Regional geopolitics

[Haykakan]

Re: Regional geopolitics

7-Back a Military Coup

They did that already. I doubt we will see another coup as every aspect of turkish society has now been purged. A Kurdish uprising along with the economic hardship and the ISIS threat could weaken turkey as a regional power but it may unite the Turkish population as well. Turkey has proven to be resilient before, we will see how resilient it is now.

[Haykakan]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Tens of High-Ranking Turkish Army Officers Resign after Defeats in Northern Syria
From: Mihran Keheyian <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2017 11:03:18 +0000

Tens of High-Ranking Turkish Army Officers Resign after Defeats in Northern Syria

Tue Jan 17, 2017 1:41



TEHRAN (FNA)- A Turkish journalist disclosed that at least fifty high-ranking officers of the Turkish Army have resigned due to their recent defeats in the course of the Euphrates Shield Operation in Northern Aleppo.

Ahmad Takan, a columnist in Turkish language Yeni Chaq paper, wrote in an article that the army's heavy defeats in the Euphrates Shield Operation in Northern Syria caused 50 senior officers to resign.

He added that the 50 officers have handed over their resignations to army commanders in al-Bab region.

Takan also quoted informed sources in the Turkish army as saying the Ankara-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) sells the arms and ammunition it receives from the Turkish Army to the ISIL.

He further added that on January 8, a group of Turkmen militants affiliated to the Turkish army arrested a group of FSA near the village of Akhtari South of al-Bab region as they were dispatching two trucks of arms and munitions to the ISIL-held regions.

Takan went on to say that the Euphrates Shield Operation has been defeated and its casualties have been hidden by the operation commanders from the public opinion.

Hospitals in Dilouk, Kilis and their countrysides are full of injured soldiers of the Turkish army, Takan added.

He said that Ankara has also been forced to hand over ISIL's dead members to the terrorist group to take back its dead soldiers' bodies.

Turkey has also increased duration of mandatory military service to make up for the loss of forces in a fresh wave of resignations.

Media sources disclosed on Sunday that tens of Turkish soldiers were suspended after selling their weapons and military equipment with the help of the so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) on the sidelines of the Euphrates Shield Operation in Northern Aleppo.

Al-Watan newspaper said that social media activists released reports along with images showing that "50 Turkish military men have been suspended and ordered to drop their operations in the Euphrates Shield Operation".

Meantime, dissident activists from Northern Aleppo reported that "after the Euphrates Shield Operation, we witnessed new equipment and guns in Northern Syria, and after investigation it became clear that the warfare equipment belonged to the Euphrates Shield Operation forces".

Opposition sources had also disclosed in September that militants affiliated to the Turkey-backed FSA have received a batch of advanced military vehicles in Northern Aleppo.

"The FSA-affiliated terrorist group of al-Hamza that is under the command of the Euphrates Shield Operation Room has received a number of military vehicles from the US army officers deployed in Northern Aleppo," the sources said.

Opposition sources have also released several photos showing the US army vehicles with al-Hamaza terrorist group's emblem.

Al-Hamzah had previously claimed that it is independent and is not working with any foreign country.

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13951028000361

[londontsi]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Ads Offer Protesters $2500 to Disrupt Trump Inauguration

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/us/201701171...protest-trump/

Job advertisements running in 20 cities across the US are offering $2,500 a month for “operatives” willing to protest the upcoming inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.

San Francisco-based Demand Protest posted ads on Backpage.com, seeking applicants who would like to "Get paid fighting against Trump!" Along with the monthly $2,500 retainer, the company offers a "standard per-event pay of $50/hr, as long as you participate in at least 6 events a year," and full-time operatives are eligible for vision, dental and health insurance......

Read more: https://sputniknews.com/us/201701171...protest-trump/

.

[Haykakan]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Syrian Analyst: US Providing Satellite Images to ISIL for Deir Ezzur Attack

Wed Jan 18, 2017 12:4


TEHRAN (FNA)- A prominent military analyst said the US has provided the ISIL with aerial and satellite images of the Syrian army positions in Deir Ezzur to be used in the terrorist group's offensives.

"ISIL's fierce attacks on Deir Ezzur in the past few days which have been launched from several directions and their precise targeting attacks indicate that the terrorist group is logistically supported by the satellite images," Hassan Hassan told FNA on Wednesday.

Noting that such precision-striking attacks are possible only through using satellite images, he said, "Although the US-led international coalition claims to to be fighting against the ISIL, it contributes no role in the fight against ISIL in Deir Ezzur, proving that the ISIL had never been a target for the coalition but it was an instrument to implement Washington's plots and prolong the war in Syria."

"The terrorists have received satellite images of the Syrian army positions from the US," Hassan underlined.

Media sources in the region said on Tuesday that US-led collation's air attack on Syrian army positions in Southern Deir Ezzur in September paved the ground for ISIL's large-scale attacks on government positions in the last couple of days.

The Arabic language Lebanese al-Akhbar paper reported that recent attacks of ISIL on government positions in Deir Ezzur in the last two to three days are the results of the US air attack on army positions in September as the air raids weakened the army troops.

The paper added that ISIL's control over the entire territories in Deir Ezzur province will benefit significantly the US-led coalition.

The paper said that ISIL intends to take full control of Deir Ezzur city and vast regions in Syria's desert from South of Sweida up to Palmyra in Homs and from Raqqa to Deir Ezzur to take control of Syria's border with Iraq.

Al-Akhbar underlined that based on field information the ISIL's plan was practically kicked off when the US-led coalition's fighter jets bombed the Syrian Army's positions in al-Thardah mountain in September 17 that left tens of army soldiers dead and wounded.

The army later pulled back their men from trinary al-Thardah mountain that plays a protection role for Deir Ezzur airbase.

The US-led coalition's air raid opened way for ISIL to use its suicide attackers and suicide vehicles to intensify attacks on Deir Ezzur airbase.

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13951029000359

[Vrej1915]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Syria conflict: Russia and Turkey 'in first joint air strikes on IS'

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38667895

Russian and Turkish jets have carried out their first joint strikes on so-called Islamic State (IS) inside Syria, the Russian defence ministry says.

IS was targeted in the suburbs of the town of al-Bab, Aleppo province, where Turkey suffered heavy casualties last month battling the group on the ground.
Turkey's military was quoted by Reuters as saying Russia had carried out air strikes "in co-ordination with Turkey".

Russia and Turkey have become leading outside players in Syria's civil war.

Al-Bab, about 20km (12 miles) from the Turkish border, has been the focus of a five-month Turkish campaign aimed at pushing back both IS and Kurdish forces.
US aircraft carried out strikes on the area earlier this week, also in co-operation with Turkey, but a joint combat operation between a Nato state like Turkey and Russia marks a highly unusual development.

Didn't Russia and Turkey fight each other in the air just over a year ago?

Yes, a Turkish F-16 fighter shot down a Su-24 bomber on 24 November 2015, while the Russian plane was on a mission in the Syrian border area. One of the crew was killed while the other was rescued.

This clash between Russia and a Nato state caused a crisis in relations between the two countries, with Moscow imposing sanctions which hurt the Turkish economy.
It only ended after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly expressed regret.

Since then, the two countries have not only mended economic ties but worked together in Syria to secure its longest-lasting ceasefire, which is still in place despite violations.
Along with Iran, they are organising peace talks due to begin in the Kazakh capital, Astana, on Monday.


As complex as ever: Analysis by Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent

It is unusual, to say the least, for the Russian air force to conduct joint air strikes alongside a Nato member like Turkey.
While Russian sources have listed the aircraft involved, it is still not clear this was a joint operation. For example, did each country's warplanes strike a discrete set of targets?
What we do know is that Turkish ground forces are making heavy weather of their assault on the IS positions in and around al-Bab. Ties between Moscow and Ankara have been warming of late as Turkey adjusts to the Russian-backed recapture of Aleppo by Syrian government forces.

But to complicate the picture further, US warplanes have recently resumed support for Turkish operations in the al-Bab area as well.
Turkey's main strategic goal is to contain the advance of Kurdish fighters who themselves are allies of the Americans. It is seeking to secure a wedge of territory between two Kurdish-controlled enclaves. Syria's battle lines are as complex as ever.

How big is Wednesday's operation?

A Russian spokesman, Lt-Gen Sergei Rudskoi, said nine Russian aircraft and eight Turkish planes had been involved in Wednesday's strikes.


He listed them as four Su-24s, four Su-25s and one Su-34 on the Russian side, and four F-16s and four F-4s on the Turkish side.
They had hit 36 targets, he added, without giving details.
But he added: "The estimate of the first strikes against IS terrorists has shown that the joint actions of the Russian and Turkish aviation groups were highly effective."
Last month, Turkish military officials said Russian aircraft had carried out three strikes against IS around al-Bab.
Those strikes appeared to be the first Russian support for the Turkish ground campaign.

Is it a surprise to see a Nato state apparently joining forces with Russia?

Relations between Moscow and Nato have certainly been strained in recent years, particularly after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
Only last week, the US sent 3,000 soldiers backed with tanks and armoured vehicles to Poland, as a deterrent to Moscow.

But Turkish relations with the US and other Western powers have deteriorated since the failed coup on 15 July, when the West was accused of showing insufficient support for Mr Erdogan.
American support for Kurdish groups inside Syria has further strained the relationship.

How heavy is the fighting around al-Bab?

On 21 December, 14 Turkish soldiers were killed and 33 wounded in a single day of fighting for the town.


It was the Turkish military's biggest loss in a single day since launching its military operation in Syria in August.
Earlier this week, the US mounted four air strikes in the area, targeting IS hardware.
The Turkish army is officially acting in a support role for the Free Syrian Army, a Syrian opposition force.

[Haykakan]

Re: Regional geopolitics

The last part of this article is very interesting.

Deir Ezzur: Syrian Army Enters Cemetery Area, Russia Hits ISIL's Military Positions with Iskander Missiles

Fri Jan 20, 2017 5:22


TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army entered the cemetery region in Deir Ezzur as Russia's Iskander missiles hit the ISIL terrorist group's military positions in different parts of the city.

The army units are now in the cemetery region in the Southwestern part of Deir Ezzur city and have seized control over a part of the strategic territory.

Meantime, the Russian army's Iskander missiles pounded and destroyed the ISIL terrorists' military positions in different parts of Deir Ezzur city.

Meantime, the Russian and Syrian warplanes intensified their air raids on ISIL's supply lines in Deir Ezzur and killed tens of militants in their raids.

In a relevant development earlier on Friday, the Syrian army backed by the country's air force kicked off massive military operations against the ISIL terrorist group from the direction of Deir Ezzur cemetery to reopen a road located between the city and the nearby airbase.

Heavy clashes are underway between the Syrian army and the ISIL terrorist group in the surrounding areas of Deir Ezzur military airport, Panorama and around Brigade 137.



The air force has also hit the ISIL's military positions in over 50 sorties.

Initial reports said the ISIL terrorists sustained heavy losses in the Syrian airstrikes.

In a relevant development on Thursday, the army troops started devastating attacks on ISIL in and around the Eastern city of Deir Ezzur after several days of defense, and won back several positions from the terrorists, a Syrian army general declared.

Major General Hassan Mohammad said that the army soldiers have started attacking ISIL's concentration centers and have recaptured several positions in Deir Ezzur after fending off several ISIL offensives in the last few days.

He further added that the al-Ta'amin Brigade Base that lies close to Deir Ezzur Airbase has been brought back under the army control and soldiers are now engaged in fierce clashes with ISIL to seize back control over the nearby power station.

Hassan Mohammad went on to say that security has also been established at the housing district, known as the University Residential Area, and Tal (hill) Barouk after the army managed to repel ISIL's numerous assaults on the two regions.

"Russian and Syrian warplanes are pounding ISIL's gatherings and movements in the battlefields, inflicting major many casualties on the terrorists," he added.

The Syrian general further pointed out that military helicopters are also flying over Deir Ezzur to strike at ISIL militants and deliver aid to the airbase.

Reports said earlier on Thursday that entire members of a group of ISIL terrorists were killed in an unprecedented attack by unknown assailants on their base in Deir Ezzur.

A media source disclosed that several unknown assailants have stormed one of an ISIL position in the village of Hatleh.

The attackers first made all the 9 members of the group unconscious and then killed them.

The source said that popular forces and some of the secret groups have revolted against ISIL after the terrorist group executed and beheaded civilians.

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13951101000703

[Haykakan]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Iranian official: The future generations of Azerbaijan will consider Iranians as their enemies
“The leadership of Azerbaijan makes efforts to write a history for the past which is nothing more than a distortion and falsification of history,” Advisor to the Deputy for International Affairs of the Head of Iran’s Culture and Islamic Guidance Organization Seyed Reza Mir-Mohammadi noted the aforesaid. Panorama.am reports citing Arannyuz.ir Iranian news agency.
Turing to the policy of falsifying the historical facts run by Azerbaijan the Iranian high ranking official has particularly noted the following: “History can only be studied not rewritten. Currently we need to study the history of the Caucasus and namely the one referring to Azerbaijan. And we must take a responsibility to carry out that study. The younger generation of Azerbaijan is raised with these ideas and that challenge has turned into a real threat. If this policy of Azerbaijan continues the future generations of the Azerbaijani people will consider us (the Iranian people) as their enemies.”

http://www.panorama.am/en/news/2017/01/19/Iranian-official-future-generation-Azerbaijan-Iran-enemies/1711453

[Vrej1915]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Turkish Army suffers heavy casualties in failed east Aleppo offensive
By Leith Fadel - 20/01/2017

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-army-suffers-heavy-casualties-failed-east-aleppo-offensive/

BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:20 P.M.) - The Turkish Army launched another offensive to seize the key town of Al-Sulfaniyah in east Aleppo on Friday, striking the Islamic State's (ISIS) defenses from the eastern flank, while their jet provided much needed air cover.

Despite the intensity of the attack, the Turkish Army and their rebel allies failed to capture Al-Sulfaniyah for the 9th time this month.

According to the Islamic State's official media wing on Telegram, their forces killed several Turkish Army personnel and destroyed much of their military hardware while foiling this large-scale offensive to capture Al-Sulfaniyah and encircle Qabasin.

The Turkish Army has attempted to liberate the Al-Bab region from the Islamic State for the past two months; however, they have been forestalled for nearly 25 days in the Al-Sulfaniyah area, as their forces have failed to capture this town from the terrorist group.

[Vrej1915]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Syrian settlement needs Assad: Turkish Deputy PM
By News Desk - 20/01/2017

A top Turkish official says his country can no longer insist on any settlement for Syria’s long-running war without Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Speaking in a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said the blame for Syria’s nearly six-year war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people is “squarely on Assad.”

Simsek said, however, that Turkey has to be “realistic” and “facts on the ground have changed dramatically” in Syria.

“So Turkey can no longer insist on, you know, a settlement without Assad,” he said.

Simsek also said that Turkey has “high hopes” for Syrian peace talks planned next week and hosted by Turkey, Russia and Iran in Astana, Kazakhstan.



Manar

[Artashes]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Turkish Army suffers heavy casualties in failed east Aleppo offensive
By Leith Fadel - 20/01/2017

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/turkish-army-suffers-heavy-casualties-failed-east-aleppo-offensive/

BEIRUT, LEBANON (8:20 P.M.) - The Turkish Army launched another offensive to seize the key town of Al-Sulfaniyah in east Aleppo on Friday, striking the Islamic State's (ISIS) defenses from the eastern flank, while their jet provided much needed air cover.

Despite the intensity of the attack, the Turkish Army and their rebel allies failed to capture Al-Sulfaniyah for the 9th time this month.

According to the Islamic State's official media wing on Telegram, their forces killed several Turkish Army personnel and destroyed much of their military hardware while foiling this large-scale offensive to capture Al-Sulfaniyah and encircle Qabasin.

The Turkish Army has attempted to liberate the Al-Bab region from the Islamic State for the past two months; however, they have been forestalled for nearly 25 days in the Al-Sulfaniyah area, as their forces have failed to capture this town from the terrorist group.

^^^
For the record, I'm rooting for Isis. It don't get much better than the above post indicates. Two terrorists lock in mortal combat. Head chopping amateurs stomp the terks. Sweet.
Let the terrorist ragheads get stomped by Assad's forces, but let the terks get wasted by the terrorist jehadis scum.
Scum kills scum. Works for me.