At least two secret rounds of talks between Russian and U.S.officials on establishing de-escalation zones in Syria
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-in-...3492?mod=e2tw#
SO Putin and Trump are actually linking up as Putin has planned all along....
Civilians in #DayrHafir, captured by "the glorious Syrian Arab Army" from #ISIS, are now forced to pray under #IRAN's flag.
At least two secret rounds of talks between Russian and U.S.officials on establishing de-escalation zones in Syria
https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-in-...3492?mod=e2tw#
SO Putin and Trump are actually linking up as Putin has planned all along....
Kremlin regime yesterday: "The war in Syria is over."
#Syria this morning:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq1I9ZLftwQ#
Unconfirmed reports agains suggest regime warplanes struck the Kurdish-led SDF positions west of Tabqah Syria
Syria Report: #USAF bombing #Assad-convoy west of #Tabqa according to "#Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently"
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=de&lat=35...1731&z=14&m=b#
From Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mi...KBN1910Y9?il=0
Russia said on Saturday it had told the United States it was unacceptable for Washington to strike pro-government forces in Syria after the U.S. military carried out an air strike on pro-Assad militia last month.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov relayed the message to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a phone call on Saturday initiated by the U.S. side, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
U.S. officials told Reuters last month that the U.S. military carried out the air strike against militia supported by the government of President Bashar al-Assad which it said posed a threat to U.S. forces and U.S.-backed Syrian fighters in the country's south.
Russia said at the time that the U.S. action would hamper efforts to find a political solution to the conflict and had violated the sovereignty of Syria, one of Russia's closest Middle East allies.
"Lavrov expressed his categorical disagreement with the U.S. strikes on pro-government forces and called on him to take concrete measures to prevent similar incidents in future," the ministry said.
The two men had also exchanged assessments of the situation in Syria, it added, and confirmed their desire to step up co-operation to try to end the conflict there.
The ministry said Lavrov and Tillerson had also discussed the need to try to mend the rift between Qatar and other Arab nations through negotiations, and had talked about the state of U.S.-Russia relations and planned meetings between officials from the two countries.
Jamestown Foundation: https://jamestown.org/program/russia...-syrias-kurds/
Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 15 Issue: 11
By: James Pothecary
In the kaleidoscopic, ever-shifting array of factions that characterize the Syrian civil war, allegiances can shift in surprising ways. Nowhere is this more evident than in the relationship between Russia and the Kurds.
In theory, the two sides should be diametrically opposed. Moscow is heavily invested in supporting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Assad’s forces oppose the self-proclaimed Kurdish territory of Rojava, located in the northern governorates of al-Hasakh, Aleppo and Raqqa (now renamed by the Kurds as the cantons of Afrin, Jazira and Kobani).
However, with the eventual military defeat of IS in Syria, or in the event of a de-escalation with NATO, Moscow’s own priorities will shift and Rojava will likely find itself in the scope of the Russian military machine. Should IS’ de facto capital of Raqqa fall to government forces, for instance, Russia is highly likely to withdraw its backing for Rojava, just as the Kurdish territory becomes a greater priority for Syrian forces.
Last edited by davidbfpo; 06-12-2017 at 06:58 PM. Reason: Quote shortened to comply with ToR on copyright
Syrian opposition rep in Moscow drops the hammer on live-TV calling Russian advances in Syria as their propaganda.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkurBWRdtEs#
Sweida : Residents took 11 Regime security members hostage and are burning tires in front of police HQ demanding an activist be released.
On Syria Fronts, US-Backed Forces Probe Raqqa Defenses, Iran-Allied Fighters Gain Key Foothold
Entry Excerpt:
--------
Read the full post and make any comments at the SWJ Blog.
This forum is a feed only and is closed to user comments.
An acerbic commentary by Aaron Stein on the situation on Syria's southern border @ Tanf. The second paragraph:The conclusion:Yet, despite efforts to portray these strikes as one-off reactions to Syrian backed provocations, the attacks risk expanding the goals of the military campaign, currently aimed solely at defeating the Islamic State. America’s use of military force appears to be unfolding independent of any broader strategic or political guidance. It is not clear how these actions align with broader foreign policy goals. This lack of clarity allows tactical decisions (i.e., the need to protect U.S. forces) to dictate strategy. In this case, the purported link between the militias struck and Iran, the most important backer of Syria’s Bashar al Assad, risks a broader escalation — perhaps one that some hawkish voices in the Trump administration would welcome.Link:https://warontherocks.com/2017/06/th...tegy-in-syria/Strategy should drive tactics when it comes to handling Iranian-backed elements in Syria, not the other way around. Otherwise, the United States risks upending other elements of the war effort in Syria for ill-defined reasons. This may include expanding the role of an already over stretched Special Operations Command and more wear and tear on other elements of the U.S. military — all for ill-defined and unachievable goals. The United States has the capability to defend a garrison in the Syrian desert. However, the reasons for doing so are devoid of any purpose, making a simple cost benefit analysis all but impossible.
Where is Tanf?
From:https://southfront.org/syrian-army-i...orces-reports/
davidbfpo
A (suspected) #Jordan|ian SOF @leonardo_live "Falco" drone was photographed during #AssadPutin air strikes on #Daraa city.
US-backed air strikes on IS "capital" Raqqa in Syria cause "staggering loss of civilian life" - UN investigators
http://bbc.in/2snA1Iz
TANF is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, colloquially known as food stamps, and a U.S. welfare program.
Al-Tanf is a border crossing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Waleed_border_crossing
I usually agree with Stein, but not on this one. The focus on Daesh is myopic now as the Sunni Arabs will resist occupation and mass murder by Shias, and the PYD/YPG will soon turn its attention to Erdogan. Moreover, despite the lionization of the Kurds, Ankara, Baghdad, Damascus and Teheran all agree that Kurdish sovereignty is not in the best interests of their territorial integrity.
Russia|n-trained "ISIS Hunters" cmdr: after ISIS, time to kick out US from Syria and go to #Raqqa. Full vid:
https://www.facebook.com/ISISHunters...588552176651/#
AND for every killed by US and CENTCOM non member of IS in Raqqa you will have a new IS member as that their way to fight back against the US for killing their family members....
IF you check one of the statements made by the Manchester bomber...he did it for the killing by US of Syrians...
Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 06-14-2017 at 05:16 PM.
Qassem Soleimani allegedly spotted in Syria near the Iraqi border | FDD's Long War Journal
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archiv...mpaign=buffer#
…
Photos show US joint patrols with rebels in southern Syria:http://www.longwarjournal.org/archiv...hern-syria.php
Last edited by davidbfpo; 06-14-2017 at 09:41 PM. Reason: fix link
Bookmarks