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

[bjorb]

Turkish troops are not popular in Syria, and rightfully so. Just like the US, they have no business being up there.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1230514134694821891

 

[bjorb]

Follow up from my previous post above. Apparently this was a join Russian-Turkish patrol

The first 2 green verhicles are Russian, a gaz tigr (Russian humvee) and a Russian APC. The latter are Turkish verhicles and were meet with villagers throwing rocks on them. Syrians are well aware what Russia did for them, hence no rocks.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1230448143973732352

 

[sToRmR1dR]

'Turkey will use its S-400 air defense systems to attack Russia and Syria.'

Source Aviapro

Turkey will deploy S-400s to protect its own troops in Syria from Russian fighters

The head of the Turkish Ministry of Defense, Hulusi Akar, unexpectedly raised the issue of deploying S-400 air defense systems in the country, emphasizing that in spring these systems will be put on full combat alert

bulgarianmilitary.com

Feb 21, 2020

S-400 missile defense systems purchased by Turkey will be commissioned — minister

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said that works on commissioning the S-400 missile defense systems will start around April

tass.com

21 FEB, 2020

Turkey requests US Patriot missile system to stop Russia in Idlib: report

BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:50 P.M.) - Turkey has reportedly asked the United States, a NATO ally, to deploy two Patriot missile systems along its southern border

www.almasdarnews.com

2020-02-20

U.S. May Provide Turkey With Patriot System For Use In Syria’s Idlib: Turkish Defense Minister

The U.S. could send Patriot long-range air-defense system to Turkey to use for security in the face of the conflict...

southfront.org

20.02.2020

 

[bjorb]

In Video: Russian Su-24 Warplane Avoids Two Ground-To-Air Missiles Over Greater Idlib

On February 20, a Su-24 warplane of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) avoided at least two anti-aircraft missiles while it was providing Syrian Arab Army (SAA) troops in southern Idlib with a close air support.

Halab Today, a pro-opposition new channel, released a video showing the Russian warplane dodging one of the two missiles by maneuvering and releasing jamming flares.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=134349584496258

Syrian activists claimed that the missile was a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADs) launched from a Turkish observation post in the town of Qaminas in southern Idlib. These claims have not been verified yet.

Several Syrian and Russian airstrikes targeted the Turkish “observation post” in Qaminas, killing two Turkish soldiers and injuring others.

The incident took place during a Turkish-led attack on Syrian Arab Army (SAA) positions in southern Idlib. Russian Su-24 warplanes provided the army with close air support, allowing it to repel the attack within a few hours. The Russian airstrikes destroyed twelve vehicles of the attackers.

Earlier this month, two helicopters of the Syrian Arab Air Force (SyAAF) were shot down over Greater Idlib. While Syrian militants claimed responsibility for both incidents, some observers believe that it was the Turkish military that targeted the helicopters.

Why does Erdogan wants to save it's proxies? They are psychopaths. Putting women in cages and then setting them on fire, abducting girls and selling them as sex slaves, decapitating children, etc. I hope that the Russian airforce together with the SAA kills every last one of them. Turkey is a sick country for protecting them.

 

[bjorb]

Hybrid warfare escalated into direct clashes.

BREAKING! Turkish Troops Shell Syrian Army While Russian Air Force Bombs Turkish positions in Idlib!

Turkey is playing high stakes poker, in Idlib, 4 thousands soldiers and officers, 80 tanks, two hundred armed verhicles and dozens of barrels and rocket artillery are under threat. Russia and Syria are not backing down, on the contrary they are making advances in the region. It's time for Turkey to pack their bags and leave when they still can.

 

[youlik]

Боевик, взятый в плен под Алеппо, рассказал об изготовлении химического оружия (ВИДЕО)
21.02.2020 - 18:30

Translation

A militant captured near Aleppo told about the manufacture of chemical weapons (VIDEO)
21.02.2020-18: 30

The HTSH militant group, captured during the operation to liberate the Aleppo district of Rashidin-4, spoke about how he fought with the legitimate Syrian government.

Walid Ahmad al-Ali Valdat rasmiya was detained on February 3, 2020. The report of the militant's interrogation was provided to Russian Spring by a military source.

Question 1: what is Your name, place, and date of birth?

- My name is Walid Ahmad al-Ali Waldat rasmiya, I was born in HOMS, tel Tahab, in 1993.

Question 2: What are your reasons for joining a terrorist group?

"I joined the terrorists for money and a monthly salary.

Question 3: Since the beginning of Your activity (Hayat Tahrir al-sham-former Jabhat al-Nusra*), what was the nature of Your work?

- At the very beginning of the events, I went to rallies against the Syrian government. In 2014, I joined the ranks of Hayat Tahrir al-sham. I was armed with a machine gun, my task was to provide communication (approx. interpreter: in terms of cooperation, etc.) on the fronts in HOMS in the districts (Alu - Amreya - Tasnin - Salamiyah) and in other areas. I was engaged in this activity until 2018. When the Syrian government began to settle relations with the armed groups, Hayat Tahrir al-sham refused to participate in this process and began to withdraw from the areas and relocated to Idlib.

Question 4: Where did You get the necessary training and who is responsible for the training camps? What is his nationality?

- In 2018, we relocated to Idlib, to Murek, and then To harsch Masibin, and then to harsch Batnita, then to al-Hamama (on the coast), where we were trained (in military and sports terms) under the command of two Turkish instructors (coaches). One of them is Poison Abu al-Iman, the name of the second coach I don't know. After completing the short-term courses, we started a 10-day refresher course, and after completing it, I returned to my previous work on organizing interaction at the front in Idlib.

Question 5: Since you started working with the so-called (Hayat Tahrir al-sham-former Jabhat al-Nusra), what was the nature of Your activities and did You take part in the fighting against the Syrian Army?

- My task was to organize interaction at the front. During my stay in Idlib, Hayat Tahrir al-sham started manufacturing chemicals (Sarin) to attack the village of Qafr Batykh, in order to later accuse the Syrian Army of using chemical substances against the civilian population.

Question 6: How did Your detention happen and what orders did You receive during the shootings with the Syrian Arab Army?

- My detention occurred at the time when I was performing the task assigned to me (organization of communications) in tel Hatra in Idlib. I was detained by members of the Syrian Arab Army. The order was to relocate to the nearest Turkish positions in the event of a retreat and subsequently move to areas controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-sham.

Боевик, взятый в плен под Алеппо, рассказал об изготовлении химического оружия (ВИДЕО)

 

[Niall]

An interesting bit of history: Idlib, the province of Syria over which Turkey is currently poised to risk open war with Russia, is next door to the Turkish province of Hatay (the part of Turkey that drops down from that corner of the the Mediterranean).

But Hatay wasn't always Turkish...

Syria’s “Lost Province”: The Hatay Question Returns

The Hatay region, located on the coast north of Latakia, was originally a part of Syria according to the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon, a League of Nations mandate after the First World War, but Turkey showed interest in the area and its large Turkish-speaking community. In 1936, the Turkish government began to push for Hatay’s “reunification” with Turkey. The French decision to hand it over to Ankara three years later came in tandem with a Turkish-French treaty guaranteeing Turkish “friendship” during the Second World War. It was a blunt violation of the Treaty of Lausanne that partitioned the former Ottoman Empire and the text of the French mandate, both written in 1923, but the move was defended by France before the League of Nations as necessary in order to avoid a Turkish attack on Syria. [...]

After independence, the country staunchly refused to recognize the border that now separated Hatay from Syria. Official Syrian maps continued to include Hatay as part of the country’s national territory. But at the same time, public discussion of the matter was discouraged, and Syrian governments rarely raised the issue openly for fear of provoking new conflicts with Turkey. The Hatay issue therefore remained largely unknown to the international community, but it didn’t go away. [...]

As relations improved, Syrian officials took care to signal that while the Hatay issue had not been solved, it was also not a priority and would not be allowed to stand in the way of prospering bilateral relations.

The eventual solution was somewhat original. Instead of formally and openly recognizing the border separating Hatay from Syria, the border was to be blurred and thereby lose its importance. A free-trade area was established on the border, and a shared Syria-Turkey Friendship Dam was to be constructed on the Orontes River, which runs through from Syria into the Hatay area. While Syria had long refused to include the Orontes in Syrian-Turkish negotiations on water allocations on the grounds that it was not an international river—a clear rejection of the border separating Hatay from Syria, across which the river flows—Damascus finally agreed to specify national jurisdiction on both sides of the dam. It thereby effectively, albeit indirectly, recognized Turkish sovereignty over Hatay.

But only weeks after groundbreaking ceremonies for the construction of the dam were held in Hatay and Idlib in February 2011, the Syrian uprising erupted, bilateral relations hit an all-time low, and construction of the Friendship Dam was halted.

 

[angelburst29]

This article speaks of a video but the site does not provide a link to the video, only a snapshot of the altercation between American and Russian vehicles on a roadway that claims to have taken place near the town of Qamishli. I'm searching for the video and will Post, if I find it.

Crazy Video Emerges Of American And Russian Armored Vehicle Road Rage Incident In Syria
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/32290/crazy-video-emerges-of-american-and-russian-armored-vehicle-road-rage-incident-in-Syria

February 19, 2020 - Details about the incident are still limited, but a video has emerged online showing a U.S. military M-ATV mine-resistant vehicle running a Russian Tigr armored utility vehicle off the road somewhere in northeastern Syria. The incident reportedly occurred relatively close to where American troops found themselves in a standoff a mob of civilians and militiamen aligned with Syrian dictator Bashar Al Assad a week ago. Russian forces were also present during that altercation, which ultimately left at least one Syrian dead.

A camera inside what appears to be a civilian vehicle also traveling along the same stretch of road captured the incident, which reportedly took place near the town of Qamishli, which is also near the Turkish border. It is unclear when exactly the events in the video actually occurred.

The video shows a Russian convoy consisting of three vehicles, with the 4x4 Tigr leading a 6x6 Typhoon-K armored truck and an 8x8 BTR-series armored personnel carrier. This trio starts the video behind two American military vehicles, the aforementioned M-ATV and a MaxxPro MRAP mine-resistant truck.

The vehicle carrying the camera drives alongside the Russians before squeezing in between them and the Americans to allow oncoming traffic to pass. The individuals filming the scene then begin to pass the U.S. military vehicles on the left.

It's not entirely clear why, but the Russian Tigr also makes to pass the Americans on the right at the same time, deliberately going offroad, and then wedges itself between the American M-ATV and the MaxxPro vehicles. The crew of the M-ATV responds by first attempting to block the Russians from passing any further and then drives them off the road. The two vehicles appear to actually hit each other at one point.

A civilian bystander on the roadside is seen leaping out of the way of the Tigr just in time. The Russian and American vehicles then come to a stop as the vehicle carrying the camera drives by.

Incidents between U.S. and Russian forces in northeastern Syria have been increasingly common for weeks now, though they have typically involved American troops block the movement of Russia's forces. There have been some reports of more physical altercations, including a fistfight in January.

This does appear to be the first known incident of Russian and American convoys actually duking it out on Syria's roadways,
which points to a serious escalation in tensions. It's in some ways reminiscent of a spate of aggressive altercations between Russia's combat jets and American planes in the skies over the country that seemed to subside two years ago. U.S. and Russian aircraft, as well as naval vessels, have had similar encounters elsewhere in the world since then, as well.

Russia's forces have been patrolling in the area, which was previously ostensibly under the control of U.S. forces and their local, predominantly Kurdish partners, since October 2019. Russia cut a deal that month with Turkey to move into the area following the start of a Turkish military intervention aimed at ejecting U.S.-backed Kurdish forces from a buffer zone along the Turkish-Syrian border.

The Kremlin also claims that its troops were directly responsible for resolving the violent incident in the village of Khirbet Ammu, to the east of Qamishli, last week. The exact role Russian forces played in that incident remains unclear and video reportedly showing a Russian military policeman extolling the civilian mob to shout anti-American and pro-Assad slogans has since emerged online.

This new road rage incident is exactly the kind of worrying interaction that the War Zone has repeatedly warned in the past could lead to a sudden escalation in tensions between various actors in Syria.

I suspect that it is Erdogan - who is pulling the "humanitarian crises card" and screaming for a ceasefire, by making heavy waves to Germany, France and the U.K. to back him up? They, in turn, went screaming to the U.N. - to do something? So, Erdogan is using back channels to pressure other's, to get Russia "to comply to Erdogan's terms". Truth be told - Erdogan is the one creating the humanitarian crises by remaining on Syrian soil.

U.N. chief urges halt to fighting in Syria's Idlib
Feb. 21, 2020 - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for an immediate ceasefire in Syria's Idlib region "to end the humanitarian catastrophe and now also to avoid an uncontrollable escalation."

U.N. says it fears 'bloodbath' in northwest Syria fighting
The United Nations warned on Friday that fighting in northwest Syria could "end in a bloodbath" and called again for a ceasefire, while Moscow denied reports of a mass flight of civilians from a Russian-led Syrian government offensive.

France, Germany call on political solution to 'catastrophic' Idlib crisis
The leaders of France and Germany told Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that the humanitarian crisis in Syria's northwest Idlib province needed a political solution and that the three should meet soon with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Which brings to mind this recent statement:

'Turkey and Russia are negotiating for further negotiations.'

Putin, Erdogan agree by phone to intensify talks on Syria: Kremlin
The Kremlin said on Friday President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan had agreed in a phone call to intensify talks on Syria's Idlib region to reduce tensions and implement a ceasefire.

Turkey's Erdogan tells Russia's Putin it's necessary to control Syrian government in Idlib
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan emphasized the necessity to control Syrian government forces and halt a humanitarian crisis in Syria's Idlib region during a phone call with Russia's Vladimir Putin, the Turkish presidency said on Friday.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

'Negotiations' continue: Putin and Erdogan have agreed that there will be no peace in Idlib.'

Putin & Erdogan to ‘intensify contacts’ over Syria, but no sign of peace in Idlib yet

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan talked Syria over the phone, as their troops squared off in Idlib province. The topics of Syrian sovereignty and terrorist threat loomed large.

www.rt.com

21 Feb, 2020

Russian fighter jets have intercepted a Turkish F-16 over Aleppo

A few hours ago it became known that the Turkish F-16 fighter plane violated Syrian airspace, entering the northern part of the Arab Republic, learned BulgarianMilitary.com, citing several local sources and news agency AviaPro

bulgarianmilitary.com

By Boyko Nikolov On Feb 22, 2020

Turkey Prevented Four Russian Military Planes From Crossing To Syria – Report

Turkey closed its airspace in the face of Russian military planes following the recent tension in Syria’s Greater Idlib, Russia’s...

southfront.org

21.02.2020

In Video: Turkish Military Deploys Heavy Rocket Launchers Along Border With Syria

The Turkish Armed Forces have deployed at least two T-300 Kasırga heavy multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) along the border with...

southfront.org

22.02.2020

Turkish "Observation" Post Fired U.S.-Made Missiles At Russian Warplane Over Greater Idlib (Video)

On February 21, the pro-opposition Arab 24 Agency released a video accidently revealing how a Turkish post opened fire at...

southfront.org

21.02.2020

 

[lilies]

Turkish defeat, nuke warning (Thursday 20 Feb at 4:47 PM)

Weird to see it coalesce. Very Deep State MO: first they always hold some exercise usually in cities, where they plan a mass shooting -, so then nobody knows if the subsequent real mass shooting happening is still an exercise or not. Then the real attack begins in the resulting confusion and warnings usually come too late:

Dangerous games: US NUKES Russia in ‘mini exercise’ attended by Pentagon chief (Saturday 22 Feb, 2020 18:43 )

US Defense Secretary Mark Esper played himself in a drill at the US Strategic Command HQ in Nebraska, which featured a bizarre scenario of America nuking Russia in response to its own nuclear strike against a ‘NATO ally’.

 

[angelburst29]

Turkey, US protect Al Qaeda in Idlib and worsen Syria’s suffering

Idlib is facing a humanitarian disaster as hundreds of thousands flee a Syrian and Russian military campaign to retake the province from militant rule. Overlooked in Western coverage of the crisis is that Idlib is mostly controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a rebranded affiliate of Al-Qaeda — and that Turkey, with U.S. backing, has intervened to keep the extremist group in place.

Guest: Scott Ritter, former UN Weapons Inspector and Marine Corps Intelligence Officer.

Published on Feb 21, 2020 (24:27 min.)

 

[angelburst29]

A meeting is planned for March 5th over the situation in Idlib. Actually, considering Merkel and Macron have been pressing Putin in the direction of allowing Erdogan to "have his way" ... it has all the appearances of "Merkel, Macron and Erdogan ganging up on Putin" in a "3-on-1"? Three Countries that are heavily profiting from the War in Syria and "ONE who is actively trying to bring the horrendous suffering and death to an end"!

Erdogan says to meet Putin, Merkel, Macron on March 5 over Idlib

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday he will meet Russian, German and French counterparts on March 5 to discuss the situation in Syria's Idlib region.

Merkel, Macron urge Putin to end conflict in Syria's Idlib

The leaders of Germany and France called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday to express their concern about the humanitarian situation in Syria's Idlib region, urging an end to the conflict there, a German spokesman said.

All hands are on deck - the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Russian Defense Minister and President Putin working towards the ending of a Syrian-nine-year-War. The only one's keeping the War in Syria alive is Turkey, U.S. and Israel. Their time and energy would be better served by addressing adversity and neglected problems in their own homelands? They offer their citizen's NOTHING by financing War activities in another Country - that is not interfering with them.

Russian, Turkish defense ministers discuss stabilization in Idlib
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has discussed the situation in Syria's Idlib with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar,
Russian news agencies reported on Saturday.

Delivering more guns and ammo to paid terrorist in not Humanitarian Aid - no matter - what Border is crossed?

U.N. suggests Turkey border crossing to deliver aid to Syria's northeast
The United Nations has suggested that the Tal Abiyad border crossing between Syria and Turkey could be used to deliver aid to civilians in northeast Syria after Russia and China blocked the world body from using a crossing point on the Iraqi border to provide help.

Syria announces Damascus-Aleppo highway open to traffic
Syria's transport ministry declared the main highway between Damascus and Aleppo open to the public on Saturday after troops recaptured the major artery in a Russian-backed offensive.

Syria reopens Aleppo-Damascus Highway for first time 8 years
The Syrian government announced on Saturday the reopening of the Aleppo-Damascus Highway (M-5) to the public.

Russia calls reports of Syrians fleeing Idlib en masse for Turkey false
Russia's Defense Ministry on Friday said reports that hundreds of thousands of Syrians were fleeing Idlib in the direction of Turkey were false and urged Ankara to allow Idlib residents to enter other parts of Syria.

Syrian Army reinforcements head to Idlib front-lines: video
A Syrian Arab Army (SAA) convoy was seen heading towards the northwestern city of Idlib on Saturday

Syrian Army intensifies attack against Turkish-backed militias: video
Clashes continued between the Syrian Army (SAA) and Turkish-backed militants near the town of Nayrab on Saturday.

Al-Qaeda confirms death of AQAP leader Qassim Al-Raymi: Site Intelligence Group
Al-Qaeda has confirmed the death of Qassim al-Raymi, the leader of Islamist group al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP),
the Site Intelligence Group reported on Sunday. U.S. President Donald Trump announced earlier this month that the United States had killed al-Raymi in a counterterrorism operation in Yemen. The United States regards AQAP as one of the deadliest branches of the al Qaeda network founded by Osama bin Laden.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

'Israel is bombing civilians in Gaza and Syria.'

Israel carries out air raids against ‘terrorist targets’ in Syria & Gaza

The Israeli military launched a series of strikes targeting the Islamic Jihad movement in Syria and throughout Gaza, its spokesman confirmed on Twitter after Damascus’ air defenses intercepted hostile targets.

www.rt.com

23 Feb, 2020

'Humanitarian aid.'
“SOHR Camera” shows hovercrafts of the International Coalition drop heavy weapons over the Syria Democratic Forces’-controlled areas in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor
23/02/2020

 

[angelburst29]

'Humanitarian aid.'

Erdogan is playing a dangerous and desperate game! I'm assuming, his more resolute steps included the Humanitarian air drop, which amounts to a planned "all or nothing" suicide mission? It's nothing more then a reckless power-play! Putin and Assad are not sitting on their hands - the Turkish-backed militants will drop like toy solders! It will be "all down hill for Erdogan" from this point on - he just handed the Syrian Arab Army and Russian Forces - the perfect excuse - to use equal force in the battle field? Force=Force!
Putin and Lavrov have repeatedly tried to reason with Erdogan - that his power land grab and greed would eventually lead to defeat.

Turkey will take more ‘resolute’ steps in Syria: Erdogan
2020-02-23 - In his speech that was televised by the NTV television channel, Erdogan noted that the operation is Syria was requiring serious efforts and claiming the lives of Turkish servicemen.

“Yesterday, I had talks with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. Before that, I spoke with [French President Emmanuel] Macron and [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel. After that, we decided on our roadmap [on Syria],” he said. “We will take more resolute steps.”

He did not say however which steps it would be, stressing only that Ankara “will not bend before global powers’ scenarios.”

Turkish-backed militants launch new attack in eastern Idlib
Turkish-backed militants launch new attack in eastern Idlib

2020-02-24 - For the second time in a week, the Turkish-backed militants launched an attack to capture the key town of Nayrab in the eastern countryside of the Idlib Governorate.

Backed by the Turkish military, the National Liberation Front (NLF) and their jihadist allies began their attack on Monday by storming the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) defenses west of Nayrab.

According to preliminary reports from this front, the Turkish military is shelling the Syrian Army’s defenses around Nayrab, prompting the latter to respond with their own barrage of artillery in eastern Idlib.

Jihadist special forces unit completely wiped out by Syrian Army in Idlib
Jihadist special forces unit completely wiped out by Syrian Army in Idlib

2020-02-24 - The jihadist special forces attempted to storm the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) positions in the Idlib Governorate recently, resulting in heavy losses for the militants.

In a video released on Saturday via Telegram, several jihadist corpses were filmed by Syrian Army reporters inside the Idlib Governorate.
The jihadists were in possession of new equipment and battle fatigues, which had some observers confused about whether or not they were actually Turkish military personnel.

In the past, the jihadist special forces have carried out attacks behind the Syrian Arab Army’s lines; however, this is one of the first times that one of their operations ended in complete disaster, leaving many of them killed or wounded.

Russia, Turkey preparing talks on fighting in Syria's Idlib province: TASS

Russia and Turkey are preparing talks on how to de-escalate fighting in Syria's Idlib province, TASS news agency reported on Monday, citing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

“Another series of consultations, which we hope will lead us to an agreement on how to ensure that this is indeed a de-escalation zone and that terrorists do not operate there, is being prepared now,” Lavrov was quoted as saying.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

The Syrian army has shot down a Turkish combat drone in Idlib.

Syrian Army Shot Down Turkish Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle Over Eastern Idlib (Video)

On February 25, the Syrian Army shot down a unmanned combat aerial vehicle of the Turkish Air Force over eastern...

southfront.org

25.02.2020