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The Turkish military has boosted its naval group in the Eastern Mediterranean as the battle of Idlib is looming in Syria, Turkey’s pro-government daily Yeni Safak reported on September 2. According to the daily, “Turkey, which previously had 10 warships in the region, dispatched several more naval vessels to the region, the exact number of which is unknown.”
The daily also recalled multiple remarks by the Turkish authorities claiming that the Idlib offensive by the Syrian Army will be disaster and lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.
The report comes amid the ongoing Russian naval drills in the same area, which started on September 1 and will continue until September 8.
It should be noted that on August 31 Turkey finally designated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a new brad of Jabhat al-Nusra – the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, as a terrorist group. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is the most powerful group in the militant stronghold of Idlib in northwestern Syria.
Ankara’s move followed a similar decision by the US State Department made on May 31. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham brand was crated by Jabhat al-Nusra in the framework of a series of efforts to hide the terrorist group’s essence, on February 8, 2017. So, both the US and Turkey needed more than a year to admit an open secret of the Syrian war. Most likely, this took such significant amount of time because these moves are an open admission that the so-called Idlib opposition is terrorists or allied with them.
On September 4, US President Donald Trump warned the Syrian government against combating terrorists in Idlib.
“President Bashar al-Assad of Syria must not recklessly attack Idlib Province. The Russians and Iranians would be making a grave humanitarian mistake to take part in this potential human tragedy. Hundreds of thousands of people could be killed. Don’t let that happen!” Trump wrote on his Twitter page.
This as well as previous threats by the US-led bloc to punish Syria for active actions against terrorist groups in west of the country are described by the Damascus government as rough efforts to prolong the war, to overthrow the country’s government and to defend Israeli interests.
“The Syrian people and the Syrian government want the crisis to end today. However, it is impossible because of external interference led by the US,” Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem recently said in an interview with the Russian state media adding that “this interference satisfies the interests of Israel and runs counter to those of the Syrian people.” He added that the US goal “is to prolong the crisis.”
The militant held areas in western Syria and the heavy influence of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other terrorist group in the area have become the main point of the attention in the conflict since liberation of southern Syria from militants by government forces this summer. The defeat of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Idlib will mark a de-facto victory of the Damascus government over al-Qaeda-like terrorist groups often described by the mainstream media and Western diplomats as opposition and will open way to a peaceful solution of the crisis. However, far from all foreign powers involved in the standoff are interested in this.
Additional info about the israeli attack on Syria today is available.
Syrian Air Defenses Down Several Missiles Fired by Israeli Warplanes – Reports
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201809041067744451-hama-explosions-syria/
“Eight people were wounded in Israeli air strikes on Syria’s Tartus province, the SANA news agency reported citing hospital officials. Earlier Tuesday, the agency said citing hospital officials one person was killed and four others were wounded.”
See previous Southfront entry for earlier reporting.
Assad owned S-300 could have downed one or some of these Israeli jets.
Exactly. That’s why they won’t get them.
please The Saker, read this:
according to my theory that US coalition will play his final game only after Idlib re-conquered by Assad forces (West Syria vs East Syria), here are today’s news about that:
-SDF is closing all the bridges on the Euphrates river and declared area “closed military zone” https://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2018/5-september-deir-ezzur-sdf-forces-issue-an-order-to-close
-International coalition (US/UK/FR/Germany) continue to send military supply to Eastern SDF forces:
https://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2018/5-september-more-than-200-trucls-from-the-international-coalition
this means US already know Idlib is done, they will not interfere with the process of reunification (thanks to Russian Ops in the Mediterranean sea). U.S. will continue to sabotage with drones and air attacks but it’s only a strategy to take time while backing up SDF for the final step of the war: West vs East negotiation..
during the last 3 days there is always a news about trucks supply for SDF forces..
The neocons of the zionazi-gay colonial quisling trump regime repeat their threats to attack Syria again.
US Vows to Respond to ‘Swiftly and Appropriately’ if Assad Uses Chemical Weapons
https://sputniknews.com/world/201809041067748948-us-reponse-assad-chemical-weapons/
Russian response to the threat from trump on Monday:
‘Terrorists entrenched there’: Kremlin rebukes Trump’s warning against Idlib offensive
https://www.rt.com/news/437628-kremlin-trump-idlib-syria/
My guess is the neocon cw false flag op is still on.
That is stunning… such US political cowardice.
Situation on the ground is quite clear: the Anglo Zionists axis have been defeated.
What do they intend to achieve with the cw gimmick ?
Russia and Iran already stated they are the victor.
Russia moved ships to deter any US intervention.
The Anglo zionist will achieve nothing with limited strikes without full scale escalation.
Do they think someone will believe that the Anglo zionist will launch direct full scale war against Syria, Iran and Russia ? Or is that only pathetic bluffing from the West backed by nothing ?
My take is that it is only show and most pathetic pretending for gullible internal audience and corrupt allies (ksa, israel) alike :
“see we did all we could even staging false flag, shouting threats and launching missiles. Without success. We lost that war despite our best effort”.
To sum it up : that is only political show and pretending for the benefit of defeated internal constituencies supporting war and disapointed allies.
That is usual Western nonsensical politician cowardice and power play.
Not even being able to take reponsibility with dignity.
But makes no mistakes. Nobody buys it.
The defeat is humiliating and stinging.
My goodness !!! Trump expressing concern for the safety of civilians in Idlib. For a moment I thought he was expressing concern for the well being of ISIS.
Now the
at the final showdown has begun it would be interesting to see how two American “wunderwaffen” namely the F 22 if in the theater and the F 35 will prevail against
the Russian air defenses. As a remainder: The Golan heights are Syrian territory albeit under enemy occupation. A downed Israeli or “coalition air asset” would still count a legitimate defense of Syrian airspace.
Putin is proving himself finally. no turning the other check, no bowing and scraping and compromising to avoid war. this is it. the Israeli/American crap stops here.
a huge risk was always involved..could not, cannot be avoided. the opposition must stand up at some point. this is it for Putin/Russia
How stupid and arrogant! Warning the Syrians not to attack the terrorists in their own country! Like dog, the US sticks its nose everywhere.
It looks like Trump and Washington after 17 years of bombing ME to the stoneage and threats of pre-emptive nukes on Russia and NK, finally have come to their senses.
Washington demonstrate here a heart for avoiding a human tragedy in Idlib and the human rights for hundreds of thousands of civilians in favour of diplomacy and entering into a peace dialogue between the parties.
Better late than never Trump.
What would stop a false flag spergout is a stern warning, that a similar attack would occur immediately in tel aviv or jerusalem in responce.
“We just returned your ordnance, be carefull with it next time around, that shyte can cause serious mental issues to TV viewers”
Only slightly off-topic, the U$ / Israel / Saudi invasion of Yemen is not going too well either:
Yemeni army, allies hit Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Jizan border region
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/09/04/573195/Yemeni-army-allies-hit-Saudi-Aramco-facilities-in-Jizan-border-region
Saudi king’s brother blames monarch, heir for devastating Yemen conflict
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/09/04/573191/Saudi-kings-brother-blames-monarch-heir-for-devastating-Yemen-conflict
Russia has amassed large naval and air forces in the Mediterranean opposite the Syrian coast under the command of the Russian Navy commander Admiral Vladimir Korolov. 25 warships and 30 aircraft are involved in these extensive manoeuvres: Tu-160 bombers, Tu-142s, II38 anti-submarine, Su-33s and Su-30SMs, and other aircraft. The drill is announced to end one day after the Tehran Summit between presidents Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hassan Rouhani, to decide the fate and outcome of the battle of Idlib. This may indicate that Russia is about to provide huge firepower for the Syrian Army offensive in the north of Syria against jihadists, thus creating a shield for the dissuasion of a possible US tactical attack against Damascus.
Sources close to the leadership command in Syria said that there is no doubt that the battle of Idlib will take place, regardless of US threats. It will be divided into several steps. The first objective is to ensure the safety of the Russian Hameymeem military base on the Syrian coast that has been subject to several armed drone attacks, carried out by al-Nusra, aka Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the ex-al Qaeda in Syria, as claimed by Russia. This makes the rural Latakia area the first objective, followed by rural Idlib. Turkey has offered substantial information which has been added to Syrian intelligence and Russian information gathering. This has created a bank of objectives against HTS, Tanzim Hurras al-Deen (THD) and all the other jihadists and foreign fighters in the city and its rural area.
https://ejmagnier.com/2018/09/03/will-the-battle-of-idlib-start-while-russian-task-force-is-in-the-mediterranean/
Incredible that we in the west sit back and watch the neocon thugs of US/UK governments support and sponsor this jihadist scum in Syria. They have no business being in Syria in the first place with their faux humanitarian concerns for the welfare of the Syrian people. Once more America leads the sheeple into yet another disastrous stage managed situation which could end in a nuclear confrontation. This reckless behaviour endorsed by their allies with their passive and controlled MSM outlets needs to be confronted sooner rather than later if we wish to remain alive on this planet.
Trickster Trump is barking even louder than the Politburo – a good sign for Syria! Meanwhile in the real world…
” The only clear deal is that al Qaeda groups are terrorists by all countries now, including Turkey that named them a terrorist organization just 3 days ago.
That is a main shift and it empowers Syria and its allies to bring war against them all in NW Syria, meaning the de escalation zone can not become a safe heaven for al Qaeda. Turkey is struggling to separate “good and bad terrorists” in Idlib.
The offensive will start soon, and reports indicate Turkey tipped Russia on key areas where al Qaeda keep ammo depots and warehouses. Only when the battle starts we will really see what Turkish role on those CPs, by now it is either not known or irrelevant.
This offensive is basically fully supported by Russia, China and Iran, and it is also known that UAE and KSA are in agreement to, so all the media rhetoric on CW blah blah is just spasms from defeated regimes against the Syrian Government, I do not doubt those regimes attempt a CW false flag, they love to repeat their MO “ad nauseam” so they may try it, but can guarantee the response from China and Russia will be strong in the UNSC, the global situation has shifted for good, and we will see it clearly in all levels of military and politics, this is the final downhill moment from the NWO, from late 2018 until 2023 a lot will change in global geopolitics.” (Canthama)
Kevork Almassian, based in Germany, has some of the best reporting on Syria. Here his take on the upcoming Idlib offensive (2018-09-03):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8QZB_BKm8I
RT – Live
Trump warns Assad against “reckless” attack on Idlib
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzYqFtM66P8