The Levant crisis.(Israel,SYRIA,Lebanon,etc) - II

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 19 Dec 2015 20:17

Not Done: Russia Has 'Far' More in Store for Terrorists in Syria - Dec 19, 2015

Russian has more cutting-edge military capabilities ready for use against terrorist group in Syria, the Russian President said on Saturday.

Russia's military has additional capabilities that it is capable of using against terrorist targets in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday at a Kremlin evening function commemorating Russia's Security Service Employees Day.

"We see how effectively our pilots and intelligence officers work in Syria and how effectively they coordinate their efforts. At that, they are diversified, and the Army, Navy and Aviation use the most modern weapons," Putin said.

"I would like to note that these are by far not all of our capabilities. We have, by far, not used everything of what we already have. We have additional capabilities. If necessary, we will use them too," he added

ldev · Post by **ldev** » 19 Dec 2015 21:37

TSJones wrote:Just as I thought....Muslims parading as Christians.

Whuts next? Putin becomes a US citizen and votes for Trump? A future American-in-Waiting.

TSJ,

For various reasons, minorities including Christians were either protected or left alone under the Middle Eastern dictators i.e. Mubarak, Saddam and both Assads. This article from PBS from back in 2011 is illuminating as it portrays Christians in Egypt, Iraq under Saddam and Assad:

In Syria:

Syria is a minority rule system, with Shia Alawite Muslims — who comprise only a small percentage of the population — wielding the most power, and with the Druze, Ismailis and Christians also playing important roles.

As the rest of the world turns on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is an Alawite, Syria’s Christian population is steadfastly pulling for the dictator – and has for years.

What’s in it for them?

Christians get “very good business contracts, positions in government and the Syrian military,” says Andrew Tabler of The Washington Institute. “They get preferential treatment and protection of their places of worship.”

Because of this, Syria’s Christians have access to scholarships and opportunities to study abroad. It’s not surprising then that this minority plays an outsized role in Syria’s diplomatic life. Syria’s ambassador to France is Lamia Chakkor, a Christian whose father was a senior figure in Syria’s police and whose family ties helped her get the job. (You may remember her as the victim of a hoax resignation on France24 back in July.)

What’s in it for Assad?

For one thing, Syria’s Christians are “some of the most strident supporters of Assad,” according to Tabler. “They’re bridges to other countries and the international community. Assad thinks that helps the broader public perception of his regime.”

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 19 Dec 2015 21:41

no ancient community of Jews or Christians survive in the bosom of America's greatest friend Saudi Arabia.
there were plenty in hejaj and nejd before 700 ad

ldev · Post by **ldev** » 19 Dec 2015 21:47

The Christian community in Syria traces it's roots all the way back to the Bible. The Apostle Paul was converted from being a tormentor of Christians as Saul to being the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. In India, we have a Christian denomination known as "Syrian Christians".

Karan Dixit · Post by **Karan Dixit** » 19 Dec 2015 21:52

Satya_anveshi wrote:Not Done: Russia Has 'Far' More in Store for Terrorists in Syria - Dec 19, 2015

Russian has more cutting-edge military capabilities ready for use against terrorist group in Syria, the Russian President said on Saturday.

Russia's military has additional capabilities that it is capable of using against terrorist targets in Syria, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday at a Kremlin evening function commemorating Russia's Security Service Employees Day.

"We see how effectively our pilots and intelligence officers work in Syria and how effectively they coordinate their efforts. At that, they are diversified, and the Army, Navy and Aviation use the most modern weapons," Putin said.

"I would like to note that these are by far not all of our capabilities. We have, by far, not used everything of what we already have. We have additional capabilities. If necessary, we will use them too," he added

Russia is a long way from finishing the job. They need to stay put and continue with the task of helping Syrians regain their sovereignty.

ldev · Post by **ldev** » 19 Dec 2015 22:12

Reinforces the earlier points I made about Assad having support from minorities. This is reaction from the former British ambassador to Syria on the recent UN deal on Syria:

Putin says Russia ready to increase military role in Syria

The question of whether, when and how the Syrian leader might step down will hang over any attempts to broker long-term peace. The US says he must go, while Russia has doubled down on support for him, sending bombers, weapons and cash to support his troops.

“He’s in control of two-thirds of the populated areas of Syria, he has not been defeated on the battlefield, he has the support of all the minorities, as well as the secular Sunnis,” Peter Ford, former UK ambassador to Syria told the BBC after the deal was agreed.

“Its absurd to think that the Russians have come so far with this process only to throw Assad under the bus; it’s not going to happen.”

ldev · Post by **ldev** » 19 Dec 2015 22:17

And in the meantime, the Saudi 34 nation Sunni coalition is an attempt to get back into the game. Unlike the start of the civil war in Syria the Saudis and other Gulfies have very little leverage. Russia muscled in via its military. Today if the Saudis, UAE, Qatar etc. try to send planes over Syria the Russians will shoot them down. This 34 nation coalition is going nowhere.

rsingh · Post by **rsingh** » 19 Dec 2015 22:36

ldev wrote:Reinforces the earlier points I made about Assad having support from minorities. This is reaction from the former British ambassador to Syria on the recent UN deal on Syria:

Putin says Russia ready to increase military role in Syria

The question of whether, when and how the Syrian leader might step down will hang over any attempts to broker long-term peace. The US says he must go, while Russia has doubled down on support for him, sending bombers, weapons and cash to support his troops.

“He’s in control of two-thirds of the populated areas of Syria, he has not been defeated on the battlefield, he has the support of all the minorities, as well as the secular Sunnis,” Peter Ford, former UK ambassador to Syria told the BBC after the deal was agreed.

“Its absurd to think that the Russians have come so far with this process only to throw Assad under the bus; it’s not going to happen.”

Quite sensible guy. Very rare breed his days.

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 20 Dec 2015 00:57

TSJones wrote:Oh, I'm sure he is.

I think I'll send him a Christmas card.

Take it for what it's worth TSJ, but you're dead wrong on this one. He is secular and he's not a Sunni Muslim. If you have not already read up on this chap and his father may be worth your while. Or just watch the interviews he's given to bbc, Charlie rose, Czech tv, Dutch tv Npo2 etc. he is not a thug. This was a mistake. Erdogan is a much more dangerous person. There's real trouble brewing there, and it's going to land on Americas lap, because Turkey is the second biggest armed force in NATO.

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 20 Dec 2015 01:17

JE Menon wrote:
TSJones wrote:Oh, I'm sure he is.

I think I'll send him a Christmas card.
Take it for what it's worth TSJ, but you're dead wrong on this one. He is secular and he's not a Sunni Muslim. If you have not already read up on this chap and his father may be worth your while. Or just watch the interviews he's given to bbc, Charlie rose, Czech tv, Dutch tv Npo2 etc. he is not a thug. This was a mistake. Erdogan is a much more dangerous person. There's real trouble brewing there, and it's going to land on Americas lap, because Turkey is the second biggest armed force in NATO.

True. My Lebanese Christian friends always used to run to Syria (many Syrian & Lebanese Christians are intermarried) when there was trouble in Lebanon. This time over, it has been the other way. Present Assad is a much nicer guy compared to his daddy (who was ruthless, in comparison).

Sulaiman Assad (present Assad's grandfather) was pleading with the French to give the Alawites a separate coastal state. He wrote in the 1940s, `If you don't give us a separate state, our fate will be worse than that of the Jews.'

For all their sins, Assad family has been very secular. They don't discriminate on religious basis. Which is why there are so many Armenian & other Christians in Syria.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 20 Dec 2015 01:23

Turkey says will continue to move troops from northern Iraqi province

Miscommunicating a Lot Erdogan, Asked Putin

Turkey has acknowledged a "miscommunication" with Iraq over its recent deployment of troops to the Bashiqa military base in northern Iraq, Turkey's foreign ministry said on Saturday.
The ministry said in a statement that Turkey would continue to move some of its troops out of Nineveh province, where the camp is based.Ankara deployed hundreds of troops to Bashiqa in early December, saying the force was part of an international mission to train and equip Iraqi forces to fight Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Baghdad slammed the move, saying it had never invited such a force.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 20 Dec 2015 01:29

http://www.todayszaman.com/columnist/am ... 07409.html
The fiasco that is Turkeystan' Syria policy

Russia's entry into the Syrian theater in September further complicated the matter. Moscow wanted to prevent the toppling of its ally Assad. This destroyed Turkey's goal of getting rid of Assad. Furthermore, the West seems to be increasingly moving towards Russia's desire to maintain Assad “for the time being.” During a meeting held on Dec. 15 with Vladimir Putin, US Secretary of State John Kerry apparently accepted Russia's long-standing demand that Assad's future be determined by his own people, with Washington and Moscow moving towards putting aside years of disagreement over how to end Syria's civil war.Furthermore, Russia's goal of carving out a permanent military position in the west of Syria has killed off Turkey's efforts to create a no-fly zone in northern Syria. While Ankara claimed that such a no-fly zone was important in terms of offering protection to civilians, it was clear that in fact it was more about preventing the Syrian Kurds from moving on any ideas about territorial expansion they may have been harboring. More salt was rubbed into the wound by Russia's efforts to woo the Syrian Kurds, which included providing them with military equipment. This exacerbated Turkey's irritation about the support that the US has given to the People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers a terrorist group but the US considers an ally in the fight against ISIL. The situation deteriorated further following the shooting down of the Russian jet by Turkey on Nov. 24. Russia's deployment of a S-400 missile system near to its air base at Latakia close to the Turkish border has diminished Turkey's ability to act on the ground and in Syria's airspace.
Turkey has also found itself in hot water in Iraq. Turkish troops recently deployed in northern Iraq, apparently as part of an international mission to train and equip Iraqi forces to fight against ISIL, were quickly pulled-back after Baghdad accused Turkey of failing to ask for its permission and of violating its territorial integrity. Turkey's intention seems to have been to try to increase its influence, and possibly even to take steps to take back the ISIL-occupied city of Mosul, in the face of increased Russian and Iranian involvement in Syria and Iraq. The fact that Russia was so quick to voice its concerns to the UN over the Turkish deployment demonstrates that Russia is using its regional allies of Iraq and Iran to further isolate Turkey. Today, discussions for a Syrian settlement are being dominated by Iran and Russia. If Turkey is going to turn this around it will need to completely rethink its approach and so far I do not see much sign of this with the recent announcement that a huge military base for 3,000 troops is to be built in Qatar, Turkey's staunchest regional ally.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 20 Dec 2015 03:32

you wanted a video, here is a video.....

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/watch-coal ... 8238915826

presented by US Army Arabic interpreter hired especially from al Jazeera at great expense to the tax payer ....

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 20 Dec 2015 06:06

For the uninitiated, this can be considered as Israeli view and get a sense of where they stand:

America Falls Into Line With Russia on Syria - Dec 20, 2015
http://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news ... m-1.692559

It is tempting to see Kerry’s position as a capitulation in the face of Russia’s implacable policy of unconditionally supporting Assad, including the deployment of dozens of fighter jets and other forces in Syria

However, at the Pentagon he {Obama} was forced to admit that “we are recognizing that progress needs to keep coming faster. Nobody knows it more than the countless Syrians and people living under the terror, and the people in San Bernardino and Paris and elsewhere who are grieving the loss of their loved ones.”

johneeG · Post by **johneeG** » 20 Dec 2015 07:19

Too good to believe that sense has finally dawned on Amirkhan.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 Dec 2015 07:41

Singha wrote:no ancient community of Jews or Christians survive in the bosom of America's greatest friend Saudi Arabia.
there were plenty in hejaj and nejd before 700 ad

and we all know what the other leader of the sunni world did to the armenian christians and romany. mass graves are still sometimes found in raqqa and deir azzor from that era. some of the american armenians (surnames usually end with -ian like jigarjian) must have fled during that period with shirts on their backs only.

the third leg of the sunni leadership table is TSP itself....after coming down hard on any remaining hindus and sikhs in 1947, it was turn of the ahmedis, and now the shias to be hit.

the only remaining pockets of other religions seemed to be in the shia crescent as we found once the ISIS went after them . before IS nobody outside had a clue to the assyrian christians or yazidis vs the more prominent druze and orthodox christians on the coast.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 20 Dec 2015 08:08

Chinese armed drone in Iraq

Haidar Sumeri ‏@IraqiSecurity now4 hours ago
CH-4 armed drones bought by #Iraq's army aviation from #China.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 20 Dec 2015 08:25

here is over two month old video of Iraqis operating chinese drones:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC51ZiPKdLA

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 Dec 2015 08:32

vs the leaps the chinese are making in drones, including a huge one with diamond perimeter wings for radar coverage, our efforts in the uav space are worse than pathetic - nishant - better kit is available in hobby shops and was never developed and taken forward, rustom1 is a rutan design and is not a product, and rustom2 has achieved no public milestone other than crashing into some coconut trees in kolar.

we are atleast a decade behind cheen and israel in indigenous uav efforts...let alone armed drones.

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 20 Dec 2015 08:38

Armed Drones for Military Use:
That is one area we cannot be lagging behind. Because Russia too has the same weakness, I see that an clear and strategic area of opportunity for both nations to collaborate. Imagine we have a Brahmos level collaboration and success in this area...it would be incredible.

member_29247 · Post by **member_29247** » 20 Dec 2015 08:39

Singha wrote:vs the leaps the chinese are making in drones, including a huge one with diamond perimeter wings for radar coverage, our efforts in the uav space are worse than pathetic - nishant - better kit is available in hobby shops and was never developed and taken forward, rustom1 is a rutan design and is not a product, and rustom2 has achieved no public milestone other than crashing into some coconut trees in kolar.

we are atleast a decade behind cheen and israel in indigenous uav efforts...let alone armed drones.

Not a generation but we have nothing made in India , so it's Zilch

habal · Post by **habal** » 20 Dec 2015 08:46

johneeG wrote:Too good to believe that sense has finally dawned on Amirkhan.

It is strategic positioning before launching into some economic hit-job.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 20 Dec 2015 08:51

From UAV to manned missions. Hard to say which is more effective for ISIS:

Hassan Ridha ‏@sayed_ridha 10 hours ago
#US "helping" #ISF in fight against #IS

Satya_anveshi · Post by **Satya_anveshi** » 20 Dec 2015 09:53

This is one of the missing pieces of Indian stand in the whole fiasco. So, MMS aborted the Indian prospect here too before even it fully evolved. Look at the grandiose reporting below and how pitiful the real substance is.

Security pact with Qatar gives India Gulf toehold ~~ghantahold~~ - Nov 11, 2008 (Old News)
http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/s ... ld/384406/

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Oman and Qatar, days before his departure for the G20 meeting in Washington, has given India a strategic toehold in the Gulf — two agreements on defence and security have been signed with Qatar, a country that is home to a US naval base. Short of having a permanent station in Doha, India will be ready to go calling whenever Qatari assets need protection.

With this one move, India is signalling to the region its readiness to play a larger-than-before role as it polices the Indian Ocean and the waters up to the Gulf of Aden. The pact allows India to take care of the defence requirements of Qatar, including intelligence sharing and manpower training.

As if to drive home the point about its growing military prowess, the Indian Navy on Tuesday, in its first-ever action after being deployed in the Gulf of Aden, thwarted an attempt by pirates to capture an Indian merchant vessel in the region.

Given the importance of the Indian Ocean due to its sizeable maritime hydrocarbon traffic and the country's growing stature as an emerging economic power, the deep-reach capability is of strategic significance.

The Indian delegation, comprising three ministers, Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia and National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, is learnt to have gone all out to get their Gulf counterparts to wake up to the fact that India is a better place — both in terms of security and returns — to invest in than the west. According to a senior delegate, Oman and Qatar were told that the Indian banking system with certain controls is a better bet than the west.

The PM, on his part, announced the $100 million India Oman Joint Investment Fund with equal equity participation on both sides with an upper ceiling of $1.5 billion for infrastructure projects — telecom, health and urban infrastructure. Meanwhile, negotiations are at an advanced stage to spell out the modalities for a $5 billion fund for Qatar to invest in Indian energy and fertiliser projects. "In the next two-three months, we will work out modalities, identify projects in the areas of energy, power, fertiliser," Singh told reporters. He said he also discussed the likelihood of Qatar either investing in fertiliser plants in India or expanding production of fertiliser plants in Qatar with assured buyback in India.

Paul · Post by **Paul** » 20 Dec 2015 09:55

Yesterday's Deccan Herald had an article on the Auto Transmission gear on Tata Nano.

The Tata Motors exec said the gear was imported from external supplier in limited units and it would be middle of next year before a locally built Auto Gear would be available. This is putting a constraint on the supply and increasing the waiting list.

So here we are in not having the industrial base in having a locally supplied AMT gear for our cars and we are looking to build Drones and long range UAVs...

We have a long way to go.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 Dec 2015 10:27

turkey is opening a base in qatar to join the americans already there.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 Dec 2015 10:31

Satya_anveshi wrote:Armed Drones for Military Use:
That is one area we cannot be lagging behind. Because Russia too has the same weakness, I see that an clear and strategic area of opportunity for both nations to collaborate. Imagine we have a Brahmos level collaboration and success in this area...it would be incredible.

the sukhoi family of drones proposed seems like a good idea to propose a JV. its not going to be long before even TSP gets Reaper and Ghawk class drones the way cheen is pouring money into the field and results we are seeing.
https://in.rbth.com/economics/defence/2 ... 015_393057

a bunch of herons are not going to hack it no more.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 20 Dec 2015 10:54

^^^ Singha Saar, request move the UAV / Drone discussions also to the Drone / UAV thread. A much wider discussion will happen there.

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 20 Dec 2015 13:28

Israel zaps former jehadi prisoner/Syrian national hero:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/samir ... ts-n483341

Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV said two Israeli warplanes that violated Syrian airspace fired four long-range missiles at the residential building in Jaramana Saturday night. It aired footage of what it said was the building, which appeared to be completely destroyed. Kantar's brother, Bassam, confirmed his "martyrdom" in a Facebook posting Sunday.

There was no immediate comment from Israel.

Kantar and four Hezbollah guerrillas were freed in 2008 in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah in 2006, whose capture sparked a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah. His release was highly controversial in Israel, where he is believed to be the perpetrator of one of the most grisly attacks in Israeli history.

Kantar was imprisoned in 1979 in Israel and sentenced to three life terms after he and three other Lebanese infiltrated Israel in 1979 and staged an attack in the northern coastal town of Nahariya, killing a policeman and then kidnapping a man and his 4-year-old daughter and killing them outside their home.

srael says Kantar, who was 16 at the time, brutally beat the girl to death by bashing her head with a rifle. He denies this, saying the girl was killed in the crossfire. As the attack unfolded, the girl's mother hid inside a crawl space inside their home and accidentally smothered their crying 2-year-old daughter, fearing Kantar would find them.

cowabunga dude! A real manly man.

And now for the piece de resistance:

Kantar, 53, received a hero's welcome upon his return to Lebanon in 2008. Assad awarded him the country's highest medal during a trip he made to Damascus that year.

job well done! enjoy your heavenly reward.

S-400 or no S-400,

but hey, there's no video.......

Shalav · Post by **Shalav** » 20 Dec 2015 14:02

He was a Druze.

From Wikipedia "The Druze faith incorporates elements of Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, Pythagoreanism, Ismailism,[25] Judaism,[16] Christianity,[16] and Hinduism"

TSJones · Post by **TSJones** » 20 Dec 2015 14:07

Shalav wrote:He was a Druze.

From Wikipedia "The Druze faith incorporates elements of Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, Pythagoreanism, Ismailism,[25] Judaism,[16] Christianity,[16] and Hinduism"

doesn't make any difference. he went over to the dark side with hezzboolah..........

manju · Post by **manju** » 20 Dec 2015 16:38

TSJones wrote:
Shalav wrote:He was a Druze.

From Wikipedia "The Druze faith incorporates elements of Gnosticism, Neoplatonism, Pythagoreanism, Ismailism,[25] Judaism,[16] Christianity,[16] and Hinduism"
doesn't make any difference. he went over to the dark side with hezzboolah..........

What crap! "You are with us or them". is that all that matters...
Are u saying that ISIS are better alternative that Asad?

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 Dec 2015 16:53

question is why now...Hezbollah is not at war with Israel for now.some deeper play going on

habal · Post by **habal** » 20 Dec 2015 17:15

seems like the jet never crossed borders, missiles were fired from above Golan heights, so S400 could well have seen it but didn't act.

maybe Israel had spotters in ground to lase the target else missiles may have landed elsewhere.

3h3 hours ago
Elijah J. Magnier ‏@EjmAlrai
#BreakingNews:
#Israel raid tt killed Samir al-Qintar was carried by Jets from above Tabaraya, the Golan height without crossing borders.

Two #Israel/i jets were spotted at 22:15 by radars above the Golan heigh when these fired 4 missiles against a bldg in #Jaramana #Damascus.

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 20 Dec 2015 17:28

UBji, this image of Afghan defence forces trained by the experts of US armed forces speaks volumes of the quality of training provided by the US. Focus on the guy nearest the camera and how he holds the gun

Terrormonitor.org ‏@Terror_Monitor 2 hours ago
#AFGHANISTAN
90 Government Soldiers Lost Their Lives During The Past 2 Days In Restive #Helmand Province: MoD. FP

habal · Post by **habal** » 20 Dec 2015 17:39

US 'training' ka matlab ..

hamne tumhe ullu banaya ..

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 20 Dec 2015 17:52

Singha wrote:question is why now...Hezbollah is not at war with Israel for now.some deeper play going on

Israel has not just been treating ISIS and Al Nusra medically. By hitting at Hezbollah it has openly struck for both the moderate terrorists and ISIS.

In other news, Turkey has withdrawn from Iraq completely.

Intense fighting and some gains in Khan Touman Southern Aleppo plus some more gains in Norther Latakia. RuAf continues bombing Jisr al Shugur and bombing of rebel positions in Idlib.

Action in both eastern Ghouta (collection of farms) and western Ghouta with minor gains of SAA.

SAA had some advances against ISIS in Maheen in Homs governorate.

Al Nusra has regained Jabal Al Nuba from SAA and the fight their continues.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 20 Dec 2015 17:54

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/d ... imir-putin
Russia will utilise increased ‘military means’ if necessary, says Putin.
[/quote]
Emma Graham-Harrison
Saturday 19 December 2015

Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia is ready to to scale up its military intervention in Syria, less than a day after Moscow signed off on an ambitious UN plan to end the war.

The peace roadmap lays out a two-year path to elections for a new government, starting with a January ceasefire, and marks the first time America and Russia have reached broad consensus on Syria’s future after years of conflict that has cost more than 250,000 lives and made millions more into refugees.
Future of Assad in doubt as UN unanimously supports Syria peace process

But the pact was so broad that it sidestepped one of the biggest questions at the heart of Syria’s troubles, the future of President Bashar al-Assad, and several other key issues. It was also drawn up without consulting Assad or the opposition groups fighting him on the ground.

The question of whether, when and how the Syrian leader might step down will hang over any attempts to broker long-term peace. The US says he must go, while Russia has doubled down on support for him, sending bombers, weapons and cash to support his troops.

“He’s in control of two-thirds of the populated areas of Syria, he has not been defeated on the battlefield, he has the support of all the minorities, as well as the secular Sunnis,” Peter Ford, former UK ambassador to Syria told the BBC after the deal was agreed.

“Its absurd to think that the Russians have come so far with this process only to throw Assad under the bus; it’s not going to happen.”

Less than 24 hours after committing to peace in Syria, Putin himself said top commanders were ready to join the bomber pilots, support forces and other Russian troops already backing up Assad on the ground.

“We see how efficiently our pilots and intelligence agents coordinate their efforts with various kinds of forces – the army, navy and aviation, how they use the most modern weapons,” Reuters quoted him saying in a speech carried by local agencies.

“I want to stress that these are by far not all of our capabilities,” he said. “We have more military means. And we will use them, if need be.”

The deal exposes a widening gap between concerns of world powers and Syrians themselves. Diplomats and generals from Moscow to Washington are increasingly focused on containing and ultimately destroying Isis. Syrians are generally more preoccupied with Assad’s fate, whether they support their leader or bitterly oppose him.

Opposition groups will not agree to a political transition that includes Assad, a senior Syrian defector representing a spectrum of opposition groups warned. Security council resolutions and a road map agreed in Geneva provide for his removal, Riad Hijab told reporters on Friday.

“We are going into negotiations on this principle, we are not entering talks [based on] anything else. There will be no concession,” said Hijab, who served as prime minister under Assad in 2012 before defecting.

Critics point out that his bombing raids have killed many thousands more Syrian civilians than Isis, sometimes by using chemical weapons and often with cruelly indiscriminate barrel bombs. Many of the opposition fighters also spent time in his regime’s jails, where torture is widespread.

They also raise his apparent financial complicity with Isis, with oil purchases documented by US officials who recently condemned several firms for their role in the trade.

Another senior Syrian exile who represents the main western-backed opposition group warned that the deadline for a January ceasefire was too ambitious, the Associated Press reported.

Najib Ghadbian also said any agreement must include “the removal of all foreign troops from Syria”, including Russians who have been running an airstrike campaign that has allowed Assad to make key advances.

Assad’s supporters argue that he is the only secular bulwark against an opposition increasingly dominated by Islamists. They warn that removing him now could bring even more chaos and violence, as the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi did in nearby Libya, a concern shared by Washington.

Russia and the US have drawn somewhat closer after Moscow conceded that Assad might one day cede power, possibly to a close but less tainted ally, or if he is voted out in an election, while Washington stepped back from demands for his immediate removal.

Kerry said “everyone” had by now realised that demanding Assad’s departure up front in the process was “in fact, prolonging the war”, adding however that differences remain and the Syrian leader could not unite his country.

Iran has also promised to line up behind Moscow, in the push for a political deal to end the civil war, after Putin met Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, a senior Iranian official told Reuters.

“What was agreed was Iran and Russia will pursue one policy which will benefit Tehran, Moscow and Damascus,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The two countries are in “full harmony over Syria and Assad’s fate”, a second official said.

The US insistence that Assad must eventually go is backed by its European allies, Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations who have long insisted that Assad must go, although there are disputes about when.

Ministers from 17 nations who were in New York to build momentum for a ceasefire said they would meet again next month. Among the difficult topics on the table are which groups should be allowed into the opposition tent and which should banned as terrorists; Jordan will lead development of the list.

Most parties to the conflict, from Assad to hardline opposition groups, are reliant to varying degrees on weapons, military support and cash from outside the country. Threats to withhold these should give the west and regional powers some leverage.

Even if the ceasefire is embraced by many armed groups, it will not end the fighting in Syria however, as there are no expectations that Isis at least would join.
[/quote]

The would be Sultan has been exposed as a lying scumbag,as proof of his perfidy and bum-chumming with ISIS are exposed by a Western nation,Norway.

https://www.rt.com/news/326567-is-export-oil-turkey/
Most smuggled ISIS oil goes to Turkey, sold at low prices – Norwegian report

A newly-leaked report on illegal oil sales by Islamic State (IS, previously ISIS/ISIL), which was ordered to be compiled by Norway, has revealed that most of the IS-smuggled oil has been destined for Turkey, where it is sold off at bargain low prices.

Norwegian daily Klassekampen leaked details of the report, which was put together by Rystad Energy, an independent oil and gas consulting firm, at the request of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry.

“Large amounts of oil have been smuggled across the border to Turkey from IS-controlled areas in Syria and Iraq,” Klassekampen cited the report as saying. “[The] oil is sent by tankers via smuggling routes across the border [and] is sold at greatly reduced prices, from $25 to $45 a barrel.”

The crude is reportedly sold on the black market at greatly reduced prices, while the Brent benchmark is currently trading at $35-$50 per barrel.

READ MORE: Putin: ISIS financed from 40 countries, including G20 members

To compile the report, which is dated from July, Rystad Energy used its own database as well as sources in the region.

“Exports happen in a well-established black market via Turkey,” the report concluded. “Many of the smugglers and corrupt border guards, who helped Saddam Hussein avoid international sanctions, are now helping IS export oil and import cash.”

In the beginning of December, the Russian Defense Ministry released evidence which it said shows most of the illegal oil trade by IS going to Turkey.

© syria.mil.ruRussia presents proof of Turkey’s role in ISIS oil trade
Russia has earlier said it is aware of three main oil smuggling routes to Turkey, and Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov presented video evidence of operations, as well as detailed maps, at a briefing for journalists.

“Today, we are presenting only some of the facts that confirm that a whole team of bandits and Turkish elites stealing oil from their neighbors is operating in the region,” Antonov said, adding that this oil “in large quantities” enters the territory of Turkey via “live oil pipelines,” consisting of thousands of oil trucks.

The data directly implicated Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the oil trade with IS. “According to our data, the top political leadership of the country – President Erdogan and his family – is involved in this criminal business.”

READ MORE: US unwilling to acknowledge Turkey-ISIS oil trade ‘smacks of direct patronage’ – Russian top brass

Ankara has denied the allegations. Erdogan said that nobody had a right to “slander” Turkey by accusing it of buying oil from Islamic State. Erdogan even claimed that he will resign if such accusations were proven to be true. Moreover, the US has defended Turkey, denying any ties between Ankara and IS.

Last October, US Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen said IS was earning $1 million a day from oil sales. “According to our information, as of last month, ISIL was selling oil at substantially discounted prices to a variety of middlemen, including some from Turkey, who then transported the oil to be resold. It also appears that some of the oil emanating from territory where ISIL operates has been sold to Kurds in Iraq, and then resold into Turkey,” he said.

According to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the middlemen in Turkey are not only entrepreneurs, but also Ankara officials. Turkey is protecting IS because of “direct financial interest of some Turkish officials relating to the supply of oil products refined by plants controlled by ISIS.”

These revelations come as the UN Security Council has passed a resolution strengthening legal measures against those doing business with terrorist groups. It stems from a UNSC action taken in February against illegal trafficking of antiquities from Syria, which threatened sanctions on anyone buying oil from IS or the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front and urged that no ransoms be paid to terrorists.

Published time: 20 Dec, 2015 06:45

deejay · Post by **deejay** » 20 Dec 2015 18:14

This will need confirmation but it will first in Syria if true:

Ray's Rifles
‏@raytheonunited
BREAKING: Reports of a airborne parachute operation involving 120 regime paratroopers from Il-76 and An-32, behind rebel lines in Salma LTK.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 Dec 2015 18:41

from youtube footage salma is on a plain area and the SAA had captured some hills nearby and were firing down on the town earlier.