angelburst29
The Living Force
According to reports, Putin and Erdogan and their advisors were in a meeting for 6 hours. It's a really complicate and delicate situation and by the looks of it, many agreements were needed to accomplish a working partnership. NATO and some of it's allies didn't waste any time to exert outside pressure, into a situation - that does not involve them. Now, several U.S. Senators are calling on Pompeo to issue an emergency Visa for a Kurdish General to come to Washington for talks?
U.S. senators want quick visa for Kurdish general, amid Syria crisis
FILE PHOTO: Mazloum Kobani, SDF commander in chief
WASHINGTON October 23, 2019 - Republican and Democratic U.S. senators asked the State Department on Wednesday to quickly provide a visa so that the commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces could visit the United states to discuss the situation in the country.
Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Marsha Blackburn and Democrats Chris Van Hollen, Jeanne Shaheen and Richard Blumenthal wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asking him to expedite a visa for the commander, General Mazloum Kobani.
“To say we are extremely concerned with the situation unfolding in northern Syria is an understatement,” they said in their letter, saying it would benefit both Congress and President Donald Trump’s administration to hear from Kobani.
Their request came hours after Trump announced that a ceasefire in northern Syria was now permanent and he lifted sanctions on Turkey as a result, rejecting criticism of his decision to pull out U.S. troops that allowed Kurdish allies to come under attack from Turkey.
The lawmakers who sent the letter have been among the loudest voices in the U.S. Congress lamenting Trump’s decision, which many see as abandoning Kurdish forces who fought for years alongside U.S. troops as they battled Islamic State militants.
Kurdish commander says Trump promised to maintain long term support: tweet
U.S. President Donald Trump promised to maintain long-term support for Kurdish-led forces who control large swathes of northeastern Syria, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Kobani said on Wednesday.
As Syria's war mutates, Kurds worry that Damascus will return
An uneasy, defiant mood hangs over this Kurdish-controlled city, as rapid shifts in Syria's war place a question mark over the future of Kurdish self-rule in the country's northeast.
Russian defense minister speaks to SDF head after Syria deal: reports
FILE PHOTO: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu
MOSCOW October 23, 2019 - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has spoken by video conference to the leader of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Russian news agencies reported on Wednesday.
Shoigu told the SDF head that Russia will increase the number of its military police near the Syrian-Turkish border Interfax reported. The two men also discussed the implementation by Kurds of a Russian-Turkish Syria deal announced on Tuesday.
Russian military police started deploying on Syria’s northeast border on Wednesday under a deal with Turkey to drive Kurdish fighters from the region.
U.S seen no evidence of ethnic cleansing by Turks in Syria: senior U.S official
The United States has seen no evidence of ethnic cleansing in northeastern Syria by Turkish forces in the wake of a U.S. pullout and has been assured by Turkey there will not be any, a senior Trump administration official said on Wednesday.
Moscow warns Kurds to pull out after Turkey agreement
A convoy of Russian military vehicles drives toward the northeastern Syrian city of Kobane on October 23, 2019. (AFP)
Russia has warned Kurdish forces to withdraw from the Syrian-Turkey border region following a deal between Moscow and Ankara over control of the disputed territory.
The deal was reached in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi late on Tuesday, two weeks after Turkish troops launched a military offensive to push Kurdish-led YPG militia out of northern Syria.
Turkey’s operation to establish a buffer zone below its southern border followed a US decision to pull its troops out of territory once held by the Kurds, a move condemned by Kurdish leaders as a “betrayal.”
The deal between Turkey and Russian gives Syrian President Bashar Assad power over more territory after Moscow pushed Ankara to recognize the Syrian government’s authority in the 30-km-deep security zone.
Turkey’s only direct relations with the Assad regime are via its intelligence services.
Moscow and Ankara sealed the deal hours before the expiry of of conditional cease-fire between Turkey and the US. Turkey said that it had no plans to carry out out fresh military operations in northern Syria “at this stage.”
Alexey Khlebnikov, a Middle East expert at the Russian International Affairs Council, described the deal as “quite a realistic agreement.” However, Khlebnikov warned that remaining US troops in northeastern Syria could hinder the reintegration of Kurds under Syrian control.
“With the withdrawal of the YPG, this agreement significantly decreases any chance of a new Turkish incursion into the region,” he told Arab News. “As for the Syrian army, it will be deterred by Turkish and Russian forces.”
Russia: Only Damascus Gov't. Entitled to Exercise Control over Oil Facilities in Syria
The Russian foreign ministry on Wednesday reiterated its full support for the Syrian government's right of sovereignty, stressing that all oil wells and facilities in the Northeastern parts of the country should be brought back under the Damascus government's control.
US troops from Syria to leave Iraq in 4 weeks
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper arrived in Baghdad as Iraqi leaders chafed over reports the US may want to increase the number of troops based in Iraq, at least temporarily. (File/AFP)
: US troops withdrawing from northeastern Syria to Iraq are “transiting” and will leave the country within four weeks, Iraq’s defense minister said Wednesday. Najah Al-Shammari made the remarks to The Associated Press following a meeting in Baghdad with visiting US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who arrived as Iraqi leaders chafed over reports the US may want to increase the number of troops based in Iraq, at least temporarily.
Iraq's prime minister on Wednesday said Baghdad is taking "all international legal measures" over the entry of US troops from neighbouring Syria, in an apparent attempt to assert his government's opposition to the arrival of the American forces.
In a statement, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi reiterated his government's position that US troops pulling out of northeast Syria and moving into Iraq were not allowed to remain in his country.
"We have (already) issued an official statement saying that and are taking all international legal measures. We ask the international community and the United Nations to perform their roles in this matter," he said.
Senior MP Strongly Protests at Relocation of US Forces from Syria to Iraq
A senior member of the Iraqi parliament's Security and Defense Committee blasted Washington for transferring its forces from Syria to Iraq, saying that his country does not need the US military men.
"The unpermitted deployment of the US forces in military bases in Iraq is occupation," he added, noting that Iraq does not need foreign forces.
US, French, British Armies Continue Withdrawal from Syria
Official news agency SANA reported that 40 US, French and British military servicemen on Tuesday evening pulled out from Rhaibeh Airport in the countryside of al-Malkiya in Hasaka province and headed for Iraq.
Also, a convoy including dozens of American armored vehicles moved from al-Qamishli toward the Iraqi borders.
It comes hours after nearly 30 French and US soldiers retreated from Khirbet Adnan in the countryside of al-Malkiya toward Iraq by an American helicopter.
The deployment comes just days after President Donald Trump argued that it was “time to bring our soldiers back home”.
U.S. senators want quick visa for Kurdish general, amid Syria crisis
FILE PHOTO: Mazloum Kobani, SDF commander in chief
WASHINGTON October 23, 2019 - Republican and Democratic U.S. senators asked the State Department on Wednesday to quickly provide a visa so that the commander of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces could visit the United states to discuss the situation in the country.
Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and Marsha Blackburn and Democrats Chris Van Hollen, Jeanne Shaheen and Richard Blumenthal wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asking him to expedite a visa for the commander, General Mazloum Kobani.
“To say we are extremely concerned with the situation unfolding in northern Syria is an understatement,” they said in their letter, saying it would benefit both Congress and President Donald Trump’s administration to hear from Kobani.
Their request came hours after Trump announced that a ceasefire in northern Syria was now permanent and he lifted sanctions on Turkey as a result, rejecting criticism of his decision to pull out U.S. troops that allowed Kurdish allies to come under attack from Turkey.
The lawmakers who sent the letter have been among the loudest voices in the U.S. Congress lamenting Trump’s decision, which many see as abandoning Kurdish forces who fought for years alongside U.S. troops as they battled Islamic State militants.
Kurdish commander says Trump promised to maintain long term support: tweet
U.S. President Donald Trump promised to maintain long-term support for Kurdish-led forces who control large swathes of northeastern Syria, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander Mazloum Kobani said on Wednesday.
As Syria's war mutates, Kurds worry that Damascus will return
An uneasy, defiant mood hangs over this Kurdish-controlled city, as rapid shifts in Syria's war place a question mark over the future of Kurdish self-rule in the country's northeast.
Russian defense minister speaks to SDF head after Syria deal: reports
FILE PHOTO: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu
MOSCOW October 23, 2019 - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has spoken by video conference to the leader of Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Russian news agencies reported on Wednesday.
Shoigu told the SDF head that Russia will increase the number of its military police near the Syrian-Turkish border Interfax reported. The two men also discussed the implementation by Kurds of a Russian-Turkish Syria deal announced on Tuesday.
Russian military police started deploying on Syria’s northeast border on Wednesday under a deal with Turkey to drive Kurdish fighters from the region.
U.S seen no evidence of ethnic cleansing by Turks in Syria: senior U.S official
The United States has seen no evidence of ethnic cleansing in northeastern Syria by Turkish forces in the wake of a U.S. pullout and has been assured by Turkey there will not be any, a senior Trump administration official said on Wednesday.
Moscow warns Kurds to pull out after Turkey agreement
A convoy of Russian military vehicles drives toward the northeastern Syrian city of Kobane on October 23, 2019. (AFP)
Russia has warned Kurdish forces to withdraw from the Syrian-Turkey border region following a deal between Moscow and Ankara over control of the disputed territory.
The deal was reached in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi late on Tuesday, two weeks after Turkish troops launched a military offensive to push Kurdish-led YPG militia out of northern Syria.
Turkey’s operation to establish a buffer zone below its southern border followed a US decision to pull its troops out of territory once held by the Kurds, a move condemned by Kurdish leaders as a “betrayal.”
The deal between Turkey and Russian gives Syrian President Bashar Assad power over more territory after Moscow pushed Ankara to recognize the Syrian government’s authority in the 30-km-deep security zone.
Turkey’s only direct relations with the Assad regime are via its intelligence services.
Moscow and Ankara sealed the deal hours before the expiry of of conditional cease-fire between Turkey and the US. Turkey said that it had no plans to carry out out fresh military operations in northern Syria “at this stage.”
Alexey Khlebnikov, a Middle East expert at the Russian International Affairs Council, described the deal as “quite a realistic agreement.” However, Khlebnikov warned that remaining US troops in northeastern Syria could hinder the reintegration of Kurds under Syrian control.
“With the withdrawal of the YPG, this agreement significantly decreases any chance of a new Turkish incursion into the region,” he told Arab News. “As for the Syrian army, it will be deterred by Turkish and Russian forces.”
Russia: Only Damascus Gov't. Entitled to Exercise Control over Oil Facilities in Syria
The Russian foreign ministry on Wednesday reiterated its full support for the Syrian government's right of sovereignty, stressing that all oil wells and facilities in the Northeastern parts of the country should be brought back under the Damascus government's control.
US troops from Syria to leave Iraq in 4 weeks
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper arrived in Baghdad as Iraqi leaders chafed over reports the US may want to increase the number of troops based in Iraq, at least temporarily. (File/AFP)
: US troops withdrawing from northeastern Syria to Iraq are “transiting” and will leave the country within four weeks, Iraq’s defense minister said Wednesday. Najah Al-Shammari made the remarks to The Associated Press following a meeting in Baghdad with visiting US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who arrived as Iraqi leaders chafed over reports the US may want to increase the number of troops based in Iraq, at least temporarily.
Iraq's prime minister on Wednesday said Baghdad is taking "all international legal measures" over the entry of US troops from neighbouring Syria, in an apparent attempt to assert his government's opposition to the arrival of the American forces.
In a statement, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi reiterated his government's position that US troops pulling out of northeast Syria and moving into Iraq were not allowed to remain in his country.
"We have (already) issued an official statement saying that and are taking all international legal measures. We ask the international community and the United Nations to perform their roles in this matter," he said.
Senior MP Strongly Protests at Relocation of US Forces from Syria to Iraq
A senior member of the Iraqi parliament's Security and Defense Committee blasted Washington for transferring its forces from Syria to Iraq, saying that his country does not need the US military men.
"The unpermitted deployment of the US forces in military bases in Iraq is occupation," he added, noting that Iraq does not need foreign forces.
US, French, British Armies Continue Withdrawal from Syria
Official news agency SANA reported that 40 US, French and British military servicemen on Tuesday evening pulled out from Rhaibeh Airport in the countryside of al-Malkiya in Hasaka province and headed for Iraq.
Also, a convoy including dozens of American armored vehicles moved from al-Qamishli toward the Iraqi borders.
It comes hours after nearly 30 French and US soldiers retreated from Khirbet Adnan in the countryside of al-Malkiya toward Iraq by an American helicopter.
The deployment comes just days after President Donald Trump argued that it was “time to bring our soldiers back home”.
