The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) captured the town of Bulbul as well as the villages of Ali Kar, Za’ra and al-Ham from Kurdish YPG forces in the area of Afrin.
According to pro-Turkish sources, over 24 YPG members were killed in the recent clashes. Pro-Kurdish sources claim that 20 members of Turkey-led forces were killed.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said that 800 so-called ‘terrorists’ had been killed since the start of Ankara’s Operation Olive Branch in the area on January 20.
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies liberated the villages of Wasitah, Tal Jina, Seihah Swamp Um Karamil, Tal Aqarib, Tal Jina, Atshana Gharbi, Um Karamil and Tal Husein from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) in eastern Idlib and southern Aleppo.
Government forces are currently deployed within about 16 km from the strategic militant-held town of Saraqeb.
In northeastern Hama, the SAA liberated the village of Abu Khanadiq from ISIS.
In Eastern Ghouta, the SAA advanced on positions of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and Faylaq al-Rahman in the Irbin district, but failed to achieve any notable progress.
Separately militants accused the SAA of using chemical weapons in the area. According to reports, at least 3 rockets with chlorine gas hit the city of Douma.
On February 1, several FSA groups operating in southern Syria announced that they had launched a military operation against the ISIS-affiliated Khalid ibn al-Walid Army in western Daraa. The operation is code-named “al-Fatihin Battle” and is supported by Israel.
Israeli forces reportedly conducted several military strikes on positions of the ISIS-affiliated group in the areas of Tell Jumu and Tasil. However, it’s unlikely that the FSA will be able to deliver a devastating blow to ISIS in the area even with the Israeli support.
First it’s on:
Free Syrian Army Backed By Israel Launches Military Operation Against ISIS In Southern Syria
https://southfront.org/free-syrian-army-backed-by-israel-launches-military-operation-against-isis-in-southern-syria/
Then it’s off:
Free Syrian Army mega-offensive against ISIS in southwest Syria fails before ground assault even begins
https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/free-syrian-army-mega-offensive-isis-southwest-syria-fails-ground-assault-even-begins/
The israeli massa apparently decided they didn’t want their proxies fighting against each other. They need all of them for their planned offensive against southern Syria.
http://www.eurasiafuture.com/2018/02/01/syria-calls-americas-bluff-turkey-ypg-conflict/
A good read.
Turkish FM Slams Western Community Over Ignorance of Afrin’s Civilian Casualties
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201802031061316889-turkey-syria-afrin-military-shelling/
“Meanwhile, the Turkish forces have captured Darmik mountain in northern Syria during its military operation against Kurdish forces in Syria’s Afrin district, local media reported on Friday. According to the Anadolu news agency, the Turkish troops raised their national flag on top of the mountain, which had been used by the Kurdish forces to shell the Turkish border city of Kilis.
On Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu criticized the Western countries over lack of their response to the alleged killing of Turkish civilians by shelling of the Kurdish forces from the Syrian border district of Afrin.
“Why are certain [Western] countries trying to ignore the terrorists’ actions? Why do not you protect the rights of those Turkish civilians killed in shelling? Do [the Turkish civilians] have to be terrorists for you to protect their rights?” Cavusoglu told reporters.”
Apparently Turkish civilians now come under the same category as all the other “goys” the zionazis murder. Like Syrians, Russians, North Koreans, Chinese…
SAA & allies readying large-scale attack on Saraqib.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVDoZj_WkAAsVsu.jpg
“ Saraqeb was always the most strategic city in the rebel-held part of northern Syria. It is the center of all rebel logistic lines as it connects the Ghab plains with the Aleppo countryside & Turkish border, and the Badiya with the coastal fronts. It crests the M5 Highway.” (Jaro)
“ The current situation of the frontline, most likely, will allow the allied forces to storm Saraqib from a position of strength in a wide front. Many reports of rats and families leaving Saraqib, and Binnish” (Canthama)
Kurdish Forces Use NATO Weapons Against Turkey
https://www.veteranstoday.com/2018/02/02/kurdish-forces-use-nato-weapons-against-turkey/
New World Order Agents Lie About Syria – Again
https://www.veteranstoday.com/2018/02/02/new-world-order-agents-lie-about-syria-again/
I think we are growing immune to the Syrian crisis here in Europe. We have taken in loads of refugees, despite our own populations not been welcoming. We have in Sweden mostly been able to cope. Mostly.
The Kurdish problems in Syria mostly arises from the US fueling aspirations of statehood, which were crunched quickly and effectively in Iraq. Now the Syrian Kurdish population thinks statehood is within reach and abandons previous notions of being part of Syria. This will harm their cause badly. And harm their hitherto mostly unharmed areas very bad. I can only come to the conclusion the Kurds most be the worst politicians in the world, they don’t seem capable of accepting realities. The Turkish army is huge and Erdogan need an victory, and he will eventually get it, however despicable and objectionable, his army and their cohorts actions are. (See mutilation of dead dead YPG). But I suppose they learned it all in Al-Ghraib.
The world certainly has moved from the days when the military field manual I was issued stated ” Enemy dead shall be handled as own forces, albeit buried separately in accordance with religion if possible, and clearly marked, for possible retrieve in the future”. We have come a long way since then :(