On February 15, the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) achieved a major breakthrough in their battle against Kurdish YPG/YPJ forces in the area of Afrin. The TAF and the FSA captured the villages of Karri, Sharbanli, Kamrash, Shadia, Khara Suluq, Jaqla Tahtani, Durakili and Diwan al-Fawqani. The YPG counter-attacked in Sirinjak and Duraqli but failed to achieve any progress.
Pro-Turkish sources say that over 40 YPG members were killed in the recent clashes. The total number of so-called ‘neutralized terrorists’ claimed by the Turkish General Staff since the start of Operation Olive Branch is over 1,500.
On February 16, clashes between Turkish forces and the YPG continued across Afrin as the TAF and the FSA further developed momentum.
Amid the Tukrish success, the Lebanese al-Mayadin TV reported that the Damascus government and the YPG had allegedly reached an agreement over Afrin. The agreement will reportedly allow units of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) to enter the area. However, this report is still not confirmed by official sources. Previous media reports about the alleged Damascus-YPG agreement were dismissed by the YPG.
Another Turkish military convoy entered the province of Idlib and is now establishing an observation point in the village of Sarman, according to pro-opposition sources. The TAF already has observation points in al-Eis and Tell Tuqan. If it establishes the next one somewhere near Khan Shaykhun, any SAA offensive operation in Idlib will be blocked by Turkish forces.
Militant groups operating in northern Homs announced on February 15 that they had withdrawn from a de-escalation agreement with the SAA and said that they will not conduct any direct talks with the Damascus government. They also called on Ankara to help them to combat what they called the Assad regime.
It will take some days before a clear picture of the situation on the ground is obtained. However, if reports are true that Damascus made a deal with the YPG over Afrin, then I fear it’s too late. The Kurds have been very foolish. They must know that they occupy sovereign Syrian territory which has always been Syrian. Assad offered them cultural autonomy inside Syria, which they rejected, preferring American “backing” and in the process hoping to create a Kurdish state which would control Syrian oil fields. Very foolish. By refusing a deal with Damascus, they were left alone, receiving no direct American backing and having the Turkish military invade northern Syria. Now they have Turks in front of them and Syrians behind them. We shall see how this will end.
No matter how it plays out in Turkey or Syria it won’t end well for the Kurds. I can see Russia and Syria greenlighting a Turkish invasion so that the USA won’t act against Turkey, and I can see Erdogan happy to pay back an attempted coup backed by the USA.
State actors often play a visual role while pursuing a hidden agenda.
“It’s a gas, gas, gas…” — ergo, “Assad must go!”
It seems Turkey and its little ‘moderate’ friends are into the toxic gas business for the ‘original owners’.
https://www.rt.com/news/419060-turkey-afrin-kurds-toxic-gas/
Probably another ‘white hat’ faux flag, but how long before we hear what the little French poodle ‘Macaroni’ (and his mom) has to say — going to bomb the Turks? … highly doubtful.
No credible military unit would consider using Chlorine gas. It of course is dangerous and potentially lethal, but tactically it is useless on the battlefield. Heaving gas canisters into populated areas is likewise a waste of time. Barrel bombs are far more effective terror weapons against civilians.
The gas thing is a rebel design, hoping to get intervention from outside powers. There are more effective methods. Hint: try look up the British isles isolated for 40 -50 years.
Elijah Magnier comments on the Damascus / Afrin Canton negotiations:
https://ejmagnier.com/2018/02/17/the-us-is-observing-the-return-of-afrin-into-the-arms-of-damascus-with-great-concern/
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802171061757699-turkey-afrin-toxic-agents-kurds/
“Claims “Turkey is using chlorine gas and napalm…now that would be strange…especially if usa and france decide to take action as they said they would….against Turkey or as excuse against Syria…..?
France must now keep their promise and bomb Turkey!
Veery Interesting.
First, we had the Russians and Mr. Lavrov announcing in advance that another false flag gas attack was in the works.
Now we see exactly that, except that its aimed at the Turks.
The forces fighting the Turks are the SDF/American forces. Not the typical Al-Qaeda afiliates that usually seem to stage the false-flag gas attacks.
So, it would appear that it was the SDF/American factions that Mr. Lavrov and the Russians had the advance info concerning.
The USA and their French poodle don’t have any interest in attacking Turkey. So, it appears unlikely that Turkey was the planned target for this false flag. But perhaps, the SDF was under pressure from the Turkish attack and redirected the false-flag resources towards their current threat. The Kurds hate the Turks as much as the Turks hate the Kurds, thus the Kurds would see benefits in accusing the Turks of a false-flag gas attack even while the Americans would be against such a use.
Now the pre-false-flag rhetoric in advance of the attack now appears to have France committed to bombing Turkey. Ooops. Time to watch the French poodle do a cute little back-peddle.
Fascinating how things spin out of control in a war zone. The best laid plans of silly little mice and all of that.
In very superficial analysis looks like Russians changed their position by Zigzagging and maybe doing a U turn.
January 21, 2018 – Fort Russ News – Paul Antonopoulos
http://www.fort-russ.com/2018/01/feature-why-it-is-laughable-kurds-blame.html
In 18 points they express some Idea what Russian think about Syria.
In 2 first points looks like Russia let Afrin go and gave the green light to Turkey over Kurds and Afrin.
Please reference the link for the ‘points’ … mod
So the Russians were aware what it is the very complex situation in Syria, and it seems that Russians were using Erdogan was able to get Afrin Kurds back to their senses and now they seem to recall that they are part of Syria.
https://www.almasdarnews.co… Rumors are that Kurds will hand heavy weapons to SAA but they will be left with small firearms. It is interesting to see how YPG will be rebranded – Erodogsan needs to be able to declare a victory in Afrin and to show that Turkey security was enhanced.
Let’s see how it unfolds. May be I’m too early to say that my prediction (Erdogan teaching Kurds loyalty to their home state) has become reality and we have to wait and see what Turkey does but indications are that everything went according to plan.
But the Ping -pong game is going on:
BREAKING: US, Turkey agree to work together to clear the Kurdish YPG from Manbij February 16, 2018 – Fort Russ News – Paul Antonopoulos
http://www.fort-russ.com/2018/02/breaking-us-turkey-agree-to-work.html
Please reference the above link for details … mod
The ping-pong game is going on in Syria.
With the last move Turkey revealed the real face. They are totally controlled by the NATO, West and USA, and they are plying their masters GAME.
US stays in MANBIJ, Kurds gets out from Manbij in northern Syria, and a new partition zone is in Development in north West Syria to Create a exit to the Mediterranean sea, not for Turks, Not for Kurds but for the HEGEMON.
The mod deleted the point #18, no mater that I provided the link.
I’m providing again the link for the article:
FEATURE: Why it is laughable the Kurds blame Russia for the predicament they find themselves in northern
the link:
http://www.fort-russ.com/2018/01/feature-why-it-is-laughable-kurds-blame.html
this time I’m providing all 18 points from which you acepted point #1 and #2 but deleted point #18.
“AFRIN, Syria – The following article it a series of Tweets made by @EHSANI22
1-On #Afrin: Critical to recall that Turkish military officials flew to Moscow few days ago and met their Russian counterpart. When the plan to invade Afrin was presented, all the Russians had to do was inform Turks that The Kurds are now America’s & not Russia ‘s boys.
2-Lets be clear: Had the Syrian Kurds not jumped off the Russian ship, it would be hard to imagine today’s attack on Afrin taking place. The ball is now in Washington’s court. The US convinced the Kurds to become their partners. The test of this commitment started today =>
3-Judging by the start of the operation, it seems that The Turks mean business. More than 10 aircrafts conducted the first bombing campaign. It’s likely that Tanks will be deployed as well. Tillerson already called his Turkish counterpart ==>
4- Important to stress again that Turkish planes used Syrian airspace. Russia & it’s radars had to have been fully aware of the operation. The Kurds are now tne allies of @realDonaldTrump @brett_mcgurk and a member of NATO is bombing them. Welcome to the Middle East
5-Erdogan’s anger at American decision to arm & pick the Kurds as partners in the fight against ISIS had to come to a boiling point. During last speech by Tillerson, an attempt was made to appease Erdogan through offering complimentary lip service. Ankara bought none of it
6-Note that Erdogan had watched Kurdish developments closely in Iraq and saw how the Iraqi Army crushed that independence attempt with little if any reaction by the US. Erdogan has now dared Washington to do more than offer their Kurdish allies verbal support
7-Observers of the region have long debated how strong was the US support of Syrian Kurds. Those who believed in this newly consummated marriage thought that America not only will protect their partner but will also help them achieve their long held dream of nationhood
8-In a previous thread, it was noted how this Kurdish dream of nationhood was likely to face significant challenges. The role/importance of Turkey in NATO was one of them. Was America ready to compromise NATO’s southern theater with Russia now so near & ready to fill that void?
9-Tillerson’s speech on Syria was met with different reactions. The hawks & interventionists liked it but paid little attention to the inconsistencies of the policy. This morning, Erdogan exposed those inconsistencies and threw the ball back at the White House/Mar-a-Lago
10-While the US govt is in the middle of a shutdown & merely 48 hours after the unavailing of the so-called Syria policy, F 16 planes of a NATO member are bombing our partners in the war against ISIS. Russia had been quiet of late. Their very silence is now the news
11- Where does all this leave Damascus? It’s too early to tell. As previous threads have highlighted, Assad had patiently waited for the Kurds to better understand the landscape. His disappointment was evident when he referred to them as “traitors”.
12-Damascus is likely to tread & proceed carefully here. Both Assad and Russia were very disappointed & angry when the Kurds threw themselves at the US. Russia showed its hand today by sitting back and watching the fireworks. For Damascus, it’s more tricky & complicated
13-On the one hand, Damascus is seeing the Kurds getting punished for making the wrong call & alliances. But on the other hand, Assad is not pleased to see his number one adversary in charge of a bombing campaign deep inside Syrian territory.
14-In typical fashion, Syrian leadership is likely to avoid an overreaction & instead decide to proceed cautiously & deliberately. One has to believe Moscow will act as an ally offering Assad enough assurances that Ankara’s current operation has “limited goals”. Let’s wait & see
15- Possible things to look for: Kurds opening a front in Eastern Syria (where the US Army is present) to lure the Turks to attack from there. Other potential unrest of course is the Kurdish-dominated Southern part of Turkey itself. Yes, things may have just started
16-IMPORTANT: Nearly a week ago, meeting between Russian officials and Kurdish leaders took place. Moscow suggested Syrian State becomes only entity in charge of the northern border. The Kurds refused. It was immediately after that that the Turkish Generals were invited to Moscow
17- Having the Syrian State in control of its Northern Border wasn’t the only Russian demand. The other was that the Kurds hand back the oil fields in Deir al Zor. The kurds refused suggesting that the US won’t allow that anyway. The meeting was not exactly a success
18-Current Syrian theater was best described to me as a chess board with a game of ping pong taking place over it. World & regional powers have tried to take part in this game. Damascus is convinced that it will see out all the parties play what will turn out to be zero sum game.”
Confirmed: US retrains ISIS and ISIS-like jihadists in east Syria and re-brands them ‘democratic forces’ (VIDEO) – Exclusive
https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/confirmed-us-retrains-isis-isis-like-jihadists-east-syria-re-brands-democratic-forces-video-exclusive/
“After many, many months of complaints by Russian military and diplomatic authorities that US advisor forces in Syria’s east were retraining ISIS and ISIS-like militants, a video (see article link) released by the Deir Ezzor-based opposition media outlet Euphrates Post has confirmed it.”
It should be made clear that the Arab fighters in the video below do not belong to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) proper, but rather a lesser known off-shoot militia called the Deir Ezzor Military Council (DMC).
DMC forces are – unlike the SDF – the project of the US Department of State and the Central Intelligence Agency, separate from Pentagon initiatives and bureaucratic processes.
Fighters of the DMC are on the Department of State payroll (i.e. individuals receive a paycheck) which technically makes them US-vetted mercenaries instead of just ‘US-backed fighters’ (that implying military support from US military agencies only).
The history of DMC forces prior to their re-flagging under US initiatives is interesting. Most DMC fighters fall into two categories:
1. Syrian rebels or Euphrates tribesmen who merged into ISIS ranks during the terrorist group’s takeover of the Deir Ezzor region in 2013-2014 and then later surrendered to the SDF.
2. Jihadists of the Al-Qaeda affiliate group Jabhat al-Nusra (as it was called at the time) who battled government forces in Deir Ezzor until 2014 and were later expelled from the region by ISIS (after refusing to join ranks) and then absorbed by US intelligence in Jordan.
These are the ‘ISIS people’ that Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, General Valery Gerasimov warned about in late December 2017 when he claimed that over one thousand re-flagged ISIS and ISIS-like militants were being trained and equipped by US advisor forces in east Syria.
Over the last few days, and on at least one occasion before that, DMC forces have attacked positions of the Syrian Army and allied paramilitary groups in Deir Ezzor province without provocation (or any other kind of defensive pretext) at the towns of Khasham and At-Tabiyyah.
Both official SDF and other US coalition sources have failed to make any remark on the confrontational activities of the DMC and the simple reason for this is that neither the SDF (on its own) or US coalition bureaucracy is responsible for DMC actions – only the CIA is, and it has no obligation to publicly disclose information about its projects.”
Turkey now has no interest in ‘battling the Assad regime’.
Turkey is now firmly a part of the Syrian + Russia + Iran + Hezbollah alliance, certainly at least as far as Syria is concerned. Yes, Erdogon was a few years back talking about overthrowing Assad and re-establishing Ottoman rule. But the world has changed greatly since then.
1) Russia hurt the Turkish economy after the US talked Turkey into shooting down a Russian jet.
2) Russia intervened in Syria and the Syrian government no longer appears to be teetering on the brink and instead appears to be destined to defeat the Jihadi militia.
3) The US foolishly tried to overthrow and murder Erdogone in a coup attempt.
Meanwhile in Syria, the US has dropped it pretense of fighting ISIS and now is openly wanting permanent bases and to carve out a region of Syria for their own using the always gullible Kurds to accomplish this.
The Syrian government can’t like the notion of losing a large part of their country. Their Russian and Iranian allies also can’t like this notion. But, if Russia was to attack directly, it risks the World War III that Washington has been trying to provoke over the last few years. Likewise, the Iranians would risk a war with America that Washington has also been trying to provoke for a very long time. We’ve seen when Syrian forces try to engage the forces occupying their nation, US airpower quickly and strongly attacks.
Thus, I suspect they all looked at their Turkish ally and said ‘how about you?’
Turkey always seems to like crossing lines on a map and bombing the Kurds. And inlating tensions with the Kurds has long been a popular Erdogone tactic in his internal politics. I suspect he didn’t need much encouragement. Especially when the undiplomatic fools in Washington rubbed his face in it with their bragging that they were now arming and backing the Kurds permanently and creating a 30,000 soldier army under nominal Kurdish control right on Turkey’s border.
Meanwhile, Syria only offered a couple of strongly worded statements in opposition to the Turkish advance. And surely the Syrians would appreaciate seeing the separtist army that wants a piece of Syria getting a bloody nose.
Now we see the Syrians trying to use this to their advantage, by trying to make a deal with the Kurds to move in between them and the Turks as long as the Syrian army gets to re-occupy and re-take parts of Syria.
Israel Uses Aggression as Policy, Attacks Syria, Lebanon – Iran’s Zarif
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802181061779461-israel-aggression-policy-zarif/
“Israel uses aggression as a policy against its neighbours,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told the Munich Security Confefence, accusing Israel of “mass reprisals against its neighbours and daily incursions into Syria, Lebanon.”
“The entire speech was trying to evade the issue,” Zarif said in reaction to Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the conference earlier. “What has happened in the past several days is the so-called invincibility (of Israel) has crumbled,” he said of the Feb. 10 downing of an Israeli jet.
According to Zarif, Israel is trying to “escape responsibility for its criminal policy and has been seeking scapegoats for many years.”
Bundy posted 50min ago on SyrPer: SDF spokesman confirms-> “The Syrian army SAA will enter Afrin on Monday,” said Sheikho bello, a leader of the Kurdish Democratic party adding that “the aim of entering the city is to protect and defend it.”
PS Bundy has also posted a rather intrguing turn of events. “Russia and Syria have signed a major energy deal giving the Russians control of Syria Oil & Gas reserves in exchange for re-building Syrian infrastructure destroyed in the proxy war. So now Russia owns Syrian oil and Gas.. Guess US will have to deal with Russia on the oil and Gas its holding hostage.”
If Russia and Sadam regime have signed a major energy deal, giving the Russians control of Syria Oil & Gas reserves, then Russia is in control only of 20% of Syria’s Gas and Oil reserves. The rest 80% is controlled by USA via Kurds.
So the reality is much more complicated, and a signed document can’t kick out US from Syria. They have a foothold in Syria with a very specific Goal. Plan B. Regime Change. Syria and alleys never would let US army to have a foothold in Syria. If they were powerless to prevent this, now chances to reverse the reality are Slim or None.
“If Russia and Sadam regime”
Given the rest of the comment, I’d call this a Freudian slip. :-D
My apologies … I mistyped Sadam for Assad … but the facts remain the same …
US just detailed its plan to kick Assad out of Syria by treating the country like North Korea
http://www.businessinsider.com/us-syria-assad-remove-north-korea-2018-2
The US has a plan to kick Syria’s Assad out of power by treating the country like North Korea.
•Syria probably needs $200-300 billion in reconstruction after a civil war and protracted fight against ISIS, but the US says Assad won’t see a dime until he holds elections.
•Assad has been linked to war crimes, gross human rights violations, and chemical weapons use, and the US wants to see him brought to justice at the Hague, rather than killed.
After seven long years of bloody civil war, the US just laid out a strategy to have Syrian President Bashar Assad removed from power by essentially treating the country like North Korea.
The US has about 2,000 boots on the ground in Syria, air bases in nearby countries, and has cycled through a few aircraft carriers to destroy ISIS and push them out of Iraq and Syria. ISIS has now lost almost all of its territory, and large swaths of Syria are held by US-backed forces that don’t support Assad. Assad himself lacks control of the eastern part of his country, where most of the oil lies.
Like I wrote, it was a Freudian slip.
@Anon (the one who apologises and continues unrepentant): “The US has about 2,000 boots on the ground in Syria….”. Yes, but are those boots filled by men?
Dr.
The way I understand it, promoting aggressive wars is also a war crime. This is how I view webspammers who go about promoting these zionazi wars.
Dr. NG Maroudas
Using my statement “My apologies … I mistyped Sadam for Assad … but the facts remain the same …” to accuse me as “(the one who apologises and continues unrepentant)” you are trying to insult me, taking things personally and emotionally.
I didn’t apology you but vot tak, and appreciate this help to correct my mistake. But the facts remain the same, and are very disturbing.
The link is:
http://www.businessinsider.com/us-syria-assad-remove-north-korea-2018-2
This is the first time that: “US just detailed its plan to kick Assad out of Syria by treating the country like North Korea ” and this happened recently on Feb. 8, 2018.
The source is very credible and has to be taken seriously:
“After seven long years of bloody civil war, the US just laid out a strategy to have Syrian President Bashar Assad removed from power by essentially treating the country like North Korea.
Speaking before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, David Statterfield, the acting assistant secretary of state for Near East Affairs, described how the US would remove Assad from power without using its military might.
“Syria needs reconstruction funds of between $200-300 billion plus. The international has community has committed itself not to provide those funds” until Syria holds UN-observed, fair elections and reforms its constitution, Statterfield said.
“We cannot conceive of circumstance in which a genuinely fair electoral process overseen by the UN with participation of the Syrian displaced community could lead to a result in which Assad remained at the helm,” he said.
David Michael Satterfield is an American diplomat and U.S. Ambassador, who has served extensively in the Middle East, including the Persian Gulf area, Lebanon, and Iraq.
Regarding your opinion: “The US has about 2,000 boots on the ground in Syria….”. Yes, but are those boots filled by men?”
at the same link:
http://www.businessinsider.com/us-syria-assad-remove-north-korea-2018-2
you can find the answer as:
“”We cannot conceive of circumstance in which a genuinely fair electoral process overseen by the UN with participation of the Syrian displaced community could lead to a result in which Assad remained at the helm,” he said.
The US has about 2,000 boots on the ground in Syria, air bases in nearby countries, and has cycled through a few aircraft carriers to destroy ISIS and push them out of Iraq and Syria. ISIS has now lost almost all of its territory, and large swaths of Syria are held by US-backed forces that don’t support Assad. Assad himself lacks control of the eastern part of his country, where most of the oil lies.
Assad, an accused war criminal who the US has punished with cruise missile strikes in response to chemical weapons attacks on civilians, is no friend to the US, and the US won’t simply give his country back.”
It is crisp clear the US message regarding Syria:
1 – The US has about 2,000 boots on the ground in Syria.
2 – The US has air bases in nearby countries.
3 – The US has cycled through a few aircraft carriers to destroy ISIS and push them out of Iraq and Syria.
4 – Large swaths of Syria are held by US-backed forces that don’t support Assad.
5 – Assad himself lacks control of the eastern part of his country, where most of the oil lies.
Based on this NEW REALITY your statements:
“The US has about 2,000 boots on the ground in Syria….”. Yes, but are those boots filled by men?”
and
“Russia and Syria have signed a major energy deal giving the Russians control of Syria Oil & Gas reserves in exchange for re-building Syrian infrastructure destroyed in the proxy war. So now Russia owns Syrian oil and Gas.. Guess US will have to deal with Russia on the oil and Gas its holding hostage.”
Are irelevant (sic). mod-to note: caps removed
[I apologize for the length of this clip from SyrPer 11 hours ago, but I think it marks an important stage in the final cleanup of Syrian territory from infestation by US “boots” and their ISIS rodent army].
Canthama
As expected, the large East Ghouta offensive has started, there few things to know in advance about it:
1) East Ghouta is a tough place for over 7 years, not only due to its dense urban areas but also with many families split apart which brings another concern related to betrayal, for many years the terrorists got their weapons and resupplies from tunnels and from betrayals among the SAA/NDF ranks, even some battles were known in advance by the terrorists and they usually ambushed the Syrian soldiers inflicting high casualties. It was exactly a betrayal that happened recently at the Harasta garage that took many good soldiers lives.
2) There are an estimate of 15,000 terrorists from different factions, from those some 4-5,000 are die hards islamists and extremes. It is known the terrorists have several armoured vehicles and light technicals, they also have (used once) some source of air defense captured when the terrorists invaded East Ghouta years ago.
3) By bringing fresh troops to this offensive, the SAA is minimizing betrayals and creating the environment to a quicker and definitive offensive.
4) The forces involved are all Syrians:
Tiger Forces Division;
14th Special Forces Division;
1st Armoured Division;
4th Mechanized Division;
9th Armoured Division;
Republican Guard 104th Brigade;
Republican Guard 105th Brigade; and
Republican Guard 106th Brigade.
5) The Tiger Forces, leading group, MO is usually:
a)shelling/bombing hard – on going for few days
b)sharp penetration/flanking ops – starts now
c)pockets/encirclements when possible
6) It is believed the Syrian forces will storm East Ghouta from several directions, north, south and east, avoiding early combats on the urban areas.
7)the east and center parts of the pocket are the food basket for the terrorists, this could be a priority for the Syrian forces.
8)civilians have being used as shield for 7 years in the area, it won;t be different this time, this is why to finally defeat the terrorists, the high command made a choice for the best storm troopers,the intent is speed and effectiveness, the more time for the offensive the more suffering for the civilians and the use of them to blackmail the Syrian Government and foreign countries.
9)there are many suggestions on what would be the offensive plan,no one knows for sure,the way I see it is that East Ghouta can be roughly divided in 3 large pockets, as the map below, the top one is highly dominated by JAI (KSA dominated), the SW one is dominated by a mix of terrorists by the majority are hardcore islamists (al qaeda type) and SE is a mixed bags of many terrorists groups. It is possible that the Syrian Forces apply pressure on those 3 large areas with different intents, but certainly it will try to isolate,checkmate or create mini cauldrons/pockets, this is TF MO and it will happen in East Ghouta.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=pt&lat=33.549121&lon=36.435471&z=12&m=b&gz=0;363820838;335049022;0;412138;710678;532309;353622;472226;432586;0
10) as in many previous battled, the TFs have always broke the enemies lines and move fast toward the inner areas of the pockets or battle field, with that the TFs always looked at attacking the enemies in tougher places (inside the cities) from areas without defensive lines, meaning, should the TF and allies manage to breakthrough the inner part of the East Ghouta pocket, the advance toward the urban areas from its back will be safer due to lack of defenses protecting the terrorists rearguard.
The offensive has started today, scouts and storm troopers are moving in, focus on Madyara/Mesraba, Nashabiyah cauldron and Muhammadiyah/Jisreen. Good luck heroes.
1)
Yes. East Goutha operation finally under way. Could go faster than expected.
2)
Have the Damascus – Afrin talks come to a conclusion? If yes, the SAA & Syrian police forces could be already on the way to take up their positions in the Afrin canton, this Monday morning.
BREAKING: Victorious Syrian Government Forces To Enter Syria’s Afreen Region Within Hours
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802191061794796-syrian-kurdish-troops-enter-afrin/
Syrian state television channel Ikhbariya reported that victorious Syrian government forces would enter Syria’s Afrin area within hours.
According to this report from RT they are not SAA, but pro Syria militia forces.
Syria pro-govt forces to enter Afrin ‘within hours’ amid Turkish military op – state media
https://www.rt.com/news/419171-deal-syria-troops-afrin-kurds-deployment/
“Syria’s pro-government popular forces will enter Afrin“within hours” to support the locals “in facing the aggression” from Turkey, SANA state news agency reported on Monday, citing its correspondent in Aleppo. Syrian broadcaster al-Ikhbariya TV, also citing own reporter, said that Assad-loyal forces will arrive in the area shortly.”
Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that the turks are shelling the routes these forces are supposed to take.
Turkish Army Shells Afrin Amid Possible Syrian Forces Deployment – Reports
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802191061802417-turkey-afrin-syria-kurdish-militants/
“Meanwhile, the Lebanese media outlet Al-Masdar News reports of a massive artillery bombardment of Afrin by the Turkish army, aimed, as the media claimed, to prevent the entry of Syrian troops into the area.
A similar report has been made by Al Mayadeen TV channel, saying that the Syrian forces could hardly enter Afrin today, as the Turkish forces have been shelling the routes to the city. According to the media outlet, at least eight people have been wounded as a result of the attack.
Nonetheless, the information about the shelling has not been confirmed by any side of the conflict.”
As usual, the news is full of contradictory info and rumours. It will probably be some time before an accurate picture emerges.
“US in the Cross-hairs”, headline from Ziad Fadel on his website SyrPer 1hr ago:
The United States is in a fallback position in Syria. With a large number of special ops soldiers helping the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces, they are especially vulnerable today. Planning in Moscow and Damascus has shifted substantially from fighting a defeated ISIS to now extirpating U.S. forces from the country. A lot will depend on Iraq’s cooperation with Damascus. If the Iraqis deny the U.S. rights to fly over its territory, …… The U.S. has cornered itself. It is trapped between a rock and a hard place with no perceivable way out. Just as Afghanistan is sucking American energy, so will this latest adventure in Syria. And it’s just beginning.
US must immediately leave area it controls in southern Syria — Lavrov
https://www.rt.com/news/419177-us-safety-zone-syria/
“US troops must immediately shut down their zone of control in southern Syria in the area of Al-Tanf, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested when asked what should be done to help the Syrian peace settlement.
“Inside the Al-Tanf zone, which the Americans unilaterally declared under their protection, and inside the refugee camp jihadists are regularly reported to recover strength. On several occasions they conducted raids from there into other territory of the Syrian Arab Republic. This zone must be shut down immediately,” the Russian minister said.
“Our colleagues from the UN for some reason are hesitant to say that humanitarian convoys cannot get into this US-controlled area because the US would not guarantee their safety,” Lavrov added. “Instead they focus attention on the humanitarian situation in Idlib or Eastern Ghouta.”
The minister added Russia has mounting evidence that the US has no intention to oppose this jihadist group in earnest.
The response came after a question from the think tank International Crisis Group about what “Russia could do more” in Syria to prevent an escalation of violence there, particularly between Iran and Israel. Lavrov said the question should be “what the US could refrain from doing” in Syria and that the answer was “stop playing dangerous games” and cease trying to partition the nation.
The Americans “in the territories they patronize east of the Euphrates River and all the way to the state border with Iraq create governing bodies which are designed by intention to have no links with Damascus,” he pointed out.”
He also discussed the israel problem.
President Putin discusses Situation in Syria with Erdogan
https://sana.sy/en/?p=127900
“Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of the Turkish regime Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed, during a phone conversation, on Monday the situation in Syria.
“While discussing the situation in Syria, the two sides concentrated on further enhancing cooperation in light of Astana formula, stressing readiness to closely coordinate the efforts by Russia, Turkey and Iran to guarantee effective performance regarding the de-escalation zones and pushing the political process towards enhancing the agreements agreed upon at the Syrian National Dialogue Congress of Sochi,” the Kremlin’s press-service said in a statement.
The statement added that both sides also tackled the situation in northwestern Syria, including the situation in Afrin.”
Kurdish Militias in Conflict-Ridden Northeastern Syria Turn to Kidnapping, Conscription, ISIS-like Tactics
https://sarahabed.com/2018/02/14/kurdish-militias-in-conflict-ridden-northeastern-syria-turn-to-kidnapping-conscription-isis-like-tactics/
“Independent journalist Sarah Abed speaks with Aramean Christians about the systematic discrimination and human rights violations they often face in the Kurdish enclaves of northern Syria.”
Discussion about how the israeloamerican kurdish quislings behave like all israeloamerican quislings, IE, they behave like terrorists and gangsters.
IS may have been largely eliminated but there are still plenty of proxy forces at the American disposal to try to carve Syria up into pieces. Syria, Russia, Iran and Hezbollah had better decide how far they want to take this as it is now getting down to the strategic essentiasl of support for the Assad government in Syria.