Re: Levant crisis - III
Posted: 19 Oct 2017 11:04
Gyan wrote:Can someone post a map of Kurdistan to show, which are the areas from which Kurds have been pushed out by recent action of Iraq?
Consortium of Indian Defence Websites
https://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/
Gyan wrote:Can someone post a map of Kurdistan to show, which are the areas from which Kurds have been pushed out by recent action of Iraq?
in syria he has fed in his ephshield proxies to surround Efrin and prevent a linkup with rojava except in a controlled manner via syrian govt territoryUlanBatori wrote:Two pooches with a sub-pooch:
1) What happened to Erdogan's determination to prevent emergence of Kurdistan? IOW, does Turkish Kurdistan have a border with Kurdistan?
mostly they are sunni. their problems with damascus and baghdad are ethnic not religious. fanned by external actors no doubt, who will act as patrons and power brokers.UlanBatori wrote: 2) Are the Kurds shia? They don't seem to the Sunni/Wahabi based on the peace and love there.
If so why are they so determined to become independent of Syria?
...
Overreaching
There is no doubt that including the “disputed” territories in the unilaterally imposed referendum is proving to be the fatal misstep (in quotes because I’ve never accepted the “dispute”, and don’t want to dignify KRG claims on lands belonging to Assyrians and other minorities outside of the KRI). The Barzani family and its allies within the PUK and other, smaller proxies made the calculation that they would have more leverage, more clout, and a tighter grip on the aspirations of the Kurdistan Region if they delivered this particular referendum question to the people, whatever the fallout afterwards.
Western actors made no secret of their opposition to it, nevermind regional actors such as Turkey and Iran. Nevertheless, the referendum was confirmed the night before its scheduled execution in all its shambolic glory. Voting patterns betrayed endemic corruption: ballot boxes were either stuffed or shuttled away secretly according to eyewitnesses, in keeping with previous elections and referenda conducted by the KRG. Residents were harassed by Kurdish asayish calling and knocking on their doors, state employees were bused to polling stations and watched over carefully by armed soldiers.
What was meant to be an expression of the Kurdish peoples’ legitimate will was transformed into a ploy by illegitimate KRG leaders to have more cards to play in their negotiations with Baghdad. The miscalculation on the KRG’s part was thinking these negotiations would even take place given the nature of the referendum question put forward, or how much it would provide Baghdad a newfound confidence to reject any meeting using its result as a staging ground for any deal-making.
Kirkuk was the only thing the KRG could easily be isolated on, as opposed to lands further north where more complications would have arisen in response to this kind of assertive display of Federal authority. Even with these complications however, it seems Federal Government forces are pushing further north after their political victory in Kirkuk, with reports of peshmerga positions being abandoned in Sinjar and the rest of the Nineveh Plain. The KRG gambled and lost, and that was very much the Barzani family’s call. Greed is a horrible thing, and it remains their cardinal sin.
...
Huge arms cache captured from IS by SAA in Deir Ezzor. Includes small arms, tanks, artillery and multiple drones.
Indeed they are. Iraqis refuse to accept a "Kurdistan" in the first place. They have moved north towards Erbil since capturing Kirkuk. Despite some clashes and bold statements from Kurds, the Iraqi forces have had easier success than they had against ISIS. So the fighting as of now is mild.Gyan wrote:Is Iraq going deeper into Kurdistan or they stopped?
44 oilfields were retaken by #Iraq's armed forces in northern Iraq today in addition to Zummar and Ain Zalah areas
Not specific to the post, but what a sad state of affairs in that region. If one pulls oneself away from the macro fights and disagreements between different groups, you would think that after Saddam's eviction, some peace would return to the region, but no. Under the promise of resources or new country, people in Iraq are constantly provoked, to fight someone; 15+ years and counting. Millions of lives lost, without any accountability, no one to hold anyone accountable for endless supply of weapons. Compare it to WW1 and WW2, which, arguably, lasted 4 and 6 years respectively.Indeed they are. Iraqis refuse to accept a "Kurdistan" in the first place. They have moved north towards Erbil since capturing Kirkuk. Despite some clashes and bold statements from Kurds, the Iraqi forces have had easier success than they had against ISIS. So the fighting as of now is mild.Is Iraq going deeper into Kurdistan or they stopped?
....
Russian Defense Ministry compares US coalition bombing of Raqqa to destruction of Dresden
Military & Defense October 22, 9:56 UTC+3
"Raqqa has repeated the fate of Dresden of 1945, which was erased in the British-American bombarding," spokesman of the Russian Defense Ministry Igor Konashenkov said
MOSCOW, October 22. /TASS/. Combat aircraft of the US and the coalition bombarded Syrian Raqqa like Germany’s Dresden was destroyed during World War II. In the operation to liberate the city from terrorists of the Islamic State (IS, terrorist organization outlawed in Russia), thousands of Syrian civilians were killed, spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry General-Major Igor Konashenkov said on Sunday.
"Raqqa has repeated the fate of Dresden of 1945, which was erased in the British-American bombarding," the general said.
READ ALSO
First deputy head of the Federation Council committee on defense and security Frants Klintsevich
Coalition wants Raqqa to be a Syrian center beyond Assad’s control — Russian senator
Now, Washington, Paris and Berlin announce urgently they are allocating millions of dollars and euros for as-if restoration of peaceful life there, but in reality they want "to hide evidences of the barbarian bombing by the combat aircraft of the US and ‘coalition’, which buried in Raqqa’s ruins thousands civilians, whom they "liberated" from IS," the spokesman said. Today, he continued, the West hurries to target the funding to Raqqa only, while earlier the US, France, Germany and the UK refused to send whatever humanitarian assistance to Syria.
"Over recent years, Russia has addressed the US and the European capitals asking to send humanitarian assistance to the Syrians suffering from the war," he said. "We have put a list of settlements, where that assistance was most wanted - without dividing the Syrians into ‘good’ and ‘bad’. Every time, from Washington, Berlin, Paris and London the answer was the same: we cannot and we shall not."
Bravura statements
The general noted "the bravura statements, made by representatives of the US administration about the ‘outstanding victory’ in defeating IS in Raqqa cause bewilderment." The Defense Ministry’s representative spoke about the statement by the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, published on Friday, where he said "the liberation of Raqqa is a critical milestone in the global fight against ISIS." Before that, the Pentagon said the US-led international coalition jointly with the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Iraqi governmental forces liberated more than 87% of Iraq and Syria.
"Washington’s imagination is that IS controlled in Syria only Raqqa - a provincial city, where about 200,000 lived before the war, and by beginning of the coalition’s five-months operation to liberate it - not more than 45,000," he said.
READ ALSO
International balance of forces in Syria after Raqqa’s liberation unclear yet — expert
"Compare: Deir ez-Zor with the vast suburbs by the Euphrates before the war had a population of more than 500,000, and it took the Syrian forces with support from the Russian Aerospace Force ten days to liberate all that territory," he added.
According to the spokesman, Deir ez-Zor, unlike Raqqa ruined in the bombing, every day now welcomes thousands civilians who return to their homes to restore the peaceful life there.
Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported with support from the Russian Aerospace Force 87.4% of the Syrian territory was liberated from IS.
The Syrian Democratic Forces coalition announced at a news conference in Raqqa the city was liberated from IS militants on October 20. The offensive in Raqqa with support from the US and the coalition began on June 6.
More:
http://tass.com/defense/971977
A television interview of a top Qatari official confessing the truth behind the origins of the war in Syria is going viral across Arabic social media during the same week a leaked top secret NSA document was published which confirms that the armed opposition in Syria was under the direct command of foreign governments from the early years of the conflict.
And according to a well-known Syria analyst and economic adviser with close contacts in the Syrian government, the explosive interview constitutes a high level "public admission to collusion and coordination between four countries to destabilize an independent state, [including] possible support for Nusra/al-Qaeda." Importantly, "this admission will help build case for what Damascus sees as an attack on its security & sovereignty. It will form basis for compensation claims."
As the war in Syria continues slowly winding down, it seems new source material comes out on an almost a weekly basis in the form of testimonials of top officials involved in destabilizing Syria, and even occasional leaked emails and documents which further detail covert regime change operations against the Assad government. Though much of this content serves to confirm what has already long been known by those who have never accepted the simplistic propaganda which has dominated mainstream media, details continue to fall in place, providing future historians with a clearer picture of the true nature of the war.
The top Qatari official is no less than former Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, who oversaw Syria operations on behalf of Qatar until 2013 (also as foreign minister), and is seen below with then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in this Jan. 2010 photo (as a reminder, Qatar's 2022 World Cup Committee donated $500,000 to the Clinton Foundation in 2014)
Also check the link for a part of of the interview with english translationsIn an interview with Qatari TV Wednesday, bin Jaber al-Thani revealed that his country, alongside Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United States, began shipping weapons to jihadists from the very moment events "first started" (in 2011).
Al-Thani even likened the covert operation to "hunting prey" - the prey being President Assad and his supporters - "prey" which he admits got away (as Assad is still in power; he used a Gulf Arabic dialect word, "al-sayda", which implies hunting animals or prey for sport). Though Thani denied credible allegations of support for ISIS, the former prime minister's words implied direct Gulf and US support for al-Qaeda in Syria (al-Nusra Front) from the earliest years of the war, and even said Qatar has "full documents" and records proving that the war was planned to effect regime change.
#Iraq-i army & federal police & #PMU managed to clear 21,000km2 of deserts in Anbar province.
Forces in al-Qaim axis reached to Qaim suburbs
More
#Syria #Idlib #AbuDuhurAirBase #AbuDuhur Map posted by Syrian Reporter @maan_abo_sham
#Syria #Hama #EasternHama #NDF have found what they Believe to be more than 2,500 Tons of Wheat that was Hidden under Soil/Dirty by #ISIS
Six Tupolev-22M3 planes, Kolpino submarine attack Islamic State militants in Syria
Military & Defense November 03, 17:50 UTC+3
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman described the losses suffered by the terrorists near Abu Kamal as very heavy
Tupolev-22M3
MOSCOW, November 3. /TASS/. Six Russian Tupolev-22M3 bombers and The Kolpino submarine have carried out a massive strike against militants of the Islamic State (terrorist group outlawed in Russia) in Syria, Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday.
"Long-range bombers Tupolev-22 and the submarine The Kolpino have dealt a massive missile and air strike against the infrastructure and militants of the Islamic State near Abu Kamal. Six strategic bombers Tupolev-22 and six submarine-launched cruise missiles Kalibr hit terrorists’ fortifications, weapons and ammunition depots, manpower and command centers," he said.
READ ALSO
Russian strategic bombers wipe out terrorists’ arms depots in Syria
Russian strategic bombers hammer terrorists’ facilities in Syria
Russia hopes Syria will be liberated from terrorists in one or two months
Russian submarine delivers cruise missile strike on terrorists in Syria
Putin heralds liberation of over 90% of Syrian land from terrorists
Konashenkov described the losses suffered by a major Islamic State group near Abu Kamal as very heavy.
"This enabled General Hassan Suheil’s assault forces to launch active offensive operations with the aim to wipe out the Islamic State’s last stronghold in the east of Syria," Konashenkov said.
The submarine The Kolpino launched the Kalibr missiles from a submerged position at a distance of more than 650 kilometers. Participating in the missile and air strike were Sukhoi-24 and Sukhoi-34 bombers from the Khmeymim air base. The Sukhoi-30SM, Sukhoi-35 and MiG-29 fighters of the Russian Aerospace Group in Syria provided protection for the operation.
As he reviewed the statistics of air strikes made over the past three days Konashenkov said that Tupolev-22 bombers hit Islamic State terrorists in the east of Syria eighteen times. The submarines The Veliki Novgorod and The Kolpino, currently in the Mediterranean, launched nine cruise missiles Kalibr.
http://tass.com/defense/974136
In September, Prince Mohammed authorised the detention of some of the country’s most powerful clerics, fearing they may not be loyal to his agenda and supportive of his boycott of Qatar, which Saudi leaders accuse of destablising the region.
Saturday’s moves on the home front followed a striking foreign policy stance earlier in the day that appeared to put the kingdom on a political collision course with Iran. Under Saudi pressure, the Lebanese prime minister, Saad al-Hariri, unexpectedly quit his job, citing Iranian interference across the Middle East.
Hariri made his statement in Riyadh after twice being summoned to the Saudi capital during the week.
US Choppers Transfer Daesh Commanders From Syria's Mayadin - Witnesses
MIDDLE EAST
12:00 07.11.2017
Several sources have told RIA Novosti about the alleged transfer of Daesh commanders by "US military aviation" from a Syrian town in an unknown direction.
US helicopters have transferred Daesh commanders from the town of al-Mayadin before the launch of the Syrian army's operation, eyewitnesses told RIA Novosti.
"American military aviation first made a maneuver in the area […] near a Mayadin farm. Then [ the aviation] launched an airstrike, we tried to hide and saw several US helicopters. There were foreign Daesh commanders on the ground, who were waiting for them next to their headquarters… The helicopters took them outside of Mayadin," a local shepherd, Muhammad Awad Hussein, told RIA Novosti.
He further said that he allegedly saw "US aviation… first a sound from it, then a massive strike that was followed by the US helicopters' flight and transportation of Daesh leaders after which the airstrikes ceased."
According to the 79-year-old man he had served in the Syrian army and can distinguish American aviation.
Other locals told RIA Novosti that they have allegedly seen how cars transported two foreign Daesh commanders with their families from Mayadin to the terrorist group's headquarters […], after which helicopters arrived and took them in an unknown direction.
Shades of Kunduz airlift in 2001.Philip wrote:Yanqui "forked tongue" chicanery exposed.
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/2017 ... h-mayadin/
Xcpt:US Choppers Transfer Daesh Commanders From Syria's Mayadin - Witnesses
MIDDLE EAST
12:00 07.11.2017
Several sources have told RIA Novosti about the alleged transfer of Daesh commanders by "US military aviation" from a Syrian town in an unknown direction.
US helicopters have transferred Daesh commanders from the town of al-Mayadin before the launch of the Syrian army's operation, eyewitnesses told RIA Novosti.
"American military aviation first made a maneuver in the area […] near a Mayadin farm. Then [ the aviation] launched an airstrike, we tried to hide and saw several US helicopters. There were foreign Daesh commanders on the ground, who were waiting for them next to their headquarters… The helicopters took them outside of Mayadin," a local shepherd, Muhammad Awad Hussein, told RIA Novosti.
He further said that he allegedly saw "US aviation… first a sound from it, then a massive strike that was followed by the US helicopters' flight and transportation of Daesh leaders after which the airstrikes ceased."
According to the 79-year-old man he had served in the Syrian army and can distinguish American aviation.
Other locals told RIA Novosti that they have allegedly seen how cars transported two foreign Daesh commanders with their families from Mayadin to the terrorist group's headquarters […], after which helicopters arrived and took them in an unknown direction.