After the victory in Eastern Ghouta, the Syrian military turned its eyes to other militant-held pockets across the country.
On April 15, the Syrian Army and the National Defense Forces launched a military operation against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra) in the Rastan pocket in northern Homs. They have have liberated a large number of points including Jarjisah, Ard Jasiyah, Ard Qabr Shaykhah, Zahrat Jibab and Tal Na’ourah.
By April 18, the militants had re-grouped and launched a counter-attack on Jarjisah. Clashes are ongoing there.
A reconciliation agreement has been reached in the town of Al-Dumayr in Eastern Qalamoun. On April 17, militants there started surrendering their heavy and medium weapons. About 1,000 militants and their associates are set to withdraw from the area. The rest will settle their legal status.
In southern Damascus, the military is preparing for a military operation against ISIS in the Yarmouk camp area. Major reinforcements have already been deployed for this advance. However, the operation may be delayed if the situation in the Rastan pocket turns out to be complicated and the militants’ advance there gains momentum.
On April 17, OPCW inspectors entered the town of Douma to probe the alleged April 7 chemical attack. The US-led block accuses the Syrian government of being behind it. Russia and Syria say that the attack was staged.
Saudi Arabia is open to sending troops to Syria under the US-led coalition if such a decision is taken, Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on April 17 adding that his country has been in discussion with the US on the issue “since the beginning of the Syrian crisis”.
Earlier a Wall Street Journa report claimed that the Trump administration is seeking to establish some “Arab force” that would replace US troops in northern Syria. This “Arab force” reportedly could be established with the support of Saudi Arabia and some other Gulf states.
The problem is that Saudi Arabia is currently involved in a long and complicated military conflict in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the country in 2015 in order to defeat the Houthis and to establish a puppet government there. However, since then, the Saudi-led coalition has not been able to achieve its main military or political goals. Its forces have not been able to capture the Yemeni capital. At the same time, the Houthis have increased cross-border attacks against and missile launches at Saudi Arabia.
Moe details and versions have appeared about the alleged April 17 missile attack on Shayrat and Dumair military airfields. According to a new version originating from some military sources, surface-to-air missile launches by the Syrian Air Defense Forces (SADF) were triggered by a false alarm and no attack actually took place.
The Syrian military made no official statement on the issue, but the state-run media also circulated this version referring to a military source. The initial claims by the Syrian state-run media and other sources about a repelled attack could be viewed as an example of propaganda in this conflict.
The version most popular in the MSM is that the April 17 incident was triggered by combined US-Israeli electronic or cyber warfare attack.
What do you think about this, Saker?
Putin bows to Trump, ready for deep Concessions
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-04-18/putin-reportedly-ready-deep-concessions-seeks-deal-trump
If Mr Putin is preparing a War Cabinet for 7th May, replacing most of his staff, as Saker had already mentioned it would be necessary, I doubt this is true.
Putin will be looking to strengthen Trump ahead of Congressional elections Nov 6 when a blue wave of Deep State candidates (more than half of whom are from the intel community) is predicted to win a strong majority. Upon doing so they will immediately move to impeach Donald Trump.
The ouster of Trump represents a nightmare scenario for Russia. It remains to be seen if the Presidents ‘deplorable’ supporters will fall for the UK led effort to place a reliable Clintonite-Deep State puppet like Pence in the White House but in any case the election process is heavily rigged and things do not look good. The fear is Republican supporters will stay home, while Trump haters are highly motivated by UK controlled Deep State media. Russia must give Trump something significant to lessen pressure for his removal. Trump must be made to look like a winner.
If I could recommend anything I would suggest Putin meet Donald Trump face to face and let some of the Russian President’s karma rub off on the US President. The stakes are very high and the alternative, a change at this moment, is unthinkable.
If Donald Trump is removed WW3, with nukes, is a virtual certainty. There is also a possibilty of a coup by the US military, against UK ‘Octopus’ controlled Mike Pence, should the impeacment occurr.
Passer by…..
Just that title tells me all I need to know. Putin/ Russia does not ” bow” to any leader.
Putin / Russia negotiate with foreign leaders.
Those that are with God never bow to Satan. God is on the side of Russia.
Remember that.
@Carmel Mirei Yam.
Amin!
Good news! Barbara Bush has just been dispatched as a U.S. special envoy to meet with Satan . Let’s hope she can work out a new peace agreement regarding Syria with her master!
Breaking:Putin capitulates on almost everything due to the pressure of the oligarchs?Russian deep state?
Putin Reportedly “Ready For Deep Concessions”, Seeks Deal With Trump
https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-04-18/putin-reportedly-ready-deep-concessions-seeks-deal-trump
Russian president orders officials to curb anti-U.S. rhetoric
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-18/putin-said-to-seek-trump-deal-even-after-sanctions-syria-attack
Countersanctions should be adopted before end of July, says upper house speaker
More:
http://tass.com/politics/1000572
Let’s hope The US Deep State does not accept Trump ‘deal’…
What if it is simply allowing the Zio cabal to exist for a little longer? Maybe this is what the “concessions” are about?!…Personally, I think it is a play for time.
All of the sites you cite are American run sites, how reliable are they?Let’s not forget we’re in an ‘information war’ as BBC recently mentioned.
Americans also claimed Mike Pompeo met North Korean leader, again the claims come only from the American side, I suggest we wait and see until we hear from Russia and NK.
I don’t doubt Pompeo went to NK. There would be no good reason to lie about something easy for NK to expose as a lie.The most important thing I think we can see from the MSN. Is something that only weeks ago they would never ever mention.And that is what NK might get from the talks.Up until now they’ve been saying there would be no “concessions” as they call it ,to NK. But now they are talking about an official end to the Korean War,and diplomatic relations between the US and NK. If true, that would be very important for NK. That is something they’ve wanted for decades.Now of course the de-nuclearization would be framed by the US as a big victory for them. But actually the winner would be Kim. He will have “forced” the US to accept them as a full nation.To come to diplomatic talks at the highest level between them. Establish diplomatic relations,end the official state of war, and cancel the sanctions (at least many of them,and certainly the UN sanctions).
I doubt we’d see the US troops out of SK. But possibly a cut back or the end of the regular US-SK war games. Which are important to NK. And by ending the official state of war,and UN sanctions. That would open NK for Chinese and Russian direct investment and selling NK military defense equipment such as the S300 or S400,among other tools.Which would give NK the ability to defend themselves if needed.Russia for one has wanted to build a gas pipeline through NK to SK. Something very profitable for all sides.And that could move ahead if the talks succeed.
So all in all,NK could come out the biggest winner if the talks take place.But its still an open question if the talks do take place at all.We’ll have to wait and see.
Why would it be surprising that the USA government would lie?Look at how many lies they are spreading right now and a good number of them can easily be exposed as lies, a number of them already have been.At this point I don’t think USA cares about it’s lies being exposed or believed, just lie and do whatever they want, desperate or drunk on power, probably both.
As for Korea, you write as if USA was a trustworthy entity that keeps it’s agreements – aren’t they threatening to breakup an agreement with Iran as we speak?Or did they already do that? – no, I don’t think Koreans are going to get anywhere working with the USA.I’m no Korean but I’m a South-East Asian and you on the other hand are probably American, which would explain the disproportional sense of self-importance(no, it’s not really important USA recognizes NK as a ‘full nation’ – with everything that has been happening does the USA count as a ‘full nation’ anymore?), so I’m probably more attuned to the Koreans than you.I think the best way the Koreans have to get rid of USA from it’s soil, at this point, is the military option.It is the only option that has a history of working successfully against the USA after all, appeasement has a low to zero success rate.
Anonymous
You quoted Zerohedge and Bloomberg. Hardly convincing sources, especially Bloomberg, the voice of Wall Street. There is no way that Putin can capitulate to the oligarchs. What we have here is some psychological warfare, somebody trying to place Putin in the same category as Trump, who really is controlled by American oligarchs. The aim is to create an impression that oligarchs rule both countries, which is not the case.
I also see that my old “friend” Israel Shamir, the Russian/Israeli analyst, has written another article, this time on the effects of Trumps bombing of Syria. More disinformation from him. He too is following the Pentagon line that the Syrian response was almost non existent and that Trumps missiles struck their targets. However, he did not mention where ALL of the 103 missiles landed. You do not need 103 missiles to destroy a few buildings. Clearly Syrian military assets were also targeted, but the Pentagon makes no mention of this, as it knows that the Syrians shot down most of those missiles. However, Shamir found fir to portray Putin as weak, not daring to confront Trump, when in fact there was no need for Russians to get involved at all, knowing that those cruise missiles were obsolete technology. Some months back Shamir wrote that absurd article on Paul Grudinin, the Russian presidential candidate. He quoted liberal websites in Russia, which absurdly stated that Grudinin had the support of between 30 % and 80 % of Russian voters. Grudinin received 12 % of the votes. Shamir was wrong then, as he is now. The point is that the disinformation campaign against Putin will go on as long as he is in Office. It will achieve nothing.
“Putin is ready to make numerous, deep concessions . . . ” That statement was made by Igor Bunin in one of today’s articles on the ZeroHedge website.
Who is Igor Bunin to make such a prescient statement about what President Putin is contemplating? Is he a: high official in the Federation Council, a member of the State Duma or perhaps one of President Putin’s inner circle of advisors? Neither of these. Let us investigate this man.
Igor Bunin is a professor of political science at the National Research University Higher School of Economics in cooperation with the Center for Political Technologies (see: https://www.hse.ru/en/org/persons/8953283 ).
Here is his employment history (see: https://www.hse.ru/en/org/persons/8953283#experience ).
Professor Bunin is a political analyst, unlike many analysts employed by think tanks in the United States (e.g., Council on Foreign Relations, Brookings Institution, American Enterprise Institute, etc.). He is President of the CPT (Center for Political Technologies), a Russian think tank and gives opinions about governmental policy, that’s all. I wouldn’t be too concerned about his commentary; it’s just talk.
Here is the CPT website (see: http://www.cpt.ru/ ).
Bunin? Please. Ignore things on Zero Hedge. They pay 19-year-olds to copy and paste alarming stories. One day Russia is going to nuke America. The next day Putin is sick and Russia is falling apart.
Bunin is popular on Echo Moscow. The university he is a part of is anti-Russian. He has ties to many Western think tanks. His command is good enough that he is often used as a Russian political thinker.
Possibly an Israeli citizen. He was born in Riga to parents who spoke Yiddish. Has lived all over.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/russian-jewish-billionaires-sing-hallelujah-and-thank-god-its-over/
I emailed him asking him in Russian and English where he got the information from. No response yet. Should I call him? His Moscow number is on his CV. I want a source. Of course he won’t give us one, but nothing wrong with politely asking.
Yes, he has many ties to Western foundations and think tanks…
http://carnegie.ru/experts/1316
I would not completely dismiss zero hedge, but yes, from time to time the stuff their publish is nothing but mindless fillers. I lost count how many Israelis claim to speak on the behalf of the Russian government…absolutely ridiculous.
Thanks for confirming my suspicions about Bunin, Super Sized. Carnegie eh?
Putin is not the type to make many concessions, much less ‘numerous deep ones’; not in the present situation we’re in. Perhaps what Bunin meant by — and secretly hoping for — a ‘deep concession’ is VVP’s ridding any thought of supplying S300 to Syria. That will seriously complicate the illegal Settler State’s plans for Iran. Imagine an air defence system that is effectively Iranian sitting right next to the occupied Golan Heights. Of course there is always a route through Saudi airspace should Israelis decide to pay Tehran a visit but I digress.
Phil Butler has written a great piece on Think Tanks. His last paragraph is brilliant.
https://journal-neo.org/2018/04/07/got-troubles-blame-them-on-think-tank-row-and-not-putin/
basil
The only reason why Trump wants better relations with Putin is because he wants Russia to turn against Iran. This explains all of Trump’s Russia/Iran policy, not collusion.
“According to a new version originating from some military sources, surface-to-air missile launches by the Syrian Air Defense Forces (SADF) were triggered by a false alarm and no attack actually took place.
The version most popular in the MSM is that the April 17 incident was triggered by combined US-Israeli electronic or cyber warfare attack.”
For SA missile interception, a target is first selected, communicated to the SA missile, the the missile is then launched. This means radar, or at least the equipment connected to the radar picked up something. The only ways that I can think of that it could have been done is the something could be real, IE: a decoy, or a signal spoofing a return “echo” from a contact.
Very doubtful this could have been an operator or equipment error on the part of the Syrians, since there were 2 different places involved. It seems the israeloamericans ran an operational test of a new ecm suite for use in future air attacks against Syria.
Perfect riposte. Concur.
Now China is getting in on the fun.
China Jammed US Navy Jet’s Equipment as It Patrolled South China Sea
https://sputniknews.com/military/201804181063696914-china-jammed-us-navy-jet-equipment/
“When the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier cruised through the South China Sea last week, one US Navy pilot encountered Chinese jamming technology interfering with his plane’s equipment, according to a report.”
Out of 26 Major Editorials on Trump’s Syria Strikes, Zero Opposed
https://fair.org/home/out-of-20-major-editorials-on-trumps-syria-strikes-zero-opposed/
“A survey by FAIR of the top 100 papers in the US by circulation found not a single editorial board opposed to Trump’s April 13 airstrikes on Syria. Twenty supported the strikes, while six were ambiguous as to whether or not the bombing was advisable. The remaining 74 issued no opinion about Trump’s latest escalation of the Syrian war.
This is fairly consistent with editorial support for Trump’s April 2017 airstrikes against the Syrian government, which saw only one editorial out of 47 oppose the bombing (FAIR.org, 4/11/17). The single paper of dissent from last year, the Houston Chronicle, didn’t publish an editorial on last week’s bombing.
Seven of the top 10 newspapers by circulation—USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Newsday and Washington Post—supported the airstrikes. The New York Daily News and San Jose Mercury News offered no opinion, while the New York Times (4/13/18) was ambiguous—mostly lamenting the lack of congressional approval, but not saying that this meant the strikes were illegal or unwise. “Legislation should…set limits on a president’s ability to wage war against states like Syria,” is the Times’ conclusion. A complete list of editorials on the airstrikes can be viewed here. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_wcnzQSuJnYJ1DrdcuM9FQMvTbWvXcxFOSrEvuxRmFk/edit#gid=0
Almost every editorial spoke in the same Official, Serious tone that demanded “action” be taken and “international norms” be “enforced.” Some, such as the Wall Street Journal (4/16/18), went further, insisting on a wider war against the Syrian regime, Iran and/or Russia in vague but menacing terms.”
Nice to have an independent press to keep the government honest, isn’t it…
Related:
WATCH Syrian Boy in White Helmets FAKE Chemical Attack Video Reveals Truth
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201804181063698154-syrian-boy-reveals-truth-helmets/
“The Russia 24 TV channel released an exclusive interview on April 18 with a boy, who participated in filming a fake video, as evidence of the false-flag chemical attack in Douma by the White Helmets. In the interview, Hassan Diab says that he and his mother heard loud voices on the street, urging everyone to rush to the hospitals. When Hassan entered the hospital, unknown people grabbed him, poured water on him and then put him with other patients.
“We were in the basement. Mom told me that today we don’t have anything to eat and that we will eat tomorrow. We heard a cry outside, calling “go to the hospital.” We ran to the hospital and as soon as I entered, they grabbed me and started pouring water on me,” Hassan Diab said.
His father continued the story. He was at his work when he heard that his son was in hospital. He rushed to the hospital and found his family there in good health. He added that he was on the street, smoking and didn’t feel any chemical weapon. According to him, it turned out militants gave all the participants food — dates, cookies and rice — and then released them.
“There were no chemical weapons. I smoked outside and felt nothing. I entered the hospital and saw my family. Militants gave them dates, cookies and rice for participating in this film and released everyone to their homes,” Hassan’s father said.
The TV channel also broadcast an interview with a doctor who was in the hospital when the White Helmets filmed their fake video. He said that no patients with signs of chemical weapons-related injuries arrived that day, but there were many people with respiratory problems due to smoke and dust from the recent bombing. All doctors were busy taking care of them and didn’t have time to react to the White Helmets’ film crew.
The White Helmets is a Syrian NGO, financed by several Western countries, which is associated with staging and filming false-flag chemical attacks. They have been seen several times working with terrorist groups in Syria.”
@vot tak. A phenomenon recorded 100 years ago by English writer Hilaire Belloc in his ground-breaking book on AZC propaganda, The Free Press. The business of disseminating news and opinion is almost entirely owned by 6 very rich Jews; all of whom source their news from Reuters which is owned by 1 super rich Jew. (This is an exaggeration, but not much). A biological phenomenon known as Evolution or Survival of the Fattest, where one species becomes so perfectly adapted to its environment that it gobbles up all its competitors, and dominates its environment.
“Conquer the earth and subdue it”. — Genesis
Dr M,
I have read some Belloc, long ago. He is a favourite amongst British children of a certain vintage. I have never come across ‘The Free Press’ though and looked it up.
The essay is available free to read here:
http://www.loyalbooks.com/download/text/Free-Press-by-Hilaire-Belloc.txt
Thank you for the recommendation.
Militants May Plot Chemical Attack to Set Stage for Joint Offensive in Syria
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201804191063703821-syrian-militants-plotting-chemical-attacks/
“Militants may plot a chemical attack against civilians to set stage for joint offensive, according to the military diplomatic source. The source said that militants are going to launch attacks on government forces in Daraa, al-Baath and suburbs.
Al-Nusra Front* terror group has been advocating joint offensive against government troops on claims of violations of de-escalation regime, the source said.
“Nusra’s joint operation headquarters invited other groups in early April… to stage a simultaneous offensive against government troops,” the source claimed.
The groups seek to create an autonomous state in areas under their control with US support, the military diplomatic source said.
“Tensions have escalated in southern Syria in the past few weeks. Despite US claims, the Islamic State terror group* [Daesh] continues to play a major role in the Yarmouk valley, alongside the Free Syrian Army and the Nusra Front,” the source said.
“The end goal of the planned operation is to seize land and create a US-backed autonomy outside of Damascus’s control with the capital in Daraa, similar to what we see in northeastern Syria where the DFNS is in control,” the source added.
The source also reported that Free Syrian Army (FSA) group as well as the al-Nusra Front terrorists, main militant forces in southern Syria, have some 12.000 fighters and hundreds of units of military equipment, supplied by Israel and Jordan.
A US-Russia-Jordan coordination center in Amman has informed US and Jordanian authorities of recurring attacks by militants against Syrian government forces in the country’s south, but no action has been taken to thwart them.
Moreover, US convoys loaded with what is claimed to be relief aid have been streaming into militant-held territories.
“No one knows what these convoys carry because the Americans are in full control of these alleged humanitarian deliveries,” the source stressed.
So are we going to be discussing Armenia soon?
http://theduran.com/will-armenia-be-the-next-victim-of-western-backed-regime-change/
And then there are these three stories:
http://www.rt.com/business/424541-russia-iran-oil-supplies/
realinvestmentadvice.com/triffin-warned-us/
market.com/articles/3414-syrian-conflict-is-a-distraction-from-a-secret-war
I am not a fan of the last hypothesis myself.
Iraqi air forces carry out strikes on ISIS positions in Syria – statement
https://www.rt.com/news/424568-iraq-strike-isis-syria/
Containers with chlorine from Germany, smoke bombs from UK’s Salisbury found in E. Ghouta – Moscow
https://www.rt.com/news/424581-chlorin-germany-bombs-uk-syria/
If Russia and allies just carried on what they were doing, clearing “ISIS fighters from Syria, everybody would not be siding up for a showdown.!! It wasn”t nessassery to invite Iran in the mix and intriguing why Russia invited by Syria, allowed Turkey a supporter of ISIS, enter Syria, it complicated matters.? Turkeys pretext was to Kill ISIS and US backed YPG fighters in north Syria.? YPG was killing ISIS fighters in north Syria successfully.! Turkey now kills YPG fighters and Syrian civilians resulting in land grab.? Putin new this would happen, Erdogan threaten he wanted 90 km deep buffer into Syria before allowed into North Syria.! Turkey”s Syrian rebel fighters and Iran with Russian ill thought stratergy has “exasperated matters, while crude chemical weapons are released, believed by the west to be the workings of the Syrian government. There”s no definite proof and denied by Russia. Now Iran is trying to spread the problem within the region, bringing Israel into the Syrian fold. ISIS has got everybody fighting each other.!!