The situation in estern Idlib is rapidly becoming more and more complicated for government forces as both ISIS and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) are simultaneously pressuring the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its allies.
On January 15, ISIS captured a dozen villages southwest of the Abu al-Duhur airbase and conducted several hit and run attacks on government troops in the areas of Uwayjat Qana and Rasm Khushuf.
Separately, clashes between HTS and the SAA continued in Niha, Abu Omar, Astan, Sham Hawa, Salloumiyah, Tal Khaznah and nearby points. Government forces launched a counter-attack to repel the HTS advance in the area and by January 16, they had regained some positions including Astan.
In southern Aleppo, government troops regained Hawbar, Abu Ruwayj and entered Marhamiyah and Tal Shahid.
According to pro-militant sources, government forces lost up to 30 fighters and at least 2 vehicles in the recent clashes, mainly in militant attacks on ill-prepared positions of SAA troops southwest of Abu al-Duhur.
The recent advances of ISIS and the ongoing counter-attack of HTS pose the threat of cutting off units of the SAA’s Tiger Forces deployed south of the airbase from their counterparts in northeastern Hama. The Syrian military is now deploying reinforcements to the area in order to prevent this scenario.
The rapid expansion of ISIS in the area also shows that more and more so-called moderate rebels paint their flags in black and joint the terrorist faction in eastern Idlib and northeastern Hama. This once again reveals the real face of the so-called moderate opposition in Idlib.
On January 15 and January 16, Turkish forces carried out multiple strikes on the positions of Kurdish militias in the area of Afrin. Turkey’s President Erdogan once again threatened to launch a military operation in the area and vowed to “drown” the so-called “terror army” which is now being formed by Washington with the help of US-backed forces under the name of the Border Force.
“This is what we have to say to all our allies: don’t get between us and terrorist organizations, or we will not be responsible for the unwanted consequences,” Erdogan said adding that Turkish forces will battle “until not a single terrorist remains along our borders, let alone 30,000 of them.”
The rift between Washington and Ankara deepens as the US is not going to abandon its support to Kurdish-dominated forces in northern Syria.
High alert for potential false flag operations against China
http://bit.ly/2mEMUtr
US-Led Coalition Refuses to Provide Details on Reported Arms Supply to SDF
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201801171060807239-usa-coalition-syria-sdf-weapons/
“Al-Masdar News on Monday reported that the United States had provided MANPADS to Kurdish forces near the northwestern Syrian town of Afrin earlier this month under an agreement between Washington and the People’s Protection Units (YPG), a mostly Kurdish militia that makes up the bulk of SDF forces.
Meanwhile, the US-led coalition fighting the Daesh terror group refuses to say whether it gave portable anti-aircraft missiles (MANPADS) to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria, the Public Affairs Office of the Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) told Sputnik.”
I don’t see why the zionazis are being so coy about arming their terrorist proxies, the Russians probably know who, right down to section level, received the arms.
weighs in Zion’s latest push to turn fictional Kurdistan into the monster North Korea will never be:
“That may change now, Turkish interest on Afrin is two folds:
1) Land grabbing from Syria, like Turkey did with Antakya Province while back with France’s blessing.
2) To block Kurdish advance toward the sea, the move to the sea is Kurdish long term dream of a country, without a sea it will be always at mercy of any other country, Syria knows it and Turkey knows it, they will never allow it to happen.
The US regime is actually helping to change Turkish regime’s mind from Afrin to the northern Syria, you now hear Erdogan talk about Manbij and other areas since the US regime decided to occupy NE Syria and train local militia. This is a declaration of war against Syria and it is the biggest national threat Turkey is facing since the fall of the Ottoman Empire, it puts all south and SE Turkey in a incredible danger due to the millions of tons of weapons that the US is pouring into northern Syria.
This is a crazy US move, without a sea to reach NE Syria, the US relies on Turkey, Iraq and Syria’s airspace and Iraq/Turkey land routes to get all the gears and weapons there, should the 3 countries decide to block land and air routes, the US will be freaking isolated without a proper way to support their occupying force there. It is unsustainable, in my mind it is bullying of the worst possible case, quite stupid move indeed.
Somehow it is why I believe Russia is playing soft on this matter, it knows it s not long lived and can destroy Turkish-US relationship and also Iraq-US relationship, so Russia is playing not the Syrian interest on this one but the card against the US on the long run at NATO and in the ME.”
Syria’s Opposition Group Condemns US Plans to Form Border Force in Syria
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201801171060819308-snc-condemns-us-plans-border-force-syria/
“The National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces on Wednesday condemned the US-led coalition’s plans to set up a special force to ensure security on the Syrian border and rejected any justifications of the project.
“The coalition condemns the US plans to form border forces in the northeast of Syria and states that any justifications or any reasoning backing these plans are unacceptable,” the opposition coalition said in a statement obtained by Sputnik.
The opposition members acknowledged the importance of the fight against Daesh, but stressed that it could not justify the help to any groups in Syria “that committed crimes against Syrians.”
“It is unacceptable to transfer the territories liberated from IS [Daesh] to the PYD [Syrian Kurds’ militia, linked to the SDF] or any other group whose agendas are in contradiction to the goals of the Syrian revolution,” the statement said.
The National Coalition stressed that any attempts to divide Syria were doomed to fail.”
http://www.fort-russ.com/2018/01/video-turkish-military-begins-build-up.html
http://www.fort-russ.com/2018/01/so-called-moderate-rebels-shell.html
http://www.fort-russ.com/2018/01/watch-video-of-turkish-military-placing.html
Syrian opposition still undecided on participation in Sochi congress — source
World January 17, 13:10 UTC+3
The Syrian National Dialogue Congress is scheduled to be held in Sochi on January 29-30
More:
http://tass.com/world/985443
New round of intra-Syrian talks to be held in Vienna January 26-27 — source
World January 17, 12:44 UTC+3
The previous round of the intra-Syrian talks was held in December 2017
More:
http://tass.com/world/985434
The expected Turkish military operation against Kurdish militants in northern Syria may be expanded to other areas, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on January 16.
https://southfront.org/foreign-minister-turkish-military-o…/
Erdogan is an unpredictable joker, but it is quite clear he WILL not have Kurdish armed militia on his borders, but what about his own backed Al Qaeda terrorists in Syria? Russia and Syria wants them dead… And will Russia and Syria allow Turkey to have an enclave occupied with Turkish troops ? Hardly. No it is Erdogan we must watch to see what will happen there.
Looks like the turk op against Afrin may have begun.
Turkish-Backed Forces Cross Syrian Border as Afrin Op ‘De Facto’ Starts – Media
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201801191060881242-turkey-operation-syria-afrin/
“According to Turkis DHA news agency, 20 buses with fighters from the Ankara-backed Free Syrian Army have crossed from Turkish Kilis into Syrian territory and are moving toward Azaz. However, no official confirmation has followed so far.
An operation in Syria’s Afrin has started “de facto” with cross-border shelling, however, no troops have been deployed in the city, Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said in an interview with the Haberturk broadcaster.
Turkey is consulting with Russia to bring closer approaches to the operation of the Turkish army in Syria’s Afrin, the top official said, however, the Russian Defense Ministry has yet to comment on the situation.
“We are preparing for an operation in Afrin, we are taking the necessary steps for this. We are coordinating with Russia and other interested countries of the region, their views should be brought closer to our position since this operation will ultimately be carried out,” Canikli said.”
Additional info:
Ankara says ‘has no option’ but to attack Syrian Kurds in Afrin, starts cross-border shelling
https://www.rt.com/news/416377-turkey-syria-afrin-operation/
On January 16, 2018 died Honor Lieutenant Wael Taleb of the 40th Brigade…..of the SAA
https://www.facebook.com/syrianmilitary/posts/1597570343657675