Syrian War: News #16

Meanwhile in the east, before and after photos of a SDF compound in al-Bahra after ISIS VBIED hit it. It has clearly been cleaned up, crater shows location of blast.


Hugo Kaaman
‏ @HKaaman
Jan 20

IS camouflaged white 4x4 SVBIED used against SDF N. of al-Bahra village, E. Deir ez-Zor. Standardized detonation mechanism visible - h/t @SaladinAlDronni

eehnie wrote:https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201801201060923884-syria-turkey-syria-operation-afrin/

Damascus Resolutely Condemns Turkish Military Operation in Afrin AFP 2018/ STR

MIDDLE EAST
21:08 20.01.2018(updated 21:41 20.01.2018) Get short URL
Topic: Turkey Starts Operation 'Olive Branch' in Syria (17)
11307

Earlier on Saturday, Ankara has officially kicked off a military operation codenamed "Olive Branch" against Kurdish forces in the Syrian city of Afrin, and claimed it had notified the Syrian government about it. The Syrian side has reportedly denied receiving any notification.

Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Turkey's move was another violation of the country's sovereignty.

"The Syrian Arab Republic decisively condemns Turkish aggression against the town of Afrin, which is an inseparable part of Syria," the statement said, as quoted by the SANA news agency.

The Syrian government added that despite Turkey's claims Ankara had not informed Damascus of the military operation.

"Syria completely denies claims by the Turkish regime that it was informed of this military operation," a foreign ministry source told state news agency SANA.

READ MORE: WATCH the Beginning of Turkey's Military Operation in Northern Syria

On January 20, the Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said that the country's jets have bombed YPG, PYD targets in the Syrian city of Afrin.

"Out of 113 designated targets of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) Kurdish Syrian terrorist group, 108 have been destroyed as of 18:30 [15:30 GMT]. All the killed and wounded people, who have been sent to hospitals, are members of terrorist groups," the statement of the Turkish General Staff read.

According to the Anadolu news agency, aircraft hit a PYD observation post in Syria’s northern district of Afrin. Turkish F-16 jets have carried out strikes on six targets in Afrin, while the armed forces have launched artillery shelling from the Kilis province, bordering Syria, the Turkish Hurriyet newspaper reported.

READ MORE: US Arms Supplies to Loyal Groups in Syria Led to Turkish Op — Russian MoD

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed the beginning of the military operation in Afrin.

"The Afrin operation has de-facto been started on the ground," Erdogan said, adding that "this will be followed by Manbij."

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has said that Ankara notified Damascus and the United Nations about the progress of the military offensive in Afrin in writing.

"We are notifying the Syrian regime, as well as all other sides, including the United Nations, about the operation in written form," Cavusoglu said, as quoted by the NTV broadcaster.

READ MORE: Turkish Jets, Free Syrian Army Launch Offensive on Kurdish-Held Afrin

Turkey has been threatening to launch an operation in Afrin since last week after the US announced it was going to start training a border security force composed of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), affiliated with the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considered as a terrorist group.

eehnie wrote:http://www.cetusnews.com/news/Russia-to-demand-in-U-N--that-Turkey-halts-Syria-operation---RIA-citin.rk-mWsJZrz.html

Russia to demand in U.N. that Turkey halts Syria operation - RIA citin

01/20/2018 - 11:14

 
Russia will support Syria diplomatically and will demand in the United Nations that Turkey halt its military operation in Syria's Afrin, a member of the upper house of the Russian parliament's security committee told RIA news on Saturday.


MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will support Syria diplomatically and will demand in the United Nations that Turkey halt its military operation in Syria’s Afrin, a member of the upper house of the Russian parliament’s security committee told RIA news on Saturday.

“It is not only Syria that will demand this operation to stop. Russia will support this demand as well and will provide Syria with diplomatic assistance,” RIA quoted Franz Klintsevich as saying.

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The same new:

https://mundo.sputniknews.com/orientemedio/201801211075596759-siria-kurdos-moscu-ankara/

https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201801221060945553-turkey-syria-afrin-pyd-kurds/

Iran Calls on Turkey to Immediately End Olive Branch Operation AP Photo/ Ismail Coskun, IHA via AP

MIDDLE EAST
00:43 22.01.2018Get short URL6135

At least nine people, including six civilians were killed as a result of the Turkish airstrikes carried out on Saturday under the military operation in Syria's northwestern Afrin district, a source in Afrin's local authorities told Sputnik on Sunday.
"Because of the airstrikes six civilians, two young women from the Kurdish Women's Protection Units [YPJ] and one fighter of the People's Protection Units [YPG] were killed," the source said speaking about the victims killed on Saturday. The source added that 13 more people were injured in the airstrikes.

Meanwhile, the former co-chairman of Syria's Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) on Sunday called on everyone supporting the humanitarian values, as well as freedom to show solidarity with the people of the Syrian Afrin, where Ankara has launched a military operation.

"We are asking for the solidarity with Afrin, with the Afrin people, with the Kurdish people. We are defending the humanitarian values, so we call upon all the pro-freedom people… to be in solidarity with Afrin," Saleh Muslim said in a statement obtained by Sputnik.

This May 24, 2017 file photo shows the newly built wall near Cilvegozu border gate in Reyhanli, at the Turkey-Syria border
AP PHOTO/ BURHAN OZBILICI, FILE
Turkish City Reyhanli Hit by Rocket Attack From Afrin: 1 Killed, 32 Wounded
The politician added that he was sure that the Kurds would secure the victory in the conflict.
According to Muslim, the ongoing operation is "a kind of revenge by the Turkish government" as the Kurds have defeated the Daesh terrorist group in a number of Syrian regions and liberated such cities as Raqqa.

Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry's spokesman Bahram Qassemi said Sunday that Turkey should immediately stop the ongoing operation carried out by Ankara in Syria's northwestern Afrin district in order and to respect Syrian territorial integrity ans sovereignty.

"Iran closely follows the ongoing developments in the Syrian city of Afrin, and hopes that this operation will end immediately to prevent the deepening of the crisis in the border regions of Turkey and Syria," Qassemi said in a statement released by the Tasnim news agency.

The Iranian diplomat added that Tehran expected Ankara to protect the territorial integrity of Syria and to avoid the escalation of crisis in the Middle Eastern nation.

On Saturday, Ankara launched an operation against the Kurdish forces in Afrin. The operation started at 14:00 GMT and a total of 72 Turkish aircraft conducted airstrikes in the district. On Sunday, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim confirmed the start of the ground operation in the region.

The operation Olive Branch launched by Ankara has been strongly criticized by Damascus, while a number of other states, such as Germany expressed concerns over the developments in the region.

In the answer of some people to these news, we see clearly who supports Turkey or the US-Israel over Syria and Russia.

The Ottoman wrote:Turkish backed FSA-rebels entering Afrin-region to clean the borders from single-eyebrows and Kurdo-Yanks.



The Olive Branch Operation is a Russo-Turko-Persian gameplan to isolate the US War Machine in Syria and destroy the Yinon Plan.

Awww, moderate head-cutters appear again.

So let me get this...

You are all most pleased with Turkish intervention... to drive YPG from the area. Meanwhile FSA branches are being used by Turks to achieve the goal... With Kurds you could at least talk. Try talking with Erdogan and headchoppers from FSA, that will go well i am sure.

The Ottoman wrote:The delivery of the S400 must be so quick as possible.

1.- The US will first kick Turkey out of NATO (US-media and US-senators are calling for this).

2.- Then the US will create a false flag in Syria among American troops and declare Turkey the war.

3.- The US will bomb the shit out of Turkey.

Turkey has good land forces and a good air force, but not enough resources, a small navy and no anti-aircraft-system.

The Anglo-Saxons will occupy Turkey, like they did after World War I. Only Russia could save Turkey from this. How ironic.

Emm.... huh...

Militarov wrote:So let me get this...

You are all most pleased with Turkish intervention... to drive YPG from the area. Meanwhile FSA branches are being used by Turks to achieve the goal... With Kurds you could at least talk. Try talking with Erdogan and headchoppers from FSA, that will go well i am sure.

Not pleased but not upset or anything, just don't care about it. Irelevant issue. 

Kurds were no help at all, just look at East Euphrates bullshittery they have been pulling last year, they literally tried to cut off SAA and Russia from lifting siege of Deir ez Zorr, I mean c'mon that was some grade-A level assholeness. All ordered by Uncle Sam and obeyed by Kurds.

And now Kurds do their usual crap in Afrin. They were offered to reintegrate into Syria but kept doing their thing.

You can talk to Kurds but it's still pointless because you achieve absolutely nothing.

You can't bomb them without looking like a villain but if FSA headchoppers take over Afrin you can bomb those FSA dicks  into fine dust no problem and then nicely reattach region back into Syria without ruffling to many PR feathers.

Afrin is not on the coastline so no effect on Russia's interests and they get extra points from Turks for economic projects. Also whole mess causes slight headache for USA and especially EU libtards. So that's a bonus.

And the fact that eehenie gets his PMS 24/7 now over the whole thing is just so hilariously​ satisfying.  

PapaDragon wrote:

Militarov wrote:So let me get this...

You are all most pleased with Turkish intervention... to drive YPG from the area. Meanwhile FSA branches are being used by Turks to achieve the goal... With Kurds you could at least talk. Try talking with Erdogan and headchoppers from FSA, that will go well i am sure.

Not pleased but not upset or anything, just don't care about it. Irelevant issue. 
Kurds were no help at all, just look at East Euphrates bullshittery they have been pulling last year, they literally tried to cut off SAA and Russia from lifting siege of Deir ez Zorr, I mean c'mon that was some grade-A level assholeness. All ordered by Uncle Sam and obeyed by Kurds.
And now Kurds do their usual crap in Afrin. They were offered to reintegrate into Syria but kept doing their thing.

You can talk to Kurds but it's still pointless because you achieve absolutely nothing.

You can't bomb them without looking like a villain but if FSA headchoppers take over Afrin you can bomb those FSA dicks  into fine dust no problem and then nicely reattach region back into Syria without ruffling to many PR feathers.

Afrin is not on the coastline so no effect on Russia's interests and they get extra points from Turks for economic projects. Also whole mess causes slight headache for USA and especially EU libtards. So that's a bonus.

And the fact that eehenie gets his PMS 24/7 now over the whole thing is just so hilariously​ satisfying.  

+100, especially the pms.

auslander wrote:

PapaDragon wrote:

Militarov wrote:So let me get this...

You are all most pleased with Turkish intervention... to drive YPG from the area. Meanwhile FSA branches are being used by Turks to achieve the goal... With Kurds you could at least talk. Try talking with Erdogan and headchoppers from FSA, that will go well i am sure.

Not pleased but not upset or anything, just don't care about it. Irelevant issue. 
Kurds were no help at all, just look at East Euphrates bullshittery they have been pulling last year, they literally tried to cut off SAA and Russia from lifting siege of Deir ez Zorr, I mean c'mon that was some grade-A level assholeness. All ordered by Uncle Sam and obeyed by Kurds.
And now Kurds do their usual crap in Afrin. They were offered to reintegrate into Syria but kept doing their thing.

You can talk to Kurds but it's still pointless because you achieve absolutely nothing.

You can't bomb them without looking like a villain but if FSA headchoppers take over Afrin you can bomb those FSA dicks  into fine dust no problem and then nicely reattach region back into Syria without ruffling to many PR feathers.

Afrin is not on the coastline so no effect on Russia's interests and they get extra points from Turks for economic projects. Also whole mess causes slight headache for USA and especially EU libtards. So that's a bonus.

And the fact that eehenie gets his PMS 24/7 now over the whole thing is just so hilariously​ satisfying.  

 +100, especially the pms.

Auslander, cuddle more our sweet Lambie, +100 is not enough, he needs your cuddles so badly...



Now we know that at 43:20 he lost not only the tests... but also the brain... unfortunately the small brain of our dear Lambie was also there...



Do not be shy with your new decoration Papadragon, if now you know not how to do it without brain, Auslander will help you.

You're derailing the discussion eehnie

BTW your sheep video, although showing the great basque culture and language, almost made me puke.

A great article explaining what may be happening in Syria.


“It should be noted that Afrin is located between territory Turkey is currently occupying. Turkish troops, should they seize Afrin, would effectively have expanded Turkey’s “Euphrates Shield” by 30 miles (53 km) and present an opportunity to for its troops to link up with troops of Turkey’s “Idlib Shield.” This would create a large, singular buffer zone within which US-NATO forces could harbor militants driven back by Syria’s most recent offensive.

Depending on Turkey’s success, the zone could be expanded even further, even as far as including Idlib city itself – thus granting the US an opportunity to present it as a second Syrian “capital” much in the way Benghazi was used in Libya during US-led regime change there. There remains, however, the fact that Idlib is openly occupied and administered by Al Qaeda, making the proposal of transforming it into an “opposition capital” particularly dubious.”


https://www.globalresearch.ca/us-turkey-react-as-syrian-forces-move-into-idlib/5626577

KomissarBojanchev wrote:You're derailing the discussion eehnie

Where have you been here, and here, and here,....

https://www.russiadefence.net/t7135p75-russian-stovl-vtol-fighter-development#211883
https://www.russiadefence.net/t7135p100-russian-stovl-vtol-fighter-development#211927

https://www.russiadefence.net/t6686p950-russian-navy-status-news-3#212664

https://www.russiadefence.net/t3297p225-promising-destroyer-nir-leader#212663
https://www.russiadefence.net/t3297p225-promising-destroyer-nir-leader#212663
https://www.russiadefence.net/t3297p225-promising-destroyer-nir-leader#212673
https://www.russiadefence.net/t3297p225-promising-destroyer-nir-leader#212675

https://www.russiadefence.net/t7151-off-topic-bollocs#213036
https://www.russiadefence.net/t7151-off-topic-bollocs#213045
https://www.russiadefence.net/t7151-off-topic-bollocs#213047

https://www.russiadefence.net/t7040p475-russian-military-involvement-and-aid-to-syria-12#213345
https://www.russiadefence.net/t7040p500-russian-military-involvement-and-aid-to-syria-12#213491

https://www.russiadefence.net/t7040p475-russian-military-involvement-and-aid-to-syria-12#213350
https://www.russiadefence.net/t7040p500-russian-military-involvement-and-aid-to-syria-12#213491

https://www.russiadefence.net/t7136p300-future-russian-aircraft-carriers-2#213694
https://www.russiadefence.net/t7136p300-future-russian-aircraft-carriers-2#213735

https://www.russiadefence.net/t7136p300-future-russian-aircraft-carriers-2#213733
https://www.russiadefence.net/t7136p300-future-russian-aircraft-carriers-2#213735

https://www.russiadefence.net/t7136p325-future-russian-aircraft-carriers-2#213793
https://www.russiadefence.net/t7136p350-future-russian-aircraft-carriers-2#213954
https://www.russiadefence.net/t7136p350-future-russian-aircraft-carriers-2#213964
https://www.russiadefence.net/t7136p375-future-russian-aircraft-carriers-2#214024

https://www.russiadefence.net/t7072p600-syrian-civil-war-news-16#214211

par far wrote:A great article explaining what may be happening in Syria.


“It should be noted that Afrin is located between territory Turkey is currently occupying. Turkish troops, should they seize Afrin, would effectively have expanded Turkey’s “Euphrates Shield” by 30 miles (53 km) and present an opportunity to for its troops to link up with troops of Turkey’s “Idlib Shield.” This would create a large, singular buffer zone within which US-NATO forces could harbor militants driven back by Syria’s most recent offensive.

Depending on Turkey’s success, the zone could be expanded even further, even as far as including Idlib city itself – thus granting the US an opportunity to present it as a second Syrian “capital” much in the way Benghazi was used in Libya during US-led regime change there. There remains, however, the fact that Idlib is openly occupied and administered by Al Qaeda, making the proposal of transforming it into an “opposition capital” particularly dubious.”


https://www.globalresearch.ca/us-turkey-react-as-syrian-forces-move-into-idlib/5626577

A little of reality.

Turkish Armed Forces extend Operation Olive Branch to Azaz district, east of Afrin region in Syria

https://twitter.com/TRTWorldNow/status/955398908271890432

eehnie wrote:

par far wrote:A great article explaining what may be happening in Syria.


“It should be noted that Afrin is located between territory Turkey is currently occupying. Turkish troops, should they seize Afrin, would effectively have expanded Turkey’s “Euphrates Shield” by 30 miles (53 km) and present an opportunity to for its troops to link up with troops of Turkey’s “Idlib Shield.” This would create a large, singular buffer zone within which US-NATO forces could harbor militants driven back by Syria’s most recent offensive.

Depending on Turkey’s success, the zone could be expanded even further, even as far as including Idlib city itself – thus granting the US an opportunity to present it as a second Syrian “capital” much in the way Benghazi was used in Libya during US-led regime change there. There remains, however, the fact that Idlib is openly occupied and administered by Al Qaeda, making the proposal of transforming it into an “opposition capital” particularly dubious.”


https://www.globalresearch.ca/us-turkey-react-as-syrian-forces-move-into-idlib/5626577

A little of reality.

That is what i am seeing since the start of this operation tbh.

FSA is much easier to deal with on the legitimacy aspect if push comes to shove. Easily corruptible (to Nusra/ISIS), easy to label as terrorist no matter how much either Turkey or the U.S scream moderate. They've overplayed that card. The americans and the Kurds have been working on their PR and image for a longggggggggggg time - and not for good reason. Take the untouchable golden boys out and you have advanced.

The FSA has been touched and can be touched again and again. The Kurds have not. This is a welcomed development for a myriad of reasons. Kurds are not easy to deal with...the fuck are you all smoking? Out of all the militias they're by far the hardest to deal with and mainly due to political reasons. FSA is cannon fodder and things can be settled with BOMBs and powder. Much easier.

Lets not think for a second here that if Russia could just bomb the Kurds (like the FSA and other rebel groups) it wouldn't have done so a longggggggggggg time ago. The fact that Russia/Assad/Iran have to resort to Turkey for this sort of dirty work is very telling of how tricky it's to deal with these fuckers and it's all political.

This is why Russia gave the go-ahead FINALLY, after wasting sooo much precious time trying to "reason" with puppets all-in with the U.S. Russia would have given Turkey the go ahead a longgggggggggggg time ago. It got played to be honest. That deal for E. of E.R should have never happened and Turkey's invasion of Afrin should of happened around the time the SAA was going for Deir-Zor. Waited this long for practically nothing really. Russia should give us the inside scoop on what the benefit of that deal was so we can judge it properly...ehmmm...

There is so much commotion already and we haven't even gotten to areas under offical "SDF" (aka American) control. Easy to deal with? Lol come again...

Not to mention the obvious: they preferred to be invaded than to hand the territory to Assad with some perks. Knowing full well that this is the worst possible solution for both Turkey and Assad/Russia. Kurds leaders know this full well and are playing this out, despite what their cannon fodder on the ground believes and all the other propaganda going around.

The Kurds are essentially the worst militia in Syria if you're looking at it from an overall power structure and the most threatening for Assad and Syria's integrity full stop. The fact that many don't recognize this shows how much the propaganda has been working. Smart opportunists. If you want to look at dumb ones, then look at ISIS/Nusra and the "moderate" FSA.

Easy to see why the "rebels" were "ditched" by the Americans - officially obviously and why they doubled down on the Kurds with a strategy tailored made to exploit their "plight". If we think critically we start to see things for the way they really are.

If Turkey does move East of Manbij.... it won't be long before we hear ethnic cleaning and genocide... a true spectacle. Afrin can be sacrificed since it was lost already when the Turks drove the wedge to avoid the cantons connected. Do expect HUGE pushback if anyone tries to move on them in other areas.

FSA seem to have difficulty holding areas when they capture them.

Rojava Defense Units | YPG‏ @DefenseUnits

Mount #Barsayah (Girê Qestelê) is reseized by our forces now. It was the first point lost to Turkey-backed terrorists today. Some better news to come soon from #Afrin. #YPG #YPJ #TwitterKurds

Now something I actually care about, Abu Duhorr village liberated by SAA:

JohninMK wrote:FSA seem to have difficulty holding areas when they capture them.

Rojava Defense Units | YPG‏ @DefenseUnits

Mount #Barsayah (Girê Qestelê) is reseized by our forces now. It was the first point lost to Turkey-backed terrorists today. Some better news to come soon from #Afrin. #YPG #YPJ #TwitterKurds

Meat for the meat grinder!

The FSA will cease to exist. SDF will be massive weakened, because no more US weapons and a high death toll against turkish forces. Turkish forces can't simply occupy kurdish territory without a high death toll, because kurdish forces will go full guerilla after a while...a dirty war. For turkish forces and proxies it will be the best only to focus on Afrin and not more, but maybe Erdo want to crush whole SDF!?

The winner are...SAA and allies!

Things not going well for the Turks so far, according to intelligence.

In order to keep yanks from putting pressure on Turks , Russia and Syria and Iraq and Iran need a few men standing ready . To step in . Better do it little by little . From east , Iraq troops cross border . From south IRGC . From west SAA . From north the Turks .Meet in the middle . Yanks can not attack all . Must accept reality . Russia out of direct confrontation . No WW3 risk . But at first wait a little until bad blood developed between Turks and Yanks . And their bridges are burned .

I think that was exactly the plan all along nomadski

The Turks are not afraid for a fight. They are born fighters with militairy spirit.

Even the Turkish language is militairy.

''Git!'' (means Go)
''Gel!'' (means Come)
''Dur!'' (means Stop)
''Ye!'' (means Eat)

But Turkey is political very weak and Turkish politicians are under high Western pressure.

Russia and Iran must help Turkey, because the Turkish operations in Syria are preventing a Kurdish Republic from Afrin till Raqqa.

The SAA could never handle the Kurdish problem witthout Turkey.

nomadski wrote:
In order to keep yanks from putting pressure on Turks , Russia and Syria and Iraq and Iran need a few men standing ready . To step in . Better do it little by little . From east , Iraq troops cross border . From south IRGC . From west SAA . From north  the Turks .Meet in the middle . Yanks can not attack all . Must accept reality . Russia out of direct confrontation . No WW3 risk . But at first wait a little until bad blood developed between Turks and Yanks . And their bridges are burned .

Well, we have US troops in Turkey (with nuclear weapons looking at Russia), in Iraq and in part of Syria controled by Kurds.

And the attack to expel the US goes to the Kurd part that does not have US troops.

Makes 0 sense.

The Ottoman wrote:Russia and Iran must help Turkey, because the Turkish operations in Syria are preventing a Kurdish Republic from Afrin till Raqqa.

The SAA could never handle the Kurdish problem witthout Turkey.

Why you attacked not Raqqa then?

All this is ridiculous.

eehnie wrote:

The Ottoman wrote:Russia and Iran must help Turkey, because the Turkish operations in Syria are preventing a Kurdish Republic from Afrin till Raqqa.

The SAA could never handle the Kurdish problem witthout Turkey.

Why you attacked not Raqqa then?

All this is ridiculous.

If Turkey attacks Manbij or Raqqa, than the US will bomb Turkey to the stone age. Turkey is not strong enough to face the USA with single-eyebrow Kurdo-Yank backstabbers all over the homeland.

Turkey only wants to clean the borders and prevent the Balkanisation of Syria and Iraq.