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Syrian Arab Army along with it's allies have liberated another section of Syria from crusader coalition backed terrorists.

Translation: the Syrian people in that area surrendered after being gassed, so the government staged a few photoshoots.

Originally Posted by OhOh

https://sana.sy/en/?p=134412

...at last, an unbiased source:

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

surrendered after being gassed

One presumes you have the evidence of your allegation at hand to share with us?

Originally Posted by tomcat

...at last, an unbiased source:

I agree some of these "announcements" have failed or been reversed in the past.

When the retreat is actually happening, as yet only "words", the evidence will be televised by the Syrian/Russian police, as in the past.

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More good news for the citizens of Syria, more dancing in the street soon. Negotiations rather than 100+ missiles. Some foreigners know how to reach a peaceful outcome it seems.


"BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:20 A.M.) – The rebels in the eastern Qalamoun region of Damascus have agreed to turn in their heavy weapons and to leave this area after a successful round of talks with the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and Russian Reconciliation Centre.
According to the agreement, the rebel forces in the key town of Dumayr will begin leaving for northern Syria in the 48 hours.


The remaining rebels in the nearby towns of Al-Nassiriyah, Rahebah, and Jayroud are negotiating with the government currenty, but they are expected to accept the agreement as well.


The rebel factions currently present in this part of the Qalamoun Mountains are the following: Ahmad Al-‘Abdo Brigade and and Jaysh Thuwar Al-Sham of the Free Syrian Army (FSA)."

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article...east-damascus/

Duplicate

Two Asian perspectives on the recent illegal attack on Syria.

The first from an ex-Indian Ambassador.

He ends with the possible sale of the Russain S300 SAM systems to Syria and also the position if Iran received the same. If Russia has renewed the usage of Iranian Airfields for it's military planes and the stationing of Russian manned S300 SAM systems for protection, this ME game changer may have already happened.

Trump opens a Pandora’s box in Middle East

There is no triumphalism in the US, Britain or France over the missile strike in Syria on Friday. The mood is rather defensive. Indeed, evidence is still lacking on the alleged chemical attacks in Douma, which was the alibi for the missile strike. There are no tall claims, either, as regards the effectiveness of the missile strike in military terms.


On the contrary, Damascus is in upbeat mood. April 14 has been declared a day of celebrations. After all, the Syrian forces single-handedly faced the Western assault. The Russian reports underscore that Syrian air defence system was highly effective. The Defence Ministry said in Moscow on Saturday that there haven’t been any Syrian casualty. Moscow attests that the Syrians shot down as many as 71 missiles out of the total 103 fired by the US, UK and France. Neither Washington nor London and Paris has so far contradicted the Russian assessment.

President Donald Trump is the solitary voice crowing about the missile attack. He tweeted bombastically:

• So proud of our great Military which will soon be, after the spending of fully approved dollars, the finest that our Country has ever had. There won’t be anything, or anyone, even close!

But Trump was grandstanding in front of the domestic audience and avoided making any specific claims about the success of the strike by his “smart” missiles. In sum, this has been a theatrical show.

The military balance in Syria now comes into play. For the Syrian regime, this is baptism under fire. Only recently, the Syrians had shot down an Israeli jet. Now they have scored 70% hit on Friday.

The Syrians are equipped with Soviet-era air defence systems developed in the 1960s. What if the Russians upgrade the systems? This is exactly what the head of Russian General Staff’s Main Operations Directorate Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoi hinted in Moscow on Saturday:

“A few years ago, taking into account a pressing request from some of our partners, we abandoned the supplies of the S-300 missile systems to Syria. Considering the latest developments, we deem it possible to get back to discussing this issue, not only in relation to Syria, but to other countries as well.”

No doubt, it will be a game changer if Russia equips the Syrian army with deterrent power to inflict unaffordable costs on potential aggressors. Iran has shown how such a strategy can work when it helped the Hezbollah in Lebanon to acquire deterrence against Israel.

In fact, Jerusalem Post newspaper has highlighted the Russian general’s remark. The paper notes that if Moscow carries out the threat, “Israel’s air superiority is at risk of being challenged in one of its most difficult arenas… And it could be just a matter of time before an Israeli pilot is killed.” The JP report adds,

• Syrian air defenses are largely Soviet-era systems, comprised of SA-2s, SA-5s and SA-6s, as well as more sophisticated tactical surface-to-air missiles such as the SA-17 and SA-22 systems. The most up-to-date system that Moscow has supplied to the Syrian regime is the short range Pantsir S-1, which has shot down drones and missiles that have flown over Syria.
• The advanced S-300 would be a major upgrade to Syrian air defenses and pose a threat to Israeli jets as the long-range missile defense system can track objects like aircraft and ballistic missiles over a range of 300 kilometers.
• The system’s engagement radar, which can guide up to 12 missiles simultaneously, helps guide the missiles toward the target. With two missiles per target, each launcher vehicle can engage up to six targets at once.

Col.-Gen. Rudskoi chose his words carefully by hinting that Russia could also supply countries other than Syria (eg., Venezuela, North Korea, Lebanon, Iraq, etc.) The remark stems from President Vladimir Putin’s hugely significant statement on Saturday regarding US attack on Syria when he said, inter alia: “The current escalation around Syria is destructive for the entire system of international relations. History will set things right…”

Trump’s impetuosity to attack Syria is in defiance of the international system and it may open a Pandora’s box. Ironically, Israel, as “frontline state”, has the highest stakes if the unwritten understanding between the US and Russia unravels. (Moscow had collaborated with the Barack Obama administration and Israel to slow down the supply of S-300 missiles to Iran.) Equally, Turkey will have to think twice before venturing into further land grab in Syria if Damascus regains control of its air space.

The Israeli think tank The Institute for National Security Studies had done a very informative paper in 2013 entitled Syria, Russia, and the S-300: Military and Technical Background. Read it here.


Trump opens a Pandora?s box in Middle East ? Indian Punchline


The second from Global Times, a Chinese "official" newspaper.

Reckless strike on Syria a shameless act


"Source:Global Times Published: 2018/4/15 2240

---

After US, British and French forces launched over 100 missiles at Syria, Washington quickly stated that it was satisfied with the effectiveness of the strike. US President Donald Trump tweeted "Mission Accomplished!" Will there be more military actions on Syria? The US said that will depend on whether Bashar al-Assad's regime will use more chemical weapons in the future.

According to these signals from Washington, most observers believe that this round of strikes against Syria by the US and its allies have come to an end. They have not actually weakened Syrian government forces or hurt Russia's military presence in Syria, but they conveyed a warning that Trump dares to strike.

As for what Trump wants in Syria, many people are confused. Does he really want to stop the Syrian government forces from using chemical weapons? In that case, it's simple, because there is no need at all for the nation's government forces, which already control the situation in Syria's battlefield, to use chemical weapons.

Using chemical weapons would only attract condemnation and attacks from the outside world. Hence, Assad's government has sufficient reason as it claims to keep away from chemical weapons.

Was Trump trying to turn the tables on the Syrian battlefield, where government forces are scoring victories while opposition forces are shrinking? Then 100 missiles are far from enough.

Was Washington attempting to humiliate Russia? Undoubtedly it embarrassed Moscow, but the strike avoided the region where Russian troops are stationed and the US issued a signal to stop the strike immediately afterward. Apparently, Washington restrained itself so as not to push the Kremlin into a corner and escalate the conflict.

Perhaps even Trump and his team have no clue what they want to do in Syria. They may want to showcase the might of the US and the West, send a warning to their potential opponents and boost the unity of the West. Washington may feel that it is no big deal to beat Syria up.

But the US severely underestimated the negative consequences of its reckless military action. It will inevitably stimulate hatred and make many countries and forces believe that the ultimate way to resolve conflicts and disputes can only be the use of force.

It can be foreseen that the military strike on Syria will have a negative impact on the upcoming talks between the two Koreas and the Trump-Kim summit.

One of the major characteristics of the Trump administration's diplomacy is wilfulness and recklessness, as if the all-mighty US has the right to do everything.

However, the stronger a country is, the greater the responsibility it has to maintain world peace and order. The military actions of the US and its allies have breached the framework of the United Nations and violated the foundation of modern international relations. If the will of Washington and the West represents the will of all mankind and they can punish whoever they want, why do we need the UN, or international law?

Without UN authorization, the US, UK and France behaved like rogues. No matter how touching the excuses they find for themselves, they cannot change the fact that they were lynching Syria without due evidence.

It is worrying that the US may disturb Syria with yet more missiles from time to time, throwing yet more salt on an open wound of a country. "

Reckless strike on Syria a shameless act - Global Times

(Trump is innocent, he was misled.)
Macron: France persuaded Trump to strike in Syria

PARIS — France persuaded President Trump to stay in Syria and launch airstrikes as punishment for an alleged chemical weapons attack, French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday.

Appearing in a two-hour live broadcast on French television BFM and online investigative site Mediapart, the 40-year-old leader said the U.S., Britain and France had “full international legitimacy to intervene” in order to enforce international humanitarian law.

“Ten days ago President Trump wanted the United States of America to withdraw from Syria. We convinced him to remain,” he said, speaking in the majestic room of Chaillot National Theater, with the Eiffel Tower shining in the background.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ria/518960002/

How generous from Macron "to enforce international humanitarian law", despite his own problems:

Meanwhile, train workers have launched on-and-off strikes over a railway labor-reform plan, disrupting traffic nationwide.

On Saturday, 63 people were arrested and nine police officers injured during protests in the cities of Nantes and Montpellier. Other marches across France were largely peaceful.

Last week, Macron promised on national television that he would push ahead with railway labor reforms and other divisive plans — despite criticism — “because the world around us is speeding up.”

Neither Washington nor London and Paris has so far contradicted the Russian assessment.

Horseshit.

The Assad Regime fired 40 defensive missiles at thin air in a fTailed attempt to save the three Syrian chemical weapons sites destroyed by allied air strikes, the Pentagon said.
A total of 105 missiles rained down on a research centre in Damascus as well as a storage site and a bunker 15 miles west of Homs at 4am Syrian time.
Britain launched eight Storm Shadow cruise missiles from the sky as the US and France provided support from the sea and jets.
France fired 12 cruise missiles, three from a frigate and nine from aircraft, while the US provided the bulk of the firepower with 85 missiles in total.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...ed-us-britain/

Originally Posted by Klondyke

How generous from Macron "to enforce international humanitarian law", despite his own problems:

...because a train strike and a gas bombing are obvious equivalents...

Originally Posted by tomcat

...because a train strike and a gas bombing are obvious equivalents...

He is not very smart you know....and Engrish is not a language he can speak...

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Neither Washington nor London and Paris has so far contradicted the Russian assessment.
Horseshit.

Officially, a government minister etc. 'arry.

Not some unsourced propaganda piece in a tory rag.

Originally Posted by OhOh

Officially, a government minister

...heartwarming to see your faith in government ministers...

Originally Posted by OhOh

Officially, a government minister etc. 'arry.

Not some unsourced propaganda piece in a tory rag.

Do you think trying to nitpick in some way bolsters your feeble arguments or hides your lies?

It doesn't. It just makes you a waffler.

Addressing the media in Virginia, Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr, the director of joint staff, said....

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Addressing the media in Virginia, Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr, the director of joint staff, said....

I'm amused you believe people actually read your shite links. If it's not here and clear, Oh dear.

Originally Posted by OhOh

I'm amused you believe people actually read your shite links. If it's not here and clear, Oh dear.

Well I know the Putin girls choir doesn't. Russia propaganda or nothing, isn't it?

^But you surely can handle the "truth" by Missile Troika and their Melody Boys, can't you?

Originally Posted by Klondyke

^But you surely can handle the "truth" by Missile Troika and their Melody Boys, can't you?

Ladies, Klondyke wants to join your choir. He's not very good but he tries hard to copy you.

OPCW Fact-Finding Mission Visits Second Site in Douma, Syria





"THE HAGUE, Netherlands — 21 April 2018 —The Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) team of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) visited one of the sites in Douma, Syrian Arab Republic today to collect samples for analysis in connection with allegations of chemical weapons use on 7 April 2018. The OPCW will evaluate the situation and consider future steps including another possible visit to Douma.



The samples collected will be transported to the OPCW Laboratory in Rijswijk and then dispatched for analysis to the OPCW’s designated labs. Based on the analysis of the sample results as well other information and materials collected by the team, the FFM will compile their report for submission to the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention for their consideration."

One hope there are no "additions" to the samples this time. For security or any other purposes. On also assumes Syria has received the same sealed samples for it's own analysis. As ameristan and it's vassals, destroyed the Syrian lab, they will have to be analysed elsewhere; where oh where will they chose, Russia or China?

Originally Posted by OhOh

One hope there are no "additions" to the samples this time. For security or any other purposes. On also assumes Syria has received the same sealed samples for it's own analysis. As ameristan and it's vassals, destroyed the Syrian lab, they will have to be analysed elsewhere; where oh where will they chose, Russia or China?

Waffle Waffle.

Syrian army, Islamic State wage fierce battle in south Damascus

Reuters Staff
3 MIN READ

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian army and its allies engaged in a fierce battle on Saturday with Islamic State fighters in an enclave south of Damascus held by the jihadist group.

Reuters witnesses, a war monitor and state television reported intense fighting including artillery bombardment and small arms fire.

The army had made broad advances, said state television. The monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said it had gained control of several buildings in the densely built-up area.

Footage on state TV showed tanks rolling across an open area of fields to the edge of the enclave, which includes parts of al-Qadam district, al-Hajar al-Aswad and the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp.

It showed uniformed soldiers moving through battered streets with dense clouds of black smoke overhead, while the whizz and crash of artillery fire, the rattle of small arms fire and deep echoing blasts could all be heard.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad this month defeated rebels in their biggest stronghold near Damascus in eastern Ghouta, and has since then focussed on ending resistance in several smaller pockets near the Syrian capital.

Islamic State lost most of its territory in Syria last year in the face of two rapid offensives, one by the Syrian army backed by Russia and Iran, and the other by an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias backed by the United States.

It has held onto some areas of desert in eastern Syria, as well as to the pocket in south Damascus and one other area by the borders with Jordan and Israel which is held by a group that has pledged allegiance to it.

Russia’s entry into the war in 2015 has propelled Assad to a succession of victories that have dashed any rebel hopes of ousting him militarily, but rebel groups still hold large swathes of northwest and southwest Syria.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday after meeting in Moscow with his counterparts from Turkey and Iran that the three countries need to help Syria’s government clear its country of terrorists.

Turkish Foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu meanwhile said Russia, Iran and Turkey needed to work with the United Nations to ensure the legitimacy of any political solution in Syria as any military solution would be illegal and unsustainable.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mi...HZ0LV?rpc=401&

I wonder if the Palestinians from the Yarmouk refugee camp will assist the Syrian army.

Originally Posted by Neverna

I wonder if the Palestinians from the Yarmouk refugee camp will assist the Syrian army.

If it is indeed Islamic State I would imagine they will be too busy dodging bullets.