Levant crisis - III

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 28 Jun 2017 15:54

could not have happened at a worse time for the kurds -

turkiye is shelling Efrin and pouring men and materials into north aleppo area for EPhshield v2 to cut a corridor through Efrin to isolate it and also link their statelet in north syria(Azaz albab jarablous) with Idlib

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/vi ... offensive/

kurds are being shelled daily and its hanging in balance if they will leave Raqqa to unkil and make off to defend Efrin via the land corridor that assad has permitted. assad would like nothing better than see turkeyie cut to size using logistics from his rear as the fate of Idlib is tied to the security of Efrin also.

the "wheel" has spun again and the "wheel" is merciless

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 28 Jun 2017 15:59

let us see if massa can turn back the turkiye offensive and safeguard their ally. if Efrin falls or is badly thrashed, massas credibility with rojava will be zero.

russia also has a observer/training base there close to the border.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 28 Jun 2017 16:24

http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/origina ... idlib.html

Turkey's real target on way to Idlib: Kurds

Turkey supposedly ended Operation Euphrates Shield, its military mission in northern Syria, March 29. But instead of withdrawing its troops, Ankara actually expanded its military activities between Azaz and al-Bab. It's becoming increasingly clear that Turkey has a new plan for the area.

Summary⎙ Print Turkey wants to be part of the de-escalation process in Syria, especially if that means it can multitask and wipe out the Kurdish corridor at the same time.
Author Fehim TastekinPosted June 26, 2017
TranslatorTimur Göksel

Last week, convoys of tanks, artillery and armored vehicles crossed from Kilis in Turkey to Syria and deployed in the areas of Azaz, Marea and Tel Rifaat. This reinforcement activity is likely to continue. The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) had already established bases at Marea, Tuwais, Kel Jibril and Dabik during Euphrates Shield.

Though pointing to Idlib as the next destination, Turkey’s field operations signal double objectives.

First, Turkey wants its own troops in the de-conflicting, or "safe," zones determined during peace talks in Astana, Kazakhstan. Second and more important to Turkey is to take advantage of the competition between rival coalitions west of the Euphrates. With the United States and Kurds on one side and Russia, Iran and the Syrian army on the other, Turkey hopes to break up the corridor carved out by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). Ankara considers this stretch of land a threat to Turkey’s national security.

According to official comments from Ankara, an operation is in progress to add Idlib to the area Turkey controls. Currently, Idlib is divided between Ahrar al-Sham and Hayyat Tahrir al-Sham. Though both Salafi militant groups seek the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, they are rivals.

Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin talked of a plan calling for Russian and Turkish deployment at Idlib, Russian and Iranian troops around Damascus, and American and Jordanians at Daraa in the south.

"There is even a Russian proposal for Kyrgyzstan [and] Kazakhstan to send troops," Kalin said.

According to information leaked to the news media by official Ankara sources, TSK forces will cross into Syria from three locations and establish control over an area 35 by 85 kilometers (21 by 52 miles). This corridor would start at Daret Izza and extend to Obin and Khirbet al-Joz. Another area of land, starting from Turkey’s Hatay border and extending 35 kilometers to Sahl al-Ghab, would also be controlled by the TSK. In this security configuration around Idlib, Turkey’s Free Syrian Army (FSA) allies would also have a role. So far, as many as 2,000 FSA soldiers have been put on alert.

Turkish news reports have said Turkey will deploy two companies of troops west of Marea and east of Tel Rifaat to complete Afrin's isolation.

Initially, Turkey said it was moving its forces to the Azaz-Marea line to prevent attacks in Turkish-controlled northern Syria from the area controlled by the YPG and its allies. Turkish reports said truck-mounted Grad missiles, mortar shells and 23 mm anti-aircraft weapons were being fired from Menagh base and Horbul close to areas held by TSK units — hence the alert status declared for Turkish and FSA units.

A YPG commander told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, “Turkey-controlled groups started fighting each other west of the Euphrates. Turkey’s solution was to turn them on the Kurds. For the past few days, the TSK and groups it controls have stepped up their attacks against the Tel Rifaat and Afrin areas. YPG has repulsed these attacks.”

Meanwhile, Kurdish news media report that since the United States shot down a Syrian plane to purportedly protect the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) at Tabqa, Russia in retaliation will turn a blind eye to a joint operation by Turkish and Syrian armies against Tel Rifaat and Afrin.

While assorted speculation continues, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had not been referring to Syria of late, suddenly came out with a statement directly targeting the Kurds. “The PYD and the YPG are trying to achieve something. They should know that no matter who is behind them, Turkey will never allow establishment of a [Kurdish] state in northern Syria,” he said. The United States has been backing the Kurdish nationalist Democratic Union Party (PYD), which Turkey says is the Syrian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Turkey considers the PKK a terrorist organization.

Turkey's army deployments at Dodian, Kere Mazraat and Shava villages of the Azaz district suggest Afrin is in its sights. But Afrin, where the PKK has been robust since the 1990s, has thwarted all attacks by groups to which Turkey has supplied artillery.

Developments on the ground point to an operation more complex and far-ranging than just Idlib. There are Kurds living between the Turkish border and the targeted Kurdish corridor in places such as Tel Rifaat, Sheikh Issa and Kafr Naya, all controlled by the YPG and its allies. The area between the southern YPG-held land and Aleppo is controlled by the Syrian army. The YPG is defending Afrin like a fortress.

So, in addition to severing the Kurdish corridor from Kobani and Manbij to Afrin, Turkey now wants to complete its half-achieved Euphrates Shield mission by declaring Idlib its next destination.

After retaking al-Bab in February, the Turkish army turned toward Manbij, but that operation was abandoned after the United States hoisted its flags. When Turkey focused next on Afrin, the Russians sent a small military mission there in the guise of monitoring the cease-fire. Kurds are not sure how far they can trust American and Russian protection.

Recently Turkey has been a bit more at ease because of developments that led to speculation that Russia would like to rein in the Kurds by giving a green light to Turkey at Tel Rifaat and Afrin. The developments included: the SDF in northern Syria crossing to the west of Euphrates and capturing the Tabqa base; the Americans' wish to deploy at that base becoming known; SDF efforts to keep the Syrian army from reaching Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor; and the tension that followed the United States' shooting down the Syrian plane.

Kurds insist that the Syrian army is cooperating with Turkey in this operation, at Russia's behest. But there are no real indications of Russians and the Syrian army wanting to suppress the Kurds. To the contrary, the feeling in Damascus is that Russia and Syria would prefer to keep the Kurds as their ally.

Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/origina ... z4lIEKropy

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 28 Jun 2017 16:26

in all this mess, turkiye is the only net gainer of territory at the least loss to itself.
all the others have lost territory to ISIS/FSA gangs and lot of casualties, their heartlands burned to the bone.
he has also used this mess as a pretext to clean up his domestic rivals and jail 100k people

all hail the new ottoman bayezid sultan. not for nothing their dynasty lasted several 100 years and ruled a vast empire.

russians would probably sign on to divert the kurds to northfront , and make taking east syria easier for their allies ...

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 28 Jun 2017 20:40

@ the power of maps twitter

Cain Marko · Post by **Cain Marko** » 28 Jun 2017 22:01

Seems like turks don't plan to leave without securing northern Syria for themselves, at least key locations. Can India do something similar wrt pok? Get in there via surgical strike and then just hang around, never to leave. Keep reinforcing with heavier deployments and eventually start building infrastructure. Secure route to Afghanistan and central Asia.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jun 2017 07:34

syrian army confiscates israeli weapons in empty suburb of al-waer homs. residents left for idlib
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/pi ... bels-homs/

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jun 2017 07:45

150 returned jihadis from syria provided with new identities by the swedish govt
http://www.ad.nl/buitenland/kamervragen ... accea0422/

they might as well have provided some women too looking at the pampering.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jun 2017 07:55

seen on twitter:

5 US defense, military & intel officials tell NBC News they were caught off guard by the White House Assad statement

Let's guess who wasn't caught off guard:

1. Putin
2. Assad

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 29 Jun 2017 10:15

Russian SF in Syria

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jun 2017 10:27

Is that tigr 4x4 ...looks too small to be..more like a chuck norris sand buggy

Must be scouting the desert mapping isis nodes and moves to aid the syrian army

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jun 2017 13:37

hersh gives an interview about the chem attack article. predicts DT will win 2020 the way Dems are playing
http://www.alternet.org/media/seymour-h ... -bombshell

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jun 2017 13:53

Haidar Sumeri Retweeted Haidar Sumeri

The battle for #Iraq's north isn't over yet and the treachery has begun once again. Such attacks can't be carried out without local support.Haidar Sumeri added,

Haidar Sumeri @IraqiSecurity
A bus carrying members of #Iraq's Hashd was ambushed from rooftops in the Ayn Al-Jahash village west of #Mosul yesterday. 16 dead & wounded.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jun 2017 15:29

https://twitter.com/hamza_780/status/880046381863448577

video convoy of around 50 desert hawk vehicles moving to salamiyeh - the western maxima of ISIS reach in syria...NW of palmyra

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 29 Jun 2017 17:58

finally (ruins of ) al nouri mosque taken over by army ..http://www.cbsnews.com/news/isis-loses- ... aq-forces/

all that remains of historical mosque now...

snipers in building around mosque
retreating ISIS are setting historic things on fire.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jun 2017 18:37

https://youtu.be/PJbvNdtMo7k

Syrian Kabila style fighting in eastern Homs

The basic combat unit is a company .. A mix of infantry....heavy mg on technical....elephant rocket jeep..a few tanks bmp and pickups...a scout helicopter with rockets..and syaf support if available.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jun 2017 21:10

daesh chemical chief a saddam era type nabbed in lebanon by iraqi mukhabarat
https://twitter.com/IraqLiveUpdate/stat ... 3868402688

IndraD · Post by **IndraD** » 29 Jun 2017 21:11

two persons who are in run to become IS chief after bagdaddy are sr army officers from Saddam military..
recently former chief imam of Al Nouri was on TV he said that they were jubiliant and very happy when IS took over but became disappointed when IS started strict Sharia rule ..(but they were not disappointed when IS made Yezidiz sex slaves, killed Shias etc)

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jun 2017 21:13

suleimani and muhandis (kataib hezbollah) chief in karbala iraq a while ago
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DCadtReV0AAl9XA.jpg:large

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jun 2017 21:16

Iraq Live Update‏ @IraqLiveUpdate Jun 7
More
Iraqi Sunni MP: I am ready to take 10,000 fighters with me to Qatar to defend them against Saudi nvasion

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jun 2017 21:20

a few square blocks left...nice to see PM abadi not going in ABV mode

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jun 2017 21:26

festival in east mosul - artists, muscians, poets from southern iraq arrive
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DDV9p-0WAAAxO57.jpg

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 30 Jun 2017 07:04

video the flames of mount doom - aftermath of a syAF attack on isis convoy outside DeZ
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/sy ... zor-video/

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 30 Jun 2017 07:05

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/br ... is-leader/
DAMASCUS, SYRIA (10:40 P.M.) – Moments ago, Iranian state media quoted Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as saying Islamic State leader Abu Bakrh Al-Baghdadi was “definitely dead”.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 30 Jun 2017 07:08

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/is ... ap-update/

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (11:45 P.M.) – After being left untouched since 2014, the ISIS mainland in Deir Ezzor province is now under treat by a pro-government fighting force which looks to lift a long-standing siege on the provincial capital.

Contrary to persistent reports throughout the week, the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is yet to liberate the ISIS-held town of Hamimah although steady gains are underway towards the T2 Pumping Station in southern Deir Ezzor. However, clashes are ongoing on the perimeter of Hamimah where government troops have begun a large-scale assault.

Commanded by Brigadier General Rafiq Shahadeh, the SAA has deployed elements of the 1st, 4th, 11th and 18th divisions alongside the Republican Guards and Russian-trained 5th Legion to spearhead a military campaign which looks to thrust through the Islamic State’s interior lines, brushing aside any jihadist resistant in the process.

Assisting the SAA-led offensive are big numbers of foreign paramilitary contingents, including Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Units, Kata’ib al-Imam Ali, Harakat Al-Nujaba, 313 forces, Liwa Al-Quds and Liwa Fatemiyoun.

According to a military source close to Al-Masdar News, some 50,000 pro-government troops are stationed across the entire eastern Homs battlefield of which around 80% are Syrian.

Meanwhile, new reports emerged on Thursday suggesting a US military garrison and vetted Syrian rebel forces may evacuate the Al-Tanf pocket and join forces with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Hasakah province instead.

Nevertheless, the military source told AMN that US troops were yet to leave the region and called the rumours untrue. However, American forces may soon abandon their presence in southern Syria after the SAA cutoff their frontline with ISIS earlier this month, and then captured approximately 100 kilometers of ISIS-held border in the following weeks.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 30 Jun 2017 07:18

ISIS propaganda video shows them attacking iraqi convoys in western anbar, raiding a border post and destroying telecom infra
https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/la ... raqi-army/

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 30 Jun 2017 07:20

Res Publica‏ @_paulo34 8h8 hours ago
Replying to @_paulo34
Raqqa was encircled today, SDF east and west forces met today, one hour ago east of Affan, south Raqqa.

War in Syria‏ @SyriaWar2 15h15 hours ago
BREAKING: #SAA liberated Humaymah in E.#Homs, now 30km to T2 pumping station.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 30 Jun 2017 07:21

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 30 Jun 2017 08:18

Gens Al Saadi and Al Obaidi the iraqi commanders at al nuri mosque

Y. Kanan · Post by **Y. Kanan** » 30 Jun 2017 10:19

Any word on how many Iraqi Shia militiamen that US aircraft have murdered in Syria so far? Curious to see how Abadi and Iraqis in general will handle this increasingly blatant betrayal.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 30 Jun 2017 11:01

lot of civilian casualties in bombing raqqa being reported....more than aleppo per some pro-assad sources, but the reach of media is very less in raqqa vs aleppo which always had 'western activists' documenting all 'regime atrocities'

wrt to attacks on pro-assad forces by US ,iirc
- 45-90 killed in deir azzor jabal thardeh the same day isis split the enclave into 2 and air ops from airbase had to stop as jabal thardeh permits them use TOW missiles(4000m) range LOS. using this perch the ISIS destroyed 2 parked su22 planes in HAS. SAA had to dig *really* deep to survive that day and its aftermath.
- 2 iranian drones shot down near al tanf - one was claimed to have fired missile at pro-nato forces
- 2 air attacks on pro-assad forces north of Al tanf
- 1 su22 shot down over Resafa - pilot still in SDF custody perhaps a pressure point to keep the SAA away from raqqa.

apart from that Israel has actually carpeted its entire border with Syria with a line of AQ or ISIS militia bands (buffer zone) and SAA only has one tiny area directly adjoining the golan heights. this is where recently the IDF was providing air support 4 strikes to AQ jihadis assaulting the al-baath town. they also strike at damascus airport and other points periodically.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 30 Jun 2017 11:06

light green is golan heights which IDF took in some past war.
green green is AQ/Nusra type formations
grey is ISIS
the tiny frontage of Red SAA is just adjacent to the lebanon border.

in the south the red stick hanging down to jordan ends in Daraa border which the SAA lost control of a while back - they are trying to take it back now but its a hard slog as entire area is well fortified and free flow of arms and fighters across the border.

to the left of it the green green and grey fight their own AQ vs ISIS war and routinely massacre prisoners and 'apostates'

the two green pockets near damascus are probably Jobar the famous suburb of ruins and East ghouta another saif-ul-islam. the countryside must be deserted and porous for these pockets to get supplies or maybe shia/alawite civilians are used as human shields to ensure the govt provides services for free.

Fuah and Kafraya still have some 8000 people trapped i believe, down from 40,000 while jihadi owned madaya and zabadani may be fully empty now. the govt will look to put other rebel enclaves on the green bus to Idlib in exchange for more of these prisoners. its a delicate dance , you have to push in a measured way to make these deals happen but if you misjudge the jihadis can easily breach fuah and kafraya stuck inside their heartland and massacre/enslave 8000 people..or cutting off UN food trucks will lead to starvation and no medical supplies.

so govt planners have this incredible buffet of issues to deal with and tapestry of 50 foreign and domestic sponsored terrorist bands with disparate goals and leaders .... its incredible such a small population mainly on the coast has held together and fought back. perhaps the option of sure death under ISIS/AQ glued them together. the "softer" islamism of the Ahrar al shams who prescribed zaziya or soft conversion of shias/alawites/druze/yazidi and not instant death might have found more traction but once ISIS and Nusra arrived on scene, the Shams lost a lot of power and cadre to the chagrin of turkiye, who shifted their funding to the turkestani EphShield formations in the north. now Idlib is in civil war with different band of rebels having checkpoints on the same road, IED blasts, assassinations, raids on a daily basis.

its like having 5 mafia bands ruling over the same chawl and extracting tribute from everyone while fighting each other (and enjoying free electricity which assad is still providing to Idlib, but the bills always get collected - by the jihadis

)

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 30 Jun 2017 12:47

Al Assad, Chief-of-GS Valery Gerasimov & Commander of Russian forces in Syria, Gen-Col Sergey Surovikin in C2 room at Khmeimem/Hmeimim

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 30 Jun 2017 13:21

Looks khan expeditionary with a russian touch

Vikas · Post by **Vikas** » 30 Jun 2017 13:54

Singha, Would the Iraqi/Syranian forces be able to hold what they have retaken from ISIS or like Afghan Taliban, in few months/years, ISIS will be back owning these towns and cities and this ping pong will go on till new countries are carved out of this huge tract of land called Middle east.
At the very core level, This is afterall, a war between Shia and Sunni Islam with Sunnis in overwhelming majority and deep pockets.
Sort of Clash of Civilizations within Middle East.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 30 Jun 2017 14:45

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/ ... recaptured

Iraqi forces enter Mosul mosque where Isis declared caliphate
Iraqi forces close to seizing control of Great Mosque of al-Nuri, where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed himself Isis leader three years ago

Iraqi forces enter ruined Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul – video

Martin Chulov
Thursday 29 June 2017
Iraqi forces have entered the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul, from where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed himself leader of Islamic State three years ago. The full seizure of the compound, which Iraqi troops were moving through, now appears imminent and would mark a highly symbolic moment in the war against Isis.

The development means that government troops are now in the heart of the Old City – Isis’s last redoubt in Mosul – and probably within a fortnight of recapturing its entirety. The Iraqi prime minister, Haidar al-Abadi, proclaimed the advance towards the mosque as “the end of the Isis state”.

The ruined Grand al-Nuri mosque after it was retaken by Iraqi forces.

The ruined Grand al-Nuri mosque after it was retaken by Iraqi forces. Photograph: Erik de Castro/Reuters
Iraqi government forces however still remain outside several key Isis-held Old City districts, which had been earmarked ahead of the assault as the most difficult to capture.

Baghdadi declared a caliphate from the mosque, proclaiming himself its leader three years ago to the day – 29 June 2014 – when Isis was at the height of its power. The terror group had by then overrun much of northern Iraq and Syria, dismembering state control in both countries and establishing an ultraconservative brand of Islamic law over the lands and people that it conquered.

Isis is under pressure in both countries – in the Syrian city of Raqqa, US-backed Kurdish forces seeking to take it on Thursday claimed to have sealed off the last route out, intensifying a siege that has seen many of its leaders flee towards southern Syria.

The fight for the terror group’s territory in Mosul has been grinding and savage, with Iraqi troops reporting house-to-house fighting with a battle-hardened enemy that refuses to surrender.

Isis last week toppled the al-Hadba minaret adjoining the mosque, causing extensive damage to the surrounding compound.

Iraqi special forces entered the compound and took control of the surrounding streets on Thursday afternoon, following a dawn push into the area, said Lt Gen Abdul Wahab al-Saadi. The compound has been rigged with an extensive network of explosives, which will delay a final push to seize what is left of it.

The densely packed Old City is thought still to house up to 100 well-armed Isis extremists, as well as tens of thousands of civilians, who have been gradually streaming out of ravaged buildings to safety over the past week. Five Isis militants were killed on Wednesday while trying to swim east across the Tigris river armed with explosives.

After months of fighting, the Isis hold in Mosul has shrunk to less than 0.8 sq miles of territory, but the advances have come at considerable cost. Fierce street battles and widespread use of hidden bombs by the retreating extremists have taken a heavy toll on Iraqi troops, with more than 1,000 members of the Federal Police and military believed to have died in the fight for the city and its surrounds.

“There are hundreds of bodies under the rubble,” said special forces Maj Dhia Thamir, deployed inside the Old City.

The moment the landmark Mosul mosque was destroyed
Aridi acknowledged that some civilians had been killed by airstrikes and artillery. “Of course there is collateral damage, it is always this way in war,” he said. “The houses are very old, so any bombardment causes them to collapse completely.”

Many Mosul neighbourhoods are in ruins, with close to 700,000 residents thought to remain in refugee camps, and thousands more joining them daily. The Old City is an almost impenetrable maze of upturned cars and rubble.

Unicef on Thursday renewed its call for thousands of children who are thought to remain in the city to be protected. “Children are facing multiple threats to their lives,” said Peter Hawkins, Unicef’s representative in Iraq. “Those stranded in the fighting are hiding in their basements, fearful of the next onslaught. Those who try to flee risk being shot or wounded.

“Hundreds of civilians have already been reported killed and used as human shields. Boys and girls who have managed to escape show signs of moderate malnutrition and carry emotional scars of the conflict.”

East Mosul, which was freed from Isis in February, has quickly returned to life, in contrast to the ravaged west, which remains largely deserted and foreboding. In the east, marketplaces bustle with residents who have returned from camps that had been set up outside the city as the fight for Mosul began.

Damage in the west is particularly intense close to the mosque, which had been a refuge for Isis fighters as the so-called caliphate disintegrated. The Nuri mosque was one of the great monuments in Islam after the grand mosques of Mecca and Medina, al-Aqsa in Jerusalem and the Umayyad mosque in Damascus, rivalling others such as the Amr ibn al-’As mosque in Egypt and other more modern structures built in recent centuries.

Note the reluctant mention of "Iraqi govt. forces" only once,as if to deny the regime the victory! What other forces were involved may we ask?

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 30 Jun 2017 15:07

Here they are! Zealously bringing up the rear "encircling ISIS",preventing their escape...but it is the Syrian govt. forces who've entered the city and Grand Mosque!

Isis' last escape route from Raqqa 'cut off' by US-backed SDF fighters, says Syrian monitoring group
Defence Secretary says momentum towards Isis' defeat is 'irreversible'

Lizzie Dearden

US-backed forces have completely surrounded the Isis-held city of Raqqa in Syria after cutting off militants’ last remaining escape route, monitors have said.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) had succeeded in “completely encircling” the group’s largest stronghold.

The report came on the third anniversary of Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s declaration of the so-called Islamic State.

Iraq declares Isis's caliphate 'has fallen' after symbolic victory
He made that announcement in Mosul’s famous Great Mosque of al-Nuri, which has since been destroyed by Isis and seized by advancing Iraqi government forces.

“Their fictitious state has fallen,” military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Rasool told state television on Thursday, after months of fierce fighting that has left thousands of soldiers and civilians dead.

Mosul and Raqqa were Isis’ two largest stronghold, presenting symbolic and damaging targets for enemy forces.

Kurdish woman laughs after nearly getting hit by ISIS sniper
The SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, has been battling towards Raqqa for months with backing from US-led coalition air strikes.

Among its ranks are several British volunteers, including fighters in the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG)’s International Freedom Battalion and Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) member Kimmie Taylor.

“I know a lot of friends will die, especially in the city – it’s going to be a bloodbath,” the 27-year-old told The Independent while preparing to meet Isis fighters, car bombs, booby traps, mines and drones.

The SDF previously said it was on the verge of cutting off the last exit from the city and impose a “complete siege”, amid mounting concern for up to 100,000 trapped civilians.

US Central Command, which is coordinating the anti-Isis Operation Inherent Resolve, said the SDF now controls “all high speed routes into Raqqa” south of the Euphrates River.

“The Syrian Arab Coalition have been moving east from Tabqa for some time, seizing terrain from Isis and liberating villages and towns as they move toward the Euphrates where the river begins to run south,” a spokesperson told The Independent.

“This will completely encircle the city and has been the SDF plan from the start."

CentCom said Raqqa had been surrounded from three sides “for some time”, while coalition planes have destroyed bridges over the river heading south and the SDF controls two dams, which are the only remaining crossing point.

Air strikes have also been targeting vessels on the river and fleeing Isis fighters.
“The battle for Raqqa has only just begun,” the spokesperson added. “There is still much fighting to be done in the city.”

Thousands of Isis fighters are believed to have fled Raqqa into the group’s territory to the south, including the city of Deir Ezzor.

Two young men from a village outside the city were reportedly shot dead by Isis this week on allegations of cooperating with the SDF, as the group cracks down on supposed “spies” while its territory wanes.

The SDF’s advance has seen them seize swathes of territory in northern Syria and prompt an incursion by Turkey, which sees some factions as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) insurgent group.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan officially ended the Euphrates Shield operation, which also targeted Isis, in March after Turkey-backed rebels drove the SDF back from the border.

The Raqqa offensive has brought warnings of fresh confrontation, with the SDF and Turkish forces exchanging fire over front lines north of Aleppo on Wednesday.

Naser Haj Mansour, a senior SDF official, told Reuters the SDF had taken a decision to confront Turkish forces “if they try to go beyond the known lines” in the region.

“Certainly there is a big possibility of open and fierce confrontations in this area, particularly given that the SDF is equipped and prepared,” he added. “If it they attack we will defend, and there will be clashes.”

The Turkish military confirmed it had fired artillery at YPG positions south of the town of Azaz in a response to its own troops being attacked, while the SDF claimed it was responding to enemy shelling.

Turkey has recently deployed reinforcements into the area, according to affiliated rebel groups, prompting concern that Ankara is planning to attack nearby areas that are under SDF control.

Wives of former Isis fighters Nour al-Huda, who is Lebanese, and Iman Othman, who is Tunisian, wait at a camp for displaced people north of Raqqa (Reuters)
The deputy Prime Minister, Numan Kurtulmus, said Turkey would retaliate against any cross-border gunfire from the YPG and “terrorist groups”, reiterating Ankara’s opposition to the US’ arming of SDF fighters.

Mr Mansour warned that an attack on SDF-controlled areas would “do great harm” to the assault on Raqqa by drawing anti-Isis fighters back from the frontlines.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed “grave concern” for up to 100,000 civilians who remain trapped under Isis control in the city as the offensive intensifies.

“The intense bombardment of Raqqa over the past three weeks has reportedly left civilians terrified and confused about where they can seek refuge as they are caught between Isis’ monstrosities and the fierce battle to defeat it,” Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said.

“The large number of civilian casualties indicates that much more needs to be done by the parties to ensure protection of the civilian population. Civilians must not be sacrificed for the sake of rapid military victories.”

According to UN data, at least 173 civilians have been killed by air and ground strikes since 1 June in Raqqa, while the US-led coalition puts the total toll since the start of air strikes in Syria in Iraq in 2014 at 484.

There have been reports of families being moved around Raqqa by Isis fighters using them as human shields or being shot or killed by mines if found trying to escape.

“While some did manage to leave after paying large sums of money to smugglers, including smugglers affiliated with Isis, reports continue to emerge of Isis preventing civilians from fleeing,” the UN Human Rights Office said, calling on all parties in the conflict to protect civilians and adhere to international law.

Brett McGurk, the US envoy for the anti-Isis coalition, met leaders in the SDF-controlled town of Tabqa, Syria, on Thursday (Reuters)
It said there were also worrying reports of violations and abuses by the SDF in areas under its control such as Tabqa, outside Raqqa, including “looting, abductions, arbitrary detentions during screening processes as well as the recruitment of children”.

The US has not responded to the allegations against its allies, who have been visited by Donald Trump’s special envoy to the anti-Isis coalition.
Brett McGurk met members of the Raqqa Civil Council, which will take over control of the city after Isis is driven out.

He travelled to the city of Ain Issa, north of Raqqa, on Wednesday, and on to the town of Tabqa on Thursday.

Sir Michael Fallon, the Defence Secretary, said there was “irreversible momentum” towards Isis’ defeat in Raqqa.

“Three years on from when Daesh [Isis] declared its so-called caliphate in Mosul, this evil death cult faces its endgame in Mosul,” he added, following a meeting with Nato defence ministers.

“In Syria, there is now irreversible momentum and progress towards Daesh's defeat in Raqqa, with the SDF already controlling nearly 15 per cent of the city.”

RAF planes have struck 69 targets in and around Raqqa in support of the SDF advance, Sir Michael said.
Isis has now lost 70 per cent of territory it once controlled in Iraq and 51 per cent in Syria, according to Ministry of Defence figures.

None of this would be possible if Russia had not intervened and did so in stunning style,achieving in a few months what the combined forces of the US,Arab legions,mercenary forces of the FSA,Turds,Kurds,whoever,Ottomans not to be forgotten,could achieve in sev. years! The Iranian gropund forces under the command of their legendary general Qasem Soleimani,the Iranian "Orens of Arabia",and Hamas too ,cannot be excluded from this rout of ISIS.

Truly did Napoleon say that "victory has a thousand fathers,but defeat is an orphan!"

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 30 Jun 2017 15:20

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/sinirda-yeni ... i-40505190

TURKISH MEDIA TODAY

Turkey is to begin Operation Euphrates Sword in Syria within 48 hours. It has amassed 7000 Special Forces on border.

Mr. Putin has agreed to withdraw from Afrin and hand over control to Turkey.

Mr. Trump is due to hold a telephone conference today with President Erdogan in a bid to dissuade him.

Turkey says the US has begun Scrambling GPS signals in Eastern Turkey.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 30 Jun 2017 15:29

a turkish invasion like EphShield will scupper the takeover of raqqa as mainline kurd units and manbij arabs will head north in force.

Assad & Russia will likely grant them free access, food, weapons to fight the turks as it solves his main problem of keeping the competition in eastern syria clear...while kurds fight turks, his boys can take over the lower euphrates valley and its rich road network and oil/gas reserves. this is what Iran is also after.

even if russia were against the turk invasion they have no ability to stop them tactically unless they go nuclear on the turks.

the only one with the right levers to stop this invasion is donald trump - let us see what happens. US forces are doing flag marches up north to try and deter but these are light SF units and will be ignored and brushed aside.

DT will need to make some really crude and blunt threats to make the sultan back off though..incl immediate expulsion from NATO and deep economic sanctions and freezing of the korrupt erdogan clans assets parked in the west and freezing of all tech ties with western weapons industry

gotta be fun watching the next phase play out in the sultans career.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 30 Jun 2017 15:32

Singha I do not know how reliable this news is will have to wait for few days and find out.

So to sum up the kurdistan dilemma

Countries who want independent Kurdish state : USA & Sunni Gelf ( ? )
Countries who oppose Kurdish state or just want to give it automony and not full independence: Turkey , Iraq , Iran , Russia ....who else

Is the above the correct assumption ?