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Clashes between militant groups involved in the Turkish Operation Euphrates Shield and the Syrian army’s Tiger Forces have been ongoing in the town of Tadef located directly south of al-Bab since Sunday.
Last weekend, the Tiger Forces made significant gains against ISIS in the province of Aleppo, liberating Tadef and 10 other villages from the terrorist group. By entering Tadif, government troops reached a demarcation line with the Turkish army and its proxies from the so-called “Free Syrian Army” (FSA).
The agreed demarcation line in the Al-Bab outskirts lays directly at the Aleppo-Manbij highway. FSA militants crossed the highway and engaged Tiger Forces fighters in clashes, using firearms, anti-tank guided missiles, mortars and light military equipment, in a fierce attempt to capture the government-held town. Clashes were also reported in the outskirts of Amiyah Kabirah.
According to initial reports in pro-militant sources, the Tiger Forces lost a battle tank and six fighters in the ongoing confrontation. Later reports appeared about up to 20 killed government troops. However, all these are not confirmed by photo or video evidence. There is no information about alleged casualties of pro-Turkish forces.
The de-facto demarcation line between Turkish and Syrian forces in Aleppo province is now located near a number of towns and villages, including Hazwan, Kharabshah, Deir Qaq, Tadef, Bzaah and Amiyah Kabirah. The military and security situation in these areas is clear indicator of the level of the Turkish-Syrian-Iranian-Russian cooperation over the conflict. If FSA militants continue their offensive actions, it will mark that Ankara has once again changed the attitude over the conflict and shifted it policies in the direction of states supporters of terrorist factions.
At the same time, FSA militants, backed up by the Turkish army, made a series of attempts to push further to central Syria throughout the areas controlled by ISIS. If government troops reach Kurdish YPG frontlines west of Manbij, Ankara will have no chances to launch its overpropagated “advance on Raqqah” via areas controlled by ISIS. So, Turkey will be pushed to “solve” the Kurdish issue if it wants to participate in the US-led Raqqah operation. This is why Turkish forces could will to build a corridor to the province of Raqqah through the province of Aleppo.
The army and the National Defense Forces (NDF) continued advances in the western Aleppo countryside, making notable gains in the Rashidin 5 areas after a series of clashes with Al-Qaeda linked moderate oppositioneers. Some pro-government sources even claimed that the area was liberated, but the video confirmation has not appeared yet.
Abu Khayr al Masri, Al-Qaeda’s deputy leader, has been reportedly killed in a drone strike in the province of Idlib. Photos and video posted on social media suggested the event took place as he travelled in a car on Sunday.
The army and the NDF, backed by Russian warplanes, seized the highest point in the Hayyal Mountain near Palmyra on Sunday, setting a fire control over the Palmyra Triangle. Government troops also liberated the Quarries area northwest of Palmyra. These advances clearly show that government forces are set to kick off the operation to retake the ancient city from ISIS terrorists.
While the tuppence regime gets its act together for another go against Syria, their israeli massas take up the slack and step up their direct support of the zionazi terrorist proxy army there.
War at Any Cost: Israeli Special Forces Enter Syrian Territory to ‘Monitor’ Extremist Groups Fighting Assad
Another Israeli contribution to Syrian peace
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/war-any-cost-israeli-special-forces-enter-syrian-territory-monitor-groups-fighting-assad
“Israel’s decision on Wednesday to fly over ISIS strongholds in Lebanon, and then drop bombs on Syrian Army positions in Syria, was a real stroke of genius — especially considering that the airstrikes came just before peace talks in Geneva were scheduled to begin.
A real class act.
Now Israel is sending “elite intelligence units” to “monitor” fighting between Syrian forces and “moderate” rebels. Our friends at Al Masdar News report:
A video published by Channel 2 showed reporter Dani Kashmaru accompanying the soldiers in a night mission. According to the reporter, similar operations have been carried out several times in the past, stating that he, along with the Israeli soldiers, ‘could hear and see everything.’
The report disclosed that the elite unit made use of advanced and sophisticated eavesdropping devices to monitor the battles fought between the Syrian Army and hardline groups in the area.
Israel has been providing logistic support and medical assistance to opposition forces – including Jabhet al-Nusra terror organization – fighting President Bashar Assad.
Israeli warplanes have repeatedly targeted Syrian Army positions under the pretext of preventing sophisticated weapons from reaching the Lebanese Hezbollah group.
They’re not even trying to hide their open support for extremist groups in Syria anymore.
Why isn’t this front page news? You know why.”
I think we all know why.
They don’t have to hide their support for al qaeda because the MSM won’t report it, they have a vertically-integrated war structure.
Putin: ‘Russia Will Not Support Any Sanctions Against Syria’
https://sputniknews.com/politics/201702281051113387-syria-sanctions-russia-putin/
“As for sanctions, I think that it is totally inappropriate in relation to the Syrian leadership because it would not help the negotiations process, but would only hurt or undermine confidence in the course of this negotiations process,” Putin said.
He asserted that “Russia will not support any new sanctions against Syria.”
Back to Syrian Shores: Why Russian Cutting Edge Frigate Returns to Mediterranean
https://sputniknews.com/military/201702281051112811-russia-frigate-mediterranean-mission/
“In the first half of the day the frigate is expected to go through the Straits and by Tuesday evening it is expected to operate as part of the Russian Navy’s permanent task force in the Mediterranean. The vessel’s crew is well-prepared, the vessel has undergone all the necessary standing orders and is ready to implement in full all the tasks in hand in the distant maritime zone,” the source told Sputnik.”
I think Turkey will accept Assad if Menbic and Afrin will be secure zone for refugees in Turkey. Otherwise it will be burden on Turkey on long term.
Tadef is a small town in Al Bab so it should be part of secure zone as well.
Firefox has blocked South Front!
Yeah. I’m using version 27.0.1 and I can’t fiond a way to enter an exception — there is no clicky to look at it, control click on frame doesn’t work, none of the menus are the same.
Mozilla is not good software. Thunderbird sucks too. But I can’t find anything better. Computer stuff just doesn’t work right any more and there are so many versions of everything that keeps changin I can’t find decent information. .