Al-Mayadeen Report, February 29, 2020.
Translated by resistancenews.org
Turkey officially speaks of several hundred victims, but these figures are grossly exaggerated; Reuters speaks of 48 dead, including 9 members of Hezbollah (30 others were reportedly injured). At this stage, no official figures have been released by the Syrian military or Hezbollah. But we can be sure that there will be hell to pay, and that Hezbollah will retaliate in kind.
Transcript:
Turkish strikes against the Aleppo and Idlib countryside have led to the martyrdom of several Syrian Army and Hezbollah soldiers. Our reporter has confirmed that Turkish drones launched several strikes against positions of the Syrian army and its allies, together with artillery fire. He added that the armed (terrorist) groups are trying to take advantage of Turkish shelling to gather their forces and storm the liberated areas around Aleppo.
Moreover, during the last hours, the number of Turkish soldiers killed (in Syria) rose to 36. In addition, the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that a Turkish soldier was killed and two others injured due to shelling of the Syrian army in Idlib province. He said that the Syrian attacks targeted elements of the Turkish army, whose presence in Idlib was meant to achieve a cease-fire.
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“Any amount counts, because a little money here and there, it’s like drops of water that can become rivers, seas or oceans…” Hassan Nasrallah
***
Iran and Hezbollah warn Turkey: all your forces are in our line of fire
Iranian Advisory Center in Syria: we call on Turkish forces to act rationally for the benefit of the Syrian and Turkish peoples
Source: Al-Manar, February 29, 2020
Translation: resistancenews.org
The Iranian Advisory Center in Syria, which takes part in the fighting in northern Syria, issued a press release through the news agency U-News in reaction to the recent confrontation between the Syrian army and the Turkish army. It should be noted that the Iranian Advisory Center is made up of the group of Iranian experts who advise the Syrian State and its armed forces, and that this is the first statement it has issued since the beginning of the war in Syria.
Full text of the statement
In reaction to the latest confrontation between the Syrian Arab Army and the Turkish Army, it is important for us to inform the public of the following:
First: We fought alongside the Syrian Arab army and supported it, at the request of the Syrian State, to open the M5 highway, with a Syrian force led by elements of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and of Hezbollah, and with the participation of factions of the Resistance within the force; and we have helped civilians and residents of the liberated villages.
Second: Protected by the Turkish army, the armed (terrorist) groups attacked the positions of the Syrian army, and so we participated in the fighting aimed at preventing the M5 highway to fall again in their hands.
Third: Since the beginning of the presence of our forces, the Turkish positions located in the Syrian territories have been in the sight of our forces, whether they comply with the Astana Agreements or violate them, but the elements of the Resistance did not strike these Turkish forces out of deference to the decision of their (respective) leaders, and this decision remains in effect until now.
Fourth: Four days ago, foreign elements, Tajiks from the Turkestan Party, elements from the Al-Nusra Front, as well as other terrorist factions, carried out a large-scale attack on the positions of the Syrian army. Our forces directly supported the Syrian Army to prevent the liberated areas from falling into their hands.
Fifth: Despite the defensive nature of the action of our forces, the Turkish army targeted our elements and our forces from the air, with precision missiles and artillery support, which prompted us to send mediators to the Turkish army to end its attacks and renounce this approach
Sixth: Our mediators announced to the Turkish army that the terrorists attacked our positions with their support, that our forces are there to confront the terrorists, and that we are on the side of the Syrian army for this mission; but unfortunately, the Turkish military ignored this request and continued its bombing, and a number of our fighters (Iranian & Hezbollah’s) were martyred.
Seventh: Syrian army artillery responded by striking the source of the fire; for our part, we did not retaliate directly, and once again, we announced to the Turkish army through mediators that we have no objective or decision to confront the Turkish army and that our leadership is determined to reach a political solution between Syria and Turkey.
Eighth: We have informed our forces since morning not to target Turkish forces inside Idlib in order to spare the lives of their soldiers, and our forces have not opened fire, but the Turkish army continues to shell the points and locations of the Syrian army (where we are also located) with artillery fire.
Ninth: The Iranian Advisory Center and the fighters of the Resistance front call on the Turkish forces to act rationally in the interest of the Syrian and Turkish peoples, reminding the Turkish people that their sons (soldiers) have been in our sights for one month and that we could have targeted them in revenge, but we did not do so in accordance with the orders of our leaders; we call on them to pressure the Turkish leadership to rectify its decisions and avoid spilling the blood of Turkish soldiers.
Tenth: Despite the current difficult circumstances, we reaffirm our continuing position alongside the people, the State and the army in Syria in their fight to defeat terrorism and preserve their full sovereignty over the Syrian territories, and we all call on actors to be rational and aware of the great risks of continuing the aggression against Syria.
Iranian Advisory Center in Syria
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“Any amount counts, because a little money here and there, it’s like drops of water that can become rivers, seas or oceans…” Hassan Nasrallah
When are the Russians going to allow Syria and its allies to haul out the S-300’s to defend their air and armored assets which are being degraded by the Turks? (So far, five aircraft down without reprisal, doesn’t sound like winning to me.) I suppose they fear that NATO and Israel steps in if Iran dares fire a few of its accurate, long range missiles at the bloody Turks. Turkey really needs to get its ass handed to it, but there are so many negative possible consequences if that perfectly doable task is undertaken by the alliance of Shia countries so Putin is averse to pulling the trigger (or even allowing his allies to effectively do so). Only a massive Turk invasion and an al-Qaeda reconquest of Aleppo might prompt him to throw the dice. Putin doesn’t want to risk losing Turkey as a “partner” (and certainly not losing to the Turks on the battlefield), but he risks losing Syria, Hezbollah and Iran and all Russia has invested in that alliance if Turkey is allowed to roll over them at will. The most promising scenario might be an assassin’s bullet to Erdogan’s braincase or a lethal dose of Covid-19 for the would-be caliph.
50KM’s or so left to go buddy…….and the Turks are over the border. Russia and Iran have handled this drama on the budget, given all the constraints. This seems to have been the highlight of the Syrian campaign. The downside is of course the terrible loss of lives within the SyAA ranks and civilians. Don’t worry, Russia/ China/ Iran won’t take their eyes off the ball…….just the usual morbid and slow meat grinder will continue on running. The end however is never in doubt.
“we could have targeted them in revenge, but we did not do so in accordance with the orders of our leaders”
So basically, Erdogan went rogue. Russian & Iranian leadership were blindsided. Now the gloves are coming off.
Also this:
https://tass.com/defense/1125381/amp?__twitter_impression=true “Russia can no longer guarantee safety of Turkish planes over Syria”
No, that’s not true, Serbian girl. Unlike what most media tell you (because they want war), it is unfortunately Assad who went rogue on Putin. In order to end the war (i.e. in Syria west of the Euphrates), the Idlib agreement was made in 2018.
Turkey was invited to pacify Idlib, which is, as Eric Zuesse wrote, the most anti-Assad and pro-Jihadist provence. There’re also lots of CIA mercanaries infiltrated, and imported from other parts of Syria. It’s understandable that it takes time.
So, in principle it was agreed that the SAA, Hezbollah, and Iranian proxies have no war-business there, it is for Russia / Turkey to pacify. War, and ruining this agreement (cooperation between Syria / Russia / Iran / Turkey) is playing right into the hands of the Great Satan (which first needs to be thrown out of Syria).
Laika von old Monkshusen
Where did you get this bit of “information”?
“So, in principle it was agreed that the SAA, Hezbollah, and Iranian proxies have no war-business there, it is for Russia / Turkey to pacify.”
I’d like very much to see the documentation of those words, rules of engagement, restrictions.
Looks to me as you pulled that out of thin air or out of a cave between your buttocks.
But I’m willing to see your sources for this.
Očekivao sam da naletim ovde na srpsku devojku, koliko i na samog Erdogana. Zanima te geopolitika?! Prvo žensko da sretnem, koje to prati.
____
I expected to run into a Serbian girl here as much as Erdogan himself. Interested in geopolitics ?! The first female I meet that follows.
Iran, as usual, has demonstrated extraordinary patience, in the face of relentless aggression and provocation.
There are those who – out of ignorance – might be tempted to mistake Iran’s cool reserve for cowardice.
My advice to them is dont.
The patience shown by Iran is strategic in nature, and there is a limit beyond which, that patience will not extend.
Remember the red flag that now flies from the mosque in Qom.
Selah
Iran is the voice of reason, without patience and compassion, Iran will be reduced to the level of these Western backed Sunni jihadi’s. Millions of Shia have laid down their lives to take a stand for justice. Any less would not cut it. Turkey is being given a chance to pull back, otherwise Iran in conjunction with Russia and China will dismantle Turkey. Many are talking about it already. I hope it doesn’t come to that. Live and let live is Iran’s mantra.
The legal matters in international law are all on the side of Iran in this matter. However, the evil empires are violating and not recognizing international law, so while international agreements like Astana are useful in order to establish who is lawless and who is abiding by the law, the evile empires cannot be trusted with any agreement which also serve as international law (treaties) any more, and subsequently Turkey should never have been allowed into Syria.
USA was behind (backing) these actions, and NATO is always representing the evil empires actions and all the military planning are made by the terrorist entity of these states the Pentagon.
So while having established the illegality of any of those forces in Syria along with their terrorist armies they themselves have placed there as mercenary armies, what is left is realizing the totality of this attack on Syria, and continue to free the country of terrorists and their masters, the matter should be referred to the UN by any means of the general assembly and the security council.
@John4Truth
The UN? Everyone knows the UN is useless and kowtows to the evil empire. All it does is issue resolutions and then nothing else happens. Why bother with the UN? The way I see it: everyone is expected to recognize international laws and agreements and what-have-you — all except for the evil empire. Since this is the case and in the name of fairness for everyone not on the side of the evil empire, why recognize any international laws or agreements? It is a free-for-all. The sooner the evil empire is fully nuked, the better for all the downtrodden people of the world. Of course, this will need the concerted efforts of the resistance axis.
Come to think…
Hermann Rauschning, once Hitler’s governor of Danzig, in his 1940 book “Gespräche mit Hitler” attributed to him the following statement:
“Politics is a game where the rules are changed according to the skill of the game players.”
I know that it is difficult to pass resolutions in the UN security council, but that also pertain to USA, usually both sides of major conflicts. So for that matter it remains a solid mechanism. The strength in such cases lies in the discussions themselves, and the worldwide recognition of the problems and the different actors, especially important is the ability to recognize the wrongful acts and who is perpetrating them. So this goes both for the General Assembly and the Security Council they are the only solid mechanisms in existence that may counter the planning of malevolent actions against membernations and threats to international peace.
Have you failed to notice that three of the UNSC Five are systematically the author/inciter/promoter/protector of these “malevolent actions”? The Security Council is now all but paralysed.
I have not failed to notice. And their representatives are a disgrace to themselves and others. Unfortunately the US government in particular are totallly run by their own propaganda and present this as the official policy based on “truth” to the US congress and the president. For example during the Senate hearing on pres. Trump impeachment US government reps. presented Russia as a danger to humanity “they invaded Ukraine and killed 13000 ukrainians, Ukraine heroically defended herself and prevented Russia from continuing to Europe”, and this is echoed by all members of the US congress in media.
But this does not prevent the discussions and peoples awareness of the situation by having these serious issues discussed in the UNGA and UNSC, on the contrary it is very important that everything is referred to them immediately at all times.
Less talk more action.
If not, no point talking to Erdogan.
For the commentators. Please refer to Larchmonter445 here and I’ll quote a bit:
“This topic certainly has produced a score of trolls spreading nonsense on the topic.
Do they think this excretion is taken seriously here?”
“The Mods need to weed the Vineyard of much of this crapola.”
“I call BullSh*t on this stuff. The comments are like junior high school numbnuts in the back of the class begging for attention.
Swarms of them polluting the conversations.”
/turkey-vs-syria-sitrep/#comment-767932
And then I quote from my own comment here: /turkey-vs-syria-sitrep/#comment-768131
“Commentators have been kneejerking and wailing in sackcloth and ashes and irresponsible statements not seriously considering the emergent situation with an analytical eye. We gotto clean this up. Bear in mind this is war, and there will be periods that we simply do not know what the situation is on the ground. I hear The Saker in my ears as he has said so many times to me: “We Gotto Wait.” So, wait before you post and consider if your post is adding some value, or not.”
Keep the comments clean and sourced – leave the silly sloganeering behind. It does not fit here.
The worm has turned on Erdogan’s military again.
Sarakibe is in Syrian hands. Syrian and Hezbollah troops, taking heavy casualties and losses, fought to regain the city and control of M4-M5 highways junction.
Russian military police have already moved in to secure the nexus.
https://cont.ws/@Akbar/1599569
Yandex translation:
Russian military police entered in the Sarakibe
Today 18:43 0 17
The Russian military will provide security during the movement of vehicles and civilians along the routes of the M4 – M5
MOSCOW, March 2. /TASS/. The military police of the Russian Federation introduced in the Syrian Sarakibe to ensure the safety and unhindered movement of vehicles and civilians along the routes of the M4 – M5, told reporters on Monday at the Russian Centre for reconciliation the warring parties in Syria.
“Given the importance to ensure the safety and unhindered movement of vehicles and civilians along the routes of the M4 – M5, from 17:00 on March 2, 2020 in the city of Sarakibe deployed Russian military police”, – told in the center.
https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/7…
Surely also the Russian Air Force are supporting Syrian Arab Army SAA to regain control of Saraqeb, and also support the SAA offensive in Southern Idlib province . There has been no giving in to Erdogan and his threats of NATO involvement, Russia keep a straight course in this conflict as a legitimate actor in Syria according to international law. Turkey, NATO and USA are the insurgent invasion occupant actor there with their proxy armies supplied in the north by Turkey now also by military occupation of this part of Syria. The international law in this conflict will never change, and the illegal mercenary armies have to be disarmed and returned to Turkey and other actors who facilitated this, that is the only outcome and the hope is that Turkey realize this the sooner the better.