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Regional geopolitics

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  • Re: Regional geopolitics

    Mosul: Turkey insists its forces 'cannot remain idle'
    Turkey insists that it cannot remain idle during the fight to drive militants from so-called Islamic State from the Iraqi city of Mosul.




    Turkey has insisted that its forces cannot remain idle during the fight to drive so-called Islamic State militants from the Iraqi city of Mosul.
    PM Binali Yildirim said it might be necessary to take action because Iraq and the US had not kept their promises.
    He said both countries had allowed Shia militias and Kurdish separatists to take part in the operation.
    Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi on Saturday told the US that there was no need for Turkish forces as yet.
    Fighting on the sixth day of the offensive on Saturday was reported to be intense, as the Iraqi military seized more ground.

    Visiting US Defence Secretary Ash Carter has promised significant resources would be set aside for rebuilding Mosul once it had been recaptured from Islamic State (IS).
    Correspondents say Mr Abadi's refusal to countenance the prospect of Turkish involvement in the Mosul offensive could upset Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan, who has warned of sectarian bloodshed if the Iraqi army relies on Shia militias to retake Mosul, which is mostly a Sunni Muslim city.
    Mosul was once part of the Ottoman empire and Turkey sees the city as squarely within its zone of influence.
    "I know that the Turks want to participate, we tell them thank you, this is something the Iraqis will handle," Mr Abadi said after meeting Mr Carter in Baghdad on Saturday.
    "If help is needed, we will ask for it from Turkey or from other regional countries," he said.
    Mr Carter meanwhile indicated his conditional backing for a possible Turkish role in the campaign, pointing out that there was an agreement in principle that could allow for eventual Turkish participation.
    "Turkey... has an interest in the ultimate outcome in Mosul. Many other parties do as well. It's a complicated city," he said.

    Meanwhile hundreds of people in Iraq are being treated for the effects of toxic gases after a sulphur plant was set alight in fighting with IS.
    The US military says IS fighters set the plant on fire earlier this week, as they fled an advance by pro-government forces on their Mosul stronghold.
    On Saturday, US soldiers at a base near Mosul donned protective masks as wind blew smoke towards them.
    Reuters said another 1,000 people were being treated for breathing problems.
    Advancing Iraqi forces on Saturday entered the town of Qaraqosh, about 30km (20 miles) south of Mosul, the IS capital.
    Qaraqosh, Iraq's largest Christian town before the war, is said to be largely empty but IS has laid landmines on the approaches to Mosul.
    The militants have been attacking with suicide bombers elsewhere, driving vehicles laden with explosives at high speed towards government lines.
    On Friday the militants attacked the city of Kirkuk, 170km (105 miles) south-east of Mosul, leaving at least 35 people dead and 120 wounded, according to medical sources.

    Comment


    • Re: Regional geopolitics

      ERDOGAN: MOSUL AND ALEPPO BELONG TO TURKS (VIDEO)

      Comment


      • Re: Regional geopolitics

        "US warns extremists ‘may attack, kidnap or blow up’ Americans in Constantinople

        The US consul-general in Turkey has called on US citizens in Istanbul to steer clear of crowded public places and locations popular with tourists due to an imminent threat of attacks on US and other foreign nationals by extremist groups.

        The security memo was published on the official consulate page on Saturday. While elaborating on the nature of the possible attacks that Americans can fall prey to, it listed “armed attack, attempted kidnapping, bombing, or other violent acts,” adding that they could be “pre-planned” and come “with little or no warning.”

        The US consul-general in Turkey has called on US citizens in Istanbul to steer clear of crowded public places and locations popular with tourists due to an imminent threat of attacks on US and other foreign nationals by extremist groups.

        Comment


        • Re: Regional geopolitics

          Ենթադրություն Մոսուլի վերաբերյալ

          ԻԳՈՐ ՄՈՒՐԱԴՅԱՆ, Քաղաքագետ
          Մեկնաբանություն - 23 Հոկտեմբերի 2016


          Մոսուլ քաղաքն ու շրջանը բավական կասկածելի են հավակնությունների տեսանկյունից, որոնք ժամանակ առ ժամանակ առաջ են քաշում տարածաշրջանի եւ Արեւմուտքի պետություններն սկսած 1918 թվականից:

          Մոսուլը վերահսկողը վերահսկում է նաեւ մեծ տարածք նավթաբեր շրջաններով: Քիրքուքը նույնպես հեռու չէ Մոսուլից: 1920 թվականին Թուրքիայի Հանրապետության ձեւավորման շրջանում թուրքերը պահանջում էին նաեւ Մոսուլը, սակայն բրիտանացիները հրաժարվեցին, ինչպես «ազգային օջախ» ստեղծելու հայերի իրավունքը պաշտպանելու դեպքում: Բազմաթիվ այլ հավակնություններ էլ են եղել, սակայն 1920 թվականին հաջողվել է թուրքերին հեռացնել այդ տարածքից, ճիշտ է, ոչ ընդմիշտ:

          Թուրքիան միշտ իրենն է համարել Մոսուլը: Մոսուլի հետ է կապված «Բաղդադի երկաթգծի» գաղափարը: «Տավրոսի լեռներում մետաղների մեծ պաշարներ կան, իսկ Մոսուլում՝ նավթի», գրված էր Մերձավոր Արեւելքի գերմանական հայեցակարգում:

          Այժմ այլ իրավիճակ է: Ամենակարեւոր խնդիրն են դառնում ոչ թե ԻԼԻՊ-ը եւ այլ արմատական խմբավորումներ. շուտով, ըստ ամենայնի, նրանց հարցը կլուծվի: ԻԼԻՊ-ը շատ հարմար պլատֆորմ է շատերի համար, եւ դրանից օգտվել են, սակայն գրեթե բոլորն էլ արդեն հասցրել են վառվել դրա վրա:

          Գլխավոր հարցը Մոսուլի եւ շրջանի թուրքական օկուպացիան թույլ չտալն է, քանի որ դրանով Թուրքիային կհաջողվի վերահսկել Մերձավոր Արեւելքը, այդ թվում՝ սահմանափակել ԱՄՆ եւ Իրանի ազդեցությունը:

          Թուրքիան երկար սպասումից հետո մտավ շրջան, որն իրականացվում է ԱՄՆ՝ թեկուզ անցանկալի վերահսկողությամբ: Սակայն թուրքերի կողմից Մոսուլի գրավումն ԱՄՆ համար գրեթե աղետ կլինի:
          Ամերիկացիները ցանկանում էին էլի սպասել եւ ենթադրում էին, որ ԻԼԻՊ-ը կինքնափլուզվի, քանի որ շատ խմբավորումներ այդպես էլ չեն միավորվել եւ միմյանց դեմ թշնամաբար են տրամադրված: Սակայն այլեւս չի կարելի սպասել, թուրքական օկուպացիան կարեւոր գործոն կլիներ տարածաշրջանում եւ անհնար կլիներ հասկանալ՝ ինչ անել հետո:

          Իրաքի եւ քրդական պետական կազմավորման համար սպառնալիք կառաջանար, ինչը կստիպեր ԱՄՆ-ին օգնել Իրաքին ու քրդերին ՆԱՏՕ-ի անդամ Թուրքիայի հետ պայքարում: Դա շատ անհրամար եւ կասկածելի կլիներ մի ժամանակաշրջանում, երբ ԱՄՆ-ում նոր նախագահ է ընտրվում:

          Ամերիկացիները չեն ցանկանում, որ Թուրքիայի դիրքերն անգամ մեկ քայլով ամրապնդվեն: Բացի այդ, չպետք է մոռանալ, որ Իրաքյան Քուրդիստանն օգտվել է ոչ միայն ԱՄՆ-ի, այլ նաեւ Մեծ Բրիտանիայի եւ Իսրայելի աջակցությունից: Քաղաքական մտադրությունների առումով այդ երկրները շատ տարբեր են, սակայն բոլորն էլ փորձում են սահմանափակել Թուրքիայի ազդեցությունը Միջագետքում:

          Օրինակ, Իսրայելը կցանկանար, որ ոչ թե Թուրքիան ուժեղանար, այլ Մերձավոր Արեւելքի շատ պետություններ կողմնորոշվեն դեպի իրեն:
          Մերձավոր Արեւելքում Իրանի դերը ինչպես երբեւէ նշանակալի է: Իրանի եւ ԱՄՆ հարաբերությունների անգամ մասնակի կարգավորումը հանգեցրել է Իրանի դիրքերի եւ դերի ուժեղացմանը: Թուրքիայի կողմից Մոսուլի գրավումը եւ այդ տարածաշրջանի նկատմամբ վերահսկողությունը լուրջ խոչընդոտ կդառնար Իրանի ու արաբական մի շարք պետությունների համար, իսկ Իրաքին մեծ կախվածության մեջ կդներ Թուրքիայից:

          Այլ պատկերացումներով, դա Թուրքիայի համար դեպի Մերձավոր Արեւելք ճանապարհ կբացեր ոչ թե Սիրիայով, այլ Իրաքով: ԱՄՆ-ն չէր ցանկանա, որ Իրաքում եւ տարածաշրջանում չափից դուրս ուժեղանար շիական ազդեցությունը եւ շահագրգռված էր Իրաքի սուննի բաղադրիչի ուժեղացմամբ:

          Դրա արդյունքում շիա մասը հետ կշպրտվեր Բաղդադից հարավ, իսկ կարեւորագույն հաղորդակցուփթյունները կվերահսկվեին սուննիների կոմից: Այդ դեպքում Միջագետքում շիաների չափից շատ ուժեղացումն այպես թե այնպես կհանգեցներ Իրանի ուժեղացմանը, ինչը, հնարավոր է, ձեռնտու կլիներ ԱՄՆ-ին, սակայն ոչ այժմ:

          Արաբական առաջատար երկրները՝ ներառյալ Եգիպտոսն ու Սաուդյան Արաբիան, միանշանակ չեն վերաբերվում արաբական աշխարհում Թուրքիայի ազդեցության ուժեղացմանը: Նրանք չեն ընդունի արաբական երկրներում թուրքերի ազդեցության ուժեղացումը, առավել եւս չեն ընդունի արաբական երկրների տարածքի մի մասի օկուպացիան:

          Թուրքիան դիտարկվում է որպես իրանական-շիա ազդեցության հակակշիռ: Իսկ տվյալ դեպքում Եգիպտոսն ու Սաուդյան Արաբիան, ինչպես նաեւ Պարսից ծոցում նրանց դաշնակից արաբական երկրները Թուրքիան դիտարկում են որպես պոտենցիալ ագրեսոր եւ օկուպանտ: Այդ հարցում արաբներն ամբողջությամբ աջակցում են ԱՄՆ-ին եւ դիմադրում թուրքական ազդեցության ուժեղացմանը:

          Արաբները Ռուսաստանն ընկալում են որպես հիմար պետություն, որը վարում է «մերոնք-ձերոնք» սկզբունքով քաղաքականություն: Արաբական երկրները չեն մոռացել, որ Ռուսաստանը սադդամյան սպաների միակ գործընկերն է, որոնք օգնել են ԻԼԻՊ զինված ուժերի կազմավորմանը, աջակցել են Իրաքի այսպես կոչված հանրապետական գվարդիային, որին այդքան ատում է արաբների մեծ մասը:
          Հիմա, երբ Իրանը ցանկություն չի հայտնել հնազանդվելու Ռուսաստանին, շիա աշխարհի ազդեցությունը Ռուսաստանի վրա դադարել է համակարգային բնույթ ունենալ, եւ ռուսները ծառայություն են մատուցում միայն ալավիաբնակ սահմանափակ «գոտում»:

          Եվրոպական պետությունները փորձում են սահմանել իրենց ռազմաքաղաքական մասնակցությունը Մերձավոր Արեւելքի գործերում եւ պետք է որոշ չափով պաշտպանեն նախկին սահմաններն ու ազդեցության գոտիները: Հակառակ դեպքում եվրոպացիները կհայտնվեն լրիվ այլ պայմաններում, եւ նրանց նախկին «կայսրությունները» կվերանան:

          Հնարավոր է, դա չէ Մեծ Բրիտանիայի եւ Ֆրանսիայի ազդեցության հիմնական փաստարկն ու գործոնը, սակայն այդ դեպքում ո՞րն է: Ֆրանսիան մեծ սխալ է արել՝ թույլ տալով սիրիական վարչակարգի ազդեցության վերացումը, իսկ Մեծ Բրիտանիան զիջել է գերիշխող դիրքերը Պարսից ծոցում:

          Սակայն Մոսուլը բրիտանական ազդեցության գոտի է, եթե կարելի է այդպես ասել: Եվ կա միայն մեկ տերություն, որը ցանկանում է իրավիճակի փոփոխություն Միջագետքի հյուսիսում: Այդուհանդերձ, Թուրքիայի դերը Միջագետքում ձեռնտու չէ եվրոպական առաջատար երեք երկրներին:

          Այժմ կարեւորագույն խնդիրն այն է, որ Մոսուլը հայտնվի Իրաքի պետության ազդեցության եւ վերահսկողության տակ: Դա այսպես թե այնպես կուժեղացնի իրաքցի ժողովրդի սուննի հատվածին եւ ձեռնտու է արաբական աշխարհի երկրների ու շարժումների մեծ մասին: Ինչ-որ չափով դա ձեռնտու է նաեւ Թուրքիային, սակայն այն ցանկանում է վերահսկել Մոսուլը եւ դրանով ուժեղացնել ազդեցությունը Միջագետքում: Արեւմտյան տերությունները, Իրանը, արաբները չեն կարող դա թույլ տալ:

          Comment


          • Re: Regional geopolitics

            ISIS’ Kirkuk raid spreads. US air force in action
            debka


            The raid of Iraq’s northern oil city of Kirkuk launched by the Islamic State Friday began to spread Saturday, Oct. 22 to surrounding towns. DEBKAfile’s military sources report that ISIS fighters headed south from Kirkuk in two heads. One tried to enter Laylan, a town 21 km south of the oil city, which was defended by Kurdish Peshmerga and Turkman paramilitary forces; the second seized the crossroads of Rtes 2, 3 and 24 to sever Kirkuk from Baghdad.

            When Kirkuk first came under attack, the Kurdish defenders still left there appealed for US air support against the Islamist invaders. The US air force went into action late Friday. They first targeted ISIS sniper positions on the town’s highest rooftops. Then, the next day US aircraft struck twin targets: the jihadist fighters storming Laylan and the fighters heading down the roads to the south of Kirkuk.

            Nonetheless, up until Saturday pm, ISIS was still in control of at least five of the oil city’s neighborhoods as well as buildings in the town center, including government offices.

            Meanwhile, the Kurdish Peshmerga, according to our military sources, dispatched to Kirkuk their special counterterrorism unit to dislodge the raiders. Kurdish sources also warned that this city was only the first of a row of Iraqi towns still in ISIS sights. They added that they would not be surprised to find the Islamists heading out to strike European towns as well.

            Iraqi and Kurdish sources have since Friday been throwing out high ISIS casualty figures and reporting that many were put to flight. They were attempting to play down the scale of the raid on Kirkuk.

            In fact, our sources report that the Islamists found extra numbers and ammunition caches waiting for them in two places – sleeper cells in Kirkuk and local Sunni sympathizers.

            The numbers of civilian casualties and refugees mounting since the onset of the Mosul operation are mounting, causing grave concern to the UN and international aid agencies.
            DEBKAfile first reported on the ISIS raid of Kirkuk Friday.

            No one doubted that the US-Iraqi-Kurdish offensive to liberate Mosul would be drawn out and fraught with unforeseen setbacks before the Islamic State was finally thrown out of its Iraqi capital. But on Oct. 21, five days into the Mosul operation, the ISIS terrorists landed their most severe blow, when Islamist fighters and suicide bombers suddenly hurled themselves on the Iraqi oil city of Kirkuk in a coordinated attack.

            DEBKAfile’s military sources report that taking advantage of a chance to catch the US, Iraqi and Kurdish generals leading the attack on Mosul unawares, the Islamist fighters were able to open a second front to the rear of the main battle arena against ISIS.

            Kirkuk is some 175km southeast of Mosul and 230km from Baghdad. By hitting this important oil city, the terrorists came close to enough to menace the autonomous Kurdish Regional Government region and its capital, Irbil, and expose the Kurdish Peshmerga troops fighting for Mosul.

            Our military sources note that a large Peshmerga force of some 11,000 troops had been posted to secure the town and its oil fields, under the command of Gen. Mariwan Mohammed.

            But then, on Wednesday, Oct. 19, the US-Iraqi-Kurdish joint command of the Mosul offensive decided that Kurdish reinforcements were necessary to provide the operation with greater impetus. The extra Peshmerga troops were accordingly ordered to set out from Khazar, 40 km east of Mosul, and join the coalition offensive.

            However, what they missed, despite the mainly American spy satellites, drones and reconnaissance planes collecting intelligence, was an ISIS concentration clandestinely building up at Hawja, 57km east of Kirkuk. According to our military sources, some of the jihadists reported by the Western media to have turned tail on the run from Mosul had been gathering to the southeast, some 57km from Kirkuk. They stood ready to attack that town.

            Their opportunity came when the large Kurdish group exited Kirkuk and headed out to Mosul. Kirkuk was left exposed without defenders.

            Friday morning, the Islamic State launched its surprise attack on the defenseless oil city. Its fighters and suicide bombers slammed into four police stations, Kurdish security offices, residential neighborhoods and a power station to the north. Clashes continued during the day with unknown casualty figures on both sides.

            At some point, the governor claimed control of the city was regained but residents reported the clashes continued.

            ISIS said in a statement it had seized “half the city” and had also attacked the Dubiz power plant, killing all the security forces inside, but the claims were not possible to verify.

            Comment


            • Re: Regional geopolitics

              debka

              A major dispute on combat tactics which has sprung up between Washington and Baghdad hangs over the coalition’s Mosul offensive after three days of combat. Thursday, Oct. 20, President Barack Obama and US commanders challenged Iraq’s Shiite Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi and his generals over a 500km long route, the Ba’aj Road, which does not appear on maps, but is pivotal for the offensive’s continuation, DEBKAfile’s exclusive military and intelligence sources report.

              This route is a kind of “Burma road” developed by the Islamic State as a private corridor between Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa, the terrorist group’s Syrian capital, during the terrorist group’s two years of control. It runs through the Iraqi town of Tal Afar before crossing into Syria and passing south of areas controlled by Syrian Kurdish militias, among which US special operations forces are embedded.

              The argument flared over a demand by President Obama and US commanders that Iraqi government forces turn to the Syrian border and block the Ba’aja Road, and so cut off the ISIS fighters’ escape route from Mosul to Syria. The Americans can’t bomb the corridor because it is also packed with a stream of refugees in flight from the fighting in Mosul.

              So long as it is open, ISIS is free to move thousands of fighters and masses of weapons, ammunition and other supplies between its two strongholds. This freedom of action, Obama warned Al-Abadi, would prolong the Mosul operation beyond the Dec. 20 deadline set by the coalition for its termination.

              However, according to our sources, the Iraqi prime minister countered this demand with a proviso unacceptable to Washington. He was prepared to order Iraqi forces to block the Ba’aja Road provided Mosul’s entire population of 750,000 Sunni Muslims was expelled from the city. He argued that ISIS could not be defeated until then because the Sunnis were supporting and collaborating with the Islamist terrorists.

              Obama fiercely opposes the mass Sunni expulsion, seeing it as an attempt by the Shiite Iraqi prime minister to cleanse Iraq’s second city of its Sunni inhabitants and using the Mosul offensive against ISIS as a pretext for such action.

              DEBKAfile’s sources add that Al-Abadi has found support for his side of the argument with the arrival of the Iranian Al Qods chief Gen. Qassem Soleimani at the command posts of the pro-Iranian Iraqi Shiite militias, who have not yet been thrown into the Mosul battle.

              The Mosul offensive came up in the third US presidential debate in Las Vegas early Thursday. The Republican candidate Donald Trump, who appeared to have been updated on the state of play there, commented that the big winner from that offensive would be Iran.

              Our military sources report that three days of combat have not brought any major coalition forces advances against ISIS. On some sectors Iraqi forces are moving forward slowly, backed by US air strikes and rocket artillery fire; on others, they are stalled by Islamist resistance

              Comment


              • Re: Regional geopolitics

                Erdogan proclaims Mosul and Aleppo belong to Turkey




                ANKARA, TURKEY (1:20 P.M.) - Speaking during an opening ceremony for an educational institution in Bursa on Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan compared the way that Syrians and Iraqis have been driven away from homes because of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; ISIS/ISIL), to how Turkish people were once forced out from the same cities.

                Erdogan added that the cities of Mosul and Aleppo belong to the Turkish people.

                Video footage of this speech was broadcasted by Ruptly on Sunday morning:



                This is not the first time that Erdogan has said something this controversial; just last week, the Turkish President told Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider Al-'Abadi, he should know his place and that they are not equals.
                Politics is not about the pursuit of morality nor what's right or wrong
                Its about self interest at personal and national level often at odds with the above.
                Great politicians pursue the National interest and small politicians personal interests

                Comment


                • Re: Regional geopolitics

                  Mosul offensive: Turkish and Kurdish forces launch attacks on IS
                  bbc


                  Kurdish forces have carried out new attacks on positions of so-called Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq to retake the town of Bashiqa, near Mosul.

                  Kurdish Peshmerga commanders said they made large advances into IS territory and secured part of a highway that will limit IS's freedom of movement.
                  Turkey joined the fight against IS on Sunday, directing artillery fire at jihadist positions in Bashiqa.

                  The Iraqi PM had rejected an offer of Turkish involvement on Saturday.



                  What happened in Bashiqa?


                  Kurdish fighters killed dozens of IS militants, cordoned off eight villages and blocked IS's ability to supply Mosul with reinforcements.

                  The top US commander in Iraq, Lt Gen Stephen Townsend, told reporters there had been "considerable success" in Bashiqa on Sunday.

                  But he cautioned: "I have not received a report that says every house has been cleared, every Daesh [IS fighter] has been killed and every IED [roadside bomb] has been removed."

                  Journalists have not yet been allowed into the town.

                  Reuters TV footage, shot from a nearby village, showed smoke rising from Bashiqa as Kurdish fighters launched attacks against IS with mortars and machine guns.
                  Coalition forces have continued to push back IS positions around Mosul. Peshmerga commanders say they have advanced within 9km (5.5miles) of the city.



                  What is Turkey's role?

                  Turkey has insisted that its forces cannot remain idle during the fight to drive IS militants from Mosul. On Sunday, Turkish forces in Iraq fired weapons on militants in Bashiqa. Turkey said Kurdish fighters had asked for help.

                  Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in televised comments: "The Peshmerga have mobilised to cleanse the Bashiqa region from Daesh [IS].

                  "They asked for help from our soldiers at the Bashiqa base. So we are helping the tanks with our artillery there."

                  Bashiqa is close to a military base where Turkish troops are training Sunni Muslim fighters, both Arabs and Kurds.

                  On Friday, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter suggested Turkey should play a role in the Mosul offensive, but the Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi balked at the idea, telling the US that there was no need for Turkish forces yet.

                  What happened in Anbar?

                  In an apparent attempt to divert attention from the Mosul offensive, IS militants attacked the town of Rutba, in the western province of Anbar, on Sunday.
                  An Iraqi military spokesman reported three suicide car bombs in the city but said the situation was now "under control".

                  The town had been under IS control since 2014, but was taken back into government hands four months ago. Rutba's mayor said IS entered the city through sleeper cells.
                  As the pressure builds on IS in and around Mosul, the group has been counter-attacking with suicide bombers and launching assaults in other areas.

                  On Friday, IS launched an attack on the city of Kirkuk, south-east of Mosul. At least 46 people were killed and many more injured. The city remains under curfew and there were reports of continuing sporadic clashes on Sunday.

                  What is the US reaction?


                  Mr Carter, who is visiting Kurdish officials in Irbil, praised the efforts of Peshmerga forces

                  "They fight extremely well. But because they're fighting hard, they suffer... casualties,'' he said.

                  Mr Carter said Washington would supply extra support to the Iraqis if it was requested and said the US was planning a simultaneous operation in IS's Syrian stronghold Raqqa, according to the Associated Press news agency.

                  He said Washington wanted to begin military operations against IS fighters in Raqqa "as soon as possible".

                  A US-led coalition is backing the assault on Mosul with warplanes and military advisers.
                  Some 30,000 Iraqi security force personnel, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen and Shia militiamen are involved in the offensive.


                  What does this mean for civilians?


                  The UN says that 5,000 people have been displaced so far by the recent fighting around Mosul. It expects another 200,000 will be uprooted in the coming weeks.
                  On Friday a sulphur factory outside of Mosul was set on fire by militants. Up to 1,000 people have been treated in hospital for the effects of toxic smoke.
                  Aid agencies are bracing for a displacement of up to one million civilians as the battle continues. The UN says some 700,000 people are expected to need shelter.

                  Comment


                  • Re: Regional geopolitics

                    Russia, Turkey exchange military intelligence in Syria
                    By News Desk - 24/10/2016


                    (TASS) Russia has begun exchanging intelligence data with the Turkish Army in order to ensure the success of Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria.

                    According to Izvestia, the agreement was reached during last week’s talks between the Russian and Turkish Presidents, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

                    Experts believe that cooperating with Ankara on Syria may become more beneficial for Russia than cooperation with the US.

                    First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Defense and Security at the Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Franz Klintsevich, said Turkey quietly joined the pool on intelligence sharing created by Russia, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

                    "We pass on to the Turkish side radio intercept, radar data and imagery intelligence data that may be of interest to them," the senator said.

                    "In response, they also share data. The Turks have very efficient special services and a very good network of agents in Syria."

                    The current cooperation between the Russian and Turkish armed forces has emerged thanks to Ankara’s decision to revise its foreign policy priorities after this summer’s failed coup, Klintsevich noted.

                    "Although Turkey is a NATO member-state, it got very offended at the coup attempt that may have been the indirect work of certain Western powers, according to some data," he explained.

                    "President Erdogan and Turkey’s leadership understood that they can have deals with Russia."

                    Vladimir Avatkov, Director of the Center of the Oriental Studies, International Relations and Public Diplomacy, said the direct dialogue between Moscow and Ankara is very important.

                    "The Turks may be very useful for us in Syria and that’s why the priority in the Russian-Turkish relations now is establishing cooperation in defense and intelligence."

                    ALSO READ Nasrallah: Hezbollah fighters to remain in Syria until final victory
                    "Turkey controls whole regions in northern Syria and has sway on very powerful groups."

                    Ankara is showing its readiness to reach a compromise with Moscow in the Syrian issue, the expert said.

                    However, Ankara is unlikely to be an "easy partner," but cooperation with it is necessary and beneficial for Russia, he stressed.

                    Comment


                    • Re: Regional geopolitics


                      Turkey not involved in Mosul offensive: Iraqi Army Spokesperson
                      By News Desk - 24/10/2016

                      BAGHDAD, IRAQ (1:05 P.M.) - The Spokesperson for the Iraqi Joint Operations Command denied on Monday the Turkish Army's participation in the Mosul offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS).

                      "The spokesman of the Joint Operations Command denies Turkish participation of any kind in operations for the liberation of Nineveh," a statement said, referring to the Iraqi province of which Mosul is the capital.

                      Earlier this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asserted that his armed forces would actively participate in this Mosul offensive, despite objections from the Iraqi government.

                      As a result of Erdogan's comments, a war of words between the two governments ensued, with the Turkish President repeatedly insulting Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-'Abadi.

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