Turkey shot down Russian bomber over Syria

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US urges Russia to respect Turkey, NATO airspace
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/01/31/448145/Russia-Turkey-Syria-Erdogan-Airspace-NATO

The US Department of Defense has urged Russia to respect North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) airspace, saying it “can confirm” reports that a Russian jet violated Turkey’s airspace earlier this week.

“We are aware of reports and can confirm that yesterday another Russian combat aircraft violated Turkish — and NATO – airspace,” Pentagon spokesman Mark Wright told Russia’s RIA Novosti in a statement Saturday.

“We call on Russia to respect Turkish airspace and cease activities that risk further heightening instability in the region,” Wright continued.

Wright also stressed the need for Russia and Turkey to “talk to each other and take measures to prevent escalation.”



Russia may officially recognize Turkey as accomplice of terrorism
http://www.pravdareport.com/news/russia/01-02-2016/133215-russia_turkey_terrorism-0/

Russia may officially recognize Turkey as an accomplice of terrorism, whereas the Turkish nationalist organization "Grey Wolves" is likely to be banned in Russia. The suggestion was voiced by Russian MP, secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party Sergei Obukhov, after it was reported that Turkish organization "Grey Wolves" could be involved in the destruction of the Russian A321 aircraft over Sinai." As for Turkey, given irrefutable evidence of Ankara's criminal ties with ISISL militants, Russia should have initiated the process to recognize the Turkish Republic as an accomplice of terrorists long ago, with all ensuing international consequences," Obukhov told RIA Novosti.



Russia Suspects Involvement of Grey Wolves in Sinai Crash
http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/02/russia-suspects-involvement-of-grey.html

The investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case on the terrorist act that occurred onboard the aircraft A321 "Kogalymavia", which killed 224 people. According to a Kommersant source in the security services, the traces of the organizers of this terrorist attack leads to a Turkish radical nationalist organization - "Grey wolves" - associated with the banned Islamic State.

The criminal case of the crash on 31st October 2015, involving the plane over the Sinai Peninsula, is now under investigation by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation as an act of terrorism (article 205 of the criminal code) and illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of explosives or explosive devices committed by an organized group (part 3, article 222.1), said the Deputy head of the National antiterrorism Committee (NAC) Yevgeny Ilyin. According to him, the investigation reclassified the case on these articles with violations of the rules of operation of air transport and the provision of services that do not meet the requirements of safety, entailed on imprudence death of two and more persons (article 263 and article 238 of the criminal code) for which it was originally conducted. The Committee has refrained from officially commenting, but has informally explained that article 205-I has been present for some time, but it was not made public for strategic reasons.

The version of the accident pertaining to terrorism was made in the middle of November last year, when the Director of the FSB, Alexander Bortnikov, reported to President Vladimir Putin that the experts found "traces of explosives of foreign production" on the personal belongings of passengers, luggage and the wreckage of the plane that crashed in Egypt. Later, according to "Kommersant", it was determined that the epicenter of the explosion was on the starboard side at the end of the cabin where the tail frame starts. The bomb was allegedly placed under the passenger seat by the window. The explosion led to the destruction of the frame and depressurization of the cabin, which had an explosive character.

The plane, which first separated at the tail, broke up in the air (its wreckage was found near the length of 13 km and a width of about 5 km), and the people who were onboard, were killed almost instantly from the sudden pressure drop.

Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the banned in Russia "Islamic State", who published a photo of a homemade bomb: Aluminum in the can of Schweppes 0.33l with 250-300 grams of plastic explosives. According to sources, most likely, it was C-4 (C-4), developed in the US in the mid 60's of the last century, and is now produced in many countries of the world.

It is assumed that the bomb in the plane was carried by someone of the staff of airport Sharm El-Sheikh and activated by an electronic timer. This person could be, for example, the cleaner or one of the workers carrying food onboard. This week, various media outlets, including foreign ones, reported the identification of participants in the attack and even the detention of one of them. It was alleged that a bomb in the airliner could have been planted by a technician from Egyptian EgyptAir, who immediately after the attack disappeared. However, later the Egyptian authorities and representatives of the company dismissed this information.

"It's one of those situations where the information in the media is not confirmed by the structures that organize the fight against terrorism," said Mr. Ilyin.

Meanwhile, in late December 2015, Mr Bortnikov said that his agency had an idea of what terrorist groups were behind the plane explosion, but he did not name them. In turn, a Kommersant's source said: the FSB believes that the explosion of the Russian airliner can be linked to the members of the Turkish radical nationalist organization "Grey wolves", who are associated with the "Islamic state" and acting in many other Arab countries, including Egypt.

In Turkey, the "wolves" appeared in the late 60's of the last century. The Creator of the organization is considered the head of the far-right Republican peasants ' national party, who converted in 1969 to the nationalist movement Party, Alparslan Turkes.

On account of the "wolves" — the shooting on the May day demonstration in Istanbul's Taksim square in 1977, when 42 people died; the massacre in Marash in 1978, where, across the space of a week, about a hundred Alawites were killed; the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II on 13th May 1981, and other big projects. At one time the organization was prohibited, however, from the 90's of the last century, they resumed their activities in Turkey.

The "wolves", according to Russian intelligence services, participated in the fighting in Chechnya, organizing the transfer of weapons to the rebel Republic. And one of the leaders of the "Grey wolves", a 32-year-old Alparslan Çelik, took responsibility for the shooting in Syria, on 24th November last year, of the parachuting Russian pilot of the downed Russian aircraft Su-24.



Turkish artillery shells Syrian territory – Russian military presents video proof
https://www.rt.com/news/330858-turkey-shells-syrian-territory/

The Russian Defense Ministry has presented video evidence it says shows Turkish military shelling Syrian territory using heavy artillery positioned close to the border.

 

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Some 1,300 hotels have been put up for sale in various Turkish resorts as economic problems, terrorist attacks and the crisis in relations with Russia are felt in the tourist sector, Turkish media reported Monday.

Turkey's Tourist Industry Collapses as 1,300 Hotels Go on Sale
http://sputniknews.com/business/20160201/1034052900/turkey-tourist-industry.html

With over 400 hotels for sale in the tourist capital Antalya, Turkey's tourist industry has descended into one of its worst crises in history after the number of Russian tourists visiting the country dwindled and increasing terrorist attacks left the country's security weakened, the Turkish Zaman newspaper reported.

Turkey is facing a shortfall of nearly 4.5 million Russian tourists this year, causing Turkey's tourism industry to miss out on some $4.5 billion in lost revenues, according to Aegean Touristic Enterprises and Lodging Association (ETHICS) Chairman Mehmet Isler, as quoted by the newspaper.


Russian Publication: Mohammed Bin Salman to Use Miltary Force to Topple Would-Be King Bin Nayef
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941111001542

"That Mohammed bin Salman controls the Saudi army is a valuable advantage for him because in case Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef becomes a king, Mohammed bin Salman can use the army to topple him," the Russian-language 'Landscape of the New East' wrote on Sunday.

The Russian analyst also reiterated that Saudi Arabia will eventually be disintegrated as a result of an implosion and its abundant oil reserves will fail to help the country's rulers to prevent this collapse.

It noted that Mohammed bin Salman has grown more active these days and in a sense he has become a spokesman of the Riyadh government despite the fact that Mohammed bin Nayef is the crown prince and, hence should be the one who talks on behalf of the ailing King.

On January 19, a prominent Saudi media activist revealed that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef had held secret talks with the country's tribal leaders to heighten internal conflicts and prevent empowerment of Mohammed bin Salman.

"After news reports said that the Saudi king has decided to leave the power to his son, the Saudi crown prince has held some meetings with the tribal leaders to destabilize domestic conditions in Saudi Arabia," the activist who called for anonymity for security reasons told FNA.

Noting that the details of these meetings are not known, he said it seems that Mohammed bin Nayef sees himslef entitled to the throne, and he, thus, seeks to spark internal problems and insecurity with the help of certain tribes to stir crisis and prevent the deputy crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman from ascending to the throne.

 

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Turkey's Intelligence Overhaul Replaces Diplomats With Spies

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160203/1034136701/turkey-intelligence-expansion.html

Turkey's National Intelligence Agency is expanding at the same time as its Foreign Ministry is closing down certain embassies and recalling diplomats, Al-Monitor reported.

Turkey is overhauling and expanding its National Intelligence Agency (MIT) both inside and outside its borders, Middle East news website Al-Monitor reported on Monday.

The MIT had traditionally been seen as a domestically-oriented secret service, but its responsibilities have expanded to include border security and surveillance, the coordination of paramilitary troops abroad and the development of foreign and domestic intelligence operations.

"What we are observing here is a national intelligence agency that has become a prominent player in the decision-making process for Turkish politics," wrote author Pinar Tremblay, in an article entitled 'Turkey plans shiny new HQ for shadowy intelligence operations.'

The agency's expansion and reconstruction is being overseen by current MIT chief Hakan Fidan, who was appointed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2010, and holds a privileged position in the Turkish government.

"Open-source reports show that Fidan acts as a shadow foreign minister. He is present in almost all high-level meetings with the president and prime minister. It is an open secret that both the president and the prime minister trust Fidan more than any other bureaucrat," Tremblay reported.

"Fidan's omnipresence has generated stiff competition among Ankara’s other bureaucratic agencies. Social media postings and print media comments express serious concerns that Turkey is becoming a police state."

The security and surveillance of the country's 2,753 kilometers of land border are some of the new challenges facing MIT, which along with the government has faced questions about its activities in providing support for paramilitary groups abroad.

Tremblay cited an article by Mehmet Cetingulec published in June 2015, which detailed a parliamentary question tabled by a deputy from Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP).

Ali Ozgunduz asked Turkey's interior minister about allegations that certain militants had been brought to Turkey and given military training with the purpose of suppressing popular protests and opposition movements such as the Gezi Park protests in 2013.

"The media have recently reported that Jamal Maarouf, a Free Syrian Army leader who fought in Aleppo and had the complete support of the [Turkish] government, has crossed into Turkey together with most of his 14,000 armed elements. This lends credibility to the allegations," Ozgunduz said.

In addition to increased domestic activity, the MIT has expanded its foreign intelligence service, a move which mirrors that of other countries in the region such as Israel and Iran, Tremblay wrote.

"Would it be wise for Turkey not to invest in foreign intelligence gathering and analysis while its neighbors and allies are expanding their reach?" she asked.

MIT has increased its intelligence-gathering abroad without corresponding increases in Turkish foreign and defense ministry activity in many countries, particularly Iraq and Syria.

"As Turkey closes down certain embassies and pulls its diplomats from sensitive locations — in a sense, diminishing the global outreach of its Foreign Ministry — the MIT continues to develop networks and connections in these and other countries that do not have official or friendly relations with Turkey."

 

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Media: U.S. drone crashed in Turkey (photo)
http://ren.tv/novosti/2016-02-03/smi-amerikanskiy-bespilotnik-ruhnul-v-turcii-foto

3 February 2016 - Unmanned aircraft belonging to the air forces of the USA, crashed near the Turkish city of Adana. The incident occurred 15 kilometers from the settlement in one of the agricultural fields. The estimated crash site of the drone cordoned off by police, according to TV channel Haber Türk. Officials have not yet commented on the incident. Earlier in October, an American Predator UAV crashed in the province of Hatay due to engine problems.



Another Saudi Spy Drone Downed by Yemen
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941114001509

The Yemeni forces targeted a remote-controlled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as it was flying over a strategic district in Harad region in Hajjah province, which lies about 130 kilometers Northwest of the capital, Sana'a on Wednesday.

In a relevant development on January 29, the Yemeni forces shot down a Saudi fighter jet and a spy drone in Southern and Northern Yemen.

Also on October 10, the Yemeni forces shot down another Saudi spy drone in Sa'ada province.

The small drone was later identified as a long-endurance Boeing Insitu ScanEagle.

On Sep 13, Yemen's Ansarullah forces shot down a Saudi spy drone in Ma'rib province hours after the start of the Saudi-led coalition's ground operations in the Yemeni province.

Also on Sep 1, the Yemeni army and popular forces downed a Saudi spy drone in the kingdom's Jizan province by using a remote-controlled device in a bid to safely capture the UAV.

On Aug 25, Yemeni fighters brought down a spy drone belonging to the United Arab Emirates in Yemen's Southern region of Mukayris.

The drone was shot down in Mukayris, which is situated between the Abyan and Bayda provinces.

On July 5, Yemen's Air Force also shot down a Saudi spy drone in the Yemeni province of Sada'a.

According to local reports, the Yemeni forces intercepted and shot down a Saudi UAV in the district of al-Baqa with their surface-to-air missiles.

In a similar incident on July 5, the Yemeni army's surface-to-air missiles downed a Saudi pilotless aircraft in the province of Dhamar.

On June 22, Yemen's popular Ansarullah forces targeted a surveillance drone sent by the Saudi army to spy on the bordering areas in Sahar district.

Also early May, the popular fighters captured a Saudi surveillance drone in Sa'ada.



Military Source: Turkey Covering Terrorists Retreating in Syria's Lattakia
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941113001574

Armed terrorists retreating toward the Turkish border in Syria’s province of Latakia are receiving cover from Turkish artillery, a military source said Tuesday.

The source added that Turkish artillery is directed at the Syrian Army positions.

“Turkish artillery has given cover several times when units of terrorists were retreating and giving up their positions, which allowed the terrorists to leave for Turkey,” the source told RIA Novosti.

The source added that Turkish artillery is directed at Syrian Army positions.

The Syrian authorities have repeatedly accused Turkey of providing weapons, intelligence data and financial support to Syrian militants while buying smuggled oil from the Islamic State jihadist group, outlawed in Russia and a number of other countries.



Senior Fath Al-Halab Commander Flees to Turkey
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941114001482

A senior commander of the Fath al-Halab (Conquest of Aleppo) terrorists group fled the battle against the Syrian army in Northern Aleppo and took shelter in Turkey.

"Commander of Fath all-Halab's operations room Major Yasser Abdel Rahim has escaped to Turkey," both sides of the war confirmed on Wednesday.

Reports from Aleppo province said earlier today that militant groups are evacuating all villages and areas near the towns of Nubl and al-Zahra as the Syrian army, Hezbollah and popular forces continue to gain ground in nearby areas.

Field sources said the Syrian army and its allies' victories in the last 72 hours have forced the terrorist groups, including Nouriddeen al-Zinki movement (al-Nusra affiliated) to withdraw from their positions near the towns of Nubl and al-Zahra to evade more casualties.

Another report said on Tuesday that hundreds of Takfiri terrorists were trying to cross the border to Turkey after losing vast grounds and dozens of their friends in the Syrian army's massive operations in Northern Aleppo province.

The terrorists have sustained heavy losses as the Syrian army is hunting them down in the Northern part of Aleppo province.



Matter of Trust: Russia to Investigate Turkish Military Activity
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941113001576

"From February 2 until February 5, a Russian team of inspectors intends to conduct an inspection of a designated area in Turkey – about 18,000 square kilometers in total – in order to promote mutual trust and security in accordance with the Vienna Document of 2011," He also added that the inspection’s goal is to confirm the scale and nature of the officially declared military activity in the specified area of the country, as Russian inspectors will be allowed to visit military ranges and will be briefed by high-ranking Turkish military officials.

According to Ryzhkov, a group of Spanish military specialists will conduct a similar inspection in Russia's Rostov Region during the same time.

"From February 2 until February 5, Spain will conduct an inspection of a designated area in Russia in accordance with the Vienna Document of 2011. The inspection will take place in a roughly 15,000 square kilometer area in the Rostov Region, as per the request of the Spanish side. The Spanish inspectors will be briefed by the commanders of the military units deployed in the area regarding the aforementioned units’ status, size and the nature of activity they’re engaged in," he said.

The upcoming inspections will be conducted within the framework of the Vienna Document, an agreement between the participating states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe aimed at implementing confidence and security-building measures.

The document stipulates an annual exchange of military information about forces located in Europe, notifications for risk reduction including consultation regarding unusual military activities and hazardous incidents, the observation of certain military activities, as well as compliance guidelines and rules requiring verification via inspection and evaluation visits.


Turkey denies Russia observation flight in framework of Open Skies Treaty
http://tass.ru/en/defense/854345

The flight was to be held above Turkey on February 1-5, 2016 on board an An-30B aircraft and no preliminary conditions or restrictions for Russia’s surveillance flight were voiced by the Turkish side.

MOSCOW, February 3. /TASS/. Turkey has denied the Russian Federation an observation flight over its territory that was to be held within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty, a senior Russian Defense Ministry official said Wednesday. Sergey Ryzhkov, chief of the ministry’s department for control of implementation of treaties, recalled that the flight was to be held above Turkey on February 1-5, 2016 on board an An-30B aircraft and "no preliminary conditions or restrictions for Russia’s surveillance flight were voiced by the Turkish side." "The route supposed, among other things, observation of areas adjacent to the Syrian border and airfields where NATO aircraft are concentrated. But after the arrival of the Russian mission in Turkey and the announcement of the planned route of the observation flight, the Turkish military denied the opportunity to conduct it citing an instruction from Turkey’s Foreign Ministry," Ryzhkov said. "In this way, as a result of violations of the requirements of the Treaty and unconstructive actions on the part of Turkey, a dangerous precedent was created of an uncontrolled military activity of an Open Skies Treaty member state," he said. "We are not going to leave without proper attention and relevant reaction violations of the Open Skies Treaty on the part of the Turkish Republic," Ryzhkov said. On Tuesday, the Defense Ministry official told journalists that another Russian group of inspectors should conduct an inspection in a Turkish region within the framework of another international treaty - the 2011 Vienna document on confidence and security building measures. Russian inspectors are to visit ranges and get briefed by the Turkish military units command.

 

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Hundreds of people leave conflict-ridden area in southeast Turkey

http://217.218.67.231/Detail/2016/02/03/448588/Turkey-Diyarbakir-PKK-Sur

Hundreds of people have escaped their homes in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir, which has been the scene of deadly clashes between the army and militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Residents of the conflict-hit district of Sur in the city fled the area on Wednesday after a week-old curfew in the district’s western parts was lifted.

According to witnesses, people deserted Sur with their belongings loaded onto trucks and handcarts. Sur has suffered heavy damage in the clashes since a curfew was declared there a month ago.

"It's always the ordinary people who suffer," said Mehmet Ceylan while leaving the area, adding, "I've lived in Sur for years, and I've never witnessed a scene like this."

The development comes as the eastern side of Sur has remained under a round-the-clock curfew.

Ankara says the curfews in the Kurdish-majority southeast are needed to allow security forces remove barricades, explosive devices and ditches set up by PKK militants.

Turkey has been engaged in a large-scale campaign against the PKK in its southern border region in the past few months. The Turkish military has also been conducting offensives against the positions of the group in northern Iraq. The PKK is an outlawed group that has been fighting for an autonomous Kurdish region inside Turkey since 1980s.

The Turkish army said its forces killed five PKK militants in Sur and seven others in the southeastern town of Cizre on Tuesday. The latest fatalities brought the militant death toll in the two towns to 670 since December.

On July 20 last year, a bomb attack in the southern Kurdish-majority town of Suruc claimed more than 30 lives. The Turkish government blamed it on the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group. After the bombing, the PKK, accusing the government of supporting Daesh, engaged in a series of supposed reprisal attacks against Turkish police and security forces, in turn prompting the Turkish military operations.

Ankara’s military has also been involved in an offensive against positions of the Kurdish group in neighboring Iraq.

Mortar bombs from Syria land near Turkish soldiers clearing mines

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2016/Feb-03/335453-mortar-bombs-from-syria-land-near-turkish-soldiers-clearing-mines.ashx

ISTANBUL: Several mortar bombs and gunfire from a part of Syria controlled by ISIS hit a Turkish border town Wednesday, close to where Turkish soldiers were clearing landmines, local residents and media reports said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the town of Karkamis, which sits across the border from Syria's Jarablus, controlled by the radical Sunni militants.

A local official in Karkamis, reached by phone, said at least two mortar bombs landed in the town and that he had subsequently heard outgoing artillery fire, suggesting that the Turkish army had responded.

There was no immediate comment from the Turkish military.

Turkish soldiers clearing mines along the border area were also shot at from Jarablus, the Dogan News Agency reported, adding that the army has responded in kind.

The Turkish armed forces have repeatedly fired back when shot at from across the border, in line with their rules of engagement. But Wednesday's incident occurred in a particularly sensitive area, with the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia also controlling territory close by.

The YPG is battling ISIS in northern Syria with military support from the United States, but is viewed by Turkey as a terrorist group with close links to Kurdish PKK militants who have waged a three-decade insurgency on Turkish soil.

 

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Conflict With Moscow Has Devastating Effect on Economy – Turkish Economist

http://sputniknews.com/business/20160204/1034234275/turkey-russia-sanctions-impact-interview.html

Russia's anti-Turkish sanctions, introduced in response to the Turkish downing of a Russian bomber over Syria late last year, are having a devastating effect on the Turkish economy, with exports to Russia down a whopping 65%. Turkish economist Hatice Karahan spoke to Sputnik about the damage that's been done so far.

On Monday, the Turkish Exporters' Assembly reported that the country's exports had suffered a 14.4% year-on-year decline in January. Exports to Russia, meanwhile, dropped a whopping 65%, from $313 million in January 2015, to $110 million in January 2016.

Hatice Karahan, an expert at Turkey's Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA), spoke with Sputnik Turkey about the state of the Turkish economy, and the impact of Russian sanctions on the country's economic well-being.

"The volume of exports going to Russia has faced a decline. Naturally, Russian sanctions played the main role. In January, exports declined by 65%. According to Turkish Exporters' Assembly's figures, the most serious blow was faced by fruit and vegetable exporters, with the textile and automotive industries also observing a decline," Karahan said.

The impact on the tourism industry is another matter, according to the economist. "In 2015, unfavorable trends in the Russian economy saw an 18% decline in the number of Russian tourists vacationing in Turkey. We believe that, in connection with the additional wave of Russian anti-Turkish sanctions, the decline in this sector is likely to continue into the future. The consequences are likely to manifest themselves most strongly in the summer months."

Earlier this week, the Zaman newspaper offered its own accounting, reporting that some 1,300 hotels had been put up for sale in various Turkish resorts, with economic problems, terrorist attacks and the crisis in relations with Russia hitting the tourist sector hard.

Aegean Touristic Enterprises and Lodging Association Chairman Mehmet Isler told the newspaper that the country faces a shortfall of nearly 4.5 million Russian tourists this year, which could lead to some $4.5 billion in lost revenues in 2016.

All-in-all, Karahan noted that it would be difficult to put an exact figure on the losses Turkey will face this year stemming from its diplomatic conflict with Russia. "There is an optimistic scenario, which suggests that economic relations between Turkey and Russia will see a warming. Other possibilities include Turkey's reorientation to alternative markets, [especially] in those sectors which feel the impact of Russian sanctions most acutely. In any case, it's already clear now that the economic restrictions imposed by Moscow will have a significant impact on the economic situation."

One option Turkish economists are looking at is Iran. "Iran's [recent] reincorporation into the international financial system will play an important role in strengthening Turkish-Iranian economic ties. The Turkish Exporters' Assembly predicts 8% growth in exports to Iran in 2016. In this way, Turkey will try to compensate for the losses resulting from Russian sanctions via a turn in the direction of Iran's market." Moreover, the country is also looking to establish cooperation in the tourism sector with its eastern neighbor.

In any case, Karahan suggests, "we can only talk about a partial substitution, as fully compensating for the losses caused by the severance of economic relations with Russia cannot be compensated through Iran."

Relations between Russia and Turkey deteriorated sharply late last year after the Turkish Air Force downed a Russian Su-24M jet deployed for the anti-terrorist operation in Syria, citing airspace violations. Moscow disputed Ankara's claims and introduced a series of anti-Turkish economic measures, including sanctions on imports and a ban on the sale of tour-packages.

2 injured in powerful explosion in Istanbul, police at scene - reports

https://www.rt.com/news/331282-istanbul-explosion-injured-police/

An explosion in the Sultanbeyli suburb of Istanbul has injured two people, Turkish media report. Police have arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area.

A homemade bomb left in a trash can exploded around 3pm local time (13:00 GMT), local media report.

"There was more than one explosion. Everyone had to escape," a witness said, as cited by Turkish news agency DHA.

Police are investigating the cause of the explosion.

Earlier in the day, Turkish police defused another bomb in Istanbul’s Eyup district by carrying out a controlled explosion.

Around 1pm local time (11:00 GMT) two masked men were seen leaving a package at a bus stop. Eye witnesses assumed the package was suspicious and called the police.

Police then blocked the street and deployed a bomb disposal team to the scene.

Police are looking for the two suspects who left the bomb at the bus stop. The men were caught on a security camera while leaving the scene.

The two incidents came just weeks after a powerful blast hit central Istanbul Square on January 12. An attack carried out by a suicide bomber claimed the lives of 12 foreigners, mostly Germans, and injured 15 more people. The perpetrator was a member of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), who came to Turkey as a refugee from Syria.

Turkey’s police carried out raids in five major cities arresting 59 people suspected of links to IS following that incident.

 

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Will Turkey, Russia fan flames into an inferno?

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/02/turkey-russia-syria-no-room-for-mistakes.html

On Jan. 30, Turkey said its airspace was again violated by a Russian warplane. A statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry said a Russian Su-34 warplane on Jan. 29 had violated Turkish airspace despite repeated warnings in Russian and English.

The statement said this was yet another concrete indication of Russia’s escalation despite clear warnings by Turkey and NATO. The statement said, “We are calling on Russia clearly to act more responsibly and not to violate NATO airspace.” It warned that Russia would bear full responsibility for any consequences that could arise from these “irresponsible actions.”

The Russian ambassador in Ankara was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on the night of Jan. 29 to receive a protest of this violation. In turn, the Russian Defense Ministry called the claims "pure propaganda," according to the statement.

That incident followed a Turkish F-16's downing Nov. 24 of a Russian Su-24 warplane that was giving air support to ground forces operating in Syria’s Bayirbucak region.

What makes the more recent violation different, however, is the type of the Russian plane involved. The Su-34 Fullback was armed with R-77 and R-73 air-to-ground missiles and designed for air-to-air combat. After the Nov. 24 downing, Russia had announced that Su-34s were now flying combat air patrols near the Turkish border.

The Su-34 is a tactical bomber that was being developed in the late 1980s to replace the Su-24. Its main function is to hit targets deep behind front lines at long distances with sophisticated guided missiles. It is fully equipped with advanced navigation and targeting systems. Su-34 development and mass production was stalled for a long time because of the collapse of the Soviet Union and consequent economic problems. The project was reactivated in the early 2000s and mass production began.

According to Arda Mevlutoglu, an aeronautics and space engineer, today Russia is believed to have about 100 SU-34s in its arsenal. He said there are six SU-34s and 12 Su-24s in Syria, supported by 12 Su-25 close air support planes.

“Russian air power in Syria relies on Su-34s when attacking important ground targets," he said. "Now it appears that they are using Su-34s also against targets close to the Turkish border. This signifies that Russia is now more cautious about the possibility of encountering Turkish F-16s.”

Mevlutoglu’s disclosures can be best interpreted in the following way: Russia has upped its game by using Su-34s that have interception capability in critical operational missions near the Turkish border, and is saying that if Turkey challenges the planes, it will have to pay the price.

We hear about airspace violations only if the violated country reports it. Although Russia denies that it has violated Turkish airspace, if Turkey says it was violated, it means Turkey wants the international public to know about it. The intention is hidden in the emphasis on ‘‘NATO airspace” in the Turkish Foreign Ministry’s statement. That is how Turkey wants to get the support of NATO — in particular, the United States. Ankara believes Russia was probing the strength of Turkey-US and Turkey-NATO ties.

Another element that sets the latest airspace violation apart from earlier ones is its location. Although Ankara has not announced the location, observers believe it took place in the Turkish border region that faces the Azaz-Munbij front, which is currently controlled by the Islamic State (IS). If this is accurate, Russia is telling Turkey openly that it seriously intends to maintain the de facto no-fly zone it has established over the Jarablus-Munbij areas, which are also of major concern for Turkey.

Russia’s first airspace violation with the Su-34 over the critical Azaz-Munbij front was clearly a deterrent message against Turkey. Turkey, by responding with strong words, had indicated that it has seen the Russian move and was notifying the United States and NATO that their support is required.

If Russia is serious in its intentions, there will probably be more hot contacts between Russian Su-34s flying on the Azaz-Munbij front that includes Jarablus, and the Turkish F-16s that are flying round-the-clock patrols on the Turkish side.

Can Ankara-Moscow relations be normalized? According to Russian expert Habibe Ozdal of the Ankara-based International Strategic Research Agency, more time is needed to know. Commenting on the airspace violation, she accurately predicted some new "aftershocks" in bilateral and regional issues are unavoidable and added, "Although the opposing views of Turkey and Russia about the PYD’s [US-supported Kurdish nationalist Democratic Union Party] participation in the Geneva talks are known, these Russian moves in Syria escalate tensions. It is clear that Russia is not targeting Turkey militarily. But at this phase there is no room for mistakes in bilateral relations.

"All military, political, social and cultural relations between Ankara and Moscow have been suspended, but meanwhile, the process to determine the future of the Middle East continues. It is obvious that the crisis in relations won’t serve the interests of both countries.” She said both countries will have to urgently carry out damage assessments and come up with ways to repair the damages.

Turkey and Russia need to continue cooperating on issues like the struggle against IS and projects such as the Turk Stream natural gas pipeline. But placing combat-ready Russian Su-34s and Turkish F-16s across from each other along the Turkish border is asking for trouble, like lighting a match next to a stockpile of gunpowder.

Turkish Prime Minister accused Russia of "criminal activities" in Syria

http://ria.ru/syria_mission/20160205/1369923338.html

Instead, clarification of the possible invasion of Turkish troops in Syria, Ankara called the Russian military, fighting with the Islamists in the SAR, "the participants of crimes" on the territory of this country.

MOSCOW, February 5 -. RIA Novosti Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu commented on the statements of the Russian Defense Ministry on the preparation for a military invasion of Turkey in Syria , saying that Russia makes certain "crimes" on the territory of the CAP, reports Reuters.

On the eve of the official representative of the Russian Defence Ministry, Major-General Igor Konashenkov said that there are "reasonable grounds to suspect an intensive training in Turkey for a military invasion of the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic", including an unusually precise shelling in the areas of Latakia, as well as the refusal to hold Russian observer mission over Turkish territory under the Treaty on open Skies.

As reported, Davutoglu expressed that "Turkey has the right to take any measures to protect their safety," adding that such statements Moscow is trying to "divert attention from their criminal activities" in Syria.

The US State Department declined to comment on these statements, saying only that Turkey is a key partner for the US in the fight against the IG and the Turkish Air Force continued to strike at militants in Syria as the coalition participants. When asked about the actions of the Turkish troops in border areas agency spokesman John Kirby said that "We know that Turkey has taken steps in the area of its border with Syria to secure the road up to 98 km, which is problematic."

On September 30, 2015 Russia at the request of the Syrian President Bashar Assad's start point to put air strikes on targets of terrorist organizations and the IG "Dzhebhat en-Nusra" (both banned in Russia) in Syria.

 

[SeekinTruth]

I think that besides Russia having been extremely restrained and level-headed during all these idiotic provocations the last couple of years, Russia has also made it clear that enough is enough - both with their military and diplomatic positions. So the Naked Empire and its stooges are gonna have to back down every time from now on because Russia has made it clear they are not budging, and they're not going to put up with threats, change their positions because of ANY type of pressure, or let these global criminals get away with their shenanigans wherever they please. If they don't get Russia's messages from their official statements, they're going to get the message the hard way on the battlefield. Putin has been clear that ANY threat to Russian forces/Russia will be responded to with lethal and extreme prejudice.

These half-witted thugs, being typical bullies, will not go toe to toe with Russia because they know Russia will make mince meat out of them in short order. So they're going to keep huffing and puffing, whining, blustering, etc., impotently, because they can't do anything else and everybody involved knows it.

 

[Mr.Cyan]

I think that besides Russia having been extremely restrained and level-headed during all these idiotic provocations the last couple of years, Russia has also made it clear that enough is enough - both with their military and diplomatic positions. So the Naked Empire and its stooges are gonna have to back down every time from now on because Russia has made it clear they are not budging, and they're not going to put up with threats, change their positions because of ANY type of pressure, or let these global criminals get away with their shenanigans wherever they please. If they don't get Russia's messages from their official statements, they're going to get the message the hard way on the battlefield. Putin has been clear that ANY threat to Russian forces/Russia will be responded to with lethal and extreme prejudice.

These half-witted thugs, being typical bullies, will not go toe to toe with Russia because they know Russia will make mince meat out of them in short order. So they're going to keep huffing and puffing, whining, blustering, etc., impotently, because they can't do anything else and everybody involved knows it.

Well said SeekingTruth - and we're just gonna keep getting more stupid and childish headlines as posted by sToRmR1dR.... its the psychopathic tantrum time. Still the Empire is capable of causing harm, hence i guess Russia knows this and is being vigilant at all times.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Turkish Court Accepts Journalists Espionage Indictment Seeking Life Terms

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160205/1034306566/turkey-journalist-freedom.html

A Turkish court agreed to trial Cumhuriyet's Editor-in-Chief Can Dundar and the newspaper's Ankara representative Erdem Gulwere, with prosecutors demanding life sentences based on charges of espionage, according to local media.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — A Turkish court has accepted an indictment seeking life jail terms for two journalists from Turkey's opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper, local media said Friday.

The court has agreed to trial Cumhuriyet's Editor-in-Chief Can Dundar and the newspaper's Ankara representative Erdem Gulwere, with prosecutors demanding life sentences based on charges of espionage, Cumhuriyet reported.

The two journalists were arrested after publishing a report implicating Turkey's national intelligence service (MIT) in sending weapons and ammunition into Syria's terrorist-held territory.

The article and footage released by Cumhuriyet on May 29 claimed that the trucks were carrying containers with artillery shells, machine gun rounds, and mortar shells to Syrian rebels fighting against the government forces. Dundar and Gulwere were arrested on November 26.

The first hearing on the case is scheduled for March 25, according to the newspaper.

Turkey's prosecution of journalists and freedom of speech restrictions have been criticized by the international community, including the United Nations, United States, the European Union, Russia and the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) organization.

 

[Windmill knight]

Erdogan is in Ecuador for an official visit, and he was received by demonstrators who called him an assassin, shouted "long live Kurdistan" and accused him of joining an international alliance "to attack Syria". Considering that this was in a country on the other side of the globe, in a continent that does not normally care for what happens in the Middle East, it was beautiful. :)

Article in Spanish (with video):

http://es.sott.net/article/44187-Asesino-Erdogan-Activistas-protestan-por-la-visita-del-presidente-turco-a-Ecuador-video

 

[angelburst29]

Erdogan is in Ecuador for an official visit, and he was received by demonstrators who called him an assassin, shouted "long live Kurdistan" and accused him of joining an international alliance "to attack Syria". Considering that this was in a country on the other side of the globe, in a continent that does not normally care for what happens in the Middle East, it was beautiful. :)

Article in Spanish (with video):

http://es.sott.net/article/44187-Asesino-Erdogan-Activistas-protestan-por-la-visita-del-presidente-turco-a-Ecuador-video

Needless to say, Erdogan trip to Ecuador will have lasting effects?

Erdogan Guard Attacks Pro-Kurdish Lawmaker in Ecuador (Broke his nose?) (Photos - Videos)
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Erdogan-Guard-Attacks-Pro-Kurdish-Lawmaker-in-Ecuador-20160204-0050.html

The incident occurred during a Kurdish solidarity protest against Turkey’s president as he visited Ecuador.

Supporters of the Kurdish struggle took to the streets Thursday in Ecuador’s capital Quito to protest Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is in Ecuador on an official two-day visit.

The protesters gathered in opposition to Ankara's military operation in the Kurdish southeast areas of Turkey against the militant PKK group. Hundreds of civilians have been killed since August.

Protesters were heard chanting slogans such as ”Long live Kurdistan,” “Murderer Erdogan" and “Out with Erdogan” as the Turkish leader entered the IAEN University in Quito.

Giran Ozcan, the Latin American representative of the Group of Communities in Kurdistan (KCK), was at the protest and told teleSUR that Ecuadorean lawmaker Diego Vintimilla, who was with the protesters, was injured in a confrontation with one of Erdogan’s security guards.

“Erdogan’s security guard attacked a protester, broke his nose and he is going to hospital now,” Ozcan said following the incident.

"Erdogan’s guard broke the nose of Ecuadorean lawmaker Diego Vintimilla."

People of Ecuador realise that a murderer is visiting their country today,” Ozcan said as he joined the protest against Erdogan. “Through President Erdogan's support for ISIS (Islamic State group) he is responsible for the hundreds of thousands of deaths in Syria.”

Ozcan added that Erdogan is responsible for the killing of hundreds of civilians in Kurdish towns such as Cizre and Sur as part of his push for consolidating power in Turkey.

According to the Turkish Human Rights Commision, at least 167 civilians have been killed in Turkey’s majority-Kurdish southeast since August last year.

Erdogan met with Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa in the capital in order to finalize economic deals between the two nations, which Erdogan described as “strategic” and the beginning of a golden era between Turkey and Ecuador.

Despite being far from Turkey, Ozcan said the protest was an important action where “the people of Ecuador are showing solidarity with the Kurdish people and people of the Middle East against aspiring dictators such as Erdogan and evil organisations that he supports such as ISIS!"

Turkey and Ecuador currently have trade agreements that amount to almost US$200 million. Erdogan said the two countries aim to increase trade to “US$500 or even to US$1 billion,” without specifying deadlines.

The finance minister of Ecuador will visit Turkey later this month, Erdogan told reporters after the meeting in order to conclude the free trade agreement.

Meanwhile, President Correa said bilateral relations were strengthened between Ecuador and Turkey in diplomatic, commercial, cultural, technical and scientific fields.

“We have given an important boost to the trade agreement for development. We hope to have it ready for this year.”

With the Ecuador visit Erdogan ended his three-country tour in Latin America after visiting Chile and Peru and finalizing similar economic deals with the governments there.


Chilean activists: Massive protest against Turkish dictator Erdoğan’s arrival in Santiago
http://www.gagrule.net/chilean-activists-massive-protest-against-turkish-dictator-erdogans-arrival-in-santiago/

Chilean activists protested the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in front of the presidential palace in Santiago on Monday.

The protesters slammed the president, accusing him of being one with the radical terrorist group the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Protestors held signs that read “Erdoğan is ISIS [ISIL]” and “ISIS is the army of Erdoğan.”

The group also expressed solidarity with the Kurdish population in Turkey‘s Southeast by holding a sign that read “The Kurdish people are not alone.”

Some protesters were taken into custody during the demonstration.


'Murderer!' Female protesters interrupt Erdogan's speech in Ecuador (RT Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H4Bvs5D0vc

Published on Feb 5, 2016 - Ecuador has summoned the Turkish ambassador in Quito to formally protest the treatment of three of its citizens who were forcibly removed after demonstrating against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan when he was speaking at an event.

The three women were removed from Quito's Centre for Higher National Studies on Thursday by Erdogan's security personnel when they interrupted his speech. Local media were also prevented from filming the altercation.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Erdogan’s Open Door for Jihadists Leaves Turkish Foreign Policy in Ruins

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160206/1034318095/erdogan-jihadists-foreign-policy.html

Turkey’s open border policy for Islamic fighters into Syria has destroyed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s dream of making Ankara the dominant power in the Middle East, Woodrow Wilson Center Middle East Program Director Henri Barkey stated in a report published on Friday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Barkey argued that as Turkey’s Western allies concentrated on destroying the Islamic State, Erdogan continued to focus on ousting Syrian President Bashar Assad and preventing Syria’s Kurdish fighters from establishing an autonomous region.

"The unintended consequences of tens of thousands of foreign fighters converging on Syria soon became apparent," Barkey wrote in his study of the damage done to Turkish foreign policy. "Many of the foreign fighters gravitated toward the Islamic State, helping it become the power it is today."

Russia’s air campaign against the Islamic State in Syria has further isolated Erdogan, Barkey explained. After Turkey shot down a Russian jet in November 2015, he added, Ankara has faced a rash of costly economic, political and military reactions from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Moreover, Ankara has been routinely criticized by credible human rights organizations for the deteriorating liberties in Turkey and the subsequent crackdown on Kurds, which resulted in numerous civilian deaths.

As a result, Erdogan’s foreign policy "lies in ruins," as does Turkey’s goal of becoming a regional leader, Barkey concluded.

The Islamic State, also known as Daesh, is a designated terrorist group outlawed in the United States, Russia and a host of other countries. The New York-based security intelligence firm Soufan Group estimated that up to 31,000 foreign fighters have joined the Islamic State.

 

[angelburst29]

Murderer!’ Turkey’s president heckled by female protesters, security brutally retaliates (VIDEO)
https://www.rt.com/news/331489-murderer-erdogan-security-women/

Turkish Presidential guards showed astounding levels of brutality towards female activists in Ecuador. Three women were violently hauled away and, according to their accounts, beaten in the face and breasts moments after heckling Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In an act of protest the three activist started screaming “murderer” at Erdogan while he was addressing the crowd at Quito's Centre for Higher National Studies. They were allegedly referring to Turkey’s military assaults in the mainly Kurdish southeast.

In a statement after the battering, the women reportedly said that their faces, breasts and “intimate parts” were targeted by Erdogan’s security staff.

This is not the first time Erdogan’s guards have roughed up Ecuadorian activists during his first official two-day visit to the Latin American country.

On Thursday, presidential security scuffled with a group of pro-Kurdish protesters who rallied against the Turkish president’s military operation in the southeastern regions of Turkey.

An Ecuadorean lawmaker Diego Vintimilla, who was with the protesters, was reportedly injured in a confrontation with one of Erdogan’s security staffers.


German Chancellor Merkel to visit Turkey on Monday
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/06022016

Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel is to travel to Turkey again on Monday to meet with Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to discuss the inflow of migrants going through Turkey to Europe, the German government announced on Friday.

This is her second visit to Turkey to discuss this issue since last October 18. Then as now Merkel wants to cooperate closely with Turkey to stop hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees from entering Europe, which is struggling to deal with the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War.

Merkel wants to stop such a large number from coming in at the same time and introduce a national cap on the number they take in a year.

Turkey agreed last November to divert resources to keep Syrian refugees in Turkey closer to their own country in return for a three billion euro grant. However Ankara is already saying it will need at least another two billion.


Intense Clashes Erupt Between Turkish Army, Kurdish Fighters in Diyarbakir
http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160206/1034328811/diyarbakir-turkey-clashes.html

06.02.2016 - Intense clashes involving machine guns and artillery is ongoing in the center of the Turkish city of Diyarbakir, which has witnessed clashes between the army and Kurdish fighters, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported Saturday.

The central Sur district of Diyarbakir, which houses historic monuments dating back to 400 BC, has been rocked by fighting between Kurdish fighters and the Turkish armed forces in recent months.

The district was cordoned off by the military firing alongside Kurdish militants, the correspondent reported. Several ambulance crews have arrived at the scene to pick up the wounded.

Earlier, the city mayor told RIA Novosti that out of the 70,000 Sur residents, 50,000 had left their homes.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

SHOCK: Erdogan Says It's Russia That Must Be Held Accountable for All Deaths in Syrian Civil War

http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/shock-erdogan-says-its-russia-must-be-held-accountable-mass-killing-syrian-civil-war

Turkish president makes an absolutely appalling accusation in Senegal, blaming his nation's crimes on the nation that stopped them

There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone. - Rod Serling

The Twilight Zone is also where the president of Turkey lives, or at least one would think so.

In an absolutely outrageous scene, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan actually blamed Russia - publicly - for the deaths of up to 400,000 people in Syria over the course of the last five years.

This amazing statement comes from a man who more than any other party on earth is directly responsible for the ISIS horror show that has tormented, defiled, and butchered a once-peaceful nation to further his own insidious 'Neo-Ottoman' objectives.

While visiting his counterpart in Senegal this week, and ostensibly with a straight face, the Turkish tyrant stated that, ' Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed within Syria's borders. By cooperatiing with the regime, the number of people they have killed has reached 400,000.'

Erdogan for some reason forgot to mention that he was directly responsible for facilitating the flow of ISIS terrorists into Syria from countries all over the world and arming them to the teeth in order to wage an unholy war on a peaceful neighbor whose greatest crime against him was a desire to be his friend.

He also forgot to mention that he was directly responsible for committing the heinous war crime of gassing Syrian civilians in order to manipulate Obama's idiotic 'red line' remarks about the use of chemical weapons.

He also forgot to mention how his son was directly responsible for running a smuggling operation that transported hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars of stolen Syrian oil that he sold to the Israelis and which served as the main source of funding for the greatest terror group in world history.

He also forgot to mention how his daughter was directly responsible for operating a secret ISIS hospital on the Turkish side of the border where terrorists would go to heal their wounds, rest up, and return back to resume their slaughter of the Syrian people.

Erdogan was also directly responsible for providing shelter and a free zone of operation on his territory for the 'Free Syrian Army' back in 2011. And it was Istanbul where he hosted the 'opposition' in order to plan its war against the Syrian people and its legitimate government.

Erdogan also offered his territory to serve as the conduit through which a large portion of Gaddafi's arsenal (after he was lynched) was funneled into Syria eventually ending up in the hands of the al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in Syria - the so-called 'rat line' (which incidentally led to the murder of US ambassador Christopher Stevens in Benghazi).

All of this is to say nothing of the mass exodus of 'refugees' which he is directly responsible for (God only knows how many of whom are sadistic terrorists fleeing a lost cause) who are currently assaulting and raping their way around Europe, and of whom a cell has already perpetrated a mass killing in France.

But President Erdogan - a man absolutely and indisputably guilty of mass murder, rape, pillage, plunder, torture, and enslavement on a epic scale - stands as shameless as ever. Worse still, he somehow manages to muster enough temerity to get in front of the cameras and tell the world that not only are his crimes not his fault; but rather, they are the fault of the very man who intervened to stop them.

What can one say about such madness? What can one say about, or even to, a man who lies in such a nakedly-offensive and sickening manner? I myself can think of only one thing.

President Erdogan