The truth about Syria

[Yervant1]

Catholic Culture
April 26 2016


Aleppo's Armenian districts bombarded on anniversary of genocide


April 26, 2016

Islamic forces in Syria launched an artillery attack on Armenian
sections of the city of Aleppo on April 25, the AsiaNews service
reports.

The heavy bombardment, an obvious violation of a ceasefire agreement,
killed at least 17 people. Residents of the city's Armenian district
stated their belief that the attack was deliberately timed for the
100th anniversary of the start of the Armenian genocide-- an
anniversary that had been observed at churches in the neighborhood the
previous day.

Residents also charged that Islamic forces in Aleppo are receiving
assistance from Turkey, and blasted Syria's President Assad for his
failure to protect the Christian minority.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.catholicculture.org_news_headlines_index.cfm-3Fstoryid-3D28171&d=CwIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=LuMvg4JCQlnY5I3UPaXUh2IdzIt3hHtkyztyXmJRQ3E&s=Pi-KSmf2ABh9UE693e8DLydhjMzBvUatzQGwwMJjRu0&e=

[Yervant1]

AsiaNews, Italy
May 1 2016


In memory of the genocide, Armenian districts of Aleppo bombarded.
Christians rail against Assad



Explosions also in Yerevan and Karabakh. The Aleppo Armenians accuse
the "Islamic terrorists" backed by Turkey, of using raids to
"commemorate" the anniversary of the genocide. Fires in the districts
of Suleymaniye and Ashrafieh. 17 Armenians killed, including three
children and a woman. For the first time, in Yerevan, a bus packed
with explosives is detonated .

Aleppo (AsiaNews) - Islamic terrorists have launched a series of
heavey bomb attacks from areas not under government control on
Armenian districts of Aleppo, in clear violation of the ceasefire. The
bombs killed 17 Armenians including 3 children and a woman, and have
sparked a series of fires that are still raging due to the lack of
water, causing extensive destruction and damage to property.

The inhabitants of Suleymaniye and Ashrafieh, the Armenian districts
of Aleppo bombed yesterday, have no doubt: These attacks are "Turkey’s
direct response to the 101th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide",
marked the day before, on April 24, in the churches of Aleppo, already
battered by more than four years of war.

Speaking to AsiaNews over the phone from Aleppo, Armenian Sevag
Tashdjian, said the "Islamic terrorist groups supported by Turkey,"
who "cross Turkish-Syrian border trafficking arms, ammunition and
stolen goods" are responsible.

"We woke up under the bombs, it is Turkey’s gift" he added, "entire
neighborhoods have caught fire and we went under the bombs to bring
relief to sick and elderly trapped in their homes and take them to
safety, to safer underground shelters".

The few open shopkeepers closed their doors, and for the first time in
five years of conflict, "anger has overcome fear". It must be said
that the Aleppo Armenians are the group who paid the highest price so
far in the war, with the destruction of the ancient churches
(including the church of the 40 martyrs, a seventeenth century
architectural jewel). The churches were destroyed by explosives placed
in underground tunnels carved from areas controlled by pro-Turkish
Islamic terrorists). But this time, for the first time, the Armenians
are angry with President Bashar Assad.

"Where are you Bashar? You claim to protect Christians, why have you
forsaken our neighborhoods at the mercy of Islamic terrorists for 4
years now? ". "Syrian troops are freeing areas controlled by 'Isis all
over the country, even in the desert so why not here?" asks Tashdjian.

A Syrian television station sent a reporter to cover the news, but she
was abruptly interrupted by the Armenian inhabitants who vented their
rage live on television, speaking directly to Bashar Assad shouting
"Enough! Do something that goes beyond the words of support and
promises to defend the Christians! We are Armenians, Turkey is
continuing the genocide of our people here in Aleppo! Why not sweep
away these terrorists from our neighborhood? It's been four years, you
do nothing but talk about it! If the Syrian army cannot, or will not
save us, give us weapons and we will. " The voices and the loud cries
prevented the journalist from continuing the news report.

Confirming the suspicions expressed by Aleppo Armenians of Turkish
involvement in these crimes, there were two more explosions: one in
Armenia, in the center in the capital Yerevan, on the street named
after Aleppo; the other in Nagorno Karabakh, always after the
celebration of the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by the Turkish
government in 1915.

In fact yesterday in Yerevan a bus packed with explosives exploded
causing deaths and injuries. It is a sad first for the Armenian
capital: it had never been the scene of attacks, which closely
resemble the attacks in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. Another explosion
occurred in Karabakh. This was reported by the Russian broadcaster
Russia Today, without giving further details on damage to persons and
property. (PB)

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.asianews.it_news-2Den_In-2Dmemory-2Dof-2Dthe-2Dgenocide-2C-2DArmenian-2Ddistricts-2Dof-2DAleppo-2Dbombarded.-2DChristians-2Drail-2Dagainst-2DAssad-2D37323.html&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=FK6FBuo-DiUfq6WY4JupxXYKswHqme3v4I6LP_dVDwk&s=t6HJNHoJsgLkW68O1Q09x075ckIlHVZj0P-J61UY11U&e=

[Yervant1]

Turkey Opens Secret Border-Crossing to Dispatch more Arms, Recruits to
Terrorists in Syria

Fri May 06, 2016 4:52

TEHRAN (FNA)- Kurdish media activists disclosed that Turkey has set up
a new border crossing with Syria's Aleppo province to provide secretly
the terrorist groups with more heavy weapons.

"Based on continued demands of the Ankara-backed terrorist groups of
Faylaq al-Sultan Murad, Ahrar al-Sham, al-Nusra Front and Faylaq
al-Sham and after repeated reports on the involvement of Turkey in
shipment of arms to terrorist groups in Syria, the Turkish military
and intelligence officials managed to open a new border crossing with
the width of 2 kilometers for the dispatch of tanks and armored
personnel carries to the terrorist-held regions North of Syria," the
sources said.

"The new border crossing is ready to shoulder Bab al-Salamaeh border
crossing's activities," the sources added.

"The new border crossing connects the Turkish territories to the
village of Hawar Kalas in the Northeastern part of Azaz," they went on
to say.

In mid-April, informed sources said that a large number of terrorists,
with different nationalities, crossed the Turkish border with Syria's
Northern province of Aleppo to join their comrades in al-Nusra Front.

"Foreign-national terrorist, trained and supplied in Turkey, have
entered the territories of Northern Aleppo in groups to join the
al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front," the sources said, adding, "The
fresh terrorists have brought with them a large volume of ammunition
and weapons."

Different sources have underlined on many occasions the role of Turkey
and Saudi Arabia in infiltration of foreign terrorists and shipment of
arms to terrorist-held lands in Syria.

The sources also have confirmed that al-Nusra Front has no good
situation in Aleppo's battlefields.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__en.farsnews.com_newstext.aspx-3Fnn-3D13950217000439&d=DQIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=5u561IoMLhz_xBc_HYoyWE0WkRmmPZiLVwNhRHM2HzY&s=gwXmzQm2IDgUpGaR_tTQryW8uxTvPzDjdm-0vAR3DCc&e=

[Yervant1]

Leaked: Turkey used bribery to release weapon-loaded ship seized in Greece

By Zen Adra -

15/05/2016

Haddad 1 was seized by Greek caost guard in September 2015 A
Turkey-bound cargo ship loaded with heavy and light weapons was seized
by Greek coast guard, a source said.

The ship was originally procured by a France-based Saudi arms dealer,
and was loaded in UK and France.

According to the source, who spoke with the condition of anonymity,
the shipment was supposed to be delivered to Lebanese MP Khalid
al-Dhaher in the northern Lebanese port of Tripoli, and eventually to
al-Nusra Front in Syria under the supervision of Turkish intelligence.

Abdullah al-Chahal, the spiritual leader of a notorious Salfi movement
in Lebanon, has reportedly brokered the whole operation.

Al-Dhaher, a Lebanese MP for the northern city of Tripoli, has been
overtly backing ultra-hardline militants fighting Syrian President
Bashar Assad.

The shipment was finally released after Turkey allegedly paid $750,000
to an influential Greek official.

The Greek authorities then declared that it has investigated the
shipment and found out loads of cartridges used for fishing. In
September 2015, The Greek coastguard seized the Bolivian-flagged
vessel Haddad 1 off the island of Crete. A search of its cargo
revealed almost 500,000 rounds of ammunition and 5,000 rifles hidden a
board.

Haddad 1 was heading to an Islamist-held port in Libya in a suspected
“Oil for Guns’ deal.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.almasdarnews.com_article_leaked-2Dturkey-2Dused-2Dbribery-2Drelease-2Dweapon-2Dloaded-2Dship-2Dseized-2Dgreece_&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=zX05h95eBtnTwjGs8C5xz5AlTi07wsBUFGSM8e0nMWs&s=9apqh8edUp9KidhWSQHFx9xdZp27sBASXKuqWCYC2Qo&e=

[Yervant1]

16.05.2016 Author: Salman Rafi Sheikh

It’s Official! Turkey is Abetting ISIS in Syria

Column: Politics

Region: Middle East

Country: Turkey

http://journal-neo.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/1439271306533-300x169.jpgApparently, the root of troubles that the common people of Turkey are facing goes much deeper than Erdogan’s ambition to constitutionally hijack Turkey’s political system by introducing presidential form of government. Turkey’s incumbent government, dominated as it is by the party Erdogan is leading, is not only leading Turkey to chaotic scenario internally, but also externally. As it stands, the recently leaked wiretaps of ISIS agents have clearly established how Ankara has been and continues to maintain ‘silence’ over these agents’ cross border movements. These wiretaps, although recorded by Turkey’s own security agencies, were handed over to the media by an opposition MP, Erem Erdem.

Transcribed phone recordings belonging to Ilhami Bali, well known in IS ranks and suspected of staging high-profile bomb attacks in Ankara and the mainly-Kurdish border city of Suruc, detail the lack of control along the Syrian Turkish border. The 98-kilometer (61-mile) stretch of border has only two crossings, the Jarablus and Al Rai entry points across from Turkey’s Gaziantep and Kilis.

While the official ‘facts and figures’ of Turkish Armed Forces seem to claim that Turkish security forces apprehended around 961 IS members from 57 countries in 2015, the picture exposed by the opposition MP, who is already being ‘hunted’ by the president for his strong anti-regime stance, shows that thousands of IS fighters and their family members repeatedly cross the Turkish border from Syria on a daily basis. While some do get arrested, they are more often than not released at the crossing points.

While talking to the media, Erem opined that these entries recorded comprehensive information such as which hotel the terrorists are going to stay in, where they will wait for their car, which gas station they will use for refueling in a mosque in Kilis, how many people and who exactly would be responsible for the preparation of a terrorist attack.

“Despite the fact that all this information was in the hands of the authorities, the security forces had not carried out any operations to detain terrorists. I ask one very simple question: why were these terrorists not arrested?”, he questioned Turkish authorities in his press conference.

The documents he showed reveal that all the Daesh militants are being treated in Turkey; there are details of how much money is spent on maintenance and treatment of these jihadists in district hospitals. The data has further revealed that the actual count of people passing through to the Turkish side is actually more than IS coordinators have presumed.

More conversations between the two subjects further confirm that those who get arrested are later released through IS connections at police stations. One of the telephonic conversations recorded in there shows this ‘co-ordination’ in quite explicit terms:

“

The guy from the Gendarmerie called me and said that they were in the smuggler car,”

Bali told Erkek in a conversations about another group detained at the border.

“Call this guy. The people who got arrested today are at the Gandermarie station. Maybe he can do something… Gendarmerie took them under arrest. If they can let them free they should do that.”

This complicity is, therefore, at the heart of the conflict in Syria—and challenges the conventional way of eradicating terrorism by merely bombing areas under their control. Turkey’s other policies also strongly indicate how it has been using IS for its own advantage. For instance, instead of supporting Kurdish fighters, who have been the most successful ground force against IS,YPG-controlled territory in Syria finds itself placed under a total embargo by Erdogan government, and PKK forces are under continual bombardment by the Turkish air force. As against Turkish complicity, to these Kurdish groups’ credit goes the rescue of thousands of Yazidi civilians threatened with genocide by Isis in 2014, and its sister organisation, the YPG, of protecting Christian communities in Syria as well.

On the contrary, not only has Erdoğan done almost everything he can to cripple the forces actually fighting Isis; there is considerable evidence that suggests that his government has been at least tacitly aiding IS itself. The latest revelations are, some believe, only a tip of the iceberg. There is much more than that Turkey has been up to since the beginning of the conflict in 2011.

While some may tend to debate the actual extent of Turkish complicity in abetting IS, it is quite obvious and self-evident that had Turkey placed the same kind of absolute blockade on IS territories as they did on Kurdish-held parts of Syria, let alone shown the same sort of “benign neglect” towards the PKK and YPG that they have been offering to IS, that blood-stained “caliphate” would long since have collapsed. However, the Erdogan continues to utilise this “caliphate” for materializing his own dreams of actualizing himself as the ‘Sultan of Turkey’ and ultimately the whole Arab world. This, however, does not seem to be happening.

For instance, whereas opposition MP’s revelations certainly reveal the growing level of opposition both within political and non-political apparatuses of Turkish polity, the wiretaps do also indicate who the real enemies are and who stand to benefit the most by spreading conflict in the Kurdish areas. By tacitly allowing IS agents to embark on an absolute killing spree by not cracking down on them on the basis of the information that Turkey’s agencies had in their possession, Erdogan’s government, impressed as he already in by fascist presidential system, seems to be following in the footsteps of Hitler to achieve racial purity of the Turkish nation by eliminating Kurds and ultimately advance towards its glorification that it once enjoyed as an imperial power in the Arab world. By flowing in the footsteps of Hitler, Erdogan’s Turkey might end also end up as internally destroyed, sociologically fragmented and externally surrounded by monster it has itself allowed to flourish in the first place.

Salman Rafi Sheikh, research-analyst of International Relations and Pakistan’s foreign and domestic affairs, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook”.

http://journal-neo.org/2016/05/16/it-s-official-turkey-is-abetting-isis-in-syria/

[Yervant1]

Confessions of an ISIS emir: Turkish support and the battle for Kobane

By Alaa Al-Mohammad - 19/05/2016 2

The border town of Kobane came close to capture by ISIS jihadists last
year The capture of two prominent officials in the ISIS terrorist
organisation, Yasser Abdul Aziz Agvmy, a Saudi national, and Abu Bakr
al-Masri, one of the ‘emirs’ active on the front-lines of Kobane, may
have just lent more weight to the mounting allegations of co-operation
between ISIS and Turkish authorities.

The two ISIS officials were captured near the Syrian border town of
Kobane by militants of the YPG, who reported the following confession:
“…we receive military and logistical support from Turkey, and the
people who murder, slaughter and committed massacres came directly
from Turkish territory to the town of Kobane, and most of our wounded
in the war were receiving treatment in Turkey”.

According to the two prisoners, day-to-day consumables, food, and
medical supplies were apparently provided by Turkish sources, whilst
aid in the form of clothing and blankets came from Saudi Arabia. They
also allegedly confirmed that oil was being sold to Turkish buyers,
and, that seriously wounded ISIS jihadists received medical treatment
in Turkey.

It is important to note that the confession was extracted by the YPG,
who are certainly not an un-biased source of accusations against
Turkey, however, other sources seem to corroborate the details of the
confession – particularly with regards to the trade of oil and the
treatment of wounded jihadists.

Apart from this, Abdul Aziz’s confession also provides an insight into
the methods and military tactics used by ISIS during their attempted
capture of Kobane, bearing many of the now familiar hallmarks of an
ISIS offensive – he described the way in which Abu Bakr al-Masri had
outlined the plan of attack, with 82 fighters divided into 6 attacking
groups:

The first group was tasked with seizing control of a checkpoint to the
south of the town while a second group led by Abu Bakr al-Masri
attacked the ‘Rashid Bnar’ entrance to Kobane, utilising a
suicide-bomber to break the defences there, and allowing them to seize
the entrance to the town. A third group was meant to take control of
the eastern portion of the town, between Kobane and ‘Tell Abyad’,
while a fourth group attacked ‘Pshtnor’ hill – the main target of the
operation according to Abdul Aziz. Finally, the fifth and sixth groups
were to enter the city amidst the confusion and scattered defenders.

The fighters had planned to quickly spread throughout the city, only
settling on a few specific points; this they described as a “seizure
action plan”, after which two other armed groups from the towns of
Sarin and Jarablos were to reinforce the attackers, and a third,
smaller, group was to come from Turkey with additional ammunition, via
the Kanye Kordan border point in the eastern part of Kobane.

They also went on to describe how they had planned to prevent
civilians from evacuating the town, adding that a high civilian
presence in the city would reduce the number of airborne and artillery
attacks.

Thankfully, the operation didn’t turn out as planned, and the ISIS
attackers were met with significant resistance, ultimately failing to
achieve their objective. And yet, despite this failure, ISIS acted to
ensure that the civilian death toll would be high; commenting on their
indiscriminate violence during the attack, Abdul Aziz said: “we
deployed in all the streets and alleys and killed everyone, whether
civilian or military… In religious education centres, especially in
Quranic verses classes, they were saying: ‘When you see the infidels,
behead them and we believe that, even civilians who are helping YPG
are infidels, and killing them is halal’ for this reason, we murdered
Kobane people in order to get revenge from people who are helping the
YPG.”

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.almasdarnews.com_article_confessions-2Disis-2Demir-2Dturkish-2Dsupport-2Dbattle-2Dkobane_&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=RPviRuV2dFQ7b3hy0qa6G295AjsuEF6tvzATFQ2JZ5g&s=Q8hcXVQNqwRpeVfTu_BFB0el1Rl_V-C8SkiTMQSbgig&e=

[Yervant1]

Russia to target terrorist supply routes coming from Turkey: DM

By Leith Fadel - 20/05/2016

Beginning on May 25th, the Russian Air Force will once again target
the terrorist supply routes coming from Turkey, the Russian Defense
Ministry announced on Friday.

The Russian Air Force took a 3 month hiatus from targeting opposition
positions in Syria due to the open-ended ceasefire agreement that was
put in place all over the country.

However, due to the Syrian opposition’s increased military activity
and proliferation of weapons to radical groups, the Russian Air Force
will once again have to enforce the ceasefire.

The duration of these Russian airstrikes was not indicated; but, they
are likely to continue until the opposition and government delegations
agree to meet for another round of peace talks.

The Turkish border-crossing has been a thorn in the Syrian
government’s side due to its constant infiltration by jihadist rebels.
These upcoming Russian airstrikes are expected to deter the jihadist
rebels from infiltrating the border and entering Syria.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.almasdarnews.com_article_russia-2Dtarget-2Dterrorist-2Dsupply-2Droutes-2Dturkey-2Ddm_&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=ndNPis2VJ3ryPjS46zHUutpeqFE123C0FM6nwIve5cQ&s=1p7dz__8pLaszKF4udYEFALGBQN6Dm-jEHzg-nu1UMc&e=

[Yervant1]

Breaking: Syrian Army liberates Armenian Cemetery in Deir Ezzor

By Leith Fadel - 22/05/2016

The Syrian Arab Army’s 137th Artillery Brigade of the Republican Guard
– backed by the 104th Airborne Brigade of the Republican Guard –
imposed full control over the Armenian Cemetery of Deir Ezzor after a
violent battle with the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) on
Sunday.

The Syrian Armed Forces were able to liberate this strategic site in
western Deir Ezzor after repelling the Islamic State’s offensive at
the Panorama Checkpoint earlier today.

As a result of ISIS’ failed offensive at the Panorama Checkpoint, the
Syrian Armed Forces took the opportunity to strike back against the
terrorist group and recapture the Armenian Cemetery.

According to Yarob Zahreddine of the 104th Airborne Brigade, the
Syrian Armed Forces killed several ISIS terrorists during the battle
for the Armenian Cemetery, including several foreign terrorists from
North Africa.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.almasdarnews.com_article_breaking-2Dsyrian-2Darmy-2Dliberates-2Darmenian-2Dcemetery-2Ddeir-2Dezzor_&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=8ooopv0lU8SddKsRmmJN1B-RQLcOIDl2t8j7_nps5uw&s=OuPZxgN9f-gg94tF_EE6jWn57Q5wv3sVWYVwvqnTULs&e=

[Yervant1]

Syrian TV & Radio, Syria
May 22 2016


Armenian Culture Ministry offers expertise support for Palmyra restoration



The Armenian Culture Ministry offered putting its experience and
expertise at disposal for restoring the historical site of Palmyra.

The offer came in a letter sent by the Armenian Culture Minister,
which the Syrian counterpart Issam Khalil said was received “with deep
appreciation”.

His appreciation was expressed in statements to reporters following a
meeting with the Armenian Ambassador in Damascus Arshak Poladian.

In addition to means of cooperation in the cultural affairs, both
sides also discussed the letter and the Armenian offer included in it.

The Minister noted that a national committee has been formed to draw
up the necessary plans for the restoration of Palmyra.

Palmyra-a UNESCO World Heritage site-was retaken from ISIS terrorist
organization last March along with the residential neighborhoods in
the city-also known as Tadmur.

Archeological monuments and artifacts in Palmyra sustained severe
damage due to deliberate acts of demolition and vandalism inflicted by
ISIS terrorists since they took over the city in May 2015.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.syriaonline.sy_-3Ff-3DDetails-26catid-3D22-26pageid-3D22565-26g-3D1&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=qQE96u_OArb_Fyj_jxMGNrCys7Ii09z-dz9oi0ylXy0&s=Lyk5kbuEag_ZOGvY75wnGDc_YgUlcj-bfeiPlUGB9TE&e=

[MosJan]

ԱՄԱՍԿՈՍ.- Սուրիական կառավարական բանակը Մայիս 22ին վերականգնած է իր ամբողջական վերահսկողութիւնը Տէր Զօրի հայկական գերեզմանատան նկատմամբ՝ այդ տարածքներէն ետ մղելով »Իսլամական պետութիւն« (ISIS) ահաբեկչական խմբաւորման զինեալները:

Ինչպէս կը հաղորդէ »Մետիամաքս«ը՝ վկայակոչելով կը Almasdarnews-ը, կատաղի մարտերէ ետք սուրիական կառավարական բանակի 137րդ հրետանային ջոկատը կրցած է ազատագրել Տէր Զօրի արեւմուտքը տեղակայուած եւ ռազմավարական կարեւոր նշանակութիւն ունեցող տարածքները:

Յիշեցնենք, որ 2014ի Սեպտեմբեր 22ին ISIS-ի անդամները ականապատած եւ պայթեցուցած էին Տէր Զօրի Սրբոց Նահատակաց հայկական եկեղեցին:

 

http://asbarez.com/arm/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/05/0524derzor.jpg

[MosJan]

Armenian Cemetery Liberated in Deir Ezzor

 

DEIR EZZOR (Al-Masdar News)—The Syrian Arab Army’s 137th Artillery Brigade of the Republican Guard imposed full control over the Armenian Cemetery of Deir Ezzor after a violent battle with the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) on Sunday.

The Syrian Armed Forces were able to liberate this site in western Deir Ezzor after repelling the Islamic State’s offensive at the Panorama Checkpoint. As a result of ISIS’ offensive at the Panorama Checkpoint, the Syrian Army took the opportunity to strike back and recapture the Armenian Cemetery.

In 2014, ISIS destroyed the Armenian Genocide Memorial Church in Deir Ezzor where thousands of Armenians from Syria would gather every year on April 24 to commemorate the genocide.http://asbarez.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/armeniancemetarydeirezzor.jpg

[Yervant1]

Turkish Army Enters Syria's Northern Territories

Sat May 28, 2016 1:53

TEHRAN (FNA)- Turkish military forces, once again, crossed the the
country's Southern border with Syria's Northern province of Aleppo and
set up a checkpoint in the region.

A large number of Turkish soldiers, accompanied by several armored
vehicles, entered the territory of Syria from Jandires region 700
meter away from the Northwestern lands of Aleppo and set up a military
checkpoint to monitor civilians' movements in the border region.

In relevant developments in but in Hasaka province in Northern Syria,
A group of the Turkish Army's armored vehicles and construction
machineries crossed the border from Turkey to Syria's Northeastern
province of Hasaka.

The Turkish soldiers crossed into the Syrian territories from Nusaybin
border crossing.

Turkish soldiers, accompanied by two tanks, a bulldozer and several
trucks, entered the territory of Syria near the Turkish city of
Nusaybin and launched digging operation in the region between Nusaybin
and Qamishli.

Earlier today, intelligence sources disclosed that the Turkish army,
in close cooperation with the terrorist groups, has been transferring
militants, arms and ammunition from Idlib to Aleppo and vice versa via
Turkey's Southeastern territories.

"Camps near the small town of Atimeh in the Western part of Idlib
province and the Turkish border checkpoint of Bukulmez have been
continuously used to dispatch terrorists and military equipment from
Idlib to Aleppo through the Southeastern territories of Turkey," the
sources said.

"Our agents have recently detected a 15-vehicle convoy of Jeish
al-Fatah near Atimeh heading towards Bukulmez border to go to Aleppo
province via Turkey," the sources said, adding, "Atmieh and Bukulmez
have been used recently as the main passage for sending hundreds of
terrorists and their military equipment from Idlib to the Northern
battlefields of Aleppo."

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__en.farsnews.com_newstext.aspx-3Fnn-3D13950308000706&d=DQIBaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=AGeDgpEyEFvRnWh0KIbzneg2crTCIzFtEkz111KM7Zs&s=QDlSBgN4OASclG9FJREMVZpE8Yi2uApfkWC5zPZtSKU&e=

[Yervant1]

Turkey sends arms disguised as aid to Syria terrorists: Syrian UN envoy

Sat May 28, 2016 4:44AM

Bashar al-Ja’afari, the Syrian ambassador to the United Nations (UN),
speaks at the Security Council. (Photo by AP)

Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations (UN) has accused Turkey of
delivering weapons to the terrorists in the Arab country in convoys
made to look as if they are carrying humanitarian aid.

Speaking at a UN Security Council session on Friday, Bashar
al-Ja’afari also said Turkey exploited humanitarian corridors as
transit routes for thousands of foreign-backed militants and provided
weapons to the terrorists.

Ja’fari made the remarks in reaction to a monthly UN report on
humanitarian access in Syria, which was presented by the world body’s
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief
Stephen O’Brien.

The UN official claimed that the Syrian government, as well as
militant groups, deliberately interfere with and restrict aid
deliveries in the Arab country.

Ja’fari disputed O’Brien’s accusation, emphasizing that Damascus
allows the delivery of aid “except for things that [would] be handed
to terrorists.”

Of the 26 requests for humanitarian convoys in May, the Syrian
ambassador said, Damascus approved 19, and the UN only sent three.

“Cooperation is not a one-way street, the UN also has to cooperate
with the Syrian government,” he added.

Syrian men carry aid parcels provided by the UN World Food Programme
and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent in Houla, Homs Province, Syria, May
25, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

The Syrian ambassador said a number of countries, including Turkey and
Saudi Arabia, exploit the needs and sufferings of the Syrian people
for political gains.

He said the support of some countries for terrorism became known to
everyone recently when they blocked a Russian bid to blacklist certain
terrorist groups.

On May 11, Britain, the United States, France and Ukraine blocked a
Russian proposal at the UN to blacklist Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar
al-Sham groups for links to Daesh terrorists and al-Qaeda militants.

Some countries claim to care for human rights and the Syrian people,
but their actions on the ground contradict their words, Ja’afari said.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-sponsored militancy since March
2011. United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura
estimates that over 400,000 people have been killed in the Syrian
crisis.

Turkey is known among the main supporters of the militant groups
operating in Syria, with reports saying that Ankara actively trains
and arms the Takfiri elements there and facilitates their safe passage
into the violence-wracked state. Turkey denies the accusations.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.presstv.com_Detail_2016_05_28_467754_Syria-2DJaafari-2DT1urkey-2Dhumanitarian-2Daid-2Dconvoys-2Dweapons-2Dsmuggling&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=oz01moJjXDRa56qFkXuT3-aEvSkSk8qFz2Rw6I4klVw&s=QCDMBoTW0q6OHVR4K7O4etwTTt-w3OXtMQziA1rHOQc&e=

[Yervant1]

Provocation? Turkish Military Advances 700 Meters Into Syria

© AFP 2016/ OZAN KOSE
MIDDLE EAST
19:33 28.05.2016

The division of the Turkish army has made advances by 700 meters into
Syria, in the city of Afrin located in northern Aleppo province
according to al-Mayedin channel.

© AFP 2016/ MEHDI FEDOUACH
Turkey Threatens to Launch 'Unilateral' Operations on Syrian Soil
The Turkish military has put up a checkpoint next to the settlement,
which has a predominantly Kurdish population.

So far there has been no official comment regarding this information.

Earlier, Sergey Rudskoy, the head of the Main Operations Directorate
of the General Staff of Russia, noted that Turkey continues to
shellSyrian towns along the border and at the positions of Kurdish
militia.

"Turkish artillery continues shelling Syrian border settlements and
Kurdish militia positions," he said.

He further said, “Systematic shelling of Damascus from the territory
of eastern Ghouta continues. Terrorists tried to capture a power plant
in Homs and block the road connecting Aleppo and Damascus many times,"
Rudskoy said.

Last week, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan reported, citing
witnesses, that the Turkish military invaded the territory of Syria in
the northeast of the country and started to build defenses there. The
incident occurred near the town of al-Qamishli, which is considered to
be the ‘capital’ of Syrian Kurds.

In March, the Kurdish militia reported that the Turkish military had
violated the border and is constructing fortifications near the cities
of Afrin and Azaz.

Read more:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__sputniknews.com_middleeast_20160528_1040421646_turkey-2Dmilitary-2Dadvances-2Dsyria.html-23ixzz49yJBEgWo&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=VtoBjhbI2sDfta6dLGAL48-NtFJT1K2ABCEIkij4VJ4&s=Lv-OBGoOaaEhjOiOybp648so6OTtJUTSCSbxTIRjTSw&e=

[Yervant1]

Expert on Arabic studies: Targeting Armenian community of Aleppo can
be guided by Turkey

13:20, 11 June, 2016

YEREVAN, JUNE 11, ARMENPRESS. Expert on Arabic studies Armen Petrosyan
says Turkey may have played a role in targeting the Armenian community
during the Aleppo shelling.

He said several structures in fact used the ceasefire regime which was
established in Syria at the end of February, to organize new attacks
in northern Syria. The ceasefire regime is not maintained in Aleppo,
northern Syria. During this period a military aid was sent from Turkey
to “Jabhat al-Nusra” and other groups.

“During the recent 10-15 days intensive actions are being carried out
in Aleppo against the Kurdish people, and several Armenian districts
are being bombarded. Turkey has its signature here. Why “Jabhat
al-Nusra”, which fights against the “Islamic State”, should attack the
Kurdish people who also fight against the “Islamic State”. That’s why,
it is obvious that Turkey solves several issues here”, Armen Petrosyan
said.

He said the military operations were intensified in the Armenian
districts at the end of May causing both material and human losses.
Yesterday, an Armenian also died by Aleppo explosion.

All this shows that a strong fight is underway in Aleppo, and the
recent meeting between the Defense Ministers of Syria, Iran and Russia
was aimed to make further steps in the northern Syria. It is obvious
that it is an important territory for the Syrian authorities.

Referring to the military operations against the “Islamic State” in
Syria, expert on Arabic studies Sargis Grigoryan stated that the
military operations in the northern Syria enable the IS not to have
border with Turkey.

“It is not a secret that the financial, human, military assistance was
coming from that border. But now, without that border, the IS in fact
does not receive such assistance. The military operations against the
IS are important in a sense that the group losses several territories
and remains in insecure territories”, Sargis Grigoryan said.

Turkey quickly tries to implement its plans. It is related to the fact
that Russia and Iran will again become more active. Armen Petrosyan
said Turkey perfectly understands this and wants to solve issues
related to Kurds, as well as the Armenian community of Syria in a
short period of time. However Kurds strengthen their positions, and
Turkey fails.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__armenpress.am_eng_news_850527_expert-2Don-2Darabic-2Dstudies-2Dtargeting-2Darmenian-2Dcommunity-2Dof-2Daleppo-2Dcan-2Dbe-2Dguided-2Dby-2Dturkey.html&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=e8Ts4Z831ELE7yu-vZXXvkdTHtSuxEF9YOB5JQsI4Uw&s=bOVo92Jav58DHUIa7aL9iZmUi7q1FjHVQ2c1VagDvxM&e=

[Yervant1]

Armenia harshly condemns consistent bombardment of Armenian-populated
districts in Aleppo

20:25, 16 June, 2016

YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenia harshly condemns the deliberate
and consistent bombardment of Armenianpopulated districts in Aleppo,
which have claimed dozens of lives only in Armenianpopulated
districts, causing great material damages, Head of Armenian Mission to
the OSCE, Ambassador Arman Kirakosyan announced at the meeting of OSCE
Permanent Council on June 16.

As “Armenpress” was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia, he
expressed concern over the recent attacks on Aleppo by the Al-Nusra
Front, claiming lives of numerous civilians.

The Armenian Ambassador stated that during the last years the Armenian
mission has regularly raised the issue of terrosis organizations
operating in Syria and Iraq, particularly, the “Islamic State”, the
Al-Nusra Front and other groups linked with “Al-Qaeda”. It was stated
that ethnic and religious minorities, including the Armenian
community, are a primary target for those terrorist groups.

Ambassador Kirakosyan stated that the mentioned terrorist
organizations are a serious threat for the security of OSCE area.

The Armenian Ambassador referred to the Ministerial Declarations of
the OSCE Basel and Belgrade meetings, as well as the 2170, 2178, 2199
and 2249 resolutions of the UNSC, calling on all the state to
implement their commitments for struggle against terrorism assumed by
the mentioned documents. Arman Kirakosyan particularly called on
Turkey to stop providing its territory to terrorist groups for
launching attacks against civilians of Syria.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__armenpress.am_eng_news_851177_armenia-2Dharshly-2Dcondemns-2Dconsistent-2Dbombardment-2Dof-2Darmenian-2Dpopulated-2Ddistricts-2Din-2Daleppo.html&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=gJmLfjMaWGD5WAZlU_V71H5BOy3A5xTW7E3OVC15z3w&s=_doFVYOW1UQp0R_oIYOQCW2gzZhErHH_sPPK_fljF50&e=

[Yervant1]

Syrian Armenians may be ‘target’ of Bundestag resolution

18:14 | June 16,2016 | Politics

The adoption of Bundestag resolution, unfortunately, isn’t the first
impulse, when Turkey, using external events as a pretense, instigates
hostile attitude for using force against unarmed Armenian population
of Syria, ordering to destroy the Armenian regions through Al-Nusra
terrorist group, says political expert Ararat Kostanyan, bringing the
following example- during the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide,
Nusra carried out large-scale attacks on the Armenian districts, which
consistently lasted for several days.

Though, he says, this time the situation is more serious, “Nusra
militant threw about 1000 missiles, destroying not only the
residential buildings, but also the Armenian nursing home and the
churches. What is happening there is real genocide.”

The political expert reminds that Turkish President Erdogan has
declared for many times about deporting Armenians, who work there,
which will be the worst scenario.

“Dink’s wound hasn’t healed yet, clashes with Armenians will cause new
problems for Erdogan both inside the country and outside. Erdogan
should refrain from his famous policy of confrontation, if his
understanding hasn’t disappeared at all,” he says.

It isn’t a secret that the Armenian issue has always been a matter of
manipulation for putting pressure on Turkey, in particular, by the
West (France, England), since the times of Hamid.

He says this time Germany was angry about the fact, that Turkey showed
the way to transfer the Syrian Armenian refugees to Europe, in the
case when an agreement had been reached and large amounts of money had
been provided to Erdogan for settling Syrian refugees in Turkey.

“At the same time Europe (Germany, France) disapproves the way leading
to Erdogan’s monopoly, when he dismisses independent officials,
especially, Prime Minister Davutoglu,” notes the political expert.

And in this case, the main threat, he says, is the fact that Erdogan
may initiate actions against Armenians in Syria through his undeclared
allies.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__en.a1plus.am_1238904.html&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=KFcaC8hqA7Qxv5xDl86wFujIvXIv4iv-JJGx7mAWHss&s=aGPRlidX63e5wFTKQkTogQjEw1C5vDn_SD-pMTYTPMo&e=

[MosJan]

[Yervant1]

Turkish border guards kill 9 Syrian refugees

Sun Jun 19, 2016 7:24AM

Syrian refugees are seen at the Bab al-Salama refugee camp, near
A'zaz, Syria, next to the Turkish crossing gate, February 6, 2016.
©AFP

Turkish border guards have killed nine members of a Syrian family, who
were trying to cross the frontier and take refuge in the neighboring
country.

The deadly incident took place near the village of Kherbet Eljoz in
Syria’s Idlib Province on Saturday night as the Turkish forces opened
fire on the refugees, leaving eight more Syrians injured.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source told The New Arab news
website that the victims were among several families displaced from
the city of Jarablus in Syria’s Aleppo Province.

“Turkish border guards opened fire on them indiscriminately, killing
nine people and wounding eight others,” the source said, adding that
the dead were “all from one family - three children, four women and a
man,” who fled Jarablus due to fighting.

It was not the first time that the Turkish border guards employed
force against Syrians uprooted from their homes, with activists saying
that at least 50 asylum seekers have been killed on the Turkish border
in the past few months.

Back in May, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report that in March
and April 2016, five people, including a child, were killed and 14
others were seriously injured as a result of Turkish soldiers’
shootings and beatings.

Gerry Simpson, senior refugee researcher at the New York-based rights
organization, said the Turkish soldiers are “killing and beating”
refugees.

“Firing at traumatized men, women, and children fleeing fighting and
indiscriminate warfare is truly appalling,” he added.

Displaced Syrians wait for tents in the Bab al-Salama refugee camp,
near A’zaz, Syria, next to the Turkish crossing gate, February 5,
2016. ©AFP

Turkey, however, rejected the accusation, claiming that it is
welcoming Syrian refugees.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011.
Damascus regards a number of countries as the main supporters of the
militants fighting the government forces in the Arab country.

Turkey, which is hosting 2.7 million Syrian refugees, closed its
borders to the asylum seekers around a year ago, but permitted entry
for critical medical cases and humanitarian organizations.

Ankara and the European Union sealed a contentious agreement in March
in a bid to tackle Europe’s worst refugee crisis since World War II.

Under the deal, the 28-nation bloc will take in thousands of Syrian
refugees directly from the country and in return will reward Ankara
with money, visa exemption and progress in its EU membership
negotiations.

Ankara is known as a staunch supporter of the terrorist groups
operating to topple the Syrian government.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.presstv.com_Detail_2016_06_19_471123_Turkey-2DSyria-2DKherbet-2DEljoz-2DJarabulus&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=2hjPp9NDSy03VNB3yBSyY_dhGE6Muc1ej-dW_XdID1Q&s=PT32WBwww98JfmTw3cM_WsabEzzD6aOiWkD8OLUXv34&e=

[Yervant1]

HueWire
June 19 2016


Suicide Attack Kills 3 At Christian Massacre Memorial In Syria


People and security forces belonging to the Sotoro, a Christian
militia based in Syria’s northeast, gather at the site of a suicide
bomb attack. (AFP Photo)

Qamishli, Syria: Three people were killed in northeast Syria today
when a suicide bomber attacked an event commemorating the massacre of
Christians more than a century ago, state media and a security source
said.

The attack in the city of Qamishli took place as locals gathered at a
hall to commemorate the deaths of tens of thousands of Christians by
the Ottoman army starting in 1915 in what is known as the Sayfo
(“Sword”) massacre.

A photographer working with AFP and attending the event said he heard
the blast and saw pieces of flesh lying next to damaged cars.

“The suicide attacker tried to enter the hall where people were
gathered but was stopped by local security forces, and he detonated
himself among them,” a security source at the scene told AFP.

The security forces belonged to the Sotoro, a Christian militia based
in Syria’s northeast.

“Three Sotoro members were killed and five wounded,” the security source said.

One Sotoro member told AFP that the suicide bomber “detonated himself
near our checkpoint after he couldn’t reach his real target, Patriarch
Ignatius.”

Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II is the head of the Syriac Orthodox church
and was leading the commemoration.

Syria’s state news agency SANA also reported three people killed in a
“terrorist suicide explosion” in Qamishli but did not specify whether
they were civilians or security forces.

Situated along the border with Turkey, Qamishli has been regularly
targeted by suicide bombings, many of which have been claimed by the
ISIS group.

Control of the Kurdish-majority city is split between Kurdish militia
and pro-government fighters.

Syriac Christians belong to the eastern Christian tradition and pray
in Aramaic. They include both Orthodox and Catholic branches, and
constitute around 15 percent of Syria’s 1.2 million Christians.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.huewire.com_headlines_indian_suicide-2Dattack-2Dkills-2D3-2Dat-2Dchristian-2Dmassacre-2Dmemorial-2Din-2Dsyria_177856_&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=6zWMOli0MWSqU_Sb7PY85h62Ub6FPTulDI1wNuRPbSs&s=_-kM5y8jGAUNyZ5VjB0YupadBb7JvbdOqMdnVS6hywE&e=

[Yervant1]

Erdogan 'Kissing the Hand He Tried to Break' in Secret Syria Talks

© AP Photo/ Emrah Gurel
MIDDLE EAST
19:01 20.06.2016(updated 19:04 20.06.2016)

Relations between Ankara and Damascus have improved in recent secret
talks, as both sides are showing willingness for dialogue, Turkish
mediator Ismail Hakki Pekin told Sputnik Turkey.

© SPUTNIK/ VALERY MELNIKOV
A Sorry State, but Unrepentant: Restoration of Russia-Turkey Ties 'Not
That Easy'
The governments of Syria and Turkey are engaging in dialogue and both
sides are showing a willingness to negotiate their differences, the
Turkish military's former intelligence chief Ismail Hakki Pekin told
Sputnik Turkey.

According to a recent report by Algerian newspaper Al Watan, there has
been contact between the two governments mediated by theAlgerian
government.

Pekin is the leader of a delegation from Turkey's Vatan party, whose
members regularly visit Syria. He said that he has also been mediating
between the two governments, and noticed a change in both sides after
his most recent visit.

"We have been systematically working to normalize relations between
Turkey and Syria for a long time, and came up with an initiative to
provide the necessary basis for dialogue between the Turkish and
Syrian leadership," he explained.

"In my last trip, I noticed a softening from the Syrian side, and a
similar tendency in representatives of the Turkish Foreign Ministry,
when I told them about the outcome of our delegation's visit. The
Foreign Ministry as a whole received my information favorably. They
used to reject everything out of hand."

Pekin said the most pressing issue on the agenda during talks is
improvement in the region's security situation, which requires
compromise from both sides.

"Security is of prime importance, the issue of ensuring the integrity
of Syria and, related to that, the question of closing the Turkish
border."

"Turkey wants the Syrian leadership not to give support to the
Democratic Union Party (PYD, a Kurdish opposition party in northern
Syria) and prevent the strengthening of the Syrian Kurdish position in
the region. But for that, Turkey has to help Syria," Pekin explained.

"Turkey has to close the border, stop supporting opposition groups.
Just that on its own would create the preconditions for a huge
breakthrough in relations."

© AFP 2016/ STRINGER
Syrian Army Fiercely Fighting Daesh Over Oil Field in Raqqa
According to Pekin, the governments have started to soften their
positions because of the region's changing geopolitical situation, and
Ankara's belated realization that stability is key.

"The integrity of Syria means the integrity of Turkey. If the US were
to succeed in its project to split up Syria into pieces, the situation
in Turkey would be much more unstable than today. The amount of
terrorist attacks would increase significantly."

"However, the US has been defeated in the region, and in these
circumstances relations with Assad inevitably improve. Tayyip Erdogan
will kiss the hand he tried to break."

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__sputniknews.com_middleeast_20160620_1041635803_turkey-2Dsyria-2Drelations-2Dtalks.html&d=DQIFaQ&c=clK7kQUTWtAVEOVIgvi0NU5BOUHhpN0H8p7CSfnc_gI&r=LVw5zH6C4LHpVQcGEdVcrQ&m=CjkAbZcTGUTa7aa8Xn08UOa_agJKWZO2l8x9Zbt6dTk&s=D2QFOnUdxwr69Kevd0Ozbg6aUjfa9AiolxmlhUfUjlc&e=

[MosJan]

Russia: Turkish president 'sorry' for shoot-down of Russian military jet

 

The Kremlin reported Monday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin saying "I am sorry" for the downing of a Russian jet last November, an incident Putin had called a "treacherous stab in the back."

Erdogan expressed his "sympathy and deep condolences" to the family of the killed pilot and "asked to be forgiven," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

The letter added that Turkish authorities were conducting a probe against a Turkish citizen who allegedly shot and killed the plane's pilot as he was descending by parachute, the Kremlin added. The plane's co-pilot survived and was rescued, but a Russian marine was killed by militants during the rescue mission near the border.

Erdogan spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, said, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency, that the Turkish leader expressed his deep regret: "In the letter, the president stated that he would like to inform the family of the deceased Russian pilot that I share their pain and to offer my condolences to them. May they excuse us."

Turkey had previously claimed two of its F-16s shot down the Russian Su-24 bomber because it violated Turkish airspace near the Syrian border and failed to heed warnings to turn around. The co-pilot told Russian media he never received such warnings.

The Russians responded by halting package tours to Turkey, banning most agricultural imports from Turkey and introducing other measures restricting bilateral trade. Before the plane's downing, Russia had been the largest destination for Turkish exports, mostly textile and food, and also the biggest source of Turkish imports.

The downing of the plane reflected simmering tensions between Russia and Turkey, which had backed opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. Russia's air campaign, which began in September, helped shore up Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose foes have been backed by Turkey.

Lifting the crippling restrictions was essential for Erdogan, who has found himself under pressure both at home and abroad. Since the incident, Erdogan and his ministers have continuously spoken in favor of normalizing ties with Moscow, but Putin made it clear that he expected a formal apology and a compensation of damage.

Erdogan's office also said that the Turkish leader called on Putin to restore the traditional friendly relations between Turkey and Russia and work together to address regional crises and jointly combat terrorism

"We are pleased to announce that Turkey and Russia have agreed to take necessary steps without delay to improve bilateral relations," Erdogan spokesman Kalin said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/06/27/russia-turkish-president-sorry-for-shoot-down-russian-military-jet.html

[Yervant1]

Turkish tanks roll into northern Syria in assault on IS

12:40, 24 Aug 2016
Siranush Ghazanchyan

Heavy shelling of so-called Islamic State positions has marked the start of a Turkish offensive to drive the militants away from the Syrian border, teh BBC reports.

Military sources told Turkish media 70 targets in the Jarablus area had been destroyed by artillery and rocket strikes, and 12 by air strikes.

Turkish tanks are now reported to have crossed into Syria.

The operation is aimed in part at pre-empting any move by Syrian Kurds to establish themselves on the border.

Turkish special forces are already inside Syria as part of the offensive.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37171995

http://www.armradio.am/en/2016/08/24/turkish-tanks-roll-into-northern-syria-in-assault-on-is/

[Yervant1]

Syria operation: Turkey has everything at stake - Levon Hovsepyan

14:10 • 25.08.16

In an interview with Tert.am, expert in Turkic studies Levon Hovsepyan commented on the Jarablus operation by the Turkish Armed Forces and military actions against Kurds.

According to him, Turkey has “set everything at stake,” and further operations in Syria depend on the U.S. position.

“Turkey has actually intruded into Syria, and operations are now under way in northern Syria. It has proved an opportunity for Turkey to carry out its plans and take advantage of the current geopolitical situation. Turkey can be said to have set everything a stake and the process depends on the United State’s attitude to Turkey’s actions because Turkey’s aim is not the Islamic State at all. Rather, it is Kurdish autonomy and Turkey seeking control over a certain part of northern Syria,” Mr Hovsepyan said.

As to whether Turkey plans a large-scale military operation and what further developments should be expected, the expert said that everything depends on the key actors’ attitude, particularly, on the USA’s attitude to Turkey’s step.

“I think we should expect serious developments in turkey, in its foreign policy and around it in the near future,” Mr Hovsepyan said.

As to the extent NATO member-state Turkey carrying out a military operation in independent Syria is put down to NATO and any supervision mechanisms existing, and whether it is NATO forces that have crossed Syria’s border, Mr Hovsepyan said that as a NATO member-state Turkey can carry out independent military operations.

“Another question is that, under the Washington agreement, NATO has commitments to ensure its own security. However, in this particular case, NATO has no commitments should Turkey launch an independent operation because it is not an aggression against a NATO member-state. It is a largely independent operation,” the expert said.

“Of course, in the context of operations against the Islamic state, Turkey’s actions are part of the actions by the US-led coalition. By and large, however, Turkey will carry out its actions in northern Syria to cut off ways to formation of Kurdish autonomy and of a Kurdish corridor.”

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2016/08/25/levon-hovsepyan/2114323

[Yervant1]

Commentary

Turkey Conspired with ISIS

In its Deceptive Invasion of Syria

By Harut Sassounian

Publisher, The California Courier

www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

Syria has been the hub of shifting international military and political intrigues since the start of the ‘civil war’ in 2011. The diverse conflicting sides include: Hezbollah, Iran, Islamic State (ISIS), Israel, Jordan, Kurdish fighters, Lebanon, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, assorted terrorists from around the world, Syria, Syrian opposition groups, Turkey, the United States, and other NATO states.

The latest ominous development is the Turkish invasion of the Syrian border town Jarablus, which had been occupied by ISIS. However, contrary to Turkish propaganda, Turkey’s military did not invade Syria to chase out ISIS, and the U.S. Air Force did not drop any bombs on Jarablus to pave the way for the advancing Turkish troops, according to David Phillips, Director of the Program on Peace-Building and Rights at Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights. Phillips had served as a Senior Adviser and Foreign Affairs Expert to the U.S. Department of State under Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama.

Turkey’s actual plans were to prevent further inroads into North-West Syria by Kurdish YPG fighters (People’s Protection Forces) who have been the most reliable military allies of the United States in countering ISIS, while Erdogan calls the YPG 'terrorists'.

Phillips revealed in his Huffington Post article that “Turkish-backed Islamists never engaged ISIS in the so-called battle for Jarablus. Before invading, Ankara made a deal with the Islamic State. Rather than resist, ISIS forces simply changed into FSA [Free Syrian Army] uniforms. Jarablus was ‘liberated’ from ISIS with barely a shot.” ISIS had evacuated all civilians from Jarablus prior to the Turkish invasion because it did not “want civilians to identify newly clad FSA members as hard core ISIS fighters,” Phillips wrote.

“It is not surprising that Erdogan and ISIS made a deal. ISIS and Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) are ideologically aligned,” Phillips asserted, since “they are both branches of the Muslim Brotherhood. Despite official denials, there is a mountain of evidence that Turkey provided weapons, money, and logistical support to Islamists in Syria beginning in 2014. Turkey also underwrote the Islamic State by transporting its oil and selling it on the international market. About 500 Islamist fighters are still transiting from Turkey to Syria each month.”

Turkish leaders have made no secret of their true aim. Erdogan announced that his objective is to go after YPG and “terror groups that threaten our country.” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu pledged that Ankara would “do what is necessary” to keep the Kurdish fighters away from the Turkish border.

Washington is not pleased with Turkey’s misdirected military actions in Northern Syria. Senior Pentagon official Brett McGurk told CNN that “the Turks never cared about Jarablus until the Kurds wanted to get there.” McGurk called the Turkish attacks on Kurdish fighters “unacceptable and a source of deep concern” for the United States.

The Editor of Veterans Today was also highly critical of the Turkish invasion of Syria as reflected in his cynical explanation: “Turkish troops who had been in Syria for years dressed up as ‘ISIS’ have simply gone home to Turkey, had a good wash and shave, put back on their Turkish uniforms then returned to Syria.”

Saadeddine Somaa, a Syrian Arab militant who joined the Turkish incursion into Syria, expressed to The New York Times his disappointment for being misled into fighting the Kurds instead of ISIS and the Syrian government. “Everyone is pursuing their own interests, not Syria’s,” Somaa complained.

The New York Times article stressed that due to in-fighting, the rebel groups “risk reinforcing criticism that they are Turkish and American proxies at best, de facto allies of ISIS at worst.” Furthermore, “Turkish airstrikes had killed 35 civilians in Kurdish-held villages. And there was a video online showing rebels kicking prisoners from the Kurdish-led militias.” Some of the fighters accompanying the Turkish troops’ incursion into Syria, such as members of Nooredine al-Zinki, “were accused of having ties to Qaeda-linked groups” and were “widely condemned when a group of its fighters videotaped themselves beheading a young prisoner…. Its participation in the Jarablus operation was an indication that it has not been completely shunned, at least by Turkey.”

David Phillips ended his revealing Huffington Post article with an ominous prediction: “Syria will be Erdogan’s Waterloo. The U.S. Government must not be tethered to Turkey’s sinking ship.”