Sadly tonight western media etc been bigging up and talking about chlorine bombs where the rus helicopter shot down………….RT reporting UN cannot confirm …..nothing onTass yet…..unsure of the validity of where it originated…..syrian perspective latest article reporting 800″rodents” rebels have been killed by SAA and rus forces, incl 5 regional commanders….
thank you mod.
sky news reporting 10pm interviewing a uk medical person who may have been?? in Saraqeb in rebel held area, not sure it was a bit quick ….says seen chlorine victims before, presumes or says helicopter at night dropped barrel bomb, vid no dates I could see or verification shows only one male victim but claims are many more women and children, person and sky refers back to “previous” chemical attacks, blaming Assad….is it percievable rebels gas their own prisoners for example?
check out
Here in Australia the ‘multicultural’ SBS news service has operated openly as a propaganda organ for the jihadists in Syria from the beginning of the takfiri onslaught. There is NO pretense of objectivity, just hissing of ‘regime’ and ‘Assad’ with the now typical semi-hysterical intensity. The Qatari Wahhabist propaganda sewer, al-Jazeera, is favoured for the lies of the day, the jihadist propaganda narrative is broadcast without question, jihadists are described as ‘activists’ and the loathsome ‘White Helmets’ are not identified as an al-Qaeda front, a fact that any student of this giant crime has long known.
Tonight’s ‘daily hate’ against Syria was typical. The latest lie about chlorine dropped from ‘regime’ or Russian helicopters, with the usual phony propaganda broadcast from the latest phony hospital (I worked in them for years, and you can spot the fakery immediately)with a narrative utterly and despicably dishonest, still lying about the Ghouta false-flag sarin attack, blaming the Syrian Government, and actually using the terms ‘bio-warfare’ and ‘chemical weapons’ inter-changeably. The latter I thought must be rank stupidity, but now I wonder if it is some way to plant another lying narrative into the public mind.
Needless to say in this brain-dead and morally bankrupt country, this anti-Syrian, pro-jihadist position is uniform across the entire MSM. Yet we, at the same time, still whine and moan about ‘jihadist terror’ and no-one dares notice, let alone comment on, the cognitive dissonance. Without doubt, however, the public is being softened up for war in Syria and with Russia. Nothing is plainer, and the lemmings seem quite keen on mass extinction.
anna-news reports
“Urgently! Terrorist gas attack in Aleppo 02.08.2016
02.08.2016 Today, the Old Aleppo was subjected to a gas attack by militants. Toxic substances were used in the area of Al-square Sahet Aumit. According to preliminary information blow came from the area of Bab al-Hadibo. Where deployed Niriddin group al-Zina. Presumably mustard or nerve gas was used. At the moment, the number of deaths – up to 10 people, injured (poisoning) of about 20.
According to an eyewitness, the day before the terrorists dug a tunnel in the side of the government troops. The Syrian army has undermined it. There are containers with toxic substances. One after another, killed 5 soldiers, who went down under the earth. Just got poisoning the rescuers who arrived at the gas attack.
Today 02.08.2016. Old Aleppo was attacked with gas by terrorists . Toxic substances were used in the area of Al-square Sahet Aumit. According to preliminary information strike came from the area of Bab al-Hadibo. Where locates terroristic group Harakat Nour al- Din al-Zenki. Presumably mustard or nerve gas was used. At the moment, the number of deaths – up to 10 people, Injured (poisoning) 20.
According to an eyewitness, the day the before the Terrorists Dug tunnel Towards Government Troops. The Syrian army has blown it. There are containers with toxic substances. One after another, killed 5 soldiers, who went down under the earth . Just got poisoning the rescuers who arrived at the gas attack.” http://www.anna-news.info/node/61977
You can catalogue the reports – but at this stage – step back and reflect what people will believe.
The media did too much of a good PR job on ISIS!!! The reports of their crimes run so deep in the public that anyone that takes them on and wipes them out gets support. It’s only the politicians tgat talk about moderate rebels, the public see terrorists
and with the attacks in Europe – there is very little sympathy for jihadis.
proof rebels are detonating massive bombs in their tunnels, maybe to get though to SAA, lay traps etc, maybe where they store and use chemical weapons of theirs………..
paragraph under today’s AUG 3 Ziad offering, analyzing Aleppo battle these past 4 days; just remember he freely engages in embellishment when details are missing, like 2 weeks ago when he claimed Putin used air-delivered tactical battlefield nukes there:
The suicide attackers were all incinerated before they could reach their destinations and the tunnel explosion was a fiasco as it managed to only kill a few rodents who reportedly had to correct some malfunction in the detonation mechanism resulting in an earlier than expected BOOM! So sad, really.
MOSCOW, August 3. /TASS/. No offensive is planned in Syria’s Aleppo, and the current operation is exclusively humanitarian, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told TASS on Wednesday.
“We don’t have any other goals apart from alleviating the humanitarian situation for Aleppo residents and creating conditions for expanding the regime of cessation of hostilities. Neither an offensive by the Syrian forces nor air strikes of Russian Aerospace Defense Forces’ group are planned in Aleppo,” Ryabkov said.
There are serious opportunities for plugging international humanitarian organizations and some countries into the operation to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Aleppo, Ryabkov said.
“The main problem is what is happening in Aleppo and around it,” the diplomat said. “We have launched a humanitarian operation together with the Syrian government forces. Corridors have been created for civilians and the gunmen who are prepared to lay down arms. Some part of the population has already taken this opportunity to leave the city.”
“We have serious opportunities in terms of involvement of international organizations and some countries in supporting this operation,” Ryabkov said.
READ ALSO
Kremlin spokesman: Humanitarian situation in Syria’s Aleppo dramatic
Russian center: Convoy will deliver over 18 tons of humanitarian aid to Aleppo
Russian planes deliver selective strikes at militant positions near Aleppo — General Staff
Three humanitarian corridors organized for civilians fleeing Aleppo
Russian defense ministry is optimistic about reaction to humanitarian operation in Aleppo
The diplomat noted that US and other members of the anti-terrorist coalition are politicizing the situation in Aleppo and paint it in a false light. “The situation is rather complicated now because, as far we understand, US will not decide to support us in this matter, and they have no understanding on where to move from here,” he added.
“We note with concern that the ‘party of war’ exists not only among opponents of the Bashar Assad’s government in the Middle East, but also in Washington,” he concluded.
On July 28 Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that Russian and Syrian militaries are starting a large-scale humanitarian operation in Aleppo. Four humanitarian corridors will be established there. Civilians will be able to leave Aleppo via three corridors, while one more corridor may be used by militants who wish to lay down arms. The defense minister also ordered to airdrop food, medicaments and necessities to civilians in Aleppo.
Accusations for chemical attack near Aleppo
Ryabkov said that it is premature so far to blame anybody for the recent chemical attack near Aleppo in Syria
READ ALSO
Kremlin rejects report on alleged gas use in area of attack on Russian helicopter in Syria
“Unlike the US administration, which, having received a primary signal from, perhaps, a not entirely neutral source that claimed that barrel bombs with chemical agents were dropped, is trying to generalize something on this basis and draw far-reaching conclusions, we will refrain from this,” the deputy minister said on the sidelines of a forum of young diplomats at the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.
“Without the understanding of what actually happened, it would be irresponsible to bring any accusations against anyone,” the diplomat said. “We don’t know what really happened. We know that the terrorists, feeling that things are getting hot for them, are ready to resort to any kind of provocations against the Syrian troops, pretenses, attempts to assign both to us and the Syrian government forces the actions that bear no relation to reality.”
The diplomat said he regretted Washington’s haphazard approach to the issue of the possible use of chemical weapons near Aleppo. “Washington tries at the slightest pretext to put the blame on Damascus. The political goal of this is obvious – to create difficulties to the government of Bashar Assad and make him make excuses,” he added. “It’s not fight against terrorism, but sheer geopolitics.”
The Syrian government has reported that “terrorist groups” carried out a gas attack that killed five people in the old town of the besieged city of Aleppo on Tuesday afternoon, according to the state-run news agency SANA.
Results of Geneva consultations on Syria
Military and political results were achieved on Syria at the Geneva talks between Russian and US experts but Washington once again tries to revise agreements, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister also said.
READ ALSO
Kremlin rejects reports on preparations for military operation in Aleppo
“Military-political results were achieved but, unfortunately, something that happens all the time lately has happened again – precisely, Washington’s attempts to revise agreements reached at the negotiations table,” Ryabkov said.
“As soon as new results are reached, new requests, demands, recommendations emerge on the next day,” the diplomat added. “When US colleagues start to feel that we are not ready to change, clarify or adjust anything on Washington’s first demand, the nature of such demands immediately transforms into ultimatums,” he continued. “This destroys everything that has been so hard to achieve on the military track and with the help of foreign ministries,” the deputy foreign minister concluded.
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950513001233
AUG3
TEHRAN (FNA)- Jeish al-Fatah gathered over 9,000 terrorists to prevail over the Syrian Army positions and open a way into the militant-held districts in the Eastern parts of Aleppo city but failed and pulled its forces back after sustaining scores of casualties.
Jeish al-Fatah suffered a heavy death toll after its forces failed to break through the army strongholds in New Aleppo district.
Jeish al-Fatah also stormed government defense lines in al-Hamdaniyeh and box-making plant in the Western side of Aleppo and al-Ramousiyeh Southwest of the city.
Anti Assad group Syria Defence Group now Local Cordination Committee of Syria
claiming again as did last year Assad using napalm ….whereas it might have been the result of a fuel production facility being hit……others jumping on this bandwagon? Sorry cannot paste link from uk really “reliable” daily mail……things getting desparate now for the anti Assad’s???????
Moscow says it had warned Washington about the use of toxic shells by a US-backed “moderate” militant group before the Tuesday attack that killed seven people and injured over 20 more in Syria’s Aleppo.
On Wednesday, Lieutenant-General Sergey Chvarkov, the director of the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria, said the information was given to the US on Monday, a day prior to the attack.
The Russian Ministry of Defense also confirmed that the attack in Aleppo was launched by a Takfiri terrorist group.
changes here? Not had to time to properly read and digest
“Russia stands a pretty good chance of attracting the Gulf Cooperation Council countries’ support while resolving the Syrian crisis. For its part, Riyadh has signaled recently that it is interested in building close relations with Moscow regardless of a difference of opinion on the Syrian crisis.
Russia’s charm offensive launched by President Vladimir Putin in the Gulf back in 2012 has borne fruit, according to Samuel Ramani, a DPhil candidate in International Relations at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford.
“Through stronger investment linkages and diplomatic overtures, Russia has attempted to carve out a more prominent geopolitical role in the Persian Gulf… Stronger relations between Moscow and Saudi Arabia’s closest allies have caused some GCC [the Gulf Cooperation Council] countries to be more receptive to Russia’s calls for a political solution in Syria. Saudi Arabia’s fear of being isolated from the Arab world’s consensus could cause Riyadh to eventually soften its belligerent anti-Assad approach and diplomatically reengage with Russia,” Ramani writes in his article for The National Interest.
Initially, Riyadh regarded Russia’s charm offensive as motivated by Moscow’s economic interests, Ramani notes, citing Mark N. Katz of George Mason University. Russia’s efforts to engage GCC countries on achieving a political resolution on Syria have caught Saudi Arabia by surprise.
Moscow has created a coalition together with Oman, Kuwait and the UAE to counter the Saudi-Qatari bloc, the British scholar explains.
Furthermore, given Russia’s “strengthening of ties” with Algeria, Iraq and Egypt, Moscow stands a good chance of swinging the balance in its favor during the peace talks on Syria.
“Should [Vladimir Putin] succeed, Saudi Arabia and Qatar could risk regional isolation if they do not moderate their intransigent opposition to Assad,” Ramani underscores.
At the same time, in light of Ankara’s change of heart toward Moscow it is unlikely that Saudi Arabia would risk its relations with Turkey to strike back at Russia.
Meanwhile, signs continue to emerge showing Riyadh’s apparent intent to improve Saudi-Russian relations.
On Sunday Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir stressed that “the differences of opinion with Russia regarding the Syrian crisis do not impact the level of cooperation.”
“Both sides are carrying on coordinating and consulting on the matter in order to converge approaches to the problem,” al-Jubeir said, as quoted by the Al Riyadh newspaper.
Citing al-Jubeir the monarchy’s daily Saudi Gazette wrote Monday that the Gulf kingdom is interested in building “best relations” with Russia.
“He [Adel al-Jubeir] said that a number of agreements have been signed between the two sides, including cooperation in the field of oil and energy and enhancement of joint investments in addition to constructive cooperation in the field of combating terrorism, noting the efforts being exerted to achieve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” the media outlet underscored.
Al-Jubeir’s latest statement that Riyadh still wants to improve Russo-Saudi relations may indicate the Gulf kingdom’s intention either to give its Western allies the shivers, or to create differences between Moscow and Tehran, the scholar suggests.
However, according to Ramani, Riyadh’s “hostility” toward Russia is overstated. In reality, “Riyadh’s overarching agenda is to reduce its security dependence on the United States and maintain Saudi Arabia’s position as the Arab world’s most influential country.”
“Therefore, Saudi Arabia is likely to respond favorably to Russian diplomatic overtures if Putin can build a broad-based Arab coalition around a political solution to the Syrian crisis that includes Assad,” the British scholar emphasizes.”
extract
“Eastern and Central European states have sold weapons worth $1.3 million to the Middle East, with some arms shipments ending in the hands of “Syrian mercenaries,” including al-Nusra Front and Daesh, but these countries have refused to welcome refugees fleeing violence that they have helped to fuel, Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten (DWN) asserted.
This business is so lucrative that Eastern and Central European states approved arms export licenses “despite ample evidence that weapons are being diverted to Syrian and other armed groups accused of widespread human rights abuses and atrocities,” researchers observed.These licenses are supposed to guarantee where weapons end up and do not allow arms re-transfer to third parties. Yet this is exactly what has happened.
The arms shipments from Eastern and Central European countries to Syria rebels have only made matters worse in the country plagued by five and a half years of violence. They have “greatly contributed” to hundreds of thousands dying and millions fleeing to neighboring countries and Europe, DWN noted.
Moreover, the newspaper is convinced that the refugee crisis that European Union has struggled to resolve “could not have reached its current scale without” arms shipments from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia and Romania.
Some of these countries, like Serbia, have firsthand experience of what the massive wave of refugees unseen since World War II has done to communities in the Balkans and Europe. Some of them, like the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania, have refused to resettle asylum seekers on their territory, at least in the amounts that will make a difference.
Consider this: Germany welcomed approximately 1 million refugees in 2015 alone, while Sweden approved nearly 100,000 applications.’
How the heck the rebels manage to obtain their incredible amounts of shells and ammo etc, was it not just lying around to be picked up? Has Syria any way of tracing back ammunition suppliers and claim suppliers are supporting terrorists?Hmm.
“A detailed investigation has found that at least $1.3 billion-worth of Eastern European weapons and ammunition has been sold to Middle Eastern countries involved in the arming of jihadist rebels in Syria. Speaking to Radio Sputnik, Patrick Wilcken, a researcher in arms control at Amnesty, said he had no doubt whatsoever that the US is involved.
On Wednesday, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project published the results of a major inquiry into the flow of weapons from Eastern European countries to the Middle East, finding that since 2012, at least $1.3 billion-worth of weaponry and ammunition has been sold to countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, which then handed them over to militants in Syria and anti-Houthi forces in Yemen.
Wilcken noted that “what appears to be going on is that Eastern European countries that had large Cold War arms industries have been retooling these industries for the new conflicts in the Middle East.” What’s most alarming, he added, is the fact that “there was very limited trade into the Gulf from Eastern European countries before 2012, but thereafter that spiked.”
At the same time, the researcher emphasized that it was obvious that these Middle Eastern countries weren’t using the weapons to equip their own countries’ armies. Eastern European countries have provided regional countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Turkey with former Warsaw Pact standard weapons, despite the fact that all these countries use NATO standard weaponry. In other words, “there’s a very high risk there of diversion into the conflict zone.”
“We see across Iraq and Syria that it’s mainly Warsaw Pact standard equipment that’s being used by [Daesh] and other armed groups. So it’s very alarming that these countries are recklessly exporting into the Gulf, and there appears to be at least circumstantial evidence that those weapons are ending up in the hands of very violent armed groups,” the analyst noted.
Asked to comment on the arms trade from the standpoint of international law, the researcher noted that the evidence points to these arms sales being illegal. He pointed out that the “common thread” between the EU and international level legislation formally governing Eastern European countries’ behavior “is that arms cannot be transferred if there is substantial risk that they will end up being used to systematically violate human rights. In this instance, I think that the risks are very, very high. We have seen that there is a huge surplus of arms being used by these armed opposition groups, by Islamist extremist groups in the region.”
Wilcken also emphasized that one of the more concerning aspects to this case was the fact that the trade is so out in the open. “There is a very small covert trade around the world, which is often very concerning, but [then] you have this massive overt trade by the big traders, often into situations where there is a very high risk that the weapons will be used to destabilize regions and systematically violate human rights.”
At the same time, the researcher added, “virtually all producers and suppliers of weapons are involved here.” For instance, “Iran and Russia have consistently supplied the Assad regime. Over thirty states have supplied Iraq…So while the US and the EU are major players, and I think there has to be far more stringent accountability and oversight mechanisms, many other states are involved.”
For the fairness sake, Wilcken did not mention that while Russia and Iran are involved in the supply of weapons to Syria, those supplies are based on state-to-state contracts which are perfectly legal under international law. The trade that these Eastern European countries appear to be engaged in, on the other hand, is the supply of weapons to Middle Eastern governments that then transfer them to anti-Syrian government militias, including Daesh and the Nusra Front.”
MOSCOW, August 4. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has called on the Western mass media to recognize crimes of Syria’s ‘moderate opposition.’
READ ALSO
Kremlin spokesman: Humanitarian situation in Syria’s Aleppo dramatic
Washington’s and its allies’ turning a blind eye on the crimes of Syria’s so-called ‘opposition,’ including the use of poisonous substances against living quarters, devaluates Western diplomat’s calls for stopping bloodshed in that country, Maria Zakharova wrote on her Facebook account on Thursday.
Chief of Russia’s center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria Sergei Chvarkov said earlier that in the eastern districts of the city of Aleppo, poisonous substances were used at a living quarte controlled by the Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki group which is affiliated with the so-called moderate opposition by the United States.
As a result of this terrorist attack, seven people died and more than 20 were evacuated to Aleppo’s hospitals with suffocation and inhalation burns.
Responsibility for this crime against civilian population rests with the “moderate” group Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki, which has been accused of numerous murders of children and women in Aleppo more than once, Zakharova stressed.
“These beasts who used poisonous substances against civilians are supported by the United State,” she wrote.
The Russian reconciliation center has informed the U.S. side about the incident, she noted.
READ ALSO
Russian defense ministry says terrorists block exit of civilians from eastern Aleppo
Russian diplomat: No air strikes or offensive operations planned in Syria’s Aleppo
Russian planes deliver selective strikes at militant positions near Aleppo — General Staff
Russian defense ministry is optimistic about reaction to humanitarian operation in Aleppo
Kremlin rejects reports on preparations for military operation in Aleppo
Not the first tragedy
“But, regrettably, it was not the only tragedy which the Washington-backed ‘moderate’ opposition is involved in,” the Russian diplomat noted. “It is yet another example. Armed groups of the Syrian Democratic Forces have actually blocked the city of Membij in the province of Aleppo. Moreover, militants of this ‘opposition’ group are conducting combat operations in the city’s living quarters causing numerous casualties among civilians.”
And in the meantime, according to Zakharova, the U.S. air forces and the U.S.-led coalition, which support the Syrian Democratic Forces, are delivering air strikes at the city’s districts rather than at concrete Islamic State facilities.
No negotiations are conducted with armed groups blocked in that city, she stressed. “It entails more loss of life among civilians,” she underscored.
“The only episode of civilians’ exodus from Membij on July 19, 2016 was marred by an incident when a refugee column came under air strike hurting about 200 people,” Zakharova said. “No preventive steps are being taken by the United States and the Syrian Democratic Forces to avoid human deaths.”
Truth in the media
READ ALSO
Russian mission: Terrorists respond with atrocities to humanitarian aid to Aleppo
If the Western partners, first of all in Washington, keep on turning a blind eye on these facts, “any talks on ‘stopping bloodshed in Syria’ will be simply absurd,” the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman noted. “I hope that the Western mass media (all of them, not only Mathew Lee) find enough courage to write about crimes committed by the ‘moderate’ opposition and their sources of financing. My words are addressed to you, The New York Time, Le Figaro, Bild, and to all who regularly cites the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.”
“Especially to Bild, which has declared a boycott only to news about achievements of the Russian team at the Rio Olympics. I hope the tabloid finds room for a couple of paragraphs about atrocities of the ‘moderate opposition’ in Syria. A couple of passages of truth has never hurt anyone yet,” Zakharova underscored.
extract
“The Syrian government and the opposition should sit at the negotiating table and to start a serious discussion on the proposal of the UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura, said Russia’s permanent representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin. “Staffan de Mistura worked very hard, had prepared some documents, and we think that they need to discuss the parties, but for this they need to get together, sit down at a table and start a serious conversation. If this happens, I think, after all these years of hard work and efforts of the international community may be the result. ”
The number of settlements that have joined the reconciliation process has increased to 341. The number of armed groups that have declared their commitment to the terms of the cessation of hostilities has increased to 69. The
cessation of hostilities during the day was observed in most provinces of the Syrian Arab Republic. During the day, recorded 9 violations in the provinces of Damascus (6), Latakia (2) and Hama (1).
The Russian VKS and Air Force Syria opposition militias, have declared a cessation of hostilities and to report to the Russian or American centers reconciliation information about their location, strikes are not applied.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the US side about the fact of the use of chemical weapons by militants group “Harakat Nur al-Din al-Zina”, which the United States belongs to the moderate opposition.
“August 2, 2016 at 19 hours 05 minutes in the eastern part of the city of Aleppo from the area Sukkari controlled militants group “Harakat Nur al-Din al-Zina”, which the United States belongs to the so-called “moderate opposition”, in a residential quarter, located next to Plaza Sahat-Saldana near Salah al-Din, were used poison gas, “- said Lieutenant-General Sergei Chvarkov. He also said the seven killed in this attack and 23 were hospitalized with symptoms of breathlessness and respiratory tract burns.
Impacts United States Air Force on Syria over the past few weeks caused the deaths of dozens of civilians. Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations (UN) Eugene Zagaynov called the situation in the Middle East depressing. Zagaynov expressed serious concern over the destruction of schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure. Of particular danger, in his words, armed conflicts pose to children. Situations when minors are targeted, Zagaynov called modern barbarism.
According to the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a result of the bombing of the village of El Ghandur July 28 killed 45 civilians, another 50 were injured. And on July 19 United States aircraft bombed the village Tuhan al-Kubra: according to the news agency “SANA”, the victims were 300 Syrians. In late July, dozens of people were killed in an attack on a village north of the city manbij.
Terrorists in every way impede the exit of civilians from the eastern part of Aleppo, said the head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria, Lieutenant General Sergei Chvarkov.
“The terrorists in every way impede the exit of the population of the east part of the city of Aleppo, threatening to shoot any civilians or public execution. There are reports of the preparation of children and women as suicide bombers to carry out terrorist acts. From controlled by illegal armed groups Aleppo districts for humanitarian corridors left 372 civilians, including 76 children, laid down its arms 94 militants, 203 needy receive skilled medical care. Only on Tuesday the eastern districts of Aleppo have left 48 people, while the Syrian authorities surrendered 12 militants, “- Chvarkov said.
US President’s Press Secretary Josh Ernest expressed his regret that the Russian military allegedly paid a substantial part of its attention, resources, time and energy support “regime” (Syrian President Bashar) Assad. “We certainly believe that priority should be given to defeat the extremists” – said Ernest to a question about US readiness to bomb with the Russian position extremist group “Dzhebhat en-Nusra” in Syria.
“But, unfortunately, the military action by Russia I do not agree with this statement. The Russian military are paying a significant portion of their attention, resources, time and energy to support the regime (Syrian President Bashar) Assad. This only creates an additional chaos in Syria. We have long been saying that such an approach would be welcomed in Russia, in which it would use its military strength not to support the Assad regime, but in order to fully concentrate on defeating the extremists – says Ernest. – If she had done so, the United States and our coalition partners would be prepared much more efficient to work with her. But as long as Russia refuses to do it, “- said Ernest. At the same time the US president’s press secretary chose not to hear the remark that in Syria now, in fact, is not the moderate opposition, the opposing forces of the government.
Reports of alleged chemical attacks in Syria are of serious concern, said the head of the diplomacy of the European Union Federica Mogherini, she also urged the parties to the conflict in Syria for an immediate cessation of fighting for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Aleppo and other remote areas, and the evacuation of affected civilians. “The EU again calls for the immediate humanitarian pause in the fighting to allow for evacuation for medical reasons, and deliver medicines, food and water in the eastern part of Aleppo and other precipitation and remote areas”, – said in a statement.
Also, the European Union called for the termination of attacks that harm civilians and civilian infrastructure, particularly health-care facilities, schools, markets and camps for internally displaced persons. According to a statement published on the EU website, “these (attacks) are a new kind of gross violations of international humanitarian law.” http://www.anna-news.info/node/62029
google translate
rest has regional lots of details
——————————————-
especially
“On August 1, 2016, the Syrian Army General Staff sounded a general alarm after receiving very accurate reports that the rodents, principally those affiliated with the Saudi child fetishist, ‘Abdullah Al-Muhaysini, were planning a huge offensive to break the siege of Aleppo which left thousands of cannibals inside the eastern part of this great northern capital adrift and without hope of succor or supply. Syrian Intelligence eavesdropped on hundreds of contacts from Turkey, primarily, Incirlik, Reyhanli, Adana and Gaziantep with British, American and Saudi imbeciles trying to organize the logistics for the operation. This is most interesting because it puts the Americans squarely on the side of Alqaeda, the same group which took down the twin towers in NYC.”
August 1 is the date Kerry gave as starting date for “a very different track” (in the US war on Syria).
This is probably not just a coincidence.. Despite the very large size of the “Great Battle of Aleppo” and its possibly decisive character for the war, neither the New York Times nor the Washington Post is reporting on it.
Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy told reporters in Geneva on Thursday that developments “in the next few days” could pave the way for Syria peace talks to resume by the end of this month.
A court in Turkey has issued an arrest warrant for Fethullah Gulen, a US-based opposition cleric blamed by the Ankara government for the failed military coup in the country last month.
The formal arrest warrant was issued on Thursday by an Istanbul-based court, with prosecutors accusing Gulen of having ordered the July 15 coup attempt.
Sadly tonight western media etc been bigging up and talking about chlorine bombs where the rus helicopter shot down………….RT reporting UN cannot confirm …..nothing onTass yet…..unsure of the validity of where it originated…..syrian perspective latest article reporting 800″rodents” rebels have been killed by SAA and rus forces, incl 5 regional commanders….
Here is a link. Mod:
http://tass.ru/en/politics/892022
thank you mod.
sky news reporting 10pm interviewing a uk medical person who may have been?? in Saraqeb in rebel held area, not sure it was a bit quick ….says seen chlorine victims before, presumes or says helicopter at night dropped barrel bomb, vid no dates I could see or verification shows only one male victim but claims are many more women and children, person and sky refers back to “previous” chemical attacks, blaming Assad….is it percievable rebels gas their own prisoners for example?
check out
http://news.sky.com/story/chlorine-gas-dropped-in-syria-say-rescuers-10520367
???
Here in Australia the ‘multicultural’ SBS news service has operated openly as a propaganda organ for the jihadists in Syria from the beginning of the takfiri onslaught. There is NO pretense of objectivity, just hissing of ‘regime’ and ‘Assad’ with the now typical semi-hysterical intensity. The Qatari Wahhabist propaganda sewer, al-Jazeera, is favoured for the lies of the day, the jihadist propaganda narrative is broadcast without question, jihadists are described as ‘activists’ and the loathsome ‘White Helmets’ are not identified as an al-Qaeda front, a fact that any student of this giant crime has long known.
Tonight’s ‘daily hate’ against Syria was typical. The latest lie about chlorine dropped from ‘regime’ or Russian helicopters, with the usual phony propaganda broadcast from the latest phony hospital (I worked in them for years, and you can spot the fakery immediately)with a narrative utterly and despicably dishonest, still lying about the Ghouta false-flag sarin attack, blaming the Syrian Government, and actually using the terms ‘bio-warfare’ and ‘chemical weapons’ inter-changeably. The latter I thought must be rank stupidity, but now I wonder if it is some way to plant another lying narrative into the public mind.
Needless to say in this brain-dead and morally bankrupt country, this anti-Syrian, pro-jihadist position is uniform across the entire MSM. Yet we, at the same time, still whine and moan about ‘jihadist terror’ and no-one dares notice, let alone comment on, the cognitive dissonance. Without doubt, however, the public is being softened up for war in Syria and with Russia. Nothing is plainer, and the lemmings seem quite keen on mass extinction.
Four Reasons Why Liberation of Aleppo Would Mean an End to the Syrian War
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160729/1043741993/aleppo-liberation-war-end.html
“Assad uses chlorine”, “Trump is Putin’s Siberian candidate”, note the desperation coming from the zio-gays spewing this nonsense.
anna-news reports
“Urgently! Terrorist gas attack in Aleppo 02.08.2016
02.08.2016 Today, the Old Aleppo was subjected to a gas attack by militants. Toxic substances were used in the area of Al-square Sahet Aumit. According to preliminary information blow came from the area of Bab al-Hadibo. Where deployed Niriddin group al-Zina. Presumably mustard or nerve gas was used. At the moment, the number of deaths – up to 10 people, injured (poisoning) of about 20.
According to an eyewitness, the day before the terrorists dug a tunnel in the side of the government troops. The Syrian army has undermined it. There are containers with toxic substances. One after another, killed 5 soldiers, who went down under the earth. Just got poisoning the rescuers who arrived at the gas attack.
Today 02.08.2016. Old Aleppo was attacked with gas by terrorists . Toxic substances were used in the area of Al-square Sahet Aumit. According to preliminary information strike came from the area of Bab al-Hadibo. Where locates terroristic group Harakat Nour al- Din al-Zenki. Presumably mustard or nerve gas was used. At the moment, the number of deaths – up to 10 people, Injured (poisoning) 20.
According to an eyewitness, the day the before the Terrorists Dug tunnel Towards Government Troops. The Syrian army has blown it. There are containers with toxic substances. One after another, killed 5 soldiers, who went down under the earth . Just got poisoning the rescuers who arrived at the gas attack.”
http://www.anna-news.info/node/61977
You can catalogue the reports – but at this stage – step back and reflect what people will believe.
The media did too much of a good PR job on ISIS!!! The reports of their crimes run so deep in the public that anyone that takes them on and wipes them out gets support. It’s only the politicians tgat talk about moderate rebels, the public see terrorists
and with the attacks in Europe – there is very little sympathy for jihadis.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3720661/Dramatic-moment-huge-blast-tunnel-bomb-laid-rebel-forces-rips-Aleppo-fresh-wave-attacks.html
proof rebels are detonating massive bombs in their tunnels, maybe to get though to SAA, lay traps etc, maybe where they store and use chemical weapons of theirs………..
http://www.anna-news.info/node/61978
rus language vid of liberated parts of Aleppo
paragraph under today’s AUG 3 Ziad offering, analyzing Aleppo battle these past 4 days; just remember he freely engages in embellishment when details are missing, like 2 weeks ago when he claimed Putin used air-delivered tactical battlefield nukes there:
http://syrianperspective.com/2016/08/terrorist-attack-crushed-in-aleppo-city-liberated-canthama-reports-on-the-terrorists-offensive-in-western-aleppo-and-the-fate-of-the-war-of-aggression-against-syria.html
The suicide attackers were all incinerated before they could reach their destinations and the tunnel explosion was a fiasco as it managed to only kill a few rodents who reportedly had to correct some malfunction in the detonation mechanism resulting in an earlier than expected BOOM! So sad, really.
MOSCOW, August 3. /TASS/. No offensive is planned in Syria’s Aleppo, and the current operation is exclusively humanitarian, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told TASS on Wednesday.
“We don’t have any other goals apart from alleviating the humanitarian situation for Aleppo residents and creating conditions for expanding the regime of cessation of hostilities. Neither an offensive by the Syrian forces nor air strikes of Russian Aerospace Defense Forces’ group are planned in Aleppo,” Ryabkov said.
There are serious opportunities for plugging international humanitarian organizations and some countries into the operation to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Aleppo, Ryabkov said.
“The main problem is what is happening in Aleppo and around it,” the diplomat said. “We have launched a humanitarian operation together with the Syrian government forces. Corridors have been created for civilians and the gunmen who are prepared to lay down arms. Some part of the population has already taken this opportunity to leave the city.”
“We have serious opportunities in terms of involvement of international organizations and some countries in supporting this operation,” Ryabkov said.
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The diplomat noted that US and other members of the anti-terrorist coalition are politicizing the situation in Aleppo and paint it in a false light. “The situation is rather complicated now because, as far we understand, US will not decide to support us in this matter, and they have no understanding on where to move from here,” he added.
“We note with concern that the ‘party of war’ exists not only among opponents of the Bashar Assad’s government in the Middle East, but also in Washington,” he concluded.
On July 28 Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that Russian and Syrian militaries are starting a large-scale humanitarian operation in Aleppo. Four humanitarian corridors will be established there. Civilians will be able to leave Aleppo via three corridors, while one more corridor may be used by militants who wish to lay down arms. The defense minister also ordered to airdrop food, medicaments and necessities to civilians in Aleppo.
Accusations for chemical attack near Aleppo
Ryabkov said that it is premature so far to blame anybody for the recent chemical attack near Aleppo in Syria
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Kremlin rejects report on alleged gas use in area of attack on Russian helicopter in Syria
“Unlike the US administration, which, having received a primary signal from, perhaps, a not entirely neutral source that claimed that barrel bombs with chemical agents were dropped, is trying to generalize something on this basis and draw far-reaching conclusions, we will refrain from this,” the deputy minister said on the sidelines of a forum of young diplomats at the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.
“Without the understanding of what actually happened, it would be irresponsible to bring any accusations against anyone,” the diplomat said. “We don’t know what really happened. We know that the terrorists, feeling that things are getting hot for them, are ready to resort to any kind of provocations against the Syrian troops, pretenses, attempts to assign both to us and the Syrian government forces the actions that bear no relation to reality.”
The diplomat said he regretted Washington’s haphazard approach to the issue of the possible use of chemical weapons near Aleppo. “Washington tries at the slightest pretext to put the blame on Damascus. The political goal of this is obvious – to create difficulties to the government of Bashar Assad and make him make excuses,” he added. “It’s not fight against terrorism, but sheer geopolitics.”
The Syrian government has reported that “terrorist groups” carried out a gas attack that killed five people in the old town of the besieged city of Aleppo on Tuesday afternoon, according to the state-run news agency SANA.
Results of Geneva consultations on Syria
Military and political results were achieved on Syria at the Geneva talks between Russian and US experts but Washington once again tries to revise agreements, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister also said.
READ ALSO
Kremlin rejects reports on preparations for military operation in Aleppo
“Military-political results were achieved but, unfortunately, something that happens all the time lately has happened again – precisely, Washington’s attempts to revise agreements reached at the negotiations table,” Ryabkov said.
“As soon as new results are reached, new requests, demands, recommendations emerge on the next day,” the diplomat added. “When US colleagues start to feel that we are not ready to change, clarify or adjust anything on Washington’s first demand, the nature of such demands immediately transforms into ultimatums,” he continued. “This destroys everything that has been so hard to achieve on the military track and with the help of foreign ministries,” the deputy foreign minister concluded.
More:
http://tass.ru/en/politics/892173
RT tonight reporting rus MoD saying chemical attack was by so called “moderate rebels”…….
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950513001233
AUG3
TEHRAN (FNA)- Jeish al-Fatah gathered over 9,000 terrorists to prevail over the Syrian Army positions and open a way into the militant-held districts in the Eastern parts of Aleppo city but failed and pulled its forces back after sustaining scores of casualties.
Jeish al-Fatah suffered a heavy death toll after its forces failed to break through the army strongholds in New Aleppo district.
Jeish al-Fatah also stormed government defense lines in al-Hamdaniyeh and box-making plant in the Western side of Aleppo and al-Ramousiyeh Southwest of the city.
Anti Assad group Syria Defence Group now Local Cordination Committee of Syria
claiming again as did last year Assad using napalm ….whereas it might have been the result of a fuel production facility being hit……others jumping on this bandwagon? Sorry cannot paste link from uk really “reliable” daily mail……things getting desparate now for the anti Assad’s???????
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/08/03/478348/russia-us-warned-chlorine-aleppo
Moscow says it had warned Washington about the use of toxic shells by a US-backed “moderate” militant group before the Tuesday attack that killed seven people and injured over 20 more in Syria’s Aleppo.
On Wednesday, Lieutenant-General Sergey Chvarkov, the director of the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria, said the information was given to the US on Monday, a day prior to the attack.
The Russian Ministry of Defense also confirmed that the attack in Aleppo was launched by a Takfiri terrorist group.
Can anyone update about the fate of the remains of the Russians airman killed in the helicopter attack? Have they been IDed?
in one of the anna-news reports i posted yes names were given but not of the 2 persons working for the negotiations.
changes here? Not had to time to properly read and digest
“Russia stands a pretty good chance of attracting the Gulf Cooperation Council countries’ support while resolving the Syrian crisis. For its part, Riyadh has signaled recently that it is interested in building close relations with Moscow regardless of a difference of opinion on the Syrian crisis.
Russia’s charm offensive launched by President Vladimir Putin in the Gulf back in 2012 has borne fruit, according to Samuel Ramani, a DPhil candidate in International Relations at St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford.
“Through stronger investment linkages and diplomatic overtures, Russia has attempted to carve out a more prominent geopolitical role in the Persian Gulf… Stronger relations between Moscow and Saudi Arabia’s closest allies have caused some GCC [the Gulf Cooperation Council] countries to be more receptive to Russia’s calls for a political solution in Syria. Saudi Arabia’s fear of being isolated from the Arab world’s consensus could cause Riyadh to eventually soften its belligerent anti-Assad approach and diplomatically reengage with Russia,” Ramani writes in his article for The National Interest.
Turkey Coup With T Shirt
© AP PHOTO/ EMRAH GUREL
Shadows of UAE, Riyadh Emerge Behind Failed Coup in Turkey
According to the British academic, the dire prognoses that Russo-Gulf relations would tremendously deteriorate in the wake of Moscow’s involvement in Syria have been proven wrong.
Ramani calls attention to the fact that despite obvious disagreements over Syria, Russia has bolstered economic ties with Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman and Kuwait “to counter Saudi Arabia’s hegemony in the Persian Gulf.”
Initially, Riyadh regarded Russia’s charm offensive as motivated by Moscow’s economic interests, Ramani notes, citing Mark N. Katz of George Mason University. Russia’s efforts to engage GCC countries on achieving a political resolution on Syria have caught Saudi Arabia by surprise.
Moscow has created a coalition together with Oman, Kuwait and the UAE to counter the Saudi-Qatari bloc, the British scholar explains.
Furthermore, given Russia’s “strengthening of ties” with Algeria, Iraq and Egypt, Moscow stands a good chance of swinging the balance in its favor during the peace talks on Syria.
“Should [Vladimir Putin] succeed, Saudi Arabia and Qatar could risk regional isolation if they do not moderate their intransigent opposition to Assad,” Ramani underscores.
A Syrian girl holds her national flag bearing a portrait of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad
© AFP 2016/ ANWAR AMRO
Has Washington Finally Accepted That Assad Can Stay?
The question then arises whether Saudi Arabia will retaliate against Russia. Hardly, Ramani suggests.
Arguing with US analysts Jonathan Schanzer and Boris Zilberman, Ramani assumes that Russo-Saudi relations would rather transition into a “cold peace,” not hostility.
At the same time, in light of Ankara’s change of heart toward Moscow it is unlikely that Saudi Arabia would risk its relations with Turkey to strike back at Russia.
Meanwhile, signs continue to emerge showing Riyadh’s apparent intent to improve Saudi-Russian relations.
On Sunday Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir stressed that “the differences of opinion with Russia regarding the Syrian crisis do not impact the level of cooperation.”
“Both sides are carrying on coordinating and consulting on the matter in order to converge approaches to the problem,” al-Jubeir said, as quoted by the Al Riyadh newspaper.
Citing al-Jubeir the monarchy’s daily Saudi Gazette wrote Monday that the Gulf kingdom is interested in building “best relations” with Russia.
“He [Adel al-Jubeir] said that a number of agreements have been signed between the two sides, including cooperation in the field of oil and energy and enhancement of joint investments in addition to constructive cooperation in the field of combating terrorism, noting the efforts being exerted to achieve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” the media outlet underscored.
Mi-8/17
© PHOTO: http://WWW.RUSSIANHELICOPTERS.AERO/
Riyadh, Qatar and Turkey ‘Responsible for Downing Russian Helicopter in Syria’
Commenting on the issue, US expert on Middle East affairs Mark N. Katz recalled that in a July interview with Politico.eu al-Jubeir showed “a desire for improved Saudi-Russian relations” in exchange for Russia abandoning Bashar al-Assad and its Iranian allies.
However, “this is definitely not what Moscow wants to hear from Riyadh,” Katz stresses in his opinion piece for Lobelog.com.
Al-Jubeir’s latest statement that Riyadh still wants to improve Russo-Saudi relations may indicate the Gulf kingdom’s intention either to give its Western allies the shivers, or to create differences between Moscow and Tehran, the scholar suggests.
However, according to Ramani, Riyadh’s “hostility” toward Russia is overstated. In reality, “Riyadh’s overarching agenda is to reduce its security dependence on the United States and maintain Saudi Arabia’s position as the Arab world’s most influential country.”
“Therefore, Saudi Arabia is likely to respond favorably to Russian diplomatic overtures if Putin can build a broad-based Arab coalition around a political solution to the Syrian crisis that includes Assad,” the British scholar emphasizes.”
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160803/1043911343/russia-gulf-states-syria.html
not “qualified’ enough to make an assessment of this, except Saudi and Quatar are never trustworthy IMO.
BTW, article few days ago
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160802/1043858250/europe-arms-sales-refugees.html
extract
“Eastern and Central European states have sold weapons worth $1.3 million to the Middle East, with some arms shipments ending in the hands of “Syrian mercenaries,” including al-Nusra Front and Daesh, but these countries have refused to welcome refugees fleeing violence that they have helped to fuel, Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten (DWN) asserted.
Weapons and explosives confiscated by Iraqi security forces from Islamic State militants are on display at an Iraqi army base as security forces advance their position in northern Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq
© AP PHOTO/
US ‘Definitely Involved’ in Funneling $1.3 Bln in East European Arms to Mideast
According to a report unveiled last week, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia and Romania sold weapons primarily to Saudi Arabia, but also to Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Turkey. Some of these armaments were then transferred to armed opposition and Islamist groups fighting in Syria and Yemen, two countries that have been ravaged by foreign-sponsored wars.
The research was conducted by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). Their findings cover shipments made since 2012.
This business is so lucrative that Eastern and Central European states approved arms export licenses “despite ample evidence that weapons are being diverted to Syrian and other armed groups accused of widespread human rights abuses and atrocities,” researchers observed.These licenses are supposed to guarantee where weapons end up and do not allow arms re-transfer to third parties. Yet this is exactly what has happened.
The arms shipments from Eastern and Central European countries to Syria rebels have only made matters worse in the country plagued by five and a half years of violence. They have “greatly contributed” to hundreds of thousands dying and millions fleeing to neighboring countries and Europe, DWN noted.
Moreover, the newspaper is convinced that the refugee crisis that European Union has struggled to resolve “could not have reached its current scale without” arms shipments from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia and Romania.
Some of these countries, like Serbia, have firsthand experience of what the massive wave of refugees unseen since World War II has done to communities in the Balkans and Europe. Some of them, like the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania, have refused to resettle asylum seekers on their territory, at least in the amounts that will make a difference.
Members of jihadist group Al-Nusra Front take part in a parade calling for the establishment of an Islamic state in Syria, at the Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood of Aleppo, on October 25, 2013
© FLICKR/ COOLLOUD
Eastern Europe ‘Flooding’ Middle East Battlefields With Weapons
In 2014, Prague that sold weapons worth more than $300 million to buyers in the Middle East, promised to accept 1,100 refugees. A year later the Czech government declined to welcome additional 1,691 refugees under an EU-wide plan.In March, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka confirmed that the country will implement its part of the refugee deal inked by the EU and Turkey, but added that it will not take more migrants than it promised earlier.
For his part, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico described the EU’s migrant policy as a “ritual suicide” in January 2016. In May, he said that the country refused to admit migrants because “Islam has no place in Slovakia.”
Consider this: Germany welcomed approximately 1 million refugees in 2015 alone, while Sweden approved nearly 100,000 applications.’
How the heck the rebels manage to obtain their incredible amounts of shells and ammo etc, was it not just lying around to be picked up? Has Syria any way of tracing back ammunition suppliers and claim suppliers are supporting terrorists?Hmm.
more details here
“A detailed investigation has found that at least $1.3 billion-worth of Eastern European weapons and ammunition has been sold to Middle Eastern countries involved in the arming of jihadist rebels in Syria. Speaking to Radio Sputnik, Patrick Wilcken, a researcher in arms control at Amnesty, said he had no doubt whatsoever that the US is involved.
On Wednesday, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project published the results of a major inquiry into the flow of weapons from Eastern European countries to the Middle East, finding that since 2012, at least $1.3 billion-worth of weaponry and ammunition has been sold to countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey, which then handed them over to militants in Syria and anti-Houthi forces in Yemen.
Members of jihadist group Al-Nusra Front take part in a parade calling for the establishment of an Islamic state in Syria, at the Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood of Aleppo, on October 25, 2013
© FLICKR/ COOLLOUD
Eastern Europe ‘Flooding’ Middle East Battlefields With Weapons
The project compiled data collected from media reports, the monitoring of air traffic, leaked arms contracts, and other sources. The report also identified Eastern European-made assault rifles, grenade launchers and tanks in photo and video materials featuring Western-back militants and Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) terrorists operating in Syria. The weapons, sourced from countries including Croatia, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia and Montenegro, have also been found their way into the hands of Saudi-backed Sunni forces operating in Yemen.
Speaking to Radio Sputnik, Patrick Wilcken, an Amnesty International researcher who participated in a review of the evidence collected for the report, explained that what these countries were doing was clearly illegal.
Wilcken noted that “what appears to be going on is that Eastern European countries that had large Cold War arms industries have been retooling these industries for the new conflicts in the Middle East.” What’s most alarming, he added, is the fact that “there was very limited trade into the Gulf from Eastern European countries before 2012, but thereafter that spiked.”
At the same time, the researcher emphasized that it was obvious that these Middle Eastern countries weren’t using the weapons to equip their own countries’ armies. Eastern European countries have provided regional countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE and Turkey with former Warsaw Pact standard weapons, despite the fact that all these countries use NATO standard weaponry. In other words, “there’s a very high risk there of diversion into the conflict zone.”
“We see across Iraq and Syria that it’s mainly Warsaw Pact standard equipment that’s being used by [Daesh] and other armed groups. So it’s very alarming that these countries are recklessly exporting into the Gulf, and there appears to be at least circumstantial evidence that those weapons are ending up in the hands of very violent armed groups,” the analyst noted.
Syrian army
© SPUTNIK/ KHALED AL-KHATEB
Syrian Army Defuses Car Bombs Preventing Terror Attack in Hama (VIDEO)
The weapons deliveries are being made despite the fact that some of these groups, including Daesh and al-Qaeda affiliated Nusra Front, are under a UN arms embargo.
Furthermore, in addition to the sale of mothballed weapons stocks left over from the Cold War, Wilcken emphasized that the report has also shown that there are new stocks, “manufactured as recently as 2015.”
Asked to comment on the arms trade from the standpoint of international law, the researcher noted that the evidence points to these arms sales being illegal. He pointed out that the “common thread” between the EU and international level legislation formally governing Eastern European countries’ behavior “is that arms cannot be transferred if there is substantial risk that they will end up being used to systematically violate human rights. In this instance, I think that the risks are very, very high. We have seen that there is a huge surplus of arms being used by these armed opposition groups, by Islamist extremist groups in the region.”
Wilcken also emphasized that one of the more concerning aspects to this case was the fact that the trade is so out in the open. “There is a very small covert trade around the world, which is often very concerning, but [then] you have this massive overt trade by the big traders, often into situations where there is a very high risk that the weapons will be used to destabilize regions and systematically violate human rights.”
A woman visits the grave of a relative in the rebel-held town of Douma, east of the capital Damascus
© AFP 2016/ SAMEER AL-DOUMY
The Myth of the ‘Moderate’ Rebels in Syria
“This is where I think the [UN] Arms Trade Treaty is very important: we do have a legally binding treaty which says very clearly that those trades, even if they are authorized, open trades, are illegal if they carry that risk.”
Asked whether he suspects US involvement in this operation, Wilcken said that “clearly the US has a huge open trade with Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Qatar, and Turkey. It has also had a covert trade, much of it funneled through Eastern Europe, to armed opposition groups in Syria. The US is [the world’s] largest arms producer and exporter and has a massive role in this.”
At the same time, the researcher added, “virtually all producers and suppliers of weapons are involved here.” For instance, “Iran and Russia have consistently supplied the Assad regime. Over thirty states have supplied Iraq…So while the US and the EU are major players, and I think there has to be far more stringent accountability and oversight mechanisms, many other states are involved.”
For the fairness sake, Wilcken did not mention that while Russia and Iran are involved in the supply of weapons to Syria, those supplies are based on state-to-state contracts which are perfectly legal under international law. The trade that these Eastern European countries appear to be engaged in, on the other hand, is the supply of weapons to Middle Eastern governments that then transfer them to anti-Syrian government militias, including Daesh and the Nusra Front.”
MOSCOW, August 4. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has called on the Western mass media to recognize crimes of Syria’s ‘moderate opposition.’
READ ALSO
Kremlin spokesman: Humanitarian situation in Syria’s Aleppo dramatic
Washington’s and its allies’ turning a blind eye on the crimes of Syria’s so-called ‘opposition,’ including the use of poisonous substances against living quarters, devaluates Western diplomat’s calls for stopping bloodshed in that country, Maria Zakharova wrote on her Facebook account on Thursday.
Chief of Russia’s center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria Sergei Chvarkov said earlier that in the eastern districts of the city of Aleppo, poisonous substances were used at a living quarte controlled by the Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki group which is affiliated with the so-called moderate opposition by the United States.
As a result of this terrorist attack, seven people died and more than 20 were evacuated to Aleppo’s hospitals with suffocation and inhalation burns.
Responsibility for this crime against civilian population rests with the “moderate” group Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki, which has been accused of numerous murders of children and women in Aleppo more than once, Zakharova stressed.
“These beasts who used poisonous substances against civilians are supported by the United State,” she wrote.
The Russian reconciliation center has informed the U.S. side about the incident, she noted.
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Not the first tragedy
“But, regrettably, it was not the only tragedy which the Washington-backed ‘moderate’ opposition is involved in,” the Russian diplomat noted. “It is yet another example. Armed groups of the Syrian Democratic Forces have actually blocked the city of Membij in the province of Aleppo. Moreover, militants of this ‘opposition’ group are conducting combat operations in the city’s living quarters causing numerous casualties among civilians.”
And in the meantime, according to Zakharova, the U.S. air forces and the U.S.-led coalition, which support the Syrian Democratic Forces, are delivering air strikes at the city’s districts rather than at concrete Islamic State facilities.
No negotiations are conducted with armed groups blocked in that city, she stressed. “It entails more loss of life among civilians,” she underscored.
“The only episode of civilians’ exodus from Membij on July 19, 2016 was marred by an incident when a refugee column came under air strike hurting about 200 people,” Zakharova said. “No preventive steps are being taken by the United States and the Syrian Democratic Forces to avoid human deaths.”
Truth in the media
READ ALSO
Russian mission: Terrorists respond with atrocities to humanitarian aid to Aleppo
If the Western partners, first of all in Washington, keep on turning a blind eye on these facts, “any talks on ‘stopping bloodshed in Syria’ will be simply absurd,” the Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman noted. “I hope that the Western mass media (all of them, not only Mathew Lee) find enough courage to write about crimes committed by the ‘moderate’ opposition and their sources of financing. My words are addressed to you, The New York Time, Le Figaro, Bild, and to all who regularly cites the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.”
“Especially to Bild, which has declared a boycott only to news about achievements of the Russian team at the Rio Olympics. I hope the tabloid finds room for a couple of paragraphs about atrocities of the ‘moderate opposition’ in Syria. A couple of passages of truth has never hurt anyone yet,” Zakharova underscored.
More:
http://tass.ru/en/politics/892325
extract
“The Syrian government and the opposition should sit at the negotiating table and to start a serious discussion on the proposal of the UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura, said Russia’s permanent representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin. “Staffan de Mistura worked very hard, had prepared some documents, and we think that they need to discuss the parties, but for this they need to get together, sit down at a table and start a serious conversation. If this happens, I think, after all these years of hard work and efforts of the international community may be the result. ”
The number of settlements that have joined the reconciliation process has increased to 341. The number of armed groups that have declared their commitment to the terms of the cessation of hostilities has increased to 69. The
cessation of hostilities during the day was observed in most provinces of the Syrian Arab Republic. During the day, recorded 9 violations in the provinces of Damascus (6), Latakia (2) and Hama (1).
The Russian VKS and Air Force Syria opposition militias, have declared a cessation of hostilities and to report to the Russian or American centers reconciliation information about their location, strikes are not applied.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the US side about the fact of the use of chemical weapons by militants group “Harakat Nur al-Din al-Zina”, which the United States belongs to the moderate opposition.
“August 2, 2016 at 19 hours 05 minutes in the eastern part of the city of Aleppo from the area Sukkari controlled militants group “Harakat Nur al-Din al-Zina”, which the United States belongs to the so-called “moderate opposition”, in a residential quarter, located next to Plaza Sahat-Saldana near Salah al-Din, were used poison gas, “- said Lieutenant-General Sergei Chvarkov. He also said the seven killed in this attack and 23 were hospitalized with symptoms of breathlessness and respiratory tract burns.
Impacts United States Air Force on Syria over the past few weeks caused the deaths of dozens of civilians. Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations (UN) Eugene Zagaynov called the situation in the Middle East depressing. Zagaynov expressed serious concern over the destruction of schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure. Of particular danger, in his words, armed conflicts pose to children. Situations when minors are targeted, Zagaynov called modern barbarism.
According to the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a result of the bombing of the village of El Ghandur July 28 killed 45 civilians, another 50 were injured. And on July 19 United States aircraft bombed the village Tuhan al-Kubra: according to the news agency “SANA”, the victims were 300 Syrians. In late July, dozens of people were killed in an attack on a village north of the city manbij.
Terrorists in every way impede the exit of civilians from the eastern part of Aleppo, said the head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria, Lieutenant General Sergei Chvarkov.
“The terrorists in every way impede the exit of the population of the east part of the city of Aleppo, threatening to shoot any civilians or public execution. There are reports of the preparation of children and women as suicide bombers to carry out terrorist acts. From controlled by illegal armed groups Aleppo districts for humanitarian corridors left 372 civilians, including 76 children, laid down its arms 94 militants, 203 needy receive skilled medical care. Only on Tuesday the eastern districts of Aleppo have left 48 people, while the Syrian authorities surrendered 12 militants, “- Chvarkov said.
US President’s Press Secretary Josh Ernest expressed his regret that the Russian military allegedly paid a substantial part of its attention, resources, time and energy support “regime” (Syrian President Bashar) Assad. “We certainly believe that priority should be given to defeat the extremists” – said Ernest to a question about US readiness to bomb with the Russian position extremist group “Dzhebhat en-Nusra” in Syria.
“But, unfortunately, the military action by Russia I do not agree with this statement. The Russian military are paying a significant portion of their attention, resources, time and energy to support the regime (Syrian President Bashar) Assad. This only creates an additional chaos in Syria. We have long been saying that such an approach would be welcomed in Russia, in which it would use its military strength not to support the Assad regime, but in order to fully concentrate on defeating the extremists – says Ernest. – If she had done so, the United States and our coalition partners would be prepared much more efficient to work with her. But as long as Russia refuses to do it, “- said Ernest. At the same time the US president’s press secretary chose not to hear the remark that in Syria now, in fact, is not the moderate opposition, the opposing forces of the government.
Reports of alleged chemical attacks in Syria are of serious concern, said the head of the diplomacy of the European Union Federica Mogherini, she also urged the parties to the conflict in Syria for an immediate cessation of fighting for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Aleppo and other remote areas, and the evacuation of affected civilians. “The EU again calls for the immediate humanitarian pause in the fighting to allow for evacuation for medical reasons, and deliver medicines, food and water in the eastern part of Aleppo and other precipitation and remote areas”, – said in a statement.
Also, the European Union called for the termination of attacks that harm civilians and civilian infrastructure, particularly health-care facilities, schools, markets and camps for internally displaced persons. According to a statement published on the EU website, “these (attacks) are a new kind of gross violations of international humanitarian law.”
http://www.anna-news.info/node/62029
google translate
rest has regional lots of details
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http://syrianperspective.com/2016/08/terrorist-attack-crushed-in-aleppo-city-liberated-canthama-reports-on-the-terrorists-offensive-in-western-aleppo-and-the-fate-of-the-war-of-aggression-against-syria.html
as it says, incl reports of extensive usa weapons discovered…………….
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especially
“On August 1, 2016, the Syrian Army General Staff sounded a general alarm after receiving very accurate reports that the rodents, principally those affiliated with the Saudi child fetishist, ‘Abdullah Al-Muhaysini, were planning a huge offensive to break the siege of Aleppo which left thousands of cannibals inside the eastern part of this great northern capital adrift and without hope of succor or supply. Syrian Intelligence eavesdropped on hundreds of contacts from Turkey, primarily, Incirlik, Reyhanli, Adana and Gaziantep with British, American and Saudi imbeciles trying to organize the logistics for the operation. This is most interesting because it puts the Americans squarely on the side of Alqaeda, the same group which took down the twin towers in NYC.”
Read more at http://syrianperspective.com/2016/08/terrorist-attack-crushed-in-aleppo-city-liberated-canthama-reports-on-the-terrorists-offensive-in-western-aleppo-and-the-fate-of-the-war-of-aggression-against-syria.html#kZPa4SjU50kLU7hS.99
August 1 is the date Kerry gave as starting date for “a very different track” (in the US war on Syria).
This is probably not just a coincidence.. Despite the very large size of the “Great Battle of Aleppo” and its possibly decisive character for the war, neither the New York Times nor the Washington Post is reporting on it.
we’ll see if Putin caves in yet again to this latest one, after that direct threat in May by Mr. Ed yet clearly telling what they were up to.
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/08/04/478461/Syria-UN-Ramzy-Ezzeldin-Staffan-de-Mistura-Geneva-
The UN deputy special envoy for Syria has hoped for progress towards new Syria talks, saying peace negotiations between the Damascus government and foreign-backed opposition groups could resume in late August.
Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy told reporters in Geneva on Thursday that developments “in the next few days” could pave the way for Syria peace talks to resume by the end of this month.
something like an ‘offering’ for upcoming aug 9th visit by Erdo in the lair of the bear?
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/08/04/478458/Turkey-Gulen-warrant
A court in Turkey has issued an arrest warrant for Fethullah Gulen, a US-based opposition cleric blamed by the Ankara government for the failed military coup in the country last month.
The formal arrest warrant was issued on Thursday by an Istanbul-based court, with prosecutors accusing Gulen of having ordered the July 15 coup attempt.