Turkey shot down Russian bomber over Syria

[sToRmR1dR]

Best Friends Forever: Turkey Removes 'al-Qaeda in Syria' From Terror List

http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/best-friends-forever-turkey-removes-al-qaeda-syria-terror-list/ri13724

Turkey has removed al-Nusra Front and affiliated groups from its list of ‘terrorist organizations’

Always a loyal friend, Turkey has decided to remove al-Nusra Front, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, from its list of terrorist organizations. Al-Nusra remained on the list for a staggering two weeks before Ankara remedied this horrible injustice:

The group was listed by Turkey as a ‘terrorist organisation’ only about 2 weeks before the removal decision. The decision, which was taken during a ministerial cabinet meeting on Monday, was announced in the Official Gazette on Wednesday.

Turkey has openly admitted to aiding al-Qaeda in Syria, and recent evidence presented by Russia suggests that Ankara is arming and equipping a wide range of extremist groups in the region.

Are we finally allowed to acknowledge that NATO is funneling weapons to terrorist groups in Syria via Turkey? Or is that still "speculation"?

Big Gamble: How Erdogan's 'Pyrrhic Victory' Over EU Could Hit Turkey

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160404/1037429558/erdogan-eu-pyrrhic-victory.html

Pushing the European Union to make concessions to Turkey considering its accession to the bloc, President Erdogan may have won a Pyrrhic victory, American historian Daniel Pipes writes. Amid the major migrant crisis, Europeans not be too embracing of the increased influx of Turkish citizens to the continent.

Blackmailing Brussels, the Turkish president risks leading his country into a catastrophe of unprecedented scales that would likely result in the collapse of the state, Pipes, who is the president of the Middle East Forum, wrote in an opinion column for The Washington Times.

According to the historian, Erdogan has taken advantage of millions of Syrian refugees seeking a chance to get to northern Europe, using the moment as a tool to push his own agenda through.

Under the state leader’s plan, Europe has to generously pay Ankara for its assistance in resolving the migrant crisis, allowing some 80 million Turkish citizens to cross into the EU without visas. Otherwise he threatens to clear barriers for migrants heading to Europe from Syria as well as from the entire Middle East.

But given that the Erdogan’s plan has proven effective at the exact moment of time, as Angela Merkel persuaded the leadership of the bloc to make concessions to Turkey, it doesn’t mean that the trend won’t be reversed one day, Pipes asserts.

“But this may well be a Pyrrhic victory, hurting Mr. Erdogan’s long-term interests,” he stressed. “In the first place, forcing Europeans to pretend they are not being blackmailed and to welcome Turkey with clenched teeth, creates a foul mood, further reducing, if not killing off, Turkish chances for membership.”

Moreover, Erdogan’s gambles will result in a shift in the European perception of the migrant crisis. People have already begun protesting over the growing inflow of migrants to the EU from Middle East countries, including Turkey. The loss of Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union at regional elections in Germany proves that suggestion, Pipe outlined.

Above all, Ankara policies of supporting Sunni Islamists in Syria will eventually hurt Turkey that will face increased numbers of migrants arriving to the country. Pipes added that Turkish residents will not likely endorse the migrant influx. And that could lead to a social explosion within the state, he said.

"This is just the start. In combination, these errors by Mr. Erdogan point to more crises ahead,” Pipes wrote.

[...]

 

[goyacobol]

Just another little obscure complication to the total complexities for Turkey and the US may be a War in Nagorno Karabakh.

Dozens killed in Nagorno-Karabakh clashes

Officials from Armenia and Azerbaijan trade blame after at least 30 soldiers killed during fighting in disputed region.

At least 30 soldiers have been killed in fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, officials of both countries said, each blaming the other for violence.

Azerbaijan said in a statement on Saturday that Armenian forces had killed 12 of its soldiers and shot down a helicopter in the fighting, which broke out overnight.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian said that 18 of his country's soldiers had been killed and 35 wounded, not specifying if the soldiers belonged to Yerevan-backed separatist forces in Karabakh or Armenia's armed forces.

READ MORE: Azeri-Armenian enmity and citizen diplomacy

"Active combat is currently under way," Armenian Defence Ministry spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan said on Facebook.

"The Armenian Army has launched a counter-attack. There are victims on both sides but the opposing side has sustained huge losses in manpower and equipment. An [Azerbaijani] helicopter has been shot down."

Azerbaijan said its forces had taken "two strategic heights and a village" in Karabakh.

The Armenian Defence Ministry said Azerbaijani troops started an offensive with tanks and artillery. Azerbaijan denied those allegations, saying its soldiers were reacting to heavy attacks from the Armenian side.

Putin urges restraint

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged both sides to stop fighting and "show restraint", Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

Russia's foreign and defense ministers contacted their Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts in hopes of stabilising the situation, the ministries said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement saying that the United States "condemns in the strongest terms the large scale ceasefire violations."

Nagorno-Karabakh has been under the control of the Armenian military and separatists since a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan ended in 1994. Years of negotiations have brought little progress in resolving the dispute, though a fragile truce has been in place.

The fresh fighting was the worst since 1994, David Babayan, a spokesman for the region's separatist president, said.

Richard Weitz, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told Al Jazeera that because both countries have close ties to Russia, Moscow could play a big part in how the conflict will play out:

This may also be a concern for Turkey: Only America Is Interested in a War in Nagorno Karabakh

Taken from an original source at Katehon.com - on DIRECTIVE FROM 04/04/2016 - Nagorno-Karabakh:

Who benefits?

It’s a chance to open a third front against Russia near its border Russia's soft underbelly
Originally appeared at Katehon. Translated by Julia Rakhmetova and Rhod Mackenzie

The author is an arch-conservative ideologue of Eurasianism – the idea that Russia is a special civilization bridging the gap between the West and the East

This weekend, after many years of interruption, the “sleeping volcano” of Nagorno Karabakh is rumbling. Is the war starting up again or there is a way to avoid it?

The most important thing one should understand about the Karabakh conflict is that there is no solution. The way matters stand now – or rather, the way they stood before last weekend when guns come into play – was the optimal situation for all parties.

In geopolitical terms, the direct participants in the conflict are Armenia and Azerbaijan, both of which generally have friendly relationships with Russia. Russia has closer ties with Armenia through political, economic and military partnerships, but Russia and Azerbaijan do not consider each other as enemies. Nagorno Karabakh is now controlled by Armenia and there are no Azeris at all, while earlier they were about half the population. Yet not even Armenia recognizes the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh as a sovereign state.

Russia agrees with Armenia controlling this territory, although it legally belongs to Azerbaijan. Conflict is unprofitable for Moscow in every way. Iran is facing the same situation. It has religious and historical ties with the Shia Azerbaijani, and ethnic relations with neighboring Armenians, and the status quo is fine with them.

But what about Armenians and Azeris themselves? The former are happy that Karabakh, which they conquered, is in their hands. It is not good to be an unrecognized state, but it is right to be alive and control the territory.

Strange as it may seem, Azerbaijan is also relatively happy: it is wrong to lose territory and get thousands of refugees, but everyone considers that Karabakh belongs to Azerbaijan and they hope to have a chance in future to change the situation.

Surprisingly, the situation is fine even with Turkey, which does not want to stir the pot. There are many Armenians in Turkey, there is Mount Ararat, and most of all there are Kurds. The last thing Ankara wants is to interfere in a bloody situation without any hope of gaining anything except a wave of separatism. Erdogan, pressured on both fronts, cannot de-escalate the situation with Moscow, and on top of this, there is Karabakh…

If war breaks out, no one will win: Armenians have proved they are good fighters, the Azeris can stand up for themselves and are well prepared. And whoever starts winning the war will lose politically. All the regional powers would lose in the event of war, but the US would benefit.

Actually, it is not the US as such, but the global elite of neocons and Hillary, who are to blame. They are playing their usual game, promising recognition to Armenia and support to Azerbaijan. If war breaks out, it will be another frontline against Russia alongside Syria and Novorossia. Russia needs peace, and this is not a banal idea, but political realism.

This is just one more situation that adds to the complexity and one that the US or at least the "elite" could be exploiting to De-stablize the region. I tend to think the "elite" sound more like 4D STS as the pieces grow in abundance but I could be wrong. FWIW

 

[Joe]

At the time of this incident I wrote an article suggesting that a 'fifth column' aligned with NATO and 'gladio networks' were responsible for the shoot down and did so without the overt knowledge of official Turkish military and political authorities.

In Jan. the Turkish PM stated that he did not give the order to shoot down the plane.

https://www.rt.com/news/327767-davutoglu-backtracks-jet-downing/

A few days ago Sputnik carried this story:

Four Months On, Turkish Pro-Gov't Media Sticks to Su-24 Conspiracy Theories

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160401/1037346361/turkish-su-24-conspiracy.html

Over four months have passed since a Turkish Air Force F-16 shot down a Russian Su-24 over Syria, and pro-government media in Turkey continue to insist that the attack was a conspiracy orchestrated by supporters of an exiled Turkish imam.

In a recent piece for the pro-government newspaper Sabah entitled 'The Operations Against Turkey and Erdogan', columnist Rasim Ozan Kutahyali suggested that the pilots of the F-16 which attacked the Russian Su-24 were supporters of Fethullah Gulen, an influential Islamic cleric.

Sibel Edmonds has written a lot about Gulen and his close ties with the CIA etc...

 

[Voyageur]

At the time of this incident I wrote an article suggesting that a 'fifth column' aligned with NATO and 'gladio networks' were responsible for the shoot down and did so without the overt knowledge of official Turkish military and political authorities.

In Jan. the Turkish PM stated that he did not give the order to shoot down the plane.

https://www.rt.com/news/327767-davutoglu-backtracks-jet-downing/

A few days ago Sputnik carried this story:

Four Months On, Turkish Pro-Gov't Media Sticks to Su-24 Conspiracy Theories

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160401/1037346361/turkish-su-24-conspiracy.html

Over four months have passed since a Turkish Air Force F-16 shot down a Russian Su-24 over Syria, and pro-government media in Turkey continue to insist that the attack was a conspiracy orchestrated by supporters of an exiled Turkish imam.

In a recent piece for the pro-government newspaper Sabah entitled 'The Operations Against Turkey and Erdogan', columnist Rasim Ozan Kutahyali suggested that the pilots of the F-16 which attacked the Russian Su-24 were supporters of Fethullah Gulen, an influential Islamic cleric.

Sibel Edmonds has written a lot about Gulen and his close ties with the CIA etc...

Just had a read of Gülen's background on an article by William Engdahl http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/2015/02/10/bfp-exclusive-william-engdahl-on-operation-gladio-fethullah-gulen-one-world-government/ (February 10, 2015)

The following is the translation of an interview with William Engdahl conducted by journalist Deniz Ülkütekin of Turkey’s Cumhuriyet:

{snips}
When Gülen fled Turkey to avoid prosecution for treason in 1998, he chose not to go to any of perhaps a dozen Islamic countries which could have offered him asylum. He chose instead the United States. He did so with the help of the CIA. The US State Department tried to block a special “preference visa as an alien of extraordinary ability in the field of education” permanent visa status for Gülen, arguing he was basically a fraud with a fifth grade education and no special Islam scholar. Over the objections of the FBI, of the US State Department and of the US Department of Homeland Security, three former CIA operatives intervened and managed to secure a Green Card and permanent US residency for Gülen.
[...]
Sibel Edmonds, former FBI Turkish translator and “whistleblower,” named Abramowitz, along with Graham E. Fuller, as part of a dark cabal within the US Government that she discovered were using networks out of Turkey to advance a criminal “deep state” agenda across the Turkic world, from Istanbul into China. The network that she documented included significant involvement in heroin trafficking out of Afghanistan.
[...]
What does Gulen Foundation do for the benefits of CIA inside Turkey and Middle-East?

WE: That would require a much longer discussion. What I find interesting is how a deep and now bitter split has emerged between Gülen Cemaat in Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. I believe Erdogan began to pursue his own agenda and that came in collision with that of the CIA and State Department for Turkey in the larger world.

Thanks for adding further to what you seemed to be getting at.

There sure is a lot going on here in the background, as there usually is. The article also brings up much more.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Turkey Says Progress Made Toward Reconciliation Accord With Israel

http://sputniknews.com/world/20160408/1037674457/israel-turkey-reconciliation-talks.html

Turkish and Israeli officials have made a considerable process in normalazing relations: two sides are on the verge of signing reconciliation deal, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Turkish and Israeli officials have held talks on normalizing relations between the two countries, making progress toward finalizing a reconciliation deal, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

"The Turkish and Israeli negotiating teams… met in London today. The teams made progress towards finalizing the agreement and closing the gaps, and agreed that the deal will be finalized in the next meeting which will be convened very soon," the ministry said in a press release published on its website.

The meeting was headed by Turkish Foreign Ministry Under Secretary Feridun Sinirlioglu, Israeli Prime Minister's Special Envoy Joseph Ciechanover and Israel's Acting Chairman of the National Security Council Gen. Jacob Nagel, the statement added.

In late March, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that his country is ready to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel during a meeting with US pro-Israel lobby groups. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his expectations of positive results for the third round of talks on a reconciliation deal between the two countries.

Relations between Israel and Turkey deteriorated after the Freedom Flotilla incident in 2010, when a convoy of six ships, including one under Turkey's flag, tried to approach the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid and activists on board. The flotilla was blocked and stormed by Israeli forces, resulting in eight Turkish citizens being killed.

Turkey responded by expelling the Israeli ambassador from the country, recalling its ambassador from Israel and demanding a formal apology from Israel, as well as compensation for the victims' families.

 

[angelburst29]

At the time of this incident I wrote an article suggesting that a 'fifth column' aligned with NATO and 'gladio networks' were responsible for the shoot down and did so without the overt knowledge of official Turkish military and political authorities.

In Jan. the Turkish PM stated that he did not give the order to shoot down the plane.

https://www.rt.com/news/327767-davutoglu-backtracks-jet-downing/

A few days ago Sputnik carried this story:

Four Months On, Turkish Pro-Gov't Media Sticks to Su-24 Conspiracy Theories

http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160401/1037346361/turkish-su-24-conspiracy.html

Over four months have passed since a Turkish Air Force F-16 shot down a Russian Su-24 over Syria, and pro-government media in Turkey continue to insist that the attack was a conspiracy orchestrated by supporters of an exiled Turkish imam.

In a recent piece for the pro-government newspaper Sabah entitled 'The Operations Against Turkey and Erdogan', columnist Rasim Ozan Kutahyali suggested that the pilots of the F-16 which attacked the Russian Su-24 were supporters of Fethullah Gulen, an influential Islamic cleric.

Sibel Edmonds has written a lot about Gulen and his close ties with the CIA etc...

Fethullah Gülen’s role in the shooting of the Russian jet
http://katehon.com/article/fethullah-gulens-role-shooting-russian-jet

Turkish press in recent days started reported about Fethullah Gülen organization’s contacts within the Armed Forces, especially in the Air Force.

In an interview he gave to the important newspaper, ‘Hürriyet’ (Freedom), ret. Colonel Ahmet ZekiÜçok declares that high-ranking, active generals even in the Turkish Air Force belong to the Gulen Sect. Being a former military prosecutor, he cites his own investigations against the Gulen Sect as well as other commanders’ testimonies. Üçok himself was victim of the so called “Balyoz-conspiracy”, in which hundreds of leading armed forces officers were in jailed based falsified proof by the sect itself.

On the other hand, pro-government newspapers in recent days started about reporting of Gulen’s influence in the armed forces as well.

Rasim Ozan Kütahyalı, columnist of the leading ‘Sabah’ (Morning) newspaper, even wrote in his column of the 27th of March that the downing of the Russian military jet last November was the act of a pro-Gulen pilot. Kütahyalı wrote:

“I am as sure that the downing of the Russian jet was a provocation by Gulen as I am sure what my name is. This operation of the Gulen sect seriously harmed and isolated Turkey. There are serious reports about around 50 percent of the F-16 pilots belonging to the Gulen sect.”

The columnist Can Ataklı confirmed the same information, writing for the wide spread oppositional newspaper ‘Sözcü’ (spokesperson). On the 4th of April, Ataklı writes his column titled “The Russian Jet might very well be downed by the Gulen Sect.” Ataklı writes:

“I talked about this accusation on the weekend to a retired commander. He said ‘Fethullah had always had a strong stance in the Air Force. But before that, Can, think about what you yourself had written after the downing.’ I remembered that I had written my article titled ‘the palace has ended the debate, the Russian jet was downed on the initiative of the pilot’. In fact, the presidential palace had than made a declaration that mentioned between the lines the pilots role. The commander I consulted now says these things are hard to declare officially, but in his opinion, the President, the government and even the Chief of Staff was caught unprepared, but after the downing, they had nothing left to do.”

 

[angelburst29]

Erdogan is installing Al Nusra and Ahrar ars-Sham in place of ISIS on the Syrian side of his border.

Out With ISIS, In With Ahrar ash-Sham – Erdogan's Plan to Keep the Syrian Border Revealed
http://russia-insider.com/en/out-isis-jihadis-moderate-johadis-turkish-plan-keep-syrian-border-thwart-kurds-revealed/ri13797

ISIS is finished in Syria and Iraq. Nobody know exactly when or how, but it's clear the world's most enthusiastic head-choppers are on the way out.

Since the Russians turned the tide in Syria and put regime change in Damascus off the table the US seems a lot more serious about going after ISIS instead, up to the point it may now actually be willing to coordinate with the Russians (and by extension Iranians, Hezbollah and Assad):

Russia and the US are discussing “concrete” military coordination to liberate the Isis stronghold of Raqqa, Interfax news agency cited the Russian deputy foreign minister, Oleg Syromolotov, as saying on Wednesday.

The revelation follows visits to Moscow this month by the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and CIA head John Brennan.

The tone of the Putin-Kerry meeting was warm enough to suggest that Putin believed America had come to recognise the legitimacy of the Russian position in Syria, and closer coordination between the two countries was likely.

In February when a Syrian-Russian operation pushed back ISIS in Aleppo it was at least able to launch a counter-attack against their supply routes that was temporarily successful.

In March, however, ISIS was helpless to respond in any way after Russian-backed government forces retook Palmyra in the central part of the country and the US-backed Kurdish-dominated 'Syrian Democratic Forces' pushed southward towards Deir Ezzor in the east.

Aside from Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi the leader losing the most sleep over this has to be Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

No matter which way you cut it one thing is clear: Erdogan's Turkey regards ISIS as a welcome and essential bulwark against the Kurdish YPG.

Yet it's clear the days of that bulwark are numbered.

He needs a replacement and he needs it fast.

So far the US has kept the Kurds from crossing the Euphrates against ISIS in strength. However, Erdogan must fear that can change any time now.

After Obama told the world that he considered him a "failure and an authoritarian" he know his wishes don't count as much in DC as they used to.

In fact US planes wrecked havoc against ISIS in Jarabulus on the Turkish border just days ago which directly benefits the Kurds parked just miles across on the other side of the Euphrates.

Should the Kurds move against weakened ISIS, even without a US greenlight, it would be extremely difficult for him to intervene against them. Even without US support they still enjoy the goodwill of almost the entire world public opinion.

No, pushing back the Kurdish advance would be too late. He needs to to preempt it instead.

That is exactly what he is doing.

He may have traded with ISIS and possibly supplied it before, but now he's shelling the hell out of it and dislodging it from the Syrian-Turkish border before the Kurds can do so themselves. Al Masdar:

Rebels make huge gains along the Turkish-Syrian border A few hours ago, combined rebel forces of the Free Syrian Army, Fatah coalition (Islamist rebel groups) and Jabhat al-Nusra (Syrian al-Qaeda group) captured al-Rai town in northern Aleppo from ISIS troops.

Thus, Islamist rebels have now captured more than a dozen villages in less than a week along the Turkish border.

Today’s battle was reportedly heavily reinforced and aided by Turkish artillery pieces that pounded ISIS positions
in and around al-Rai throughout the day.

Meanwhile, other reports indicate that ISIS fighters have been gradually withdrawing their forces from the region, as to reinforce other vulnerable frontlines.

If Erdogan is successful by the time Kurds turn westwards to take the Syrian-Turkish border between Jarabulus and Azaz the area will have been fully under the control of Syrian rebels that he can then back against the Kurds with overt military force – ie in a way that he can not back ISIS.

Ostensibly this drive against ISIS was led by the 'moderate' salafist Ahrar ash-Sham. However, there are two things you need to understand about the group and the operation.

Firstly, Ahrar ash-Sham is adjoined to Al Qaeda in Syria at the hip. Al Nusra units frequently conceal their markings and pose as units of the brotherly Ahrar ash-Sham instead. There is literally no way to tell where the salafist, jihadist, pro-theocracy Ahrar ash-Sham ends and Al Nusra begins.

Secondly, the rebels advanced against ISIS from the tiny and isolated Azaz pocket that was created by Syrian-Russian and Kurdish advances earlier this year. This is a surprise since the rebels there were thought to be weak and, even with Turkish artillery support, militarily insignificant. So how did they do it?

Well easily. Turkey organized a major transfer of rebel fighting forces from the main part of rebel-held Syria across its territory. Specifically its favorite group, the Ahrar ash-Sham:

Now you know why Turkey struck down Al Nusra from its terror list. – It's knee deep in it.

Welcome to the new Syrian reality. Government army backed by Russian aircraft in the west. Kurdish militia backed by American aircraft in the east. And now also Al Qaeda backed by Turkish long-range artillery in the north. Bliss.

 

[angelburst29]

Kurdish sources disclosed that the Turkish army's special forces have arrived in the city of Aleppo in Northern Syria after the al-Nusra Front and its allies asked for reinforcement troops to escape a crushing defeat from the Kurdish forces.

Turkey Sends Special Forces to Aleppo City to Help Al-Nusra Terrorists Fight Kurds
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121001261

The Turkish special forces have now gathered near Sheikh Maqsoud district of Aleppo city, Kurdish-language news agencies reported on Saturday.

Turkey's government troops have been dispatched to Aleppo city's Sheikh Maqsoud to support Al-Etelaf battalion (Kataeb al-Etelaf) terrorists who are supported by Ankara and Riyadh governments, a Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) commander said this afternoon.

Al-Etelaf Battalion has carried out several attacks on Sheikh Maqsoud region over the past several months, but all of them have failed.

Also, a commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said two troopers from the Turkish army special forces named Dougan and Aslan have been killed in their failed attacks in the last few days.

Informed sources in Aleppo city said that the Turkish forces were members of Turkey's intelligence apparatus (MIT) and have arrived in Aleppo city after passing Bab al-Hawa border crossing near the city of Idlib.

The Arabic service of the Russian Sputnik news agency also reported on Thursday that 100 Turkish special forces have arrived in Aleppo city.

The Arabic-language al-Ahd news website also quoted Kurdish sources as saying that the Turkish special forces are now in Aleppo city as the Kurdish forces are engaged in fierce clashes with the Takfiri terrorists.

Earlier on Saturday, the YPG foiled an attempt by the Takfiri terrorists to capture Sheikh Maqsoud district in Aleppo city.

The Al-Nusra Front and their allies tried to take control of Sheikh Maqsoud area, but they were forced to retreat by the YPG fighters.

The Takfiri terrorists sustained heavy casualties and losses in fierce clashes with the Kurdish forces.

On Friday, a 100-member group of the Turkish Army troops crossed the border from Turkey to Syria's Northwestern province of Idlib.

The Turkish soldiers crossed into the Syrian terrorist-held province of Idlib form the Bab al-Hawa border crossing.

The Russian Air Force struck a long oil convoy of the ISIL terrorist group in the Northeastern part of Homs province near the town of al-Sukhnah.

ISIL Oil Convoy Destroyed in Russian Airstrikes East of Syria
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121000949

The Russian airstrike destroyed half a dozen of oil tankers that were smuggling crude supplies from Deir Ezzur to Raqqa in order to sell them on the black market.

The Russian Air Force has constantly targeted the terrorist group’s oil supply routes along Sukhnah-Sufayah Road that leads to Raqqa province; this has made it difficult for ISIL to smuggle crude supplies.

On Friday, Syrian fighter jets, in a fresh series of combat fights, targeted heavily the ISIL gatherings and concentration centers in the Eastern part of Homs province, pinning the terrorists down behind their strongholds.

The Syrian army's aircraft targeted several positions and gatherings of the ISIL terrorists in Jbab Hamad, Un al-Reesh, Rasm al-Taweel and to the South of al-Hayr al-Gharbi Palace site in the Eastern part of Homs, which ended in the killing or wounding of tens of terrorists and destroyed their military equipment.

The ISIL extorts large sums from those Raqqa residents who intend to to abandon the terrorist group's stronghold city.

People Paying $1,000 to ISIL to Escape Raqqa
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950121001040

Through their agents, the ISIL commanders receive $1,000 from each Syrian citizen in Raqqa in a bid to allow him/her to leave the ISIL-controlled city, the Arabic-language Sham news reported.

Residents of Raqqa say that the ISIL is facing a very bad financial situation and asks Raqqa residents for money on any possible excuse, the report said.

The ISIL has levied high taxes on Raqqa residents and the terrorists are looking to find people wrong to fine them in dollars accordingly.

Informed sources said that the ISIL is trying to compensate for its losses as it is in its darkest financial situation after major defeats against the Syrian army.

Two people injured after a bomb exploded in central Istanbul’s district.

At Least Two Injured in Istanbul Explosion - Reports
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160409/1037764401/istanbul-blast-injured.html

At least two individuals have been injured in an explosion in central Istanbul’s district, media reported Saturday.

The blast took place at a bus station in the Majid Yekoy neighbourhood, Rudaw, a Kurdish online platform, said.

The security personnel is currently sealing off the area, according to the news outlet.

The explosion comes just days after the US and Israeli diplomatic missions warned of terror bombings' possibility in Turkey.

The Israeli National Security Council renewed its warning of the high possibility of new terrorist attacks in Turkey.

Israel Renews Warning of Terror Attack Threat in Turkey
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160409/1037730362/israel-warns-turkey-terrorist-attack.html

The Israeli National Security Council renewed its warning on Friday of the high possibility of new terrorist attacks in Turkey, urging Israeli citizens to refrain from visiting the country.

In late March, the council issued a notice recommending Israeli tourists to leave Turkey swiftly following a terror attack in Istanbul, which left five people dead, including three Israeli tourists. Another 10 Israelis were injured and subsequently sent to their home country by military and medical aircraft.

"According to the results of the situation assessment, we confirm the high level of danger in Turkey and draw attention to it," the council said in a statement, adding that a "direct terror attack threat exists" at all tourist sites in Turkey.

The warning comes ahead of the Jewish festival of Pesach, celebrated during the last week of April this year. Thousands of Israelis travel abroad to celebrate the festival every year.

 

[angelburst29]

The head of Turkey's state-owned Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK) weapons factory has been arrested on charges of trying to sell weapon designs to a US company.

Turkish weapons factory director caught selling state secrets to US
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/04/09/459795/Turkey-weapon-US-Ankara-MPT76/

According to Turkish media, Mustafa Tanrıverdi was detained in the Turkish capital Ankara on Thursday while trying to sell the design and production plans of the MP-5 gun and the newly produced domestic infantry rifle MPT-76 to a US company official for USD 200,000 and USD 300,000, respectively.

Tanrıverdi (pictured below) was caught red-handed at a restaurant in Ankara by Turkish security officers posing as the US company’s agents, said a report by Turkish Haber Port daily. The company had noticed Turkish authorities of his plan to sell the designs.

The MKEK head is charged with receiving bribes, exploiting state secrets and disloyalty to state services.

“I’ve made a mistake in this incident. I know what I’ve done and I regret it,” said Tanrıverdi in his testimony in court, while claiming that the information does not qualify as state secret.

The MPT-76, which is composed of some 200 parts, is expected to replace the Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle in the Turkish army. The first batches of the MPT-76 were delivered to the Turkish armed forces in 2014.

 

[angelburst29]

Washington's unwillingness to take actions toward the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, may result in Ankara closing the Incirlik airbase to the US, an adviser to the Turkish president said.

Tensions Rising Between US, Turkey Over Possible Closure of Incirlik Base
http://sputniknews.com/military/20160410/1037788924/icirlik-possible-closure.html

The news came amid deepening tensions between Washington and Ankara over US support for Kurdish forces fighting in Syria.

In late-March, US President Obama rejected Recep Tayyip Erdogan's request to participate in a joint event during a nuclear summit in Washington.
The move to close the Icirlik base would have a number of consequences for the Turkish government, an article in the Turkish newspaper Yeni Cag read.

Turkey has long emphasized the fact that the PYD is a Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK is designated as a terrorist group by a number of international organizations and countries, including the US.

However, that does not prevent Washington from supporting Kurdish PYD fighters in their fight against Daesh in Syria.

Turkey opened the Incirlik airbase to its allies in the fight against Daesh militants. At the same time, Turkey planned to intensify its fight against the PKK. But US support for Kurdish forces in Syria has forced Ankara to test Washington’s commitment to cooperation with Turkey. As a result, the presidential adviser announced that the base may be closed.

Analysts assumed that if the air base is closed it would have a deep impact on US-Turkish ties and would have a negative effect on the fight against Daesh as well as the peaceful process in Syria.

Moreover, the US could develop its cooperation with PYD forces and Kurdish forces in northern Iraq and continue to create new bases in the region, the article read.

What is more, a break up between Ankara and Washington would make Turkey more vulnerable to the threats in the region. At the same time, the US would find new bases and facilities to deploy its weapons.

Some analysts say that the US will agree with the move but will not help Turkey which would become more and more isolated within NATO.

As a result, according to the article, Ankara should revise its policy toward Syria which has been "misguided since the very beginning."

"From the point of view of national interests, it would be reasonable to change the course and focus on preserving the territorial integrity of Syria," the article read.

"Such an approach would contribute to normalizing ties with Syria as well as help resolve the migrant crisis and overcome the crisis in ties with Russia," the author concluded.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Why Gaziantep Became Hub for Smugglers Selling Historical Syrian Artifacts

http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160411/1037838400/syrian-artifacts-illegal-smuggling.html

The city of Gaziantep, located in the south of Turkey, is the largest trade center of objects of cultural heritage that were stolen by Daesh from Syria. This was announced by the Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, in a letter to the Security Council.

According to Churkin, there are about a hundred thousand cultural artifacts of global importance under Daesh control. That also includes archeological sites, nine of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Profit from the illegal trade of these antiques is estimated at $ 150-200 million a year. Information about the active participation of Gaziantep in the smuggling of antiques from Syria had already been published in the press earlier.

Archaeologist and lecturer at the University of Gaziantep, Eyup Ay, spoke to Sputnik in an interview explaining why the Turkish city of Gaziantep has become the center of trade and marketing of archaeological artifacts and antiques that were looted and illegally exported by Daesh terrorists.

“In the city there is a well-established smuggling network, which includes the bureaucrats at various levels, representatives of power structures, entrepreneurs and merchants,” Eyup said.

The laws on anti-smuggling have not been observed, the Turkish-Syrian border is not controlled and as a result the smuggling of historical artifacts is being carried out through Turkey.

“In Gaziantep there are elements that contribute to the large-scale smuggling of antiquities. Firstly, in the city, of course, there is a wealthy section of the population with a highly developed tradition of collecting and keeping private museums. Accordingly, it contributes to the illegal trade of material values and historical artifacts,” the archaeologist further said.

He noted that sadly in the past Gaziantep Museum and other museums hired employees with a criminal past behind them- in particular, those that were engaged in smuggling.

“Thirdly we should not forget about the power structure of the police, gendarmerie, which here, as well as throughout Turkey, one way or another are related to smuggling activities. These three factors in combination provide an understanding of why Gaziantep is such an attractive place for smugglers selling historical artifacts.”

Talking about whether any measures were taken by the state to combat the illicit trade in antiquities, Eyüp Ai, who serves as an expert on legal claims related to the theft of the objects of cultural heritage, said that despite their efforts and reports regarding the situation in the area, there has not been any tangible effect.

“The laws are not respected and that concerns not only the antiques. Over the last year or two through the Turkish border the large scale smuggling of people, vehicles, weapons and other items, not to mention the cross-border terrorists has been going on. The situation on the border was and still is so uncontrollable that from Syria to Turkey one can bring anything one wants.”

Stressing as to why it is particularly Gaziantep that has become the main smuggling point, the archaeologist said that that is because there is an already well-established infrastructure, with bureaucrats at various levels and representatives of security agencies such as businessmen and traders all involved deeply in the illegal business.

 

[happyliza]

Not sure if peeps know this but newspapers here in North Cyprus reported two weeks ago that about two thirds of the military that are stat.ioned here in the north have 'been temporarily moved to the Turkish border with Syria'. These are trained personnel evidently. And as there are usually about 30 - 40,000 troops stationed here, I am wondering if they are currently the ones involved inside Syria now.

Of course, the papers have stated it is only temporary. But also, apart from the fact that Turkey may need their 'services' over there, there is also the UN, NATO, EU wish for them to disappear off the island for their much needed settlement too. So this could also be the ideal 'excuse' to have moved the majority off the island.

I cannot say either way - and have not heard many people discussing it either. Naturally - in the paper it was only the usual centimetre column hidden in the inner pages of the weekly English version of the Cyprus Today.

Either way as far as I can recall, in the 12 years I have been here, this is the first time that they have 'disappeared' from the island.

 

[goyacobol]

Monday, 28 March, 2016
Turkey pulls troops from Cyprus to shore up battle on terrorism

A LEADING daily newspaper in Turkish controlled northern Cyprus has claimed that Turkish troops are being pulled from the north and sent to Turkey to join the ongoing war on terror, which has seen a series of suicide bombings and fierce fighting with the PKK.

However, President Tayyip Erdogan appears eager to dispel any notion he is struggling to maintain security.

It was recently estimated that the number of Turkish troops in Cyprus stood at about 43,000, but exact numbers are unavailable.

"Due to the tension and clashes in Turkey, it is reducing and withdrawing a significant number of troops from Cyprus. As it was made known, this process has been underway for the last six months and it has been intensified during the recent days,” daily Africa reported.

Citing ‘reliable sources’ the paper reports that commando units in the areas of occupied Agia Eirini and Mirtou were totally withdrawn.

Also, the number of personnel in all military units in the north has been slashed and the number of troop units including the front-lines has been reduced by two thirds.

The operation has been conducted in ‘total secrecy’ according to the paper.

04/06/2016

Turkey’s army confirms reduction of troops in Cyprus

Turkey confirmed on Wednesday that they reduced and withdrew troops from northern Cyprus to reinforce its units in the fight against the Kurdish PKK.

However, a spokesman for the Turkish army also said that the reduction had nothing to do with the ongoing UN-brokered Cyprus peace talks.

“It has nothing to do with the talks on the Cyprus problem…after a special commando unit is formed in southeastern Turkey the troops stationed in ‘trnc’ will be returned there,” the spokesman said.

The response followed Turkish Cypriot reports last week that Turkish troops have withdrawn from Cyprus and in particular commando units in the areas of Ayia Eirini (Akdeniz) and Myrtou (Camlibel).

The reports also said that the number of personnel in all military units in the north have been reduced and the numbers at several units including those on the ‘front line’ had been reduced by two thirds. All operations were carried out in secrecy, according to the reports.

Turkey still maintains thousands of troops in northern Cyprus following a 1974 invasion sparked by a short-lived coup in Nicosia.

Peace talks aim to reunite the divided island under a federal umbrella.

 

[angelburst29]

Russian military and several battlefield sources in Syria's Lattakia province reported on Tuesday that The Turkish Army has been shelling Syrian Army forces in Latakia province near the Turkish border.

Turkey Shells Syrian Government Forces in Lattakia
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950124001090

The Russian center's statement on the Turkish army shelling attacks on the Syrian army forces was published as several battlefield sources in Lattakia province reported the attacks in the last few days.

"Once again, Syrian territory came under shelling attack by the Turkish Armed Forces. Between 8:30 a.m. and 9:20 a.m.on April 10, 2016, Turkish artillery shelled Syrian government positions in the Latakia province from the town of Metisli in Turkey," the Russian Command Center in Syria said in a daily bulletin posted on the Russian Defense Ministry's website.

The center added that "another artillery strike from the same position in Turkey hit the town of Gebelli few hours later".

The reports on Turkish army's attacks on Syrian army troops come as the Syrian Army troops recently thwarted several attempts by the terrorist groups in Aleppo province.

The Syrian soldiers alongside their popular allies repelled the terrorist groups' attacks on the government forces' checkpoints near Abu Ali and al-Qamua mountains in Kinsibba region, which ended in the killing or wounding of tens of terrorists and destruction of their armored vehicles.

The Syrian army and the National Defense Force further opened heavy fire at those terrorists who fled the battlefield and tried to cross Syria border to Turkey.

Earlier reports said that the Syrian army and the National Defense Forces continued to push the terrorist groups back from more territories in the mountainous regions Northeast of Lattakia province after hours of non-stop battle.

The Russian Military command center in Syria announced that the Turkish regime still supports the Al-Nusra Front terrorist organization, providing it with weapons and facilitating the terrorists' cross-border transfer.

Russian Commander: Turkey Keeps Supporting Al-Nusra
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950124001267

“Although the cessation of hostilities is still holding, the Turkish side still sends weapons and gunmen to groups affiliated to al-Nusra Front terrorist group,” said Lieutenant General Sergey Rudskoy, Chief of the Russia's Main Operational Directorate, SANA reported.

“Two armed groups including more than 100 fighters arrived in Handarat camp, North of Aleppo, bringing a tank and 22 pickup vehicles loaded with machine guns with them, while nearly 200 gunmen have arrived in Tal Hadyah town in Aleppo Northern countryside,” Rudskoy added.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said in an interview that the main task of the Russian air force didn’t change after the decision of the partial withdrawal from Syria, represented by putting an end to terrorism.

“The Russian military operation has led a lot of positive outcomes for Syria's security, mainly dealing a huge blow to terrorism, eliminating a large number of terrorists and removing much of the caches,” Antonov told Russia Today TV in an interview.

He described liberating Palmyra from ISIL as “an important turning point” in the war against terrorism.

 

[sToRmR1dR]

Erdogan announces Istanbul-based anti-terror ‘Islamic Interpol’

https://www.rt.com/news/339678-turkey-international-anti-terror-police/

Turkey is trying to unite the Islamic world and lead it in the fight against terror with a new Istanbul-based police force tasked with tackling extremism in the region. At the same time, Ankara has called for “liberation” of “occupied” Islamic lands.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has accepted his proposal to create a multinational police center based in Istanbul to battle international terrorism. The new structure is to be called the OIC Center for Police Cooperation and Coordination.

“It would be helpful to establish a structure among member states that will strengthen and institutionalize cooperation against terror and other crimes,” he said, during a speech at the two-day OIC summit, as over 30 heads of states from Islamic countries gathered in Istanbul.

The aim, according to Erdogan, is to fight Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in Iraq, Syria and Libya and Boko Haram and Al Shabaab in Africa, as “all these terror organizations oppress and harm all Muslims."

Seeking the lead role in uniting some 1.7 billion Muslims under Ankara’s command, Erdogan urged the IOC delegates at the summit to overcome internal differences in Islam.

“I believe the greatest challenge we need to surmount is sectarianism. My religion is not that of Sunnis, of Shiites. My religion is Islam,” he stated. “We should be uniting. Out of the conflicts, the tyranny, only Muslims suffer,” Erdogan said, as quoted by the Daily Sabah.

Turkey under the leadership of Erdogan has long been accused by international observers of trying to resurrect the former glory of the Ottoman Empire. At the same time Ankara has been accused by many international entities of inadequately addressing the global terror threat, with even Russian President Putin saying on Thursday that “Turkey’s current leadership does not fight radicals as much as it collaborates with them.”

While the details of the new Islamic anti-terror police force yet to be made public, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is already calling to “liberate all Islamic lands under occupation.”

“We need a common stance for the liberation of all the Islamic lands that are under occupation,especially Palestine,” said Davutoglu at the summit, as quoted by Hurriyet Daily. Under the Turkish PM’s plan, the “liberation” of Muslims besides Palestine should also take place in Crimea and the disputed Nagorno- Karabakh region.

“The most important indicator which would show the effectiveness of the OIC is protecting Muslim minorities and liberating occupied lands such as Palestine, Karabakh and Crimea,” Davutoglu said.