12 October 2021 — The Grayzone
Tag: idlib
US-Israel Predictably Behind Turkish Aggression in Syria
11 March 2020 — Land Destroyer
(Tony Cartalucci – NEO) – Turkey’s ongoing fighting in northern Syria’s Idlib governorate was – from the beginning of recent escalations – clearly a continuation of Washington’s wider now 9 year-long proxy war against Damascus.
Whatever gains Turkey had made in terms of reducing its role in Washington’s proxy war and repairing ties with Syria’s allies Russia and Iran – were clearly less important to Ankara amid these recent weeks of renewed aggression than whatever Washington has either promised Anakara or threatened it with.Which target after Syria? by Thierry Meyssan
10 March 2020 — Voltaire Network
Events in the “Broader Middle East” since 2001 have followed a relentless logic. The current question is whether the time has come for a new war in Turkey or Saudi Arabia. The answer depends in particular on the resumption of hostilities in Libya. It is in this context that the Additional Protocol negotiated by Presidents Erdoğan and Putin to resolve the Idleb crisis must be interpreted.
Guilty until proven innocent (again): UN report on alleged Russian ‘war crimes’ in Syria is based on ‘We Say So’ & unnamed sources
Putin saves Erdogan from himself
6 March 2020 — Asia Times
Once again it was Russia that just prevented the threatened ‘Muslim invasion’ of Europe advertised by Erdogan
by Pepe Escobar
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech on November 9 last year on the 81st anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey. Photo: AFP / PhotMurat Kula / Anadolu Agency
At the start of their discussion marathon in Moscow on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with arguably the most extraordinary diplomatic gambit of the young 21st century.
Syria – Another Ceasefire In Idleb – Erdogan Loses On All Points
5 March 2020 — Moon of Alabama
Our last post on Syria concluded:
Erdogan wants Idleb but neither Syria nor Iran nor Russia will let him have it. President Putin will meet Erdogan during the coming days and will make sure that the point is understood.
President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and President Vladimir Putin of Russia met today in Moscow. They had a 160 minute long talk under 4 eyes and another round with their relevant staff. The parties agreed on a new ceasefire in Idleb governorate.
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Empires of the steppes fuel Erdogan Khan’s dreams
4 March 2020 — Asia Times
As Putin meeting looms, no one in Moscow believes any word, promise or cajoling from Erdogan anymore
by Pepe Escobar
Refugees wait Saturday to cross the border between Turkey and Greece near the Pazarkule border post, in Turkey. Thousands of migrants and refugees, including Afghans, Syrians and Iraqis, have massed at Turkey’s border with Greece after Erdogan announced on February 28 that Turkey would no longer prevent them from leaving for the European Union. Photo: AFP / Burcu Okutan / Sputnik
The latest installment of the interminable Syria tragedy could be interpreted as Greece barely blocking a European “invasion” by Syrian refugees. The invasion was threatened by President Erdogan even as he refused the EU’s puny “offer you can refuse” bribe of only one billion euros.
Well, it’s more complicated than that. What Erdogan is in fact weaponizing is mostly economic migrants – from Afghanistan to the Sahel – and not Syrian refugees.
1 March 2020: Turkey vs Syria SITREP
March 2020 — The Saker
by Scott for the Saker Blog
Did Turkey Just Sacrifice Their Own Troops to Protect Al-Qaeda?
1 March 2020 — Strategic Culture Foundation
Matthew Ehret
After 33 Turkish troops were killed in a Syrian army offensive on February 27 amidst the current Russia-backed campaign to liberate Idlib, Erdogan responded by laying the blame entirely on Russia and Syria – successfully avoiding all mention of the uncomfortable fact that Turkey has been protecting radical terror networks not only in Idlib but across Syria as a whole for years.
Turkish Sultan-In-Chief Goes Wild, Threatens Putin, Claims Thousands Of Syrian Troops Were Killed
29 February 2020 — South Front
Click to see the full-size image
On February 29, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan came with a new group of claims on the situation in Syria’s Idlib and Turkish agressive actions in the region.
Turkey: Why is the ‘Sick Man of Europe’ itching in Syria?
26 February 2020 — New Eastern Outlook
If Turkey’s Erdogan had some ‘neo-Ottoman’ dreams, they seem to have been almost fully shattered by the fast-pace Russia-Syria offensive in norther Syria and recovery of the territory hitherto being controlled by the so-called ‘rebel’ forces, including those being funded by Turkey ever since the beginning of the ‘civil-war’ in Syria. An analysis of the evolution of Turkey’s policies in Syria shows that it has been a massive failure. Starting with the objective of ‘sending Assad home’, which ultimately meant to allow Turkey to extend its influence in Syria and thereby impose a ‘permanent solution’ on its Kurdish problem, to collaborating with Russia, Iran and Syria in Sochi and Astana processes, Turkey’s primary motivation has always been to raise its regional strategic profile in a way that allows it to become a new regional hegemon. It has been trying to maintain a calculated distance from the US/NATO, considering that the US support for the Kurds remains the key element of its Middle Eastern policy, and it has been maintaining a calculated relationship with Russia—Syria in the hopes of finding the same ‘permanent solution’ to its Kurdish question through a direct control of large swaths of Syrian territory.
Ankara has Shot Itself in the Foot in Syria
25 February 2020 — New Eastern Outlook
Author: Valery Kulikov
Recently, Ankara has crossed the line by transforming its supposed anti-terrorist operation in Syria into a full-fledged invasion. Essentially, it wouldn’t stop in spite of Moscow’s repeated attempts to talk some sense into its partner and the repeated warnings voiced by Damascus. In fact, Ankara has been answering attempts at pursuing deescalation in Syria by making provocative statements. Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan described the events unraveling in Idlib as “a war”, while his Defense Minister Hulusi Akar demanded Russia to “step aside” and allow Turkish Armed forces to deal with Bashar al-Assad’s troops.
Syria – Army Moves To Liberate M4 Highway – Turkish Russian Standoff Continues
25 February 2020 — Moon of Alabama
The Syrian Arab Army continues its campaign to liberate Idleb governorate. The current main area of operation is in the southeast of the terrorist held area where the SAA attacks in a northern and western direction. The aim of the operation is to bring the M4 highway from Latakia to Aleppo under government control.
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Erdogan requests talks on Syria
25 February 2020 — InfoRos
Ankara faces a deadlock and tries to save its face amid a sour game in Idlib
Yuri Veselov, military observer
February 2020 was an unfortunate period in Turkey’s policy towards Syria. A powerful offensive by the Syrian government army in the Idlib province entailed the capture of almost half of the province’s territory and control establishment over the international Damascus-Aleppo highway. At least four of Turkey’s largest observation posts found themselves deep in Syrian-controlled areas.Four-Way Summit On Idlib Signals Turkey’s Inability To Turn Military Threats Into Reality
25 February 2020 — South Front
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan confirmed his intention to meet with the leaders of Russia and France Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on March 5th in Istanbul to discuss the situation in Idlib.
Russia warns Turkey against rash moves in Idlib By M.K. Bhadrakumar
21 February 2020 — Indian Punchline
Turkish military reinforcements preparing to cross the border into Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, February 12, 2020
Moscow has taken with a pinch of salt Turkish President Recep Erdogan’s statement on Wednesday that a Turkish incursion into the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib is imminent.
Objectively speaking, Erdogan should be out of his mind to order a military offensive against the Syrian and Russian forces in Idlib. A Russian military delegation, which visited Ankara last week, had advised the Turks to back down, but Erdogan instead beefed up the deployments in Idlib.
As Usual, Western Media Grossly Distort Syria’s Conflict
21 February 2020 — Strategic Culture Foundation
Western news media are once again distorting the conflict in Syria with lopsided coverage this week, claiming to focus their concern on a humanitarian crisis in the northwest of the country.
Syria – Turkey’s Bluff Is Called – Media Opposition Sources Run By British Intelligence
19 February 2020 — Moon of Alabama
Russia has called Turkey’s bluff of a wide ranging attack on Syrian government forces. The Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan will now have to find a way out of the Idleb trap he set himself in. His excellent Syria adventure is coming to an end.
Policy of Self-Destruction: Turkey Supplies Syrian Fighters with Military Equipment
15 February 2020 — American Herald Tribune
Amid a surge in military operations in Idlib governorate, Turkey has been gradually escalating military provocations, creating obstacles to the advance of the Syrian Arab Army. Currently, Ankara decided to not even try to hide the fact that it funds and supplies terrorist organizations and controlled armed groups.
Syria: M5 highway secured, time for truce By M.K. Bhadrakumar
14 February 2020 — The Indian Punchline
Syrian forces took control of M5 highway connecting economic hub of Aleppo to Damascus and other key population centres to Jordanian border, February 12, 2020.
The de-escalation talks between Moscow and Ankara over the Russian-backed offensive by the Syrian government forces in the northwestern province of Idlib didn’t help defuse tensions.
On the contrary, Turkish-Syrian tensions cascaded and an unraveling of the Russian-Turkish entente may ensue.
The New Dark Age 