Regional geopolitics

[Vrej1915]

Re: Regional geopolitics

US to Turkey: We only arm Arabs in the SDF, not Kurds
By Paul Antonopoulos - 21/01/2017

Pentagon officials have emphasized to their Turkish partners that the US are only arming the Arab elements in the Kurdish-less Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF

The US has already begun airdropping aid to the Arab factions of the SDF to assist in their fight against ISIS in Raqqa countryside.

“Our local partners in Syria continue to converge down on Raqqa and I’m also confident that they will soon have ISIS’s so-called capital isolated,” outgoing US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said on Thursday about the US support for the SDF forces.

“The isolation of Raqqa continued…our partners cleared more than 3,000 square kilometers since the start of their operations. ISIS’s days there, as well as in Iraq, are numbered,” Carter added.

However it was Pentagon spokesperson Peter Cook that tried to ease the concerns of Turkey.

“We have been supplying the SDF, specifically the Syrian Arab Coalition, for some time, with materiel support. We continue to do that, and there’s been no change,” he said.

“We continue to provide that support for the Syrian Arab Coalition,” he stressed.

[Vrej1915]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Turkish forces to allow Syrian Army to liberate Al-Bab: report
By Leith Fadel - 20/01/2017

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:45 P.M.) - The Turkish Army will pull back its forces attacking the Islamic State (ISIS) stronghold of Al-Bab in order to allow the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) to liberate the city, Lebanese journalist Hussein Murtada reported on Friday.

The Syrian Arab Army launched an offensive in the eastern countryside of Aleppo recently, targeting the Al-Bab Plateau's southern flank.

This offensive has been relatively successful for the Syrian Arab Army, as they have liberated at least 5 villages and several sites from the Islamic State terrorists positioned in the Al-Bab Plateau.

Turkish soldiers have not shared the same success as the Syrian Army in east Aleppo, despite launching several attacks against the Islamic State terrorists at Al-Bab's eastern and western flanks of the city.

On Friday, the Turkish Army suffered another setback eastern Al-Bab after failing to seize the key town of Al-Sulfaniyah from the Islamic State.

[Vrej1915]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Iraqi Kurdistan leader says he does not want Kurdish civil war in Syria
By Paul Antonopoulos - 21/01/2017

Mason Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq, has said that he does want to see Syria's Kurdish-controlled areas descend into civil war amongst rival Kurdish factions.

The comments were made during the 2017 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Since 2012, the Zerevani forces affiliated to Barzani’s Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) have trained thousands of Syrian Kurdish Peshmergas to fight ISIS. However, due to disagreements between Barzani-backed Kurdish National Council (KNC) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), the Rojava’s Peshmerga have not been able to return to Syria, according to Ara News.

“We don’t want to see a Kurdish-Kurdish fighting in Rojava, that is why we have not sent back the Rojava Peshmerga,” Barzani said. “We are not optimistic about the future of Kurdistan Rojava in Syria.”

“Peshmerga of Rojava can be the bridge to lessen regional tensions and force multiplier in anti-ISIS campaign,” Masrour Barzani, the head of the Kurdistan Region’s Security Council, said last month in Washington when arguing why they should be fighting in Syria.

However, Pentagon officials say that the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) have the most effective fighters in northern Syria, and that trying to assemble, train and equip an alternative force could be difficult and at best would take months, the Ara News report continued.

[Artashes]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Turkish forces to allow Syrian Army to liberate Al-Bab: report
By Leith Fadel - 20/01/2017

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:45 P.M.) - The Turkish Army will pull back its forces attacking the Islamic State (ISIS) stronghold of Al-Bab in order to allow the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) to liberate the city, Lebanese journalist Hussein Murtada reported on Friday.

The Syrian Arab Army launched an offensive in the eastern countryside of Aleppo recently, targeting the Al-Bab Plateau's southern flank.

This offensive has been relatively successful for the Syrian Arab Army, as they have liberated at least 5 villages and several sites from the Islamic State terrorists positioned in the Al-Bab Plateau.

Turkish soldiers have not shared the same success as the Syrian Army in east Aleppo, despite launching several attacks against the Islamic State terrorists at Al-Bab's eastern and western flanks of the city.

On Friday, the Turkish Army suffered another setback eastern Al-Bab after failing to seize the key town of Al-Sulfaniyah from the Islamic State.

--- terk forces to *** ALLOW *** Syrian forces to liberate Al Bab ---
More conniving double talk by the hominoids that call themselves terk.
The ametaur raghead head chopping terrorist are kicking the sht out of the hominoid terk. So they're the terk is getting out of there PRONTO. They're --- running --- away, but trying to make it look like they are in control, which is why they inject the phony term "allow".
The terk is as fraudulent as ever.
Run btch run.

[Artashes]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Turkish forces to allow Syrian Army to liberate Al-Bab: report
By Leith Fadel - 20/01/2017

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:45 P.M.) - The Turkish Army will pull back its forces attacking the Islamic State (ISIS) stronghold of Al-Bab in order to allow the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) to liberate the city, Lebanese journalist Hussein Murtada reported on Friday.

The Syrian Arab Army launched an offensive in the eastern countryside of Aleppo recently, targeting the Al-Bab Plateau's southern flank.

This offensive has been relatively successful for the Syrian Arab Army, as they have liberated at least 5 villages and several sites from the Islamic State terrorists positioned in the Al-Bab Plateau.

Turkish soldiers have not shared the same success as the Syrian Army in east Aleppo, despite launching several attacks against the Islamic State terrorists at Al-Bab's eastern and western flanks of the city.

On Friday, the Turkish Army suffered another setback eastern Al-Bab after failing to seize the key town of Al-Sulfaniyah from the Islamic State.

--- terk forces to *** ALLOW *** Syrian forces to liberate Al Bab ---
More conniving double talk by the hominoids that call themselves terk.
The ametaur raghead head chopping terrorist are kicking the sht out of the hominoid terk. So they're the terk is getting out of there PRONTO. They're --- running --- away, but trying to make it look like they are in control, which is why they inject the phony term "allow".
The terk is as fraudulent as ever.
Run btch run.

Forgot to point out that the Isis scum that are stomping on the terk scum in Al Bab are the same terrorist head chopping murderers that the terks have been helping since the beginning of the brutally sad conflict began.
The terks,USA,eu,soody rabies, have all been facilitating this murderous,heartless group.
The rabid dog bites the hand(s) of the rabid master (puppet master).
How appropriate.

[Vrej1915]

Re: Regional geopolitics

BREAKING: Suicide bomber stopped before detonating in Beirut cafe
By Paul Antonopoulos - 21/01/2017

A would-be suicide bomber was stopped by Lebanese security forces before he could detonate the explosives in a thriving part of Beirut.



Lebanese security forces were following the suicide bomber before he entered the Costa Cafe on Al-Hamra street, one of Beirut's most trendiest areas full of cafes and restaurants, and arresting him.

In the process of the arrest, the suicide bomber was shot, but survived and is only injured. He has been transferred to a hospital under close supervision from the security services.

Preliminary reports say that he was a Palestinian, but this could not be independently verified by Al-Masdar News at this time.

[Vrej1915]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Թրամփի օրոք կսկսվի Հարավային Կովկասի անտեսման շրջան. Կիրակոսյան
21.01.2017


ԱՄՆ-ի եւ Ռուսաստանի միջեւ հարաբերությունների փոփոխությունը Թրամփի օրոք սպառնալիք կդառնա Հարավային Կովկասի համար այն իմաստով, որ վրա կհասնի Վաշինգթոնի կողմից տարածաշրջանի գործերն անուշադրության մատնելու նոր շրջան: NEWS.am-ի հետ զրույցում Տարածաշրջանային հետազոտությունների կենտրոնի տնօրեն Ռիչարդ Կիրակոսյանն ասաց, որ ԱՄՆ-ը, ամենայն հավանականությամբ, տարածաշրջանը հետին պլանում կպահի:

«Թեպետ ակնհայտ է, որ ամերիկյան ռազմավարական պարտականությունների վարկանիշը նվազեցնելու ձգտումն առաջին հերթին կանդրադառնա Վրաստանի վրա, Ալիեւի կառավարության հետ Թրամփի անձնական կապերն ու հայ-ամերիկյան լոբբիի հզոր ազդեցությունը Կոնգրեսում կսահմանափակեն տարածաշրջանային գործերին չմիջամտելու աստիճանը եւ կպահպանեն Ադրբեջանի եւ Հայաստանի նկատմամբ նվազագույն հետաքրքրության քաղաքականություն»,- ասաց Կիրակոսյանը:

Ինչ վերաբերում է տարածաշրջանում սառեցված հակամարտություններին, վերլուծաբանը ենթադրում է, որ Թրամփի՝ ամերիկյան ազգային շահերի նեղ սահմանումը կվնասի Վաշինգթոնի ներգրավվածությանը: «Հարավային Կովկասի հնց նման ռազմավարական անտեսումն էլ կդրդի Ռուսաստանին ավելի միակողմանի մոտեցում որդեգրել եւ դիմադրություն չհանդիպելով՝ նա ավելի կմեծացնի իր իշխանությունն ու ազդեցությունը»,- ասաց Կիրակոսյանը:

Լուրեր Հայաստանից - NEWS.am

[Vrej1915]

Re: Regional geopolitics

First Trump era war? Serbia versus Muslim Kosovo

Debka

Just six days before Donald Trump’s inauguration as US President, a Serbian train took up position on the Kosovo border. It was painted ostentatiously with the slogan “Kosovo is Serbian” in several languages along with national Serbian and Orthodox Christian emblems.
The train has been stationary since Friday, Jan. 14. Kosovan security authorities are blocking its advance along the new 213km long rail link from Belgrade to Mitrovica, a town in Muslim Kosovo which has a large Serbian population.
This is more than a symbolic reminder of the brutal Balkan wars of the 1990s. Two armies are already poised for battle: 60,000 Serbian troops, including armored, artillery and air force units, are on war preparedness, facing a much smaller Kosovo security force which, after calling up reserves, numbers around 6,000 combatants.
Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic beat a war drum this week when he declared: “If Serbians are killed, we’ll send our army to Kosovo.”
It was 19 years ago that Serbia signed an agreement for ending its war with Kosovo after NATO forces intervened and US warplanes bombed the Serbian capital of Belgrade into capitulation. The West recognized Kosovan independence, but Russia and China still view the country as an integral part of Serbia.
The Kosovo war was the sequel to the 1992-1995 conflict between Christian Serbia and Croatia, on one side, and Muslim Bosnia, on the other. This war was brought to a close after President Bill Clinton’s intervention forced Serbia to sign the Dayton Accords and cede broad areas of Bosnia to Muslim rule.
In sum, the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s saw many horrors, but also ended in American support for the establishment of independent Muslim enclaves in southern Europe. Orthodox Christian rule and territory, which were under Russian military, religious and national influence, were substantially downsized.
This policy was pursued systematically for 15 years by Presidents Clinton and Obama with the support of Chancellor Angela Merkel. It is widely seen today as the key which in recent years unlocked continental Europe to the influx of millions of Muslim migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa.
Four south European nations, Turkey, Bosnia, Kosovo and Albania, provided the arrivals with their gateway into West Europe.
The Serbian train parked on the Kosovo border marked the end of the Obama era and underlined Belgrade’s non-acceptance of the borderline imposed in the last century on Serbia. The train is expected to cross that border after the Trump inauguration Friday, Jan. 20. If it is attacked by Kosovan security forces, the Serbian army will march in. And even if it is not attacked, the Serbian army plans to march behind the train across the border in a bid to eradicate one of President Clinton’s proudest achievements.
Indeed, a statue of Bill Clinton stands at the center of Pristina’s main square, in appreciation of his gift of Muslim independence and liberation from Serbian rule.
When it starts moving, the Serbian train will pose the new US president with his first test in dealing with an international crisis involving the Muslim issue before he has a chance to settle in at the Oval Office.
He will find on his desk an urgent note to the US and members of the European Union from Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Enver Hoxhaj asking for assistance against Serbian aggression. A similar SOS in 1998 brought a NATO elite force, consisting mainly of British units, rushing to Kosovo. In 2017, Kosovo can forget about help from any European government, even sympathetic Germany and France.
This is not just about the presidential transition in Washington. On June 12, 1999, Russian President Boris Yeltsin landed an army contingent at Pristinia airfield to put the brakes on Kosovo’s takeover by the West. The option of backing the Serbian train as it rolls into Kosovo is still available to his successor, Vladimir Putin.
His response will offer an important insight into the secret understandings reached between Trump and Putin for collaboration in the war on Islamist terror and the prevention of further Muslim expansion in Europe.

[Vrej1915]

Re: Regional geopolitics

US & Russia to free Palmyra after Trump sworn in
Debka

Some of the ambiguity and mystery surrounding the nature of President-elect Donald Trump’s relations with Russia’s Vladimir Putin may disperse after the new US president takes office Thursday, Jan. 20, because one of their first joint military actions is ready to go.
DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources disclose exclusively that a combined US, Russian, Syrian and Jordanian force is preparing for a major operation to liberate the Syrian heritage town of Palmyra from the Islamic State.
Its capture by this allied force would have important ramifications: It would isolate the ISIS forces dug in in northern and central Syria and disconnect them from the jihadists who control extensive areas in the east and the south, including the Euphrates Valley which runs from Syria to Iraq.
From Palmyra, the key offensive for ousting ISIS from its Syrian capital, Raqqa, would move a step closer. The Islamic State would also be distanced from directly menacing Jordan’s borders with Syria and Iraq.
This menace came closer last week when ISIS commanders decided to make a grab for the eastern Syrian town of Deir ez-Zour, after they saw Syrian government forces leaving their bases in the town and heading north to Palmyra. Until then, ISIS had occupied part of the strategic town, while keeping the government-held part and the big Syrian air base nearby under siege for the past two years.
The allied operation to liberate Palmyra will be the first joint US-Russian military venture embarked on by the Trump administration. It will be a litmus test for the ability of the new US president and the Russian president to work together.
This was what the president-elect was referring to when he commented last Wednesday, Jan 11: “Russia can help us fight ISIS. If Putin likes Donald Trump, guess what, folks, that’s called an asset, not a liability.”
The next day, he was publicly contradicted by his nominee for Pentagon chief, Gen. James Mattis, who is no admirer of Putin. But the general went on to add: “I’m all for engagement, but we also have to recognize reality and what Russia is up to.”
Our sources report that the US and Russian armies are already in the process of exploring common ground for their “engagement” from their war-rooms outside Amman: The US Central Command (Forward) and the Russian-Jordanian command center not far away.
Syrian government army officers have arrived in Jordan for the first time since the civil war erupted in 2011, and were housed in the Russian war room. The operation to recover Palmyra is by now in advanced stage of coordination.
Read DEBKA Weekly for more exclusive coverage of US-Russian military collaboration against ISIS as it unfolds after Jan. 20. If you are not yet a DEBKA Weekly subscriber, click here to sign on.

[Vrej1915]

Re: Regional geopolitics

Moscow acts to oust Iran from Syria, bombs ISIS
Debka

ISIS suicide bombers at Deir ez-Zour
Although Vladimir Putin’s spokesman spoke reservedly Saturday, Jan. 21, about Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president the day before – It would be “an illusion” to expect Russian-US ties to be “free of disagreement” – Moscow’s actions in Syria were clearly designed to meet the new US president more than half way.
Trump in his inauguration speech pledged to wipe radical Islamist terrorism “off the face of the earth.”
His words were still reverberating when Russian long-range Tu-22M3 bombers flying in from bases in Russia smashed Islamic State targets in the eastern Syrian province of Deir ez-Zour the next day. The bombers hit ISIS base camps, weapons stockpiles and armored vehicles, covered overhead by Russian fighter jets from their Syrian air base at Hmeimim. After the sortie, the Tupolev bombers flew home.
DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources interpret the heavy Russian bombardment of ISIS as one of several signals Putin is sending out of his willingness to go the extra mile for a common effort with Trump to root ISIS and all its works out of the Middle East.
The Russians stepped in massively when, after holding out for many months of siege and assault at the important provincial town of Deir ez-Zor,, Syrian government forces were about to fold and the town and air base fall to ISIS.
Last Wednesday, Russian transport helicopters flew hundreds of Syrian troops to relieve them: Two brigades from the 15th Infantry Division, belonging to the elite Republic Guard, were lifted out of the northern Qamishli region. When the Syrian lines were still in danger, the Russian helicopters turned around and flew back with members of the Lebanese Hizballah’s elite Radwan Force, to bolster the Syrian stand and save Deir ez-Zour.
For Putin, the injection of Hizballah into a major Syrian battle came at an awkward moment in terms of his diplomatic strategy on the eve of the Syrian peace conference that opens in Astana, Kazakhstan, Sunday, Jan. 23, under his joint sponsorship with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
The Russian leader had already give his co-sponsor a commitment to initiate a resolution at Astana demanding the withdrawal of all pro-Iranian militias from Syria, including Hizballah. This aimed at pacifying Syrian opposition groups, but was also meant to demonstrate to President Trump that Moscow would be a strong partner in the war on ISIS while also ready to clip Iran’s wings and influence in the affairs of Syria and Lebanon.
At the same time, Russian war strategists appreciate the urgency of averting the fall of Deir ez-our and its air base to the Islamists. This catastrophe would negatively impact the entire campaign against the terrorist organization on its three main fronts, Mosul, Raqqa and Palmyra, and count as ISIS’ biggest victory in the past year.