Syrian army reinforced close to front with Turkish-backed forces
"BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian government troops backed by Russian forces have sent extra troops toward the city of Manbij in coordination with the militia that controls it, a militia spokesman said, as Turkish-backed Syrian rebels said they were preparing to attack it. The deployment was coordinated with the U.S.-backed militia in Manbij, the spokesman for the Manbij Military Council said.
It is part of the wider buildup of forces in the area.
“The battle will soon start,” Major Youssef Hamoud, spokesman for the National Army, the main Turkish-backed rebel force in the area, told Reuters.
“What we see on the front now is reinforcements to all forces to reach full preparedness for the battle.”
President Donald Trump’s plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria has triggered alarm among the largely Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
They have partnered with Washington in the war against Islamic State and now fear the U.S. move will open the way for Turkey to launch a long-threatened attack against them.
“The Russian army has restored the Syrian-Russian coordination center to Arima village to the west of Manbij city, after its withdrawal from there a while ago,” said Sharfan Darwish, the spokesman for the Manbij Military Council.
Manbij was seized in 2016 from Islamic State by Syrian militia allied to the SDF, which control roughly a quarter of Syria. Its capture was a milestone in the U.S.-backed campaign against Islamic State.
In June, the United States and Turkey reached an agreement that would see the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia ousted from the town, but Turkey says its implementation has been delayed. In November Turkish and U.S. troops began joint patrols in the region.
Turkey is determined to cross to the east of the Euphrates river in northern Syria as soon as possible, Ankara’s foreign minister was quoted as saying on Tuesday.
Ankara regards the YPG as terrorists and has been infuriated by U.S. support for the group in the fight against Islamic State.
Trump’s abrupt decision to pull troops out of Syria has handed the fight against Islamic State over to Turkey - and effectively given Ankara the green light to push into remaining Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria."
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-m...-idUSKCN1OP0P2
The Turks to the left, the SAA/Russians to the right, the local council in the middle, all "co-ordinated by ameristan, what could possibly go wrong!
Last edited by OhOh; 26-12-2018 at 10:15 PM.
A tray full of GOLD is not worth a moment in time.
ISIS backed by the US etc are dead and buried. It's why the "Norway girls beheaded by ISIS" bullshit story is not running like it would have in the past. Media staying well clear of it rather than banging the ISIS WE MUST GET RID OF ASSAD drum they have been banging for years.
Might be one more Al Qeaeda White Helmets faked chemical attack in its death throws but soon all these head chopping terrorists will be back home in the west ready to be relabelled as a new bogey man to scare people with.
Thread closed.
Perhaps will not close so easily. There are rumours that the White Helmets are transferred to Ukraine's East (where the rebel provinces are) where they unload suspicious barrels.
After all, they will be on hand - as usually - when rescuing the kids poisoned by the dangerous Mr. Putin...
Ahh yes - very valid point. They are a useful propaganda construct for the axis of evil. I wonder is Harry has a White Helmets t Shirt?
Allegedly the SAA were invited into Menbej/Manbij, NE of Allepo, by the local politicians. After the ameristanis and others left the city.
Army General Command announces entry of Syrian Arab army units to Menbej city, Syrian flag is hoisted
"Damascus, SANA – The General Command of the Army and Armed Forces said Friday said that stemming from the complete commitment of the Syrian Army in assuming its responsibilities to impose sovereignty to each inch of the Syrian territories and in response to calls of locals of Menbej city, the General Command of the Army and Armed Forces announces the entry of units of Syrian Arab Army to Menbej city and the hoisting of the Syrian Arab flag.
The command added that by highlighting the importance of concerting efforts of all the Syrian people in preserving the national sovereignty, it reiterates insistence on smashing terrorism and expelling the invaders and occupiers out of the Syrian soil, as the Syrian Arab Army is to guarantee safety of all the Syrian citizens and the others who are in that region.
Rasha Milhem
https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=154515
https://www.rt.com/news/447589-russia-turkey-meeting-manbij/
https://southfront.org/ypg-surrender...ial-statement/
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mi...-idUKKCN1OR0N3
Last edited by OhOh; 28-12-2018 at 10:25 PM.
^ The Americans are saying that the Syrian army has not entered the city centre, only the outskirts of the city. Some American military men are still there in Manbij apparently.
Allegedly goldilocks was afraid to step on Iraqi soil during his Christmas "tour".
The Syrian army enters Manbij as Trump follows through on withdrawal: Iraq is next
Safely in an underground bunker.
"The US presidential plane landed in the darkness of the Iraqi military base of Ayn al-Assad in west Anbar with Donald Trump onboard. But by the time his plane took off three hours later, Trump left behind a protocol-political-parliamentary storm in Mesopotamia as Iraqi members of parliament requested the departure of the 5200 US forces from the country.
None of the three Iraqi leaders (Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, Speaker Mohammad al-Halbusi, President Barham Salih) came to receive Trump as all three rejected US conditions for such a meeting. Trump seems determined to leave Syria without interfering with who will control the territory behind him: this morning the Syrian Army entered the outskirt of the city of Manbij following a deal between Kurdish leaders and the government of Damascus. Will he also end up leaving Iraq before the end of his term in January 2021?
In preparation for Trump’s visit, Iraqi prime minister Adel Abdel Mahdi was asked to meet the US president. He agreed to meet Trump either in Baghdad, on Iraqi soil, or at the Ayn al-Assad military base, on the Iraqi side of the base; Iraqi national security forces and army units are present at the same base where US forces are deployed, in a separate part of the base. To have met on the US-controlled part of the Iraqi-US base would have made Abdel Mahdi appear as an invited guest in his own country.
A few hours before Trump’s arrival, US Ambassador Douglas Silliman told Abdel Mahdithat Trump would receive him in the US part of the base. Trump refused to visit Baghdad for a quick reception; neither would he even cross over to the Iraqi side of Ayn al-Assad, for security reasons. Abdel Mahdi refused the US invitation, as did the Iraqi president and speaker. All three politicians have risen in public esteem for having refused the US invitation.
Trump’s disregard for protocol when landing in a sovereign foreign country has infuriated local politicians, heads of organisations and members of parliament. They felt insulted and have called for the withdrawal of US forces from the country. Others threatened to force US troops out of the country.
Qais al-Khaz’ali, the head of a parliamentary coalition and leader of “Asaeb Ahl al-haq” (responsible for killing US soldiers during their occupation of Iraq between 2003 and 2011), said “Iraq will respond (to the Trump insult) through a parliamentary demand that you pull out your troops and if you don’t leave, we have the (warfare) experience to force you out”.
Tension was increased by Trump’s announcement that he plans to keep his forces in Iraq and may return to Syria from the Iraqi base. “Hezbollah Iraq” responded immediately by pledging to “cut the hand that will hit Syria from Iraqi bases”.
The US president seems prepared to keep his promise to withdraw from Syria, at least in the case of Manbij. The US announced an “organised exit”, meaning withdrawal in coordination with Turkey so that Ankara’s forces could replace withdrawing US troops. Turkey has been preparing to enter Manbij and Tal Abiad by gathering thousands of forces and proxies standing at the borders of the Syrian province. Nevertheless, the deal reached on Thursday night between the Syrian government and the YPG Kurds gave the green light to the 1stand 5thdivisions of the Syrian army to take back Manbij (still on the outskirt) and raise Russian and Syrian flags over the city. This development is blocking the road for Turkey and its proxies to move into the province. The decision was communicated to Turkey via Russia.
Moscow is standing in the way of any change of power on the ground, refusing Turkey control of more Syrian territory not already included in the “Astana deal”, which conceded Turkey temporary jurisdiction in the region of Idlib. Russia believes there should be a natural handover of the Kurdish-controlled areas to the Syrian Army following US withdrawal.
Damascus and Tehran are adamant in this case: only Syrian forces should replace US troops in al-Hasaka province.
Moreover, Damascus forces are still based in Qamishli and can easily take over control of all positions when the US withdraw its occupation forces from northeastern Syria. Already there are observation points (villages) under the control of the Syrian Army, some with Russian observers, in different villages around Manbij. These represent a clear message to Ankara that no troops can cross without Russian agreement, otherwise they will be bombed and attacked. The control of Manbij is a game changer and a clear indication that the government of Damascus will take control of al-Hasaka province to concentrate later on Idlib, after the US withdrawal, with the help of Moscow.
Russia has called for an important meeting between presidential envoys, Foreign and Defence ministers and heads of intelligence services of both Russia and Turkey this Saturday in Moscow to talk about the US withdrawal and the role of each side. Another meeting (not yet final) is scheduled between Turkey, Russia and Iran in Moscow in a few weeks. The aim is to prevent any split between these leaders that could be triggered by the US withdrawal from occupied Syria.
Damascus rejected the presence of the local Kurdish administration on its side and agreed to disarm the Kurds, a Turkish and Syrian request, after defeating ISIS.I
ndeed, the Kurds will help the Syrian army fight ISIS along the Euphrates river where a battle is expected to begin soon to end ISIS control of the area. As ISIS no longer enjoys US protection, the end of its occupation of a part of Syrian territory is near.
During negotiations with Russia, Turkey argued that the US might not allow the Syrian forces to move in. Turkey claimed that any changes to the deal established between Trump and Erdogan might alter the US decision to withdraw. Damascus and Tehran are indeed eager to see US troops gone from Syria, but not to deliver the area to Turkey. Russia supported Damascus on this position."
YPG statement: https://twitter.com/DefenseUnits/sta...73294402588672
Ankara was indeed afraid that its unilateral decision to move into the Kurdish controlled area might trigger Russian intervention against its proxies (Euphrates Sheild, Jaish al-Islam, al-Hamza brigade, Ahrar al-Sharqiya and others), and might also lead Iranians to arm the Kurds and the Arab tribes in the province to prevent any further annexation of Syrian territory. The Turkish forces and their proxies currently occupying Jarablus, al-Bab, Afrin and Idlib, are unwilling to engage in a doomed war against the Syrian army, supported by Russia and Iran.
Turkey seems willing to accommodate Russia and Iran – the Turkish army and its Syrian proxies will never be able to cross the 500 kilometres from Manbij to Deir-ezzour where the richest area of oil and gas is. This area is only tens of kilometres distant from the closest Syrian Army position on the other side of the Euphrates river.
Russia asked Damascus and Tehran to lay down a strategy and coordinate with the Russian military to put forward a plan of action and a road map after US withdrawal, with the first priority of eliminating ISIS and avoiding any clash with Turkey if possible. The situation was very sensitive and complicated between these allies. With the return of Manbij, the situation seems to favour Syrian unity, marking the end of its partition or of any possible buffer zone.
Tehran believes the US won’t permanently leave the Levant and Mesopotamia without leaving unrest behind. This gives its officials an additional motivation to lobby the Iraqi parliament for a US withdrawal from Iraq.
There is no doubt that Iraq is a close ally of Iran and not a fanatic supporter of the US. The Iraqi parliament can exert pressure over the government of Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi to ask President Trump to pull out US troops before the end of his mandate in 2020. The US establishment and the “Axis of the Resistance” can both connive and plan, but the last word will belong to the people of Iraq and to those who reject US hegemony in the Middle East, those who can accept losses and nurse their wounds in hopes of a better future.
https://ejmagnier.com/2018/12/28/the...-iraq-is-next/
Constant, persistent talking and deal making wins the day/year.
January 2018:
January 2019:
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2018/1...year-2018.html
Syria’s Assad authorizes Iraqi forces to strike IS in Syria
"
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad authorized Iraqi forces on Sunday to attack the Islamic State group inside Syria without waiting for permission from authorities in Damascus, the state news agency SANA said, as the two allies coordinate their fight against extremists ahead of a planned U.S. withdrawal from Syria.
The announcement highlights the close relations between the two neighboring Arab countries that are both allied with Iran. IS once controlled large parts of both countries when it declared a caliphate in 2014.
Iraqi warplanes and artillery have in the past pounded IS positions inside Syria after getting the green light from Syrian authorities.
The extremists have been defeated in Iraq but still hold a small area in Syria close to the Iraqi border.
On Saturday Assad received a letter from Iraq’s Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi calling for both countries’ coordination in “fighting terrorism.”"
https://apnews.com/168b04e1c2fe4f3fa1b3a599a6b7b9ca
Last edited by OhOh; 01-01-2019 at 01:01 PM.
So, what else id news? The Turks have been arbitrarily murdering the Kurds, since long before the end of the Ottoman Empire.
Have the so-called Yankee "good guys" ever stood-up (just once) and "publically" condemned/intervened, on behalf of the Kurdish people? That's a rhetorical question,...of course...
Syria: Assad has decisively won his brutal battle
"This year is ending on a note of triumph for the regime of Bashar al-Assad. Donald Trump has announced a rapid troop withdrawal from Syria, shocking everyone including his own generals and diplomats. Last week, the United Arab Emirates reopened its embassy in Damascus, which it had closed as part of a campaign of multinational pressure against the regime in 2011. Bahrain followed suit and other countries, including Kuwait, are expected to re-establish ties in the coming year. The Arab League is reportedly poised to re-admit Syria, seven years after expelling it."
.................................................. ..........
https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...rump-us-troops
A new year update from Vanessa Beeley.
The Turks had best be grateful, that the likes of a "Saladin" -(1137/1138–1193) was a Muslim military and political leader,...
who,...as sultan (or leader) led Islamic forces, against Christian invaders, during the period of the Crusades,...is not a living entity today.
In addition,...I have yet to hear of any Syrians referring to themselves as being Arabs. The term "Syrian" Arab is a total misnomer. Sigh...
Kurds Make ‘Secret Offer’ to Damascus
"The top commander of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), Sipan Hemo, has recently visited Damascus and Moscow to make a “secret offer” on the group’s approval to hand over the border area with Turkey to the “Syrian State” in exchange for forming a local administration under Russian guarantees, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday.
The sources said the YPG is aiming to strike a deal on “filling the gap” following the US decision to withdraw from Syria, and to also cut off any Turkish interference in the north and northeast of Syria.
Days after US President Donald Trump’s decision more than two weeks ago to pull US forces out of Syria, Hemo traveled to the Russian military base in Hmeimim, then held a secret meeting in Damascus with Syrian intelligence chief Ali Mamlouk and Defense Minister Gen Ali Abdullah Ayoub, in the presence of a Russian military delegation, the sources told the newspaper.
Also, on Dec. 29, while a high-ranking Turkish delegation, led by Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Moscow, Hemo met with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov in the Russian capital.
The YPG stressed in its message to Damascus the need to avoid repeating the mistake committed in Syria’s Afrin.
The Kurds had lost control of the northwest canton of Afrin after an assault by the Turkish military and its proxy fighters.
The Kurdish group expressed willingness to hand over the border area of east Syria to Bashar Assad’s forces and allow the “Syrian State” to have sovereignty there.
The YPG’s offer came as the US administration worked on speeding up arrangements for the withdrawal of its troops from Syria.
Washington is arranging for the visit of White House National Security Adviser John Bolton to the east Euphrates area following talks expected in Ankara next Monday, and before his scheduled trip to Tel Aviv.
https://aawsat.com/english/home/arti...80%99-damascus
That should piss off our Turkish allies.
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