The truth about Syria

[Yervant1]

WEST MEDIA STARVES TRUTH IN SYRIA

[ Part 2.2: "Attached Text" ]

By Finian Cunningham

January 11, 2016 "Information Clearing House" - "Sputnik" - The Western
news media are at it again - telling barefaced lies and half-truths
about starving towns in Syria being liberated from sieges. Fake
images of emaciated children are also being published to shore up
their fraudulent narrative.

Take the image of the malnourished little girl whom the BBC and the
British Independent newspaper claimed was from the Syrian town of
Madaya. Turns out the girl is from south Lebanon. Her name is Marianna
Mazeh. The photo published widely this week by Western media is from
three years ago, yet the same media are claiming that she is one of
the residents of the Syrian town of Madaya, which the Western media
also say is being blockaded by the governments forces of President
Bashar al-Assad.

Turns out too that Marianna's family are infuriated that her forlorn
image is being circulated for propaganda purposes. "I live in Tayr
Filsey [south Lebanon], not Madaya, and I am fine," the little girl
told Al Manar news agency. She is now aged seven and apparently has
made a full recovery from her earlier emaciated condition. The reason
for her previous illness is not clear.

A toddler is held up to the camera in this still image taken from
video said to be shot in Madaya on January 5, 2016

But what is clear is that Western media have been caught -- once
again -- falsifying reality about the siege towns in Syria now being
liberated.

British state-owned broadcaster BBC tells us that there are up to
400,000 people being held in some 15 besieged towns across Syria.

The BBC and other Western media refer to these places as "rebel-held",
and by a process of outright lies or half-truths, it is inferred
that the locations are being besieged by the Syrian army, supported
by Hezbollah militia and Russian air power.

Occasionally, the Western media let slip, like when the New York Times
reported this week on "people being shot as they try to escape" the
captive towns. The people are being shot -- by the so-called rebels
holding the residents as hostages, but the NY Times omitted that fact.

The half-truth that the Western media don't tell is that many towns in
Syria have been, and are still, taken over by foreign-backed mercenary
militia. They are terrorists, not "rebels", belonging to such groups
as the so-called Islamic State (or Daesh), al Nusra Front and Jaish
al-Islam. All of them espouse a twisted, corrupted version of Islam,
which ordains that anyone opposed to them can be beheaded or their
children gang-raped.

The Western media portray the "Syrian regime" forces as having
blockaded the towns and using starvation as a weapon against the
residents. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The populations have been held hostage by the terror groups and used
as "human shields" to prevent the Syrian army advancing to liberate
those being held against their will.

This week, the siege towns being reported in the news are Madaya near
the capital Damascus, as well as the northern locations of Kefraya
and Foua. But the same siege situations and eventual liberation were
repeated previously in many other towns and villages, such as Zabadani,
Kessab, Adra, Homs and Maloula.

In all cases, the residents have welcomed the Syrian army with open
arms as "liberators" -- grateful to have been freed from the nightmare
of captivity under the foreign-backed mercenaries. Their conditions
of starvation and general brutality were not due to alleged blockade
by the Syrian state forces, as the Western media claim, but rather
as a direct result of being kidnapped en masse by the mercenaries.

Irish peace activist, Dr Declan Hayes, told this author how he
witnessed the liberation of Maloula near the border with Lebanon back
in 2014.

"It was Easter Sunday, April 24, when we entered the town with Syrian
army forces. It had been held captive by the mercenaries for several
months. We were greeted by cheering, flag-waving children, by young
and old, by Christians and Muslims.

The atmosphere was euphoric," recounted Hayes.

"You had to see the destruction of Maloula to believe it.

Everything had been destroyed by the occupying mercenaries. People
were still in a state of shock from the brutality they had been
subjected to. Beheadings, shootings, kidnappings, rape. There was
graffiti on walls written by the so-called jihadists which said,
'We get closer to God by cutting the heads off our enemies'."

These are the same mercenaries that Western governments and their
media refer to as "rebels". As with the siege of Madaya and other
towns being ended this week, the Western media contrived a narrative
that Maloula was similarly under siege from the Syrian army.

Of course, the reason why the West refers to "rebels" and not
"terrorists" is because the terrorists are supported by Western
governments and their regional allies in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and
Turkey. Half-truths are invented because the full truth is a shocking
revelation of the real, criminal nature of Western governments and
how they have sponsored a covert war in Syria for their illicit scheme
of regime change against the Assad administration.

Dr Hayes says there is a clinical method in the madness that Syrian
towns and communities have been plunged into. The objective is to
destroy the rich pluralist fabric of Syrian society and culture.

"Maloula is one of the earliest Christian dwellings in the world.

People there speak Aramaic dating back to the time of Jesus,"
explained Hayes. "But the community there also include Muslims,
Sunni, Shia, Alawite, Druze and other faiths. They have been living
peacefully together for centuries. Maloula is an epitome of larger
Syrian society. It is pluralist, peacefully coexisting."

What the foreign-backed mercenaries have tried to do since the conflict
erupted in March 2011 is to destroy the tapestry of Syrian society
by brutalizing communities and trying to hack open sectarian schisms.

Hayes believes that the mercenary brigades running amok in Syria
for the past five years have been directed by Western military
intelligence, the American CIA and British MI6, along with Turk
intelligence. "The command and control of these terrorists is outside
Syria. The terrorists are following a demonic, but deliberate, plan
to destroy the society."

The Western news media are the propaganda arm of the state-sponsored
terrorist assault on Syria. A country has been brought to within a
breath of being demolished totally, of being turned into failed state
like so many other countries where Western powers have illegally
interfered "to bring democracy".

Russia's military intervention at the end of September pulled Syria
back from the brink. And it is Russia's air power, along with the
ground forces of the Syrian army, Hezbollah and Iran, that is now
forcing the terrorists to capitulate. Hence the rapid ending of so
many sieges.

Spinning with ever-more lies, Western media are now trying to tell
their public that the "evil Assad regime" is (inexplicably) having
a change of heart and allowing in aid convoys to the stricken,
starving populations.

The plain truth is that people in Syria are being held siege by
Western-orchestrated terrorists.

A siege of another kind is also being forced on the minds of the
Western public by the Western media; it involves starving them of
the truth.

Finian Cunningham has written extensively on international affairs,
with articles published in several languages. He is a Master's
graduate in Agricultural Chemistry and worked as a scientific editor
for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England, before
pursuing a career in newspaper journalism. He is also a musician and
songwriter. For nearly 20 years, he worked as an editor and writer
in major news media organisations, including The Mirror, Irish Times
and Independent.

http://sputniknews.com/columnists/20160111/1032965548/west-syria-media-misin
formation.html

[Yervant1]

EXCLUSIVE: SYRIAN ARMY, POPULAR FORCES LIBERATE 300 SQ/KM OF LANDS IN LATTAKIA

Wed Jan 13, 2016 7:28

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army and the popular forces have captured
and imposed full control over more than 300 square kilometers of lands
in the Northern parts of Lattakia province in the last three month.

On October 7, the Syrian army started its massive operations with
the backup of the Russian air force in Lattakia province to prevent
the terrorists from advancing towards the city of Lattakia.

The Syrian army and the Hezbollah fighters have purged terrorists
from over 300 square kilometers of land in Lattakia in the past
three months.

After gaining control over the city of Idlib (the Wester neighbor of
Lattakia), the terrorists started heavy attacks on Lattakia province
with the help of Turkey and advanced military hardware and equipment.

But the army and popular forces prevented the terrorists from achieving
their goals in Lattakia province.

The Syrian army's capturing of the strategic city of Salma on Tuesday
was a bad defeat for the terrorists. The terrorists have now withdrawn
to other cities in the Western parts of Lattakia.

On Tuesday, the Syrian forces won full control over the strategic
town of Salma Northeast of Lattakia province in yet another landmark
victory over the foreign-backed terrorists.

"The Syrian pro-government forces have taken control of Salma,"
the army announced.

The Syrian fighter jets and the country's artillery units stormed
heavily the militant groups' positions in different sides of Salma
for several hours in the morning.

Then the Syrian army and the National Defense Forces (NDF) pushed
back the militant groups from the Southern countryside of Salma and
advanced towards the town from two directions in the morning.

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941023001481

[Yervant1]

KURDISTAN'S ARMENIANS ARE READY TO FIGHT

17:24 - 14 / 01 / 2016

The Armenian Diaspora in Iraqi Kurdistan is ready to fight with the
weapons in their hands to defend their homes, faith and rights to
live on the Earth.

One can't get any information from the part of Iraqi Kurdistan where
Armenians live, as if these people under the leadership of previous
Iraq's authorities are of no significant position in the country,
as if they ceased to exist.

Occasionally some information about the Armenians living here, appears
in the Iraqi media, more often - in local TV stations Kurdistan.

However people living in Armenia have no access to this information.

It's understandable the territory is in the heart of troubled area,
where the war continues. Sending reporters there is almost impossible.

Armenians are alive, they didn't abandon their villages called Avzruk,
Avrest and Ishqender located near the city Dohuk. And the community
with several villages og Iraqi Zakho neither moved to US, nor to
Armenia, not even to Mars. The Armenians continue to live, work,
raise their children and dream of a time when the situation calms down.

When the fighters of Islamic State are forced to leave the country,
to vanish to nowhere, a place where they belong to.

"As Armenians we are famous for our intelligence and courage. The
Kurds and state leaders of Iraqi Kurdistan respect us greatly.

We are the Armenians who were born and raised among eagles and lions.

We will come to support Armenia if it's attacked, whoever it may be"
says Mukhtar Murad from the community in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Mukhtar Murad and his selected soldiers protect the Armenian community
in Kurdistan.

The expert of regional issues known under the name "Pandukht Syuniq"
told Sputnik Armenia that the Armenian freedom fighters in Iraqi
Kurdistan under the command of a former officer, a colonel of the
Iraqi Army Murad Vardanyan are the real defenders of the Armenian
community including 19000 people.

These guys have chosen the difficult and dangerous path of armed
struggle against the ferocious enemy of ISIS (Islamic State), while
thousands of Iraqis and Kurds abandoned their lands even when they
had firearms at their disposal.

"This Murad is the very Mukhtar , the ancient Armenian villages Avzruk,
Ishqender, Avresk" reports Pandukht.

These large settlements, where there are an Armenian church and a
Sunday school (in Avzruk). Armenians living there are the descendant
of survivors in the Armenian genocide, the point to nowhere, unless
an extraordinary thing happens.

However they didn't get on well with the Ukrainian authorities, ones
who have refused to help them in this situation. That's probably
because they speak Kurdish.

For Murad Mukhtar's subordinates the only objective is peace and
security of the Armenian community living in the vicinity of Dohuk
and Zakho.

After all the danger in this region is constant and no one protects
Armenians from Jihadists' attacks. They have to handle it on their own.

"Our compatriots are in a good relationships with barzanists, they
are the owners of these places and the Iraqi authorities have no
power here."

The total number of the Armenian Diaspora since the days of the
American operation 'Shock and Awe' has declined. In any case there are
no 3 to 5 thousand people left in Iraq as the Western Media reported.

Families that live in the central regions of the country quite getting
rich during the reign of Saddam Hussein could have moved to Europe
or America after his death . Others have had the possibility to take
the help of any kind of international fund and program, get a roof
over their heads, let's say for example in Armenia.

But those who live in Iraqi Kurdistan have decided to defend their land
from the dark forces of Islamic State with the weapons in their hands.

http://times.am/?p=153763&l=en

[Yervant1]

KURDS IN THE MIX: REAL REASON BEHIND RUSSO-KURDISH COOPERATION

© AFP 2016/ DELIL SOULEIMAN
Middle East
18:49 15.01.2016Get short URL
11456241

The Kremlin has found a new ally in the Kurds during its anti-terrorist
campaign in Syria. They are effective in pushing Daesh (ISIS/ISIL)
and other terrorist groups out of key areas in Syria, French political
journalist Olivier d'Auzon wrote for Le Huffington Post.

Turkey's decision to shoot down a Russian Su-24 bomber in November
made Moscow furious; in turn, the Kremlin decided to support Kurdish
forces in Syria, d'Auzon said.

According to the author, Moscow allegedly sent arms to 5,000 Kurdish
fighters in Afrin.

"Russian military assistance to the Kurds is, without a doubt, part
of Russia's response to the actions of the Ottoman Empire [Turkey],"
d'Auzon explained, according to Le Huffington Post.

Fighters from the predominantly Kurdish group People's Protection Units
(YPG) not only successfully defended their territories from Daesh,
but also pushed the jihadists out of a few key areas in northeastern
Syria over the past year.

© AFP 2016/ DELIL SOULEIMAN Destroying the Reign of Terror: Syrian
Kurds Grateful for Russian Anti-Daesh Campaign As of late, Russian
planes have allegedly helped the Kurds to gain new ground not only
against Daesh, but also against other terrorist groups in Syria,
d'Auzon said.

Working in coordination with Russian planes, Kurdish forces have
advanced into the western part of Afrin. The move has made the Turkish
government very uncomfortable, as it threatens to cut a major supply
route between Ankara and Turkey-backed rebels in Syria, the Wall
Street Journal (WSJ) said.

The installation of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft systems in Syria
following the downing of the Russian Su-24 helps Kurdish forces
a great deal, as they prevent the Turkish Air Force from bombing
Kurdish positions. Without Ankara's airstrikes against them, Kurdish
fighters have pushed Daesh from the western bank of the Euphrates
River, WSJ said.

© Sputnik/ Ruslan Krivobok US Hopes Russia Respects Safety Memorandum
After S-400s Deployed in Syria An interesting point is that both
Washington and Moscow support the YPG. That's why the Kurdish brigade
might now have carte blanche to do more than any other group fighting
in Syria.

Since the US government isn't doing a great job fighting Daesh in
Syria, it has to rely on the Kurds as its primary and most effective
partner in the country, WSJ said.

Furthermore, Washington's anti-Daesh campaign is mostly taking place
in Iraq, where the US-led coalition focuses most of their airstrikes.

The Obama Administration seems to have given Russia freedom of
action in Syria, which Moscow is using effectively, Le Huffington
Post reported.

Read more:
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160115/1033206838/russia-kurds-syria-turkey.html#ixzz3xKmlGWVD

[Yervant1]

SEYMOUR HERSH: US MILITARY RECOGNIZES RUSSIA'S SUCCESS IN SYRIA

© Sputnik/ Alexander Astafyev
POLITICS
16:17 15.01.2016(updated 16:23 15.01.2016) Get short URL
81235210

According to Seymour Hersh, one of America's best-known investigative
journalists, the US recognizes Russia's military success in Syria.

Russians have acted in a very professional manner and managed to
strengthen the Syrian Army, while US policy in the region has remained
inconsistent, Seymour Hershsaid.

"Americans have not recognized one thing above all: Syria, like Iraq
and Libya, was a secular ally of the West, with moderate Sunnis. And
we have intervened into these countries, overthrown their governments,
and thus helped those whom we view now as our worst enemies -- ISIS
or Daesh and all the other extreme Sunnis," the journalist said in an
interview with the German newspaper Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten
(DWN).

© AP PHOTO/ VAHID SALEMI Seymour Hersh: Pentagon Secretly Passed
Intelligence to Assad Government Hersh argued that Americans' hatred
for Syrian President Bashar Assad has no logical reasons. The Syrian
leader repeatedly tried to build a good relationship with the US,
while Syria's intelligence services provided Washington with hundreds
of documents, warning about Islamist attacks against the West and
the US in particular.

"The Syrian intelligence [service] is one of the best in the world. It
gave Americans the information on Mohammed Atta and the Hamburg
terror cell," the journalist said, cited by the newspaper. "But in
his foreign policy, Obama -- from his very first day in office -
continued the Bush strategy. He continued with the 'war on terror'."

Hersh claimed that after 9/11, the US should have enhanced its
cooperation with Moscow because "Russians know exactly what the
Islamist threat is".

However, better late than never: the "US military has now recognized
the Russian military's success in Syria," Seymour Hersh said.

Referring to his sources in the US military and the intelligence
services, Hersh said, that Americans have great respect for Russia's
armed forces and especially for Russian General Valeri Gerasimov.

© REUTERS/ KAYHAN OZER/POOL Mending Fences: Washington Views Russia as
'Essential Diplomatic, Security Partner in Syria' In the journalist's
opinion, Putin pursues a "clever" policy in the Middle East. The
Russian leader managed to strengthen the Syrian Army and made it
capable of fighting.

Nevertheless, the US has continued to maintain its tough stance
against Russia and Hersh doesn't understand the motives behind this.

"Lavrov is a very straightforward person. He has always said openly
what the Russian position is," the journalist said, adding that the
US media tend to pretend that everything Russians say is a lie.

"Why not just listen to them? I cannot understand why Obama has such
an anti-Russian stance. The Russian secret services are the best in
the world; they know more about the region than we do. They know more
about Daesh and al-Baghdadi. And they always have said -- as well
as the Syrians -- that they are open to a better relationship with
America. But the President pursues a surprisingly hard line against
Russia and I do not know why," the journalist stated.

Read more:
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160115/1033194681/seymour-hersh-syria-russia-success.html#ixzz3xK0AiHv7

[Yervant1]

ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH IN ALEPPO DAMAGED IN ROCKET ATTACK

12:51, 18 Jan 2016
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The Armenian Evangelical Emmanuel Church in Aleppo came under
heavy rocket attack Sunday, hours after the morning service, the
Lebanon-based Kantsasar weekly reports.

According to the source, no casualties were reported, but the church
was seriously damaged.

Head of the Armenian evangelical community of Syria, Rev. Haroutioun
Selimian visited the church to assess the damage.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2016/01/18/armenian-evangelical-church-in-aleppo-damaged-in-rocket-attack/

[Johannes]

ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH IN ALEPPO DAMAGED IN ROCKET ATTACK

12:51, 18 Jan 2016

the

Lebanon-based Kantsasar weekly reports..http://www.armradio.am/en/2016/01/18/armenian-evangelical-church-in-aleppo-damaged-in-rocket-attack/

Aleppo based Kantsasar

 

http://www.kantsasar.com

[MosJan]

Johannes jan inchpes es ??

[Johannes]

Johannes jan inchpes es ??

Լաւ եմ, Մովսէս ջան։

Համակերպւում եմ կենցաղային դժուարութիւններին։

Կառավարական զօրքերի դէպի հիւսիս–արեւելք՝ Բաբ քաղաք (Դայիշի ուղղութիւն) յառաջխաղալուց յետոյ Դայիշը (Isil) փակեց Եփրատ գետից դէպի Հալեպ հոսող ջրմուղը։

Սպասւում է, դարձեալ, ամիսներ տեւելիք ջրի տագնապ։ Ջրհորներից կրում բերում ենք տուն տակառներով։

Չորս ամիս է ելեկտրականութիւն չկայ։ Դրանից առաջ իւրաքանչիւր 30 ժամը մի ժամ տալիս էին։ Հինգ տարի այս է վիճակը։

Անձնական միջոցներով, generator շարժակներով ելեկտրականութիւն ենք ստանում, որ չի պաշտպանում ձմռան ցրտից եւ ամռան շոգից, որովհետեւ թոյլ է եւ չի աշխատեցնում օդափոխիչները։

Հրթիռներ ընկնում եւ մարդկանց կեանքերը դժոխային են դարձնում։

 

 

 

Սպասում եմ։ Տարիներն անցնում են սպասելով։ Շուրջս մարդիկ աշնան տերեւների նման թափւում–պակասում–հեռանում են։

Այս ամէնով հանդերձ տրամադրութիւնս ընկճուած մարդու տրամադրութիւն չէ։ Կամ անգիտակից ինքնապաշտպանութեամբ փորձում եմ բարձր տրամադրութեամբ անցնել ժամերս։ Սպասում եմ հրաշքներ, որոնք պատահում են երբեմն։

[Yervant1]

KESSAB HIT BY ROCKET FIRE FROM TURKEY

20/1/16

Smoke rises from building in Kessab during another attack by
Turkish-backed militants in 2014

ALEPPO--At 3:15 p.m. local time on Wednesday Kessab was hit by two
GRAD missiles rattling the residents of the mainly Armenian-populated
city in Syria, reported the executive editor of Gandzasar newspaper
Zarmig Boghigian.

The rocket fire came from the direction of the Turkish border,
according to Boghigian. One of the rockets landed a 55 yards from
the Kessab mosque, while the other landed on the street behind the
Holy Trinity Armenian Evangelical Church in the city.

The rocket fire caused heavy damage with one reported injury reported.

No fatalities were reported.

Kessab residents, especially children who were playing in their yard
were severely shaken by the attack.

In March, 2014 Islamic militants affiliated with al Qaeda attacked
Kessab, bringing the city under siege for three months and forcing
its population to flee to nearby Lattakia and elsewhere. In June,
2014, forces affiliated with the Syrian government liberated Kessab,
paving the way for families to return to their home, which were looted
and destroyed by the Turkish-backed Muslim militants.

http://asbarez.com/144771/kessab-hit-by-rocket-fire-from-turkey/?utm_source=Asbarez+News+List&utm_campaign=a180417ccc-11111511_11_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_31710c8f04-a180417ccc-408130361

[Yervant1]

TURKISH FORCES ENTER SYRIA -- HOW WILL RUSSIA RESPOND?

A desperate move by Erdogan to stop Kurdish territorial gains

Rudy Panko 8 minutes ago | 53 20 21/1/16

How will Russia respond?

With peace negotiations to begin next week, and with almost no
bargaining chips left to play with, Erdogan has decided to send
Turkish forces into Syria.

Turkey has seized the ISIS-controlled town of Jarabulus, but faced
no resistance, according to reports:

Eyewitnesses to the incursion reported that the Turkish forces have
not encountered any resistance from ISIS fighters in the area. These
reports once again raise the question of possible collaboration between
Turkey and ISIS aimed at halting the advance of the Kurdish militias
in north Syria.

The fact that Turkey faced zero resistance is suspicious, but even
more troubling is Erdogan's level of desperation. The Kurds are
slowly retaking northern Syria from ISIS. For Turkey this is an
unacceptable reality. As Patrick Cockburn wrote earlier this week,
"Turkey is getting close to the point where it has to become militarily
engaged in the war for northern Syria or become a marginal player."

Stratfor also predicted a Turkish incursion into Syria. Earlier
this week Stratfor wrote, "In what could be a sign of this intent,
Turkish minesweeping vehicles have started clearing mines along a
section of the border near the Syrian town of Jarabulus, which the
Islamic State controls."

Turkish build-up on the Syrian border, as reported by Stratfor

But the big question now is: How will Russia respond? According to
Stratfor, Russia has agreed not to interfere:

According to Stratfor sources, Russia and the United States have
discussed the plan, and Russia has agreed not to obstruct Turkey's
efforts so long as Ankara does not try to expand the buffer zone
to the Mediterranean Sea -- a stipulation Turkey has reportedly
acquiesced to. Our sources also said liaison officers from Turkey,
Russia and the United States will coordinate with one another to
prevent cases of accidental fire or, in the event that they do occur,
to avoid any escalation between Turkish and Russian forces.

Time will tell.

http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/turkish-forces-moves-syria-how-will-russia-respond/ri12343

[Yervant1]

SYRIAN ARMY LIBERATES ARMENIAN-POPULATED VILLAGE IN LATAKIA

14:00 22/01/2016

The Syrian army has liberated several settlements in Latakia province,
including Ghnemiye, an Armenian-populated village whose residents fled
4 years ago when armed militant groups entered the area, Kantsasar
paper reported citing Syrian mass media.

Ghnemiye was populated by Armenians. The village has an Armenian
church, Surb Gevorg Church built in 1875. According to elderly local
residents, the church was actually reconstructed in 1875, but at that
time it was already 300-year-old.

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941101000812
http://www.panorama.am/en/news/2016/01/22/armenian-village-latakia-liberated/1516099

[Yervant1]

SYRIAN PEACE WILL BE DECIDED ON THE BATTLEFIELD, NOT IN VIENNA

[ Part 2.2: "Attached Text" ]

22.01.2016 Author: Tony Cartalucci

Column: Politics
Region: Middle East
Country: Syria

51684b655fdd6 The much lauded "peace deal" regarding Syria upon even
a cursory examination reveals nothing more than the reiteration of
Western demands versus a reassertion of Syrian defiance.

The West seeks a "political transition" in addition to fighting the
self-proclaimed "Islamic State," implying that indeed, just as it
had sought since 2011 and even beforehand, the West still expects
current Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, and a client
regime more to the West's liking installed in his place.

And while the West, as part of the "peace deal" claims to seek the
end of the Islamic State, it makes no mention of the states sponsoring
its existence, which coincidentally includes the West itself.

Syria seeks the eradication of all armed groups, even those the West
still attempts to claim are not linked to Al Qaeda. It has agreed to
elections, confident the Syrian people will return President Assad to
power again, just as they did in 2014. Knowing that President Assad
would easily win any election held in the future, the West has been
adamant about removing him from the process to even the odds in favor
of candidates they back, thus undermining the very premise that the
uprising had anything to do with "democracy" or heeding the will of
the Syrian people in the first place.

The "peace deal," despite optimistic headlines across the West about
"unanimous agreement" among nations, is exposed as yet another attempt
for the West to reassert its narrative regarding the Syrian conflict
upon the global stage.

In reality, the "peace deal" is no deal at all. What is left is
the same battle that has been waged since 2011, and it is upon the
battlefield that Syria's fate will be truly decided.

Peace Only After War

The West, and the United States in particular, has attempted to take on
a more conciliatory tone as of late. And despite actually not really
saying so, US Secretary of State John Kerry attempted to impress upon
the world that "regime change" was no longer in the cards. Of course,
such statements are still followed by US expectations that President
Assad will step down. But even as the US strikes this new tone, its
regional partners, and more specifically, Turkey, Israel, and Saudi
Arabia, have increased provocations against both Syria and Russia in
attempts to widen a war that is now winding down in favor of Damascus.

Turkey attempted to trigger a wider conflict with Russia by
ambushing a Russian warplane, evidently with both US approval and
assistance. Israel has continued attempting to provoke Syria into
war, by striking targets in and around Damascus itself. Saudi Arabia
had recently hosted militant groups operating in Syria, to meet in
Riyadh. Many of these groups are direct affiliates of Al Qaeda.

So even as the US claims for its part of the "peace deal" it seeks
to fight terrorism in Syria, its oldest and stanchest ally in the
region is hosting the leaders of various terrorist groups, colluding
over how to continue the fight more effectively.

It is clear that the only "peace" that will be had will be when Syria
and its allies militarily defeat the West's proxies on the battlefield
and check direct military intervention by the West with an increasing
range of military deterrents either sold to the Syrian military, or
brought in and operated by Russian forces already on the battlefield.

West's Losing War Compels Disingenuous Political Bargaining

As Syrian troops backed by Russian airpower move ever closer to
the Turkish border in the north, thus cutting the lifelines feeding
terrorists operating inside of Syria, and as Syrian forces cut off
the Syrian-Jordanian border, the end of the war draws nearer.

The West has reacted with a wide range of responses. It has attempted
to escalate the conflict, and also negotiate an end to it, attempting
to leverage what remaining influence it has over the battle via its
dwindling proxy forces and the treat of direct military intervention.

It has also attempted to begin the covert invasion and occupation of
territory both in Syria and Iraq in a bid to fracture both nations
irreparably before the inevitable end of the war.

"Peace talks" are aimed only at further buying time and attempting to
leverage favorable outcomes before their remaining bargaining chips
are swept from the field of battle. In other words, it is yet another
distraction laid out to derail Syrian-Russian efforts to restore
order to Syria and preserve Syria as a functioning nation-state.

Staying Focused

For Syria and its allies, remaining focused is the key to truly
ending the conflict. The United States has already proven infinitely
treacherous. It was under the cover of feigned rapprochement by the
US with Syria that the 2011 conflict was prepared and launched. It
was under the guise of feigned cooperation in Syria's airspace with
Russia that the US aided and abetted Turkey in the ambush and downing
of one of Russia's warplanes.

It stands to reason any "peace deal" not reached by physical force and
political leverage being entirely in Syria and Russia's favor, will
likewise be betrayed. Syria and Russia must maintain the appearance of
being "diplomatic," but must also remain entirely realist about the
enemy they are fighting, and the true motivations, intentions, and
future ambitions that drove this conflict in the first place. Peace
was never part of the West's plan, and so peace cannot be part of
Syria and its allies' solution.

Fully defeating the West's proxies on the battlefield, securing Syria's
borders, and creating a military deterrence to prevent direct Western
military intervention - which includes further incursions into Syrian
and Iraqi territory by Turkey, Israel, or any other Western proxy
in the region, are the only conditions from which any "peace deal"
can then be struck with the West.

Tony Cartalucci, Bangkok-based geopolitical researcher and writer,
especially for the online magazine"New Eastern Outlook".

Firstappeared:http://journal-neo.org/2016/01/22/syrian-peace-will-be-decided-on-t
he-battlefield-not-in-vienna/

[Johannes]

Պաշտօնական Անկարան հերքում է թուրք բանակի Սիրիա մտնելու լուրը։

 

թուրքերը, ամենայն դէպս հինգ տարի է ներկայ են ահաբեկչական կազմակերպութիւնների շնորհիւ, նրանց մէջ ունենալով իրենց մասնագէտ ոճրագործները։

[Johannes]

Rabia (Turkmen populated town southeast to Kessab) liberated by Legal forces of Syrian republic.

Rumors say that erdoghan is crying.

[Yervant1]

SYRIA IN LAST 24 HOURS: ARMY CAPTURES STRATEGIC REGIONS IN LATTAKIA, ALEPPO

Mon Jan 25, 2016 12:6

TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army and popular forces made new military
gains in the provinces of Lattakia and Aleppo by winning back important
villages, towns and cities over the past 24 hours.

The Syrian forces took full control of the town of Rabi'a in Lattakia
province in fierce clashes with the militants.

In the Northern province of Aleppo, the Syrian army and the popular
forces seized back the Strategic city of Al-Bab and the village of
al-Rawda as well as a number of other villages.

The Syrian troops also inflicted heavy losses on the militants in
other provinces.

Lattakia

The Syrian army backed by popular forces opened their way into the
strategic town of Rabi'a, the second stronghold of the terrorists in
the province of Lattakia, and won full control over the town after
hours of heavy fighting.

The winning back of Rabi'a town came after the Syrian troops seized
back seven villages in the coastal province near the borders with
Turkey.

The Syrian troops entered the town from the West after killing tens
of terrorists and injuring dozens more in fierce clashes.

Also on Sunday, the Syrian army seized back the villages of
Al-Shakeriya, Beit Ayoush, Kerker, Beit Avan and Al-Rayan villages
in the Western part of Rabi'a.

The Syrian army had besieged the Rabi'a region, the second stronghold
of the militants in the Lattakia countryside from the West, South
and North.

Pro-government groups played a significant role in supporting the
Syrian Army in the course of the operation, conducted during past
24 hours, to free villages of Hilwa al-Gharbiya, Hilwa al-Sharqiya,
Beit Arab, Beit Ablaq and Tal Asholan, along with all the hills
surrounding them.

Pushing back Takfiri terrorists to retreat from villages and
surrounding areas, in the course of the operation, Syrian Army units
and popular forces killed tens of them and injured several more.

Meantime, hundreds of Takfiri militants tried to cross the border to
Turkey before they were hunted by the Syrian army in newly captured
regions, specially the strategic town of Rabi'a in Lattakia province.

The Syrian army's engineering units were defusing IEDs and mines
planted by the terrorists in Rabi'a town and al-Rawda village after
capturing them on Sunday.

Tens of terrorists were killed and dozens more were injured in heavy
clashes with the Syrian troops in the Sunday clashes in the region as
the army conducted massive assault to win back the town that is known
as the second stronghold of the terrorists in the province of Lattakia.

Aleppo

A number of ISIL hideouts and concentration points were destroyed in
Syrian airstrikes in Eastern Aleppo province.

As a result of these aerial attacks, Syrian aircraft killed or injured
a number of Takfiri terrorists, destroying their weapons and munitions
in Aleppo province's Arab, al-Bab area, Tadef town and Baza'a village.

Syrian warplanes also targeted Takfiri terrorists' gatherings and
their fortified positions in Tal Hattabat, al-Mefelseh and al-Dakouneh
villages in Aleppo's Eastern countryside, killing and injuring a
number of militants and destroying their munitions and hardware.

Meanwhile, during a separate airborne assault, Syrian jets hit
hideouts and concentration points of Takfiri terrorists affiliated
to al-Nusra Front in Kafr Hamra village at the Northwestern outskirts
of Aleppo city.

In a coordinated action, the Syrian ground force also carried out
special operations in Bani Zeid, Sheikh Saeed and Bustan al-Qasr
neighborhoods in Aleppo city, killing and injuring many of militants,
destroying equipment and their fortified positions.

The Syrian army backed by the popular forces continued their military
advances in Aleppo province, and seized back several strategic villages
North of the recently captured Kuweires airbase.

The Syrian troops took control of the strategic villages of Qatar
and Tal Hattabat to the North of Kuweires airport after heavy clashes
with ISIL terrorists and killing and injuring dozens of them.

Hama

The Syrian Army in a series of attacks against terrorists' positions
in the Northern countryside of Hama province, killed more than a dozen
militants, including a top regional commander, informed sources said
on Sunday.

"Thanks to a series of stern offensives against the Takfiri
terrorists' positions in a major town in the Northern countryside of
Hama province," the sources said, "the Syrian Army inflicted heavy
losses on terrorists in their al-Izza gathering in the region."

According to the sources, 13 Takfiri terrorist were killed, among them
Abdul-Naser Younes Khattab, a deputy leader of al-Izza gathering in
al-Lataminah town.

The Syrian army artillery pounded and destroyed the military positions
of the terrorist groups in several strategic villages across Hama
province on Sunday, killing scores of terrorists, including a senior
commander.

The militants' positions were destroyed in the villages of al-Mansoura,
al-Qahera, al-Ziyarah and al-Qantara in Hama province.

The Syrian army, meantime, killed a large number of militants,
including deputy commander of al-Izza Jama'ah Abdel Nasser Younes
Khattab along with other militants after hitting hard their command
center in the town of al-Lataminah in the Northern part of Hama
province.

The Takfiri militant groups suffered heavy losses as a result of the
Syrian army's artillery operations.

Homs

Syrian fighter jets assaulted hideouts of ISIL Takfiri terrorists
East of Homs city, destroying a number of their bases and hardware.

The offensive, took place in al-Quaryatayn town on the outskirts of
the Badiya desert East of Homs city, was a success in terminating
terrorist' center points and their equipment.

Syrian warplanes also destroyed hideouts and concentration places
of the al-Nusra Front terrorists and other militant groups in Teir
Maala North of Homs city.

Damascus

The Syrian air force continued pounding the military positions and
gathering centers of the terrorists in Western Ghouta in Damascus
countryside, inflicting heavy losses on the militants.

The Syrian fighter jets destroyed the positions of the terrorists in
Darayya in Western Ghouta.

The air force's strikes left tens of militants dead and dozens more
injured.

Meantime, the Syrian terrorists on their social network confirmed
that they have sustained heavy losses in the Syrian warplanes' strikes.

The Syrian army seized back several more areas in the strategic farms
in Eastern Ghouta in Damascus province on Sunday.

The army units captured vast regions in the Northeast of al-Kaziya
in Marj al-Sultan as they headed towards Farazat hilltops in Eastern
Ghouta, killing a dozen militants and injuring many more in fierce
clashes.

Dara'a

The Syrian Army pushed back terrorists further in the strategic city
of Sheikh Meskeen, North of Daraa province, and came in control of
more districts.

In an operation in which dozens of militants were killed, Syrian Army
units, active in Sheikh Meskeen city, took control of the streets,
establishments and buildings in the Northern, Southern and Eastern
parts of the city.

The Syrian Army inflicted large damage on militant groups in massive
artillery attacks on their positions in the Southern city of Dara'a.

Sweida

The Syrian air force struck and destroyed the ISIL terrorists' military
positions in Sweida province, inflicting heavy casualties on them.

The Syrian fighter jets razed ISIL's gathering centers in Tal al-Sahen
region which is located 40 kilometers to the Southeast of Sweida city.

Scores of militants were killed and their machinegun-equipped vehicles
were also destroyed.

The Syrian warplanes also destroyed large amount of weapons and
munition of ISIL terrorists.

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941105000439

[Yervant1]

Syrian civil war: Could Turkey be gambling on an invasion?

By Patrick Cockburn
Jan. 30, 2016


A month before Turkey shot down a Russian bomber which it accused of
entering its airspace, Russian military intelligence had warned
President Vladimir Putin that this was the Turkish plan. Diplomats
familiar with the events say that Putin dismissed the warning,
probably because he did not believe that Turkey would risk provoking
Russia into deeper military engagement in the Syrian war.

In the event, on 24 November last year a Turkish F-16 shot down a
Russian bomber, killing one of the pilots, in an attack that had every
sign of being a well-prepared ambush. Turkey claimed that it was
responding to the Russian plane entering its airspace for 17 seconds,
but the Turkish fighters made every effort to conceal themselves by
flying at low altitude, and they appear to have been on a special
mission to destroy the Russian aircraft.


The shooting-down - the first of a Russian plane by a Nato power since
the Korean War - is important because it shows how far Turkey will go
to maintain its position in the war raging on the southern side of its
550-mile border with Syria. It is a highly relevant event today
because, two months further on, Turkey now faces military developments
in northern Syria that pose a much more serious threat to its
interests than that brief incursion into its airspace, even though
Ankara made fresh claims yesterday over a new Russian violation on
Friday.

The Syrian war is at a crucial stage. Over the past year the Syrian
Kurds and their highly effective army, the People's Protection Units
(YPG), have taken over half of Syria's frontier with Turkey. The main
supply line for Islamic State (Isis), through the border crossing of
Tal Abyad north of Raqqa, was captured by the YPG last June. Supported
by intense bombardment from the US Air Force, the Kurds have been
advancing in all directions, sealing off northern Syria from Turkey in
the swath of territory between the Tigris and Euphrates.

The YPG only has another 60 miles to go, west of Jarabulus on the
Euphrates, to close off Isis's supply lines and those of the non-IS
armed opposition, through Azzaz to Aleppo. Turkey had said that its
`red line' is that there should be no YPG crossing west of the
Euphrates river, though it did not react when the YPG's Arab proxy,
the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), seized the dam at Tishrin on the
Euphrates and threatened the IS stronghold of Manbij. Syrian Kurds are
now weighing whether they dare take the strategic territory north of
Aleppo and link up with a Kurdish enclave at Afrin.

Developments in the next few months may determine who are the
long-term winners and losers in the region for decades. President
Bashar al-Assad's forces are advancing on several fronts under a
Russian air umbrella. The five-year campaign by Turkey's President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's to overthrow Assad in Damascus, by backing the
armed opposition, looks to be close to defeat.

Turkey could respond to this by accepting a fait accompli, conceding
that it would be difficult for it to send its army into northern Syria
in the face of strong objections from the US and Russia. But, if the
alternative is failure and humiliation, then it may do just that.
Gerard Challiand, the French expert on irregular warfare and the
politics of the Middle East, speaking in Erbil last week, said that
`without Erdogan as leader, I would say the Turks would not intervene
militarily [in northern Syria], but, since he is, I think they will do
so'.

Erdogan has a reputation for raising the stakes as he did last year
when he failed to win a parliamentary majority in the first of two
elections. He took advantage of a fresh confrontation with the Turkish
Kurds and the fragmentation of his opponents to win a second election
in November. Direct military intervention in Syria would be risky, but
Mr Challiand believes that Turkey `is capable of doing this militarily
and will not be deterred by Russia'. Of course, it would not be easy.
Moscow has planes in the air and anti-aircraft missiles on the ground,
but Putin probably has a clear idea of the limitations on Russia's
military engagement in Syria.

Omar Sheikhmous, a veteran Syrian Kurdish leader living in Europe,
says that the Syrian Kurds `should realise that the Russians and the
Syrian government are not going to go to war with the Turkish army for
them'. He warns that the ruling Kurdish political party, the PYD,
should not exaggerate its own strength, because President Erdogan's
reaction is unpredictable.



Other Kurdish leaders believe that Turkish intervention is unlikely
and that, if it was going to come, it would have happened before the
Russian jet was shot down. That led to Russia reinforcing its air
power in Syria and taking a much more hostile attitude towards Turkey,
giving full support for Syrian Army advances in northern Latakia and
around Aleppo.

For the moment, the Syrian Kurds are still deciding what they should
do. They know that their quasi-state, known as Rojava, has been able
to expand at explosive speed because the US needed a ground force to
act in collaboration with its air campaign against Isis. Russian and
American bombers have, at different times, supported the advance of
the SDF towards Manbij. On the chaotic chess board of the Syrian
crisis, the Kurds at this time have the same enemies as the Syrian
Army, but they know that their strong position will last only as long
as the war.

If there is no Turkish intervention on a significant scale then Assad
and his allies are winning, because the enhanced Russian, Iranian and
Lebanese Hezbollah intervention has tipped the balance in their
favour. The troika of regional Sunni states - Saudi Arabia, Qatar and
Turkey - have failed, so far, to overthrow Assad through backing the
Syrian armed opposition.

Their enthusiasm for doing so is under strain. Saudi Arabia has a
mercurial leadership, is enmeshed in a war in Yemen, and the price of
oil may stay at $30 a barrel. Qatar's actions in Syria are even more
incalculable. `We can never figure out Qatar's policies,' said one
Gulf observer in frustration. A more caustic commentator, in
Washington, adds that `Qatari foreign policy is a vanity project',
comparing it to Qatar's desire to buy landmark buildings abroad or
host the football World Cup at home.

In Syrian and Iraqi politics almost everybody ends up by overplaying
their hand, mistaking transitory advantage for irreversible success.
This was true of a great power like the US in Iraq in 2003, a
monstrous power like Isis in 2014, and a small power like the Syrian
Kurds in 2016. One of the reasons that Iran has, thus far, come out
ahead in the struggle for this part of the Middle East is that the
Iranians have moved cautiously and step by step.

Turkey is the last regional power that could reverse the trend of
events in Syria by open military intervention, a development that
cannot be discounted as the Syrian-Turkish border is progressively
sealed off. But, barring this, the conflict has become so
internationalised that only the US and Russia are capable of bringing
it to an end.


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syrian-civil-war-could-turkey-be-gambling-on-an-invasion-a6844171.html

[Yervant1]

Russia accuses Turkey in shelling Syria

18:22, 1 February, 2016


YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 1, ARMENPRESS. Russian Defense Ministry has
`irrefutable evidence of Syria's territory being shelled by Turkish
troops. `Armenpress' reports, citing TASS, RF Defense Ministry
representative Igor Konashenkov told the aforementioned.

`Russian Defense Ministry is waiting for explanations from
representatives of NATO and the Pentagon of the actions of Turkish
military which the ministry accuses of shelling the Syrian territory,"
Konashenkov said.

According to Konashenkov, Turkish military shell Syria's territory
from large-caliber artillery, and Russia has "irrefutable evidence" of
these cases.

The general said Russia's military have received footage provided by
Syria's General Staff that shows deployment of large-caliber
self-propelled artillery weapons in one of near-border areas. The
ministry also received a video from Syria's opposition showing the
shelling of Syria, he said. "This is called a fact. This is
irrefutable evidence that Turkey's armed forces shell near-border
Syrian settlements from large-caliber artillery systems," Maj. Gen.
Konashenkov said. He showed the journalists a video that pictured a
part of the Syrian-Turkish border. "This facility is a Turkish
frontier post where several months ago there were no firing points,"
he said.

Speaking on Ankara's new allegations that Russia's Su-34 bomber
violated Turkey's airspace last week, Konashenkov said: "Those who
warn us about consequences without understanding what happened, should
first of all think about the trap their Turkish partners are dragging
them into."

Russian-Turkish relations intensified after the Russian bomber was
shot down over Syria by an air-to-air surface fired from a Turkish
F-16 plane on November 24, when the bomber was at an altitude of 6,000
meters at a distance of 1 km from the Turkish border. The jet dropped
4 km away from the Turkish border.

According to President Putin, the Su-24 plane incident in is "a stab
in Russia's back' delivered by terrorist accomplices.


http://armenpress.am/eng/news/834110/russia-accuses-turkey-in-shelling-syria.html

[Yervant1]

Turkish artillery shells Syrian territory ` Russian military presents
video proof

Published time: 1 Feb, 2016 13:08Edited time: 1 Feb, 2016 14:23

http://on.rt.com/73ai

DF
3.5K7
The Russian Defense Ministry has presented video evidence it says
shows Turkish military shelling Syrian territory using heavy artillery
positioned close to the border.
TrendsRussian anti-terror op in Syria

Syria's General Staff has provided its Russian counterparts with video
footage of deployment of self-propelled large caliber artillery
vehicles at a Turkish frontier post, Russian Defense Ministry
spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said at media briefing on
Monday.

Syrian opposition groups have also provided video evidence of the
Turkish military shelling Syrian territory, he added.

`This is what we call a fact. This is irrefutable proof that Turkish
armed forces shell borderline Syrian settlements with large-caliber
artillery systems,' Konashenkov stressed.

`We expect an immediate reaction and explanations of the actions of
Turkish military by NATO and the Pentagon,' Konashenkov said,
recalling the US's notably short response time to Ankara's allegations
that a Russian warplane violated Turkish airspace.

Non-stop bombing of terrorist positions in Syria continues, with
Russian warplanes making 468 sorties in a week, hitting over 1,300
targets, Konashenkov said.

Russian airstrikes hit terrorist infrastructure in the provinces of
Aleppo, Damascus, Daraa, Deiz ez-Zor, Hama, Homs and Latakia.

Most of the airstrikes carried out by Tu22M3 bombers took place around
the city of Deiz ez-Zor, which is besieged by jihadist forces.

`An attempt to storm the city has been disrupted,' Konashenkov said,
specifying that Russian Air Force used both Russia-based strategic
long-rage bombers and assault Su-25 aircraft based at Khmeimim
airfield in Syria to deliver 23 massive airstrikes against terrorist
forces advancing on Deir ez-Zor.

The Syrian Air Force used Russian parachute landing systems to deliver
more than 200 tons of humanitarian aid and medical supplies to
residents of Deir ez-Zor.

Last week four advanced technology supermaneuverable Sukhoi Su-35S
fighter jets assembled in 2015 were deployed to Khmeimim in Latakia
and began performing missions along other Russian warplanes operating
in Syria, Konashenkov confirmed.

In order to make time-sensitive airstrike delivery quicker, Russian
task force in Syria has expanded all types of surveillance in the
Middle East.

`This enables us to disclose militant's dispositions and ensure their
elimination in practically real-time mode,' Konashenkov stressed.

He noted that airstrikes by the Russian Air Force in Syria are only
delivered on developed and confirmed targets.

`The coordinates of the militants' installations come to us from the
Baghdad information center, Syrian government troops and Syrian
opposition units,' Konashenkov said.

Over the last week Russian airstrikes in Syria have eliminated dozens
of militants, fortified strong areas and artillery positions with at
least eight cannons, arms depots, trucks used for transportation of
munitions, fuel storage sites and at least 19 pick-up SUVs with
machine guns mounted on them.

The Russian Air Force also hit field camps, including one near the
town of Kinsabba, which was used for training by fighters from former
Soviet states.

[Yervant1]

'Erdogan's Worst Nightmare': Russia and Syrian Kurds Working Together

© Photo: Russian Defence Ministry
POLITICS
18:55 01.02.2016(updated 18:56 01.02.2016) Get short URL
Topic:
Russia Versus ISIL in Syria (515)


Russia's engagement in Syria has ruined Erdogan's regional aspirations
and dramatically altered the balance of power in the Middle East,
Germany's public broadcasting radio station Deutschlandfunk asserted.

The media outlet referred to the Moscow-led counterterrorism campaign
as a "game changer," as well as a "major blow" to Ankara.

As soon as Russian planes flew on their first anti-Daesh missions, the
Turkish leadership understood that their plans for Syria are no longer
viable. "Establishing a no-fly zone in northern Syria is impossible.
There will be no 120-kilometer-long and up to 20-kilometer-deep
security zone on Turkey's border" with the war-torn Arab country,
Deutschlandfunk noted.

Moscow's decision to launch a counterterrorism campaign following a
formal request from Damascus "has rendered Erdogan's policy in Syria
largely ineffective," the media outlet noted.

© AFP 2016/ DELIL SOULEIMAN
Fighters from the Kurdish People Protection Unit (YPG) monitor the
horizon in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasakeh

Russia's contacts with the Syrian Kurds make the situation even worse:
for Ankara this amounts to "a nightmare followed by a nightmare."

© AFP 2016/ DELIL SOULEIMAN
Forget Airspace Violations: The Real Reason Why Turkey 'Will Use Any
Occasion to Blame Russia'
The Turkish leadership views all Kurds as a threat to Turkey's
security and stability. This reasoning has been behind what Ankara
calls a counterterrorism operation in the country's southeastern
regions, populated mostly by the Kurds. The ongoing military campaign
against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has been condemned as a
civil war and even a massacre.

Erdogan launched the operation after a two-year-long ceasefire
collapsed in 2015 to pursue his own political agenda. He succeeded to
an extent. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), founded by
Erdogan, scored a major victory in the snap parliamentary elections
held in November. But this policy could backfire since many view the
operation against PKK militants as a "was against the Kurds," the
media outlet noted.

© REUTERS/ SERTAC KAYAR
Turkish riot police use a water cannon to disperse Kurdish
demonstrators during a protest against a curfew in Sur district and
security operations in the region, in the southeastern city of
Diyarbakir, Turkey January 17, 2016

Russia launched its successful counterterrorism campaign in late
September, while Turkey has been part of the US-led anti-Daesh
coalition. However, Ankara has mostly focused its efforts on
supporting rebels, who are fighting against forces loyal to Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad, and tackling the Kurds.

In addition, the Turkish leadership has failed to secure its porous
border with Syria, which Daesh has used to smuggle fighters, weapons
and supplies to the battlefield. This has prompted many to question
Ankara's stated commitment to fighting Daesh.



Read more: http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160201/1034047604/turkey-russia-kurds-syria.html#ixzz3ywCQd71x

[MosJan]

https://www.facebook.com/Channel4News/videos/10153492613721939/

 

 

After years of war, parts of Homs, Syria, are crumbling and deserted.

New drone footage shows the extent of the devastation.

 

 

Aysteghov Turq e Antsel

[Yervant1]

 

Al-Nusra Front destroys Armenian churches in Al-Ghanimeh village

13:43, 02 Feb 2016
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The Al-Nusra Front has destroyed the churches in the Armenian
populated village of Al-Ghanimeh to the north of Lattakia, Arevelk
reports, quoting the Lebanese Al-Manar TV.

Footage shows that the Armenian and Evangelical Churches in the
village have been destroyed, the cemeteries have been desecrated.

`The roots of this evil come from Turkey, they have destroyed
churches. The rebels follow the example of Turks, who have no
religion,' says a man, who visited Al-Ghanimeh after the Syrian forces
pushed the terrorists back from the village.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.arevelk.am_am_content_2_622_-25C2-25AB-25D4-25B1-25D5-25AC-2D-25D5-2586-25D5-25B8-25D6-2582-25D5-25BD-25D6-2580-25D5-25A1-25C2-25BB-2D-2D-25D5-2583-25D5-25A1-25D5-25AF-25D5-25A1-25D5-25BF-25D5-25A8-2D-2D-2D-25D5-2594-25D5-25A1-25D5-25B6-25D5-25A4-25D5-25A1-25D5-25AE-2D-25D4-25B7-2D-2D-25D5-2582-25D5-25A8-25D5-25B6-25D5-25A7-25D5-25B4-25D5-25B5-25D5-25A7-25D5-25AB-2D-25D5-2580-25D5-25A1-25D5-25B5-25D5-25B8-25D6-2581-2D-25D4-25B5-25D5-25AF-25D5-25A5-25D5-25B2-25D5-25A5-25D6-2581-25D5-25AB-25D5-25B6-25D5-25A5-25D6-2580-25D5-25A8-2D-2D-28-25D5-258F-25D5-25A5-25D5-25BD-25D5-25A1-25D5-25B6-25D5-25AB-25D6-2582-25D5-25A9-29.html&d=CwIBAg&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=UA9RmHj2eVkKNsv65suXdVD0JrzdJZuFPcfBfR_FwGg&m=eFM0KApW9cYOUpcNCib6f8I4tnKwLqZFTKfr5TYMd5Q&s=gkHu8z9yNSxxOpkcAtzX34LjXRmb2cJz-K22tQ9w7YA&e=

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.armradio.am_en_2016_02_02_al-2Dnusra-2Dfront-2Ddestroys-2Darmenian-2Dchurches-2Din-2Dal-2Dghanimeh-2Dvillage_&d=CwIBAg&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=UA9RmHj2eVkKNsv65suXdVD0JrzdJZuFPcfBfR_FwGg&m=eFM0KApW9cYOUpcNCib6f8I4tnKwLqZFTKfr5TYMd5Q&s=eYtOWS3arxCAnyS8Avxek87HmVo3C1-SltLLPny8aUE&e=

 

[Yervant1]

Terrorists Fleeing to Turkey as Army Advances in Aleppo Province

Tue Feb 02, 2016 6:31


TEHRAN (FNA)- Hundreds of Takfiri terrorists are trying to cross the
border to Turkey after losing vast grounds and dozens of their friends
in the Syrian army's massive operations in Northern Aleppo province.

The terrorists have sustained heavy losses as the Syrian army is
hunting them down in the Northern part of Aleppo province.

Tens of terrorists have been killed and dozens more have been injured
in heavy clashes with the Syrian troops in Northern Aleppo in the past
two days as the army conducted massive assaults to win back more
villages and towns in the region.

Reports said on Tuesday large groups of militants are fleeing their
strongholds in different areas of Northern Aleppo province as the
Syrian army announced that it has cut off one of the main supply
routes of the militants in the Southern part of Ratyan and al-Zahra in
Northwest of the province and laid siege on terrorists in one town and
several villages.

"The main supply line of the militants, connecting the towns of
Hayyan, Anadan, Haraytan and Maayer, was cut off in the Syrian army
attack," the army said earlier on Tuesday.

"The cut-off supply line will force the terrorists to face a major
problem in the Northern and Western parts of the province, specially
in these days that the government forces have launched a massive
operation to liberate Nubl and al-Zahra," the army added.

In the meantime, the army said that the militant groups' bases near
Ratyan and Hayyan came under heavy missile fire of the Syrian army,
which inflicted major losses on the terrorists.

Reports said earlier today that the Syrian army and the popular forces
completed siege of the town of Ratyan and the terrorists are now
trapped in the town with no way to escape.

"The Syrian army troops, National Defense Forces (NDF), Kata'eb
Hezbollah (Iraqi paramilitary) and Harakat al-Nujaba (Iraqi
paramilitary) have continued to advance against the militant groups in
the different sides of Ratyan and even several special forces of the
army have infiltrated the terrorists' defense lines in the town's
neighborhoods," the army said.

"Fall of Ratyan into the hands of the pro-government forces is
imminent," the army added.

"With the completion of siege on Ratyan, the pro-government forces
have only two kilometers to reach al-Zahra and Nubl," the army went on
to say.

"Most of the trapped militants in Ratyan are the members of the
al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front," the army said.

"The government forces have seized full control over the vast farms
around Ratyan," the army said, adding, "Tough battle is underway at
the outskirts and entrances of Ratyan and the Syrian artillery and
warplanes are pounding the militant groups' positions outside and
inside of the town."

"The terrorist groups' supplying lines to Ratyan have been the main
targets of the Syrian fighter jets and artillery," the army said.

"The Syrian army's engineering units have launched a vast operation to
defuse the bombs and other types of explosive devices planted by the
terrorists across the outskirts of the town," the army said.

Battlefield source also reported that other units of the Syrian army
have stormed the militant groups' positions near Ma'rasat al-Khan
North of the newly-liberated Hardatnin.


https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__en.farsnews.com_newstext.aspx-3Fnn-3D13941113001548&d=CwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=dosmlwuUn84XoD7evgElt1yvVFCZhWeISX2_AuXLCzA&s=a872LMwFBREhidYvAoiLXkkYckX3Ny9Hsp1gdD324OE&e=

[Yervant1]

Turks together with Islamists robbed Armenian Churches in Syria,
Kessab residents say

17:44, 03 Feb 2016
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Residents of the Syrian town Kesab told about vandalism of Turks in
local churches, Interfax Religionreports.

`Kesab's centers of Armenian culture ` our churches- especially
suffered from actions of Islamists and Turks. When I came here for
ministry after the town had been released, I saw bare walls remained
from the once flourishing church,' the priest of the local Armenian
protestant church Zhirajr Gazaryan was quoted as saying on Wednesday
by the Rossijskaya Gazeta daily.

Akop, head of a Kesab Armenian family, told that militants from
Tunisia lived in his house during the occupation.

`Turkey played a great role in our troubles. When Jabhad an-Nusra
invaded Kesab, entire divisions of the Turkish special operations'
forces rushed into the town together with Salafi. Local guards saved
residents of the town from a new genocide of Armenians. They started a
battle against bandits, which gave local people time for leaving the
town. However, when Turks seized the town, they brought here residents
of their neighboring villages who loaded all valuable things we had in
trucks, trailers, tractors, carts and just drove it to Turkey,' he
said.

About 200 residents of the Syrian town of Salma were driven to Saudi
Arabia and no one has heard anything about them ever since.

`Salafis rushed into the houses and shot men. They just ordered women
and children to turn away and then there were fire shots. Only old men
and those who understood what was going on managed to survive and ran
from the village to the valley. There were few of them. They killed
almost all of us,' 78-year-old Harun Dijib said.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.interfax-2Dreligion.com_-3Fact-3Dnews-26div-3D12708&d=CwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=LjR8uFFxjIsBI5JqWqrTU3kxstbAAoh_8_5Eygt0Ax4&s=kW846tGfpHNQhDEowd818ct-jNdE6qQxZBOWxYSvs9I&e=

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.armradio.am_en_2016_02_03_turks-2Dtogether-2Dwith-2Dislamists-2Drobbed-2Darmenian-2Dchurches-2Din-2Dsyria_&d=CwIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=LjR8uFFxjIsBI5JqWqrTU3kxstbAAoh_8_5Eygt0Ax4&s=t4bcW4rGnPvyI9a7TnUJbNYP0QO4tnuyTHpaWjkWNqc&e=

[Yervant1]

Watch Ash Carter Lie About Why He Let Turkey Supply ISIL with Oil

(Video):

One of the most embarrassing things to come out of the Russian
military venture in Syria is the huge convoy supply lines of oil
moving between Turkey and ISIS positions.

Watch America's finest mumble their way through explanations of why
they have let this go on for two years.

Priceless.

Carter deserves an Academy Award.

McCain, Carter and the rest of the Washington insiders clearly knew
about ISIS oil trading all along.

Posted February 03, 2015

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3D9MAmeAtzKms&d=CwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=ulZBgsqEtPCn0SozEZ6hVGmKMcO4azjZMt4fJHQRTro&s=Z9ohHawRy_Cocp0crQw-NENZvLOw2ZaYQdctTcjY7rM&e=
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.informationclearinghouse.info_article44127.htm&d=CwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=ulZBgsqEtPCn0SozEZ6hVGmKMcO4azjZMt4fJHQRTro&sÜqqotlD9UROHYhufaiMC3rcfr6mq30r-PVkEQWKWVo&e=