris Yeltsin left the Kremlin and Putin began to tame a collection of oligarchs whose spectacular rise to power during the 1990s skewed towards a certain demographic). Alt-right writers refer to this as the 'Tsar Amalek' or Jackson-Vanik complex. Yet not all of the hostility comes from Jewish neocons like Caroline Glick or the Kagan family run 'think tank' the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). The more respectable Russophobia emanates from the city of London, and the British government, which used the Sergey and Yulia Skripal poisoning as well as the staged Douma chemical attack to try and block a Trump-Putin summit.

The Theresa May government, though obsequious to Israeli and hence Saudi interests like the U.S. government, conspicuously did not move the British Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Many of the viciously Russophobic propagandists based in the UK like Bellingcat's Eliot Higgins are not particularly friendly to Israel either, forming a network of globalism loving, pro-jihadist leftists who loudly condemn Netanyahu on social media -- in between tweets bemoaning the U.S. refusal to directly attack Assad.


This weekend we are seeing leaks from the CIA alleging that the Trump-Kim summit was a failure, because the North Koreans secretly continue enriching nuclear fuel at a hidden reactor site. No surprise, anonymous intelligence 'officials' are quoted by NBC News, which pushed the great slaughter in a battle with U.S. troops of Wagner mercenaries psyop this spring, and which employs notorious Langley stenographer Ken 'disinfo' Dilanian.


The arms industry and foreign government funded Atlantic Council think tank behind the Bellingcat (#Bellingcrap) cult of fake open source sleuthing has maintained a steady drumbeat of propaganda, not only bolstering the myth that Assad needs to use chemical weapons to finish off 'moderate' Syrian rebels, but attacking skeptics of CW use like Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh as well as activists on Twitter like Syrian Girl (a former guest on the RogueMoneyRadio program) and British pensioner @Ian56789. Frederic C. Hof who heads the AC's Rafik Hariri Center (named for an assassinated Lebanese politician whose son Saad Hariri was recently held against his will by the Hariri family's longtime Saudi patrons) warns Trump not to 'sell out' Syria to Putin and the Iranians, with the question of how eastern Syria became Uncle Sam's property to sell assumed.

8fd6a85939649d74d578f60972b0c7ae.png

https://twitter.com/TonyCartalucci/status/1008237371265974273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1008237371265974273&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.roguemoney.net%2Fnews%2Fsyraq-sitrep60-putin-trump-summit

Even if we can ignore as 'stage setting' the warnings from McLaughlin Group/Washington Examiner Anglo-maniac Tom R. Rogan, that Putin and the Iranians are plotting to attack American troops with plausible deniability, the prospect of another chemical attack as a pretext for US bombing is serious. So serious that the Russians are warning that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OCPW) is risking its entire credibility through the rule changes demanded by the British and Americans, who provide a considerable portion of the international body's funding alongside other NATO member states.

ca0593451a469598188bed23955c01c1.png

https://twitter.com/Wilkmaster/status/1013038566685933568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1013038566685933568&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.roguemoney.net%2Fnews%2Fsyraq-sitrep60-putin-trump-summit

In an interview this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov again criticized the OPCW conclusion that Assad was behind a chemical attack used to justify U.S. missile strikes in April 2017, stating the fact that OPCW inspectors never actually visited the Al-Qaeda controlled town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province, but relied on highly suspect samples collected by men with no hazmat gear and delivered through the Syria rebels backer Turkey. In other words, as UK journalist Peter Hitchens has pointed out since April 2017, the OPCW's chain of custody was tainted and could have easily been manipulated with sarin samples provided by the jihadists not so hidden supporters. Lavrov added in his interview with the British Channel 4 that the UK government had suspiciously destroyed evidence in the Skripal case.

c6bdda006208ee868409ce647ac48e0a.png

https://twitter.com/theLemniscat/status/1013036682227089408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1013036682227089408&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.roguemoney.net%2Fnews%2Fsyraq-sitrep60-putin-trump-summit

According to the Russian military spokesman in Syria, members of the White Helmets were recently spotted in another Idlib province town with chemical protection gear and trucks transporting rockets with unknown warheads:
...residents of the Syrian northwestern province of Idlib have warned that the so-called civil defense group White Helmets, which has been blamed for staging suspected chemical attacks in the Arab country, are apparently preparing for yet another false flag attack in the province.
Citing the residents, head of the Russian Center for Syrian reconciliation Major General Alexei Tsygankov said Wednesday that a convoy of six vehicles, bearing the emblems of the White Helmets, had arrived in the provincial capital city of Idlib over the weekend.
One of the trucks was loaded with rockets and canisters containing unknown substances, as well as protective gear and filming equipment, residents said.


Upon arrival in Idlib, four persons, wearing hazmat protection gear, had been loading rockets’ warheads with liquid and some unknown powder. The truck took the missiles in the direction of the town of Maarat al-Numan, south of the city of Idlib, and was later followed by the White Helmets convoy, the Russian general said.

The group, which operates exclusively in militant-held areas of Syria, has on several occasions become the first to provide footage of alleged chemical attack sites in Syria and the aftermath scenes, including the incidents in Khan Shaykhun in Idlib Province and the town of Douma near the capital Damascus.

White Helmets’ photos and videos served as solid-enough proof for the US and its allies to immediately conduct ‘retaliatory’ strikes against the Syrian government forces in April 2017 and in April 2018.

While Washington briefly stopped financing the group, it has recently released $6.6 million in funding to the White Helmets. US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert recently said Washington “strongly supports” the White Helmets.
Syria has strongly denounced the US decision, saying that that the additional financial support was a clear piece of evidence that Washington has been playing a leading role in supporting anti-Syria militants since 2011.


-- PressTV-OPCW gains contentious power to assign blame

14462c21c24560665d2e81c317f251d8.png

https://twitter.com/theLemniscat/status/1013036682227089408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1013036682227089408&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.roguemoney.net%2Fnews%2Fsyraq-sitrep60-putin-trump-summit

468759bb6b2ab013e25ce8666db94e24.png

https://twitter.com/theroguemoney/status/1012956530935726080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1012956530935726080&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.roguemoney.net%2Fnews%2Fsyraq-sitrep60-putin-trump-summit

London Paul discussed these reported preparations for a chemical false flag reports on the Thursday, June 28, 2018 RMR program. For now, the SAA keeps rolling up victories around Daraa and the Trump-Putin summit is a go. It will take an extreme provocation to try and halt it...
 
Back
Top Bottom