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

[Keit]

I don't know about others, but for me, without cuts the body language seems different.

It does indeed paint a different picture. Definitely no "lack of power" on Putin's part. The descriptions and the tone in the video, that Russians were dead serious and in no mood for the usual pleasantries. The longer waiting time in the room could be just a coincidence, but also could be a message to Erdogan.

Putin was cordial and diplomatic as usual, but it is also clear that he was smiling less, and indeed paid much less attention to the diplomatic/"for the show" part. It can be clearly visible in min 6:43 of the video, where Putin invited Erdogan to move to the table. No smiles, no nothing. He didn't even look at him too much.

 

[angelburst29]

That's something that I thought about as well. After all Putin did extend an olive branch to Erdogan during the attempted coup in 2016 despite knowing what role Turkey played in the conflict in Syria and just a few years later he starts another hot zone situation in Idlib while also calling on NATO to support his invasion. I remember watching a video on Putin where it was mentioned trust with the people he works with in his government is very important to him but that once it's broken he is quick to dismiss that person from their position and out of his circle. That may have come out in the press conference where he can't simply not deal with Erdogan and it showed.

This site provides a lot of background information and current events on Erdogan. In many ways, Erdogan mirrors Netanyahu in ambitions and personal gains. It all boils down to greed, money, land and resource grabs and building "Empire". To help back up his schemes, Erdogan has his Gray Wolves and close ties with the Muslim Brotherhood. Home - Nordic Monitor

In regards to the body language in the video, I do not have the impression that Putin was nervous because of Erdogan presence but that Putin was preoccupied by the seriousness of the situation and reasons why Erdogan called the meeting in the first place? Recent headlines may give a clue as to what Putin, Lavrov and Shoigu were up against with Erdogan's DEMANDS?

Due to Erdogan's military escalation in Idlib:

Russia sends two warships armed with cruise missiles to Syria's coast - Ifax

During a recent interview, Putin made a point in stressing, "Russia did not plan on War with ANYONE" and Russian lawmakers remarked that any full-scale Turkish action in Idlib would end badly. What was the need for both "warnings" prior to the Moscow meeting?

Putin says Russia does not plan to go to war with anyone - TASS

President Erdogan's options narrow as Russia presses Syrian crisis to Turkey's doorstep

Full-scale Turkish action in Syria's Idlib would end badly for Ankara - Ifax cites Russian lawmaker

What was the "actual" support that Erdogan was demanding from Trump? (Given that the U.S. and Turkey are both NATO allies.)

Erdogan to tell Trump that Turkey expects 'actual' support in Syria: official

Why did Erdogan request that NATO envoys meet over the situation in Idlib?

NATO envoys to meet to discuss Syria at Turkey's request

U.S. says in talks with NATO allies to provide Turkey military aid

Why did Lavrov issue a warning to NATO? What were NATO's activities near the Belarus-Russian Border?

Situation in Idlib does not give NATO cause to retaliate — Russian foreign minister
Situation in Idlib does not give NATO cause to retaliate — Russian foreign minister

Moscow alarmed by NATO’s activity near Russian, Belarusian borders — Lavrov
Moscow alarmed by NATO’s activity near Russian, Belarusian borders — Lavrov

The meeting between Russia and Turkey lasted a good 6 hours!

Anyway, Russia24 published yesterday a longer video (13 mins). It's in Russian, but you can see a few minutes before the two leaders met, Erdogan waiting for Putin, their initial moments in front of cameras, bits from the 6 hours of waiting for the talks to be finished
and toward the end, their announcements to the press. You will see them both smiling and shaking hands. In the meantime, both Peskov and Lavrov said it was a difficult discussion.

I think, we need to look at a wider picture, to get a clearer view of what Putin, Lavrov and Shoigu were up against in a meeting with Erdogan?

The U.S.-Pentagon-NATO consider Iran, China and Russia a problem. At the beginning of 2020, Iran suffered the Soleimani assassination and then the Ukrainian plane crash. Then China got hit with the Coronavirus ... that leaves Russia? China took measures to contain the Coronavirus outbreak by putting it's epicenter Wuhan on lockdown, started quarantine's and built hospitals. China tried to contain the Coronavirus within China. The WHO and the American press started a scare mongering blitz and Countries starting pulling out their citizen's and Embassy Staff ... spreading the Coronavirus outside of China.

One of the Countries claiming a high incidence of the Coronavirus is Italy. The Pentagon has a large military base in Italy, Camp Darby.
This is Italy at the present moment:

Italy in coronavirus lockdown as deaths soar and economy fades

Shops and restaurants closed, hundreds of flights were canceled and streets emptied across Italy on Tuesday, the first day of an unprecedented, nationwide lockdown imposed to slow Europe's worst outbreak of coronavirus.

Italy extends coronavirus lockdown to whole country as new cases surge

Italy's coronavirus lockdown likely unsustainable, ineffective

Personally, in my opinion, the Coronavirus has been hyped-up and exaggerated with "unprecedented, nationwide lockdowns and restricted air traffic" to cover up a Pentagon/NATO military build-up and preparation to forcefully invade China or Russia or both?
In China, I sense WHO is running interference, starting in Wuhan, the epicenter of China's business and economic power center, in trying to keep President Xi off guard and the Countries focus on the activities related to the Coronavirus outbreak? China is in a very vulnerable position right now.

On the other hand, Russia immediately set up a quarantine hospital in Siberia and limited air travel to Countries, including China affected by Coronavirus and started Border and airport checks.

The U.S. in Afghanistan: An 18-year strategic failure ...
After 18 - going on 19 years of steady illegal occupation, the Pentagon and U.S. State Department decided it was time to sign a Peace Agreement with the Taliban and negotiate a Prisoner exchange. In the last two weeks, there has been heavy media coverage in the U.S. with reports centered on Esper and Pompeo in Afghanistan. First, to sign a Peace Treaty, then organize a Prisoner swap and begin a process of moving U.S. Military out of the Country. As of this date, by all media accounts, Esper and Pompeo are still in Afghanistan, along with Pentagon Top Brass and NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Ghani, Esper, NATO chief meet amid peace deal

Published on Mar 5, 2020 (3:33 min.)

Afghan government to release Taliban prisoners as U.N. backs push to end war

Taliban reject Afghan president's conditional prisoner release plan

Afghanistan electoral crisis delays naming of negotiating team: U.S.
March 11, 2020 - The electoral dispute between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and political rival Abdullah Abdullah has delayed the naming of a team to negotiate with the Taliban, the U.S. State Department said in a statement on Tuesday.

'President of the district': Afghans mock parallel inaugurations on social media

U.S. 'strongly' opposed to creation of parallel Afghan government: Pompeo

Personally, I don't see any beneficial improvements in Afghanistan, not in the supposed Peace Treaty, nor with a prisoner swap and the recent electoral crisis that has left the Country in the state of electoral dispute over it's Presidency, gives an ideal excuse for the U.S. Military to remain in the Country? I sense, all this activity is nothing more then "smoke and mirror's", preplanned to give an excuse and cover for a gathering of top Pentagon Brass, Pompeo, Esper and NATO's Stoltenberg - in the direct planning and organization towards a Military invasion of some sort? With Erdogan calling on NATO and the U.S. to give "actual" physical support to Turkey in Idlib, Syria,, I sense that Erdogan was preparing for a full scale invasion of Idlib and Syria, itself, up to the Russian Border??? The American's still have control of the Syrian-Iraq Border, in which Troop's from Afghan can get assess into Syria and the U.S. and NATO are stationed at Turkey's Incirlik Air Base where it is alleged the U.S. has stockpiled Nuclear War-head Missiles.

And what is up with this report by WHO?
More than 500 medical sites struck in Syria since 2016: WHO (March 11, 2020)
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that it has documented more than 500 military attacks on medical facilities in Syria since it began counting them in 2016, with nearly as many deaths among staff and patients.

Turkish, Russian forces to patrol either side of new Syrian corridor
Turkey's military will patrol to the north of a security corridor Turkey's military will patrol to the north of a security corridor
being set up around a highway in northwest Syria's Idlib province and Russian forces will patrol the southern side, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday.

Getting back to the video, I sense that Putin, Lavrov and Shoigu circumvented a major escalation and a direct invasion of Syria by Turkey and NATO?

 

[herondancer]

Nice summation and analysis, angelburst. I am wondering though, if the WHO specified the groups that attacked the hospitals. There was the whole "last hospital in Raqqa" propaganda, which they were happy to lay at the feet of Russia. Then there were reports of militants using them as headquarters. Is there any way to verify their claims? Or is it more manufactured material to gin up support for a NATO intervention?

 

[angelburst29]

Nice summation and analysis, angelburst. I am wondering though, if the WHO specified the groups that attacked the hospitals. There was the whole "last hospital in Raqqa" propaganda, which they were happy to lay at the feet of Russia. Then there were reports of militants using them as headquarters. Is there any way to verify their claims? Or is it more manufactured material to gin up support for a NATO intervention?

That report is quoting Richard Brennan, WHO’s Regional Emergency Director in the Eastern Mediterranean. I listed some references and links below but NOT ONE gives any vital details - you have to contact the individual for additional info. (I guess it's SECRET for your eyes only?)B.S.

This is Who's homepage and a short summary of Richard Brennan's bio. On the right side of the page, you will notice an article on Doctor's Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontiers, International) who were also accused of protecting terrorists and using them, along with the White Helmets in a make-shift hospital on the Syrian-Turkish Border, treating wounded terrorists and sending them back out into the battlefield. Also reports of organ harvesting and the White Helmets burying the bodies in mass graves.

Checking further on the site, this is the "News Release" link to the site and I'm scanning the articles but haven't located any info that points to the names of the hospitals or any details on who attacked - over 500 health facilities in Syria.

GOARN Steering Committee 2017
On page 8 - a September 2, 2019 article that is basically a generalization of circumstances and lacking vital details.
WHO statement on attacks against health care in north-west Syria

Cairo, 2 September 2019 – WHO is gravely concerned about reported attacks on 7 health care facilities in the north west of Syria from 28 to 30 August 2019. Attacks on 4 facilities have been verified according to WHO reporting standards, and 3 are in process of verification.

The facilities include 4 hospitals and 2 primary health care centres that were functional at the time they were hit. One primary health care centre had been previously evacuated in advance of military action. At least 2 injuries were reported, and 2 facilities were destroyed.

These attacks come at a time of increased hostilities in and around Idlib province that is greatly accelerating humanitarian need. There are currently 13.7 million people in need of health assistance in Syria, including an estimated 4 million in the north-west. In August alone, more than 130 000 people were displaced from Northern Hama and Idlib governorates. Providing health services in north-west Syria is increasingly challenging and dangerous, and attacks such as these only deprive innocent civilians from lifesaving care.

This pattern of continued forced displacement, and damage or destruction of essential civilian infrastructure such as health facilities, is a deeply disturbing reality in the Syrian conflict. The reported attack on a maternity and children’s hospital – that provides vital services to the most vulnerable affected by the conflict – is particularly egregious. WHO deplores all actions that put civilians in harm's way and prevent people from accessing life-saving services when they are most needed.

We remind all parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law and to take all steps necessary to protect civilians, the most vulnerable, and health care. The principles of proportionality and distinction must be observed.

Were you aware of the "global tobacco epidemic"? OH, Giggles ...
WHO launches new report on the global tobacco epidemic

Feb 20, 2020 · Dr. Richard Brennan
WHO: No evidence that COVID-19 was produced in a lab - YouTube

In 4 years, 494 attacks on health killed 470 patients and health staff in Syria
In 4 years, 494 attacks on health killed 470 patients and health staff in Syria - Syrian Arab Republic
Source WHO Published 11 Mar 2020 Another generalization. Places - locations mentioned by no names.
(4 article listed at end of article.)

Two systems for data collection of attacks on health care were used within this period; secondary data from WHO's Health Cluster in Syria and findings previously published in the Lancet, covering 2016-2017, while WHO's Surveillance System for attacks on health care (SSA) covers 2018-2019. The two systems are compatible in that the basic methodology used for verification of incidents was the same.
Attacks against health care in Syria, 2015-16: results from a real-time reporting tool. - PubMed - NCBI

 

[angelburst29]

Business Insider released this article today. It basically presents Erdogan as some kind of brilliant leader who developed a large fleet of domestically built drones (What? No Walmart's allowed in Turkey?) that devastated the Syrian Army and Military equipment ... and put fear in Putin's eyes? It amounts to Tabloid trash.

Turkey used a new weapon in Syria that was so effective it looks like Russia won't dare confront Turkey directly
Turkey used a new weapon in Syria that was so effective it looks like Russia won't dare confront Turkey directly

The Turkish military's devastating display of power against the Syrian army last week — which saw the destruction of hundreds of regime tanks, artillery pieces and armored vehicles — came from a cheap but effective domestic drone program that NATO officials say has changed the military equation against Russia in Syria's Idlib Province.

Drones Have Been "Raining" Small Bombs On American Troops Guarding Oil Sites In Syria
Drones Have Been "Raining" Small Bombs On American Troops Guarding Oil Sites In Syria

March 9, 2020 - U.S. forces guarding oil and gas fields in eastern Syria have recently come under attack from small drones dropping improvised mortar bomb-like munitions. It's not clear what group was responsible for these incidents, which thankfully have not caused any casualties so far, but they are the latest examples of this steadily growing threat. The U.S. military, as a whole, has been developing and fielding an increasingly wide array of counter-drone systems in response.

NPR was first to report on what it described as "a multiday attack on two of the oil fields" that U.S. forces are presently guarding in Syria on Mar. 6, 2020. This is reportedly the first attack on American troops in these particular areas since the U.S. military first announced their new mission guarding oil and natural gas-related sites in the country in October 2019.

The West Virginia Army National Guard has troops assigned to the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team presently deployed to Syria. In October 2019, the 30th briefly deployed a contingent of Bradley Fighting Vehicles, as well as supporting forces, to two forward operating bases, one at the Conoco Gas Plant and another known as Green Village, both of which are situated in the Syrian province of Deir Ez Zor. Elements of the brigade remained in the country after the Bradleys returned to Kuwait between November and December 2019, a shift in forces that The War Zone was first to report on.

Drones of an unspecified type, but "carrying a mortar [bomb]," attacked the West Virginian guardsmen on Mar. 4. More unmanned aerial vehicles conducted similar attacks two days later, both in the morning and the evening, according to Bowman.

NPR did not provide any pictures of the munitions, or their remains, employed during the attacks. Its report said that they left noticeable impact craters and sprayed at least one U.S. military truck, as well as oil tanks at the site in Syria, with shrapnel. "An interesting thing about these mortars is that some of them, we're told by Army investigators, were made with 3D printers, which means that obviously someone pretty sophisticated put together these mortars, perhaps a nation-state," Bowman said on-air on Mar. 6.

Without more details, how sophisticated the munitions actually are is unclear. From the overall description of the attacks, the mortar bomb-like payloads and the drones themselves sound similar to the types that ISIS and other terrorist and militant groups have employed in Syria, as well as Iraq, for years now. There were reports that some ISIS-made munitions were also 3D-printed, but pictures of various types that have emerged have all pointed more toward injection-molded construction of certain parts combined with items from actual military munitions.

3D printing is increasingly more accessible, sparking concerns about the ability for private citizens with relatively modest means to make guns in their own homes. The equipment and materials necessary are not automatically prohibitively expensive or otherwise unavailable for non-state groups who are already spending hundreds of dollars, if not thousands or more, on acquiring small commercial drones, such as quad and hexcopter types, or the parts necessary to make capable homebrew designs.

[...]The U.S. Air Force is also getting ready to deploy a system that uses a laser to physically shoot down small drones for field trials in an unspecified country. That service is planning to conduct a similar operational experiment using a high-power microwave directed energy weapon, as well. The U.S. Army, which is leading a high-level Pentagon-directed counter-unmanned aerial systems effort, is set to deliver an assessment of a number of different systems already in use in April.

These efforts aren't limited to land-based systems, either. The U.S. Navy has recently begun testing a number of ship-mounted directed energy weapons that it hopes will be able to knock down small drones, among other threats, or at least blind or confuse any optical sensors they might be carrying.

Erdogan's rules: Turkey draws EU, NATO into Idlib offensive

Published on Mar 2, 2020 (44:37 min.)To the south, Syria and Idlib province where Ankara says it is now directly targeting pro-Assad forces after last week's killing in an air strike of 34 Turkish soldiers. With Russia backing Damascus in its bid to retake the last-rebel held enclave in Syria, we ask just how far it can escalate between now and Thursday's planned trip by Turkey's President to Moscow.

The Battle for Idlib: Did Erdogan Capitulate to Putin in Moscow?
The Battle for Idlib: Did Erdogan Capitulate to Putin in Moscow?

March 10, 2020 - There was a celebration in Syria when Russia announced a ceasefire agreement with Turkey on March 3 following a six-hour meeting between Presidents Erdogan and Putin in Moscow. Under the agreement, Erdogan agreed to pull back Turkish forces and not to contest territory that Syria had recently reclaimed from terrorist groups in eastern Aleppo and southern Idlib provinces. In fact, Turkey agreed not to intervene against Syrian troops in any of the areas from which it pulled back, in effect allowing Syrian forces to reclaim even more of its territory from terrorists in southern Idlib.

The agreement appeared to be a capitulation by Erdogan, who, prior to his trip to Moscow, had been demanding that Syria return the reclaimed territory under terms of the Astana agreement inked in September 2018. Syria, on the other hand, argued that Turkey had not fulfilled its obligations under the agreement, thereby allowing Syria to use its military to enforce the terms against the terrorist groups occupying Syrian territory.

But when the Syrians expelled the forces of al-Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from towns and villages along the previous ceasefire lines, Turkey reacted by sending thousands of Turkish reinforcements and massive armaments to the aid of its terrorist allies. Dozens of Turkish troops were killed and Turkey threatened to take direct military action to repel Syrian forces.

How did Turkish demands change so drastically after the Moscow meeting? Was it a capitulation as many Syrians seemed to think? What did Putin say that led Erdogan to an apparent about-face? Did Erdogan really concede in exchange for essentially nothing in return?

A possible clue is a statement by Erdogan to the Turkish parliament on March 4, claiming Idlib as part of the Turkish “homeland.” This will surprise no one familiar with Erdogan’s territorial ambitions toward parts of the former Ottoman Empire. Erdogan is, in fact, sometimes referred to as “Sultan” or “Caliph” in the press, a moniker he doesn’t seem to mind. He has brought thousands of Chinese Uyghurs and other nationalities to fight against the Syrian government and has invited their families to settle in Idlib, where schools now teach students in Turkish instead of Syria’s native Arabic. Erdogan’s intent is clearly to colonize that part of Syria.

Is this the quid that Erdogan got in exchange for the quo with Putin? The terms of the agreement call for a Turkish withdrawal to the north of the M4 highway but assure a separation with Syrian forces to the south to be enforced by joint Russian-Turkish patrols in a 12-kilometer wide demilitarized zone (DMZ) along the M4. Is this not in effect a gift of a portion of Idlib province to Turkey – a quasi-permanent Turkish occupation zone inside of Syria? Is Turkey saying that if Israel is allowed to occupy the Golan Heights and the U.S. the eastern Syrian oil fields, why shouldn’t Turkey be allowed its piece of the colonialist pie? Of course, we cannot know for certain that such a gift was part of the Moscow understanding. At most, it’s implied by the separation protocol along the M4. But Erdogan is not known for quietly making deals that are to his disadvantage.

Some will point out that the agreement reinforces the wording of the Astana accord, respecting Syrian sovereignty in all Syrian territory. Unfortunately, this provision lacks implementation other than by the Syrian army, and the Russian-Turkish patrols specified in the Moscow agreement would seem to assure that the Syrian army will be kept at bay. Erdogan can afford to be generous with wording that has no backing.

A further consideration is that the Moscow negotiation was conducted between Russia and Turkey only, not Syria, with the exception of updates via telephone. Of course, Syria is a valued ally of Russia, which prefers to respect Syrian interests. But Russia also has interests, which are not necessarily the same as Syria’s. Russia supports Syria but tries to keep good relations with Turkey. Unfortunately, the Idlib conflict has come close to forcing Russia to make a choice between the two, with several close confrontations between Turkish and Russian forces.

Russia wants to avoid such a choice, and remain on good terms with both Syria and Turkey. So why would Russia not be willing to make a compromise? Why not – from the Russian point of view – let Turkey keep a corner of Syria for an extended, possibly indefinite, period of time in exchange for both sides accomplishing their short term goals?

Of course, this is not explicitly spelled out in the agreement, but if Turkey really wishes to respect Syrian sovereignty, why does it not pull back behind the Turkish border rather than the M4 DMZ? Why have a DMZ at all? How does it protect Syrian sovereignty? On the contrary, it protects Turkish “sovereignty” on Syrian soil from possible confrontation with Syrian troops. In fact, Russian troops have already escorted 13 convoys of Turkish troops to Idlib city, just north of the DMZ, as if to prove the point, while Syrian troops are busy mopping up the territories to the south, without Turkish opposition.

Clearly the M4 DMZ is intended as a barrier, with Turkish troops on one side and Syrians on the other with Russians in between. How long will this barrier remain in place? Syrian optimists argue that it is very temporary. But if Russia has decided that a gift of a small piece of Syrian territory is a small price to pay for getting out of a very dangerous situation, what can Syria do about it? Syria cannot afford to split with Russia over such an issue, and will defer any action to recover the rest of Idlib province until… when? Perhaps the case of Korea is instructive

 

[angelburst29]

'The pleas and the screams': Syrian defector appeals for stronger U.S. measures

A Syrian defector who smuggled thousands of photographs of torture out of the country, helping prompt new U.S. sanctions, pleaded with U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday to enforce tough measures against Syria's government over atrocities during its civil war.

Syrian state media says unidentified jets hit border town with Iraq
Unidentified jets hit targets south east of the Syrian town of Albukamal along the border with Iraq with only material damage, state media said late on Wednesday.

Turkey's Erdogan threatens retaliation if Syria truce is broken
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday his country will not shy away from even stronger military action in northwest Syria's Idlib region if last week's truce is broken.

Turkey will not shy from military action in Syria's Idlib if words not kept
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey will not shy away from taking even stronger military action than in the past in northwest Syria's Idlib region if words are not kept regarding a ceasefire agreed last week.

Turkish, Russian defense ministers discussed Syria's Idlib in call: Turkish defense ministry
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu discussed northwest Syria's Idlib region in a phone call, the Turkish defense ministry said on Tuesday.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

'Just a reminder:' Phone conversation between Putin and Erdogan about Idlib.

Putin, Erdogan discuss situation in Idlib and agreements reached in Moscow

The message informs that the call was held at the initiative of Russia

tass.com

12 MAR, 2020

 

[bjorb]

Business Insider released this article today. It basically presents Erdogan as some kind of brilliant leader who developed a large fleet of domestically built drones (What? No Walmart's allowed in Turkey?) that devastated the Syrian Army and Military equipment ... and put fear in Putin's eyes? It amounts to Tabloid trash.

Devastated the Syrian Army? Yet it was the Turkish Army who were forced back by the SAA. Tabloid trash indeed.

 

[angelburst29]

Devastated the Syrian Army? Yet it was the Turkish Army who were forced back by the SAA. Tabloid trash indeed.

Business Insider went to a pay-wall about a year or so ago, but sometimes if I see an article of interest, I can get around it. I think, they are following the WaPo and NYT script in promoting propaganda. The very first sentence in the article was a manipulation of the facts ...

The Turkish military's devastating display of power against the Syrian army last week — which saw the destruction of hundreds of regime tanks, artillery pieces and armored vehicles.

"hundreds"?

... in the framework of Operation “Spring Shield”, destroying two fighters, 8 helicopters, two drones, 135 tanks and 5 air defense platforms.

I'm sensing "a possible double cross" playing out here and it doesn't involve Putin, per say? For some strange reason, I'm getting a strong impression that the Pentagon and NATO have been "conditioning" Erdogan - feeding his ego on what he wants to hear "as Sultan of the new and improved Ottoman Empire"? They might be manipulating Erdogan as the front man to lead the initial battle charge into Idlib? Turkey would suffer the heaviest casualties and while Turkey is counting it's dead on the battlefield, the Pentagon and it's NATO allies advance forward to over take the rest of Syria. If the Pentagon were able to reach Damascus and over throw Assad, do you really believe that Erdogan would be allowed to occupy Idlib? Putin is trying to be a good neighbor and help Erdogan - to save face - so he can bow out gracefully. The Pentagon would hand Erdogan - his A$$! It's up to Erdogan to choose what side he wants to flip on? Plus, he has a third option - he can pull up his tent and go HOME.

Getting back to the first article and the so called "cheap and effective domestic drones" - the second article reports drones being used to drop improvised mortar bomb-like munitions on U.S. forces guarding oil and gas fields in eastern Syria that were made with 3D printers. My guess, these are the effective new weapons that Russia won't dare confront Turkey directly? (Oh, too funny!)

So, what I'm getting from all this ... Erdogan is using large drone squads and carpet bombing Assad's forces and also targeting the American forces guarding the oil and gas wells, that Erdogan had once occupied and filled up tankers that formed large convoys headed for the Turkish Border.

Syria will recover after oil fields are retaken from US: ambassador

The Syrian Ambassador to Russia, Riyad Haddad, said on Thursday that the United States of America controls all the Syrian oil fields in the northeastern part of the country.

Russian military conducts patrols along Aleppo-Damascus Highway: video
The Russian military has begun conducting hourly patrols along the Aleppo-Damascus Highway (M-5), following the agreement made between President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on March 5th.

Published on Mar 12, 2020 (1:21 min.)

Putin and Erdogan agree that tensions in Syria's Idlib are much lower after deal: Kremlin
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone to his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday,

Turkey will keep military presence in Syria: DM
Turkey will keep military presence in Syria: DM
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar asserted that the nation’s troops will stay in the Syrian Idlib province, and rejected any withdrawal. He noted that the armed forces will hold their positions inside Syrian territory just across the Turkish-Syrian border.

Russian-Turkish agreement allows Syrian Army to retake Ariha, Jisr Al-Shughour: adviser
In an interview with Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen TV, the political and media adviser to the Syrian presidency, Buthaina Sha’aban, said that the recent agreement between the Russian and Turkish presidents in Moscow paves way for the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) to retake several areas in the Idlib Governorate.

According to the presidential adviser, the Moscow agreement allows for the Syrian Arab Army to take hold of the strategic cities of Ariha and Jisr Al-Shughour, which are currently under the control of both the jihadist rebels and Turkish-backed militants.

While the Moscow agreement did call for a governorate wide ceasefire, Sha’aban argued that the ceasefire does not apply to terrorist groups.

Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), which is the largest jihadist group in Syria and the most powerful force in Idlib, has yet to move their forces from the area south of the M-4 Highway (Aleppo-Latakia).

Furthermore, their allies from the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) have also refused to withdraw from the area. If these groups do not withdraw by March 15th, there is a good chance the Syrian Arab Army resumed their Idlib offensive.

Russia slams Israel over recent attacks in Syria
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the arbitrary Israeli airstrikes in Syria, claiming that they are contributing to heightening tensions in the region.

“Israel’s continued unilateral aerial bombardment of Syrian territory is a violation of the sovereignty of the neighboring Arab countries and a cause for concern,” Zakharova said in a briefing.

According to Zakharova, “the last attack by an Israeli aircraft on March 5, used Lebanese airspace, killed a Syrian soldier and wounded more than 10 others.”

“We believe that such arbitrary actions undermine regional security and contribute to increased tensions,” she added.

 

[youlik]

Экс-полковник-дезертир рассказал о положении беженцев в Эт-Танфе
05:22 14.03.2020


Ex-Colonel-deserter spoke about the situation of refugees in Al-TAIF
05: 22 14.03.2020

DAMASCUS, 14 Mar-RIA Novosti. Detained by the Syrian special services for desertion, former Colonel of the SAR armed forces Sultan aid abdella Souda said that the us military, which controls the area of the 55-kilometer zone around its base In al-TANF, forbids refugees to leave the territory. According to Souda, who was there as a supervisor, the situation of the refugees is close to critical.
In the area of Al-TANF on the border of Syria with Jordan, there is a US military base. The rukban refugee camp is located in a 55-kilometer zone around the base, which is controlled by the us military. The Russian military, representatives of the Russian and Syrian foreign ministries have repeatedly stated that the situation in the camp is close to a humanitarian disaster.
Souda was detained in February by Syrian military counterintelligence officers while trying to return to territory controlled by the government of the Arab Republic. He said that he joined the militants of the group "Magavir al-Saura" and was trained in subversive activities by American specialists. The us military sent them on missions, and they were well paid: the former Colonel received a salary of $ 500 - a lot of money by the standards of Syria.
"People are fleeing, but this was extremely rare. The Americans forbid it, they kill those who try to escape. However, for 300-400, sometimes 500 dollars, they allow you to leave the area of the 55-kilometer zone," the former Colonel told the special services, an interview with Russian journalists provided by the Syrian military.
He said he was in the camp "under a compulsory order". "It was necessary to keep the camp residents in line, to implement the access regime," he explained.
Souda noted that the "situation in the camp is very difficult". "There is little water, high prices, people have no chance to live normally, they are in very great need. The situation with children's health is bad. There are no schools, children are homeless. The Americans sometimes allow the import of humanitarian aid, it is distributed among the inhabitants, but this is very small, just so that people do not die," he said.
The deserter said that the Americans also do not prevent drug trafficking, which is carried out by terrorists. "Synthetic drugs-they were transported there so much that there is enough for the entire middle East. But we were told: "This is not your business, it is not your task to stop drug trafficking," said Sultan haid abdella Souda.
According to the Syrian security services, Sultan aid Abdellah Souda defected in 2013 because of threats to his family from the militants of the banned in Russia group "Islamic state", fled to the al-Rukban camp, where he owned an online store and provided Internet access to the local population for payment.
In 2016, he accepted an offer of cooperation from the American side, and served as the commander of the "AZ-Zuweiriya" stronghold in the village of Al-TANF. In December 2019, he was jailed for 58 days for violating the current ban on using mobile communications on the territory of the us military base. Then I decided to leave Et-TANF with my family.
After being detained, he provided information about the number of personnel and weapons at The et-TANF base, about illegal armed groups stationed on the base's territory, and the coordinates of important objects. He also provided data on the approximate number of families who want to return to the territory controlled by the government.

ria.ru/20200314/1568589901.html?utm_source=yxnews&utm_medium=desktop&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fyandex.ru%2Fnews

 

[sToRmR1dR]

A coronavirus pandemic fears: Video conference discussion between Erdogan, Merkel and Makron about Idlib, refuge crisis and Turkey-EU relations.

Erdogan, Macron, Merkel to have video call amid fear of virus

Leaders summit to address Idlib, refugee crisis, and Turkey-EU relations - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

By Berk Ozkan - 13.03.2020
* Writing by Davut Demircan

 

[sToRmR1dR]

'US oil smugglers are sending another batch of 'humanitarian aid' to Hasakah.'

US military dispatches over 60 trucks to oil-rich northeastern Syria: Report

A convoy of 62 trucks and eleven Humvees crossed the Waleed border crossing.

www.presstv.com

Sunday, 15 March 2020

 

[sToRmR1dR]

The militant groups in Idlib have destroyed a part of the M-4 highway to prevent the Russian-Turkey patrolling.

In Video: Idlib Militant Group Dug Giant Trench Across M4 Highway To Sabotage Russian-Turkish Patrols

Idlib miltiant groups have created a large roadblock across the key M4 highway near the village of Al-Nayrab in Syria....

southfront.org

17.03.2020

More militant groups reject Idlib ceasefire, push reinforcements to front-lines: report

BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:00) - The leaders of several militant groups have unanimously rejected the agreement to stop hostilities in Idlib, Sputnik Arabic

www.almasdarnews.com

2020-03-17

 

[Emet-Selch]

No Empire lasts forever

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Russian military has sent a reinforcements to Northern Syria, while tensions with the US forces rising.

Russian military sends reinforcements to northern Syria amid tensions with US forces

BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:20 P.M.) - The Russian military sent reinforcements to the northern and northeastern regions of Syria on Tuesday

www.almasdarnews.com

2020-03-18