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On October 15, a first deadline in the roadmap for implementation of the Idlib demilitarization agreement passed. According to this agreement, militant groups had to withdraw all their heavy weaponry and equipment from the declared 15-20km deep zone and halt any actions against Syrian government forces. By October 20, all members of radical militant groups, like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and its allies have to withdraw from the area.
Turkish media has already claimed that all heavy weaponry had been withdrawn by the so-called opposition. Nonetheless, recent rocket and mortar strikes on government targets in northern Hama and southwestern Aleppo show that this is at least partly untrue. Furthermore, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other radicals are not hurrying to abandon their positions. The situation is developing.
On the same day, Syria and Israel reopened the Quneitra border crossing in the Golan Heights for the first time in four years. The Syrian flag was raised at the crossing, and as it reopened, the UN peacekeeping force UNDOF sent a number of white trucks from Syria to the Israeli-held area. The Israeli side declared that the reopening of the crossing “symbolizes the return of the enforcement of the 1974 disengagement agreement”
At the same time, a crossing between Syria and Jordan was opened for the first time in three years. The reopening of the crossing allows the sides to restore free movement of civilians and goods between the sides.
The reopening of Naseeb offers major financial relief to the Damascus government by restoring a much-needed gateway for Syrian exports to other Arab countries. The resumption of commercial trade is also a diplomatic victory for Syria and its allies.
Furthermore, these developments show the success of the de-escalation of the situation in southern Syria, a move supported by the Russian side for a long time. It seems that despite all the speculations in the mainstream media, the Syrian-Iranian-Russian alliance has employed the right approach and achieved an important victory in the area.
Additionally, Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem made a statement highlighting the further course of action in the conflict for Damascus once again saying that areas in the country’s north “had to return to Syrian sovereignty.” “After Idlib, our target is east of the Euphrates,” Muallem said, referring to the territory seized by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Nonetheless, he added that the Damascus government is ready to hold negotiations with the Kurdish-dominated faction within the existing legal framework, meaning first of all within the constitution.
At least OSCE has nothing to do with this agreement!
Interesting how it largely falls on Turkey to work now to keep the terrorists under control. It is of course worth remembering that the various terrorist groups have various sponser nations. Some are funded and supplied by Turkey, so Turkey should be able to keep them under control. Others are funded and supplied by the terrorist-supporting Sauds. Relations between Turkey and the Kingdom of the headchopping Sauds aren’t really good right now, thus I’d doubt that Turkey has any qualms about attacking them. Other than the normal qualms in that the terrorists are well entrenched in good terrain and no nation want to take heavy losses, Turkey included.
For years, Russia has been trying to get the various ‘rebel’ groups seperated. Finally, after many tries, this latest approach does seem to be making at least some progress in that area.
Interesting because if Idlib is at least quiet, then the focus shifts to Turkey-Syria-Russia-Iran versus the Kurds-Americans-Sauds who are trying to steal Syria’s oil and gas reserves. Turkey would be a key player in that next stage, as a Turkish attack on the Kurds appears less likely to start WW3 than a Syrian-Russian attack on the American backed forces.
Israel and US send secret military group to train against S-300 air defense system – report
https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/israel-and-us-send-secret-military-group-to-train-against-s-300-air-defense-system-report/
“The United States (U.S.) and Israel have allegedly sent a secret military group to Ukraine to train against the S-300 air defense system, Israel’s Hadashot TV reported yesterday.
In early October, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that they had successfully delivered the S-300 air defense system to Syria.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the move to supply Syria with the S-300 system was purely defensive and should not threaten any neighboring country.
Since the Russian delivery of the S-300 system, Israel has not bombed or entered Syrian airspace.”
“Israel and US send secret military group to train against S-300 air defense system”
Good luck with that.
Turkey vows to launch military operation in Manbij if US does not remove YPG from city
https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/turkey-vows-to-launch-military-operation-in-manbij-if-us-does-not-remove-ypg-from-city/
“Turkey will not tolerate any YPG presence inside the Aleppo Governorate city of Manbij, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.
According to the Turkish President, the U.S. has not fulfilled its obligations from the June agreement.
“We cannot say a 90-day timeline on [the YPG withdrawal from] Manbij has been implemented. It has not. We know what we will do if it is not implemented. If necessary steps are not taken in the eastern Euphrates and if the process is delayed, we will take all the necessary steps at the highest level against the YPG/PYD, more precisely against the PKK,” Erdoğan stated, as quoted by the Hurriyet Daily.
While Turkey has not increased their military presence in Manbij, this could ultimately change if the U.S. fails to remove the remaining YPG fighters from the city.
Currently, the YPG has a large presence inside and outside of Manbij; they also maintain close ties with the Manbij Military Council, who they fought next to during their fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) in northern Syria.”
6 killed as US-led coalition F-15 jets bomb Kurdish forces fighting ISIS – report
https://www.rt.com/news/441559-us-bombs-kurds-fighting-isis/
“Two US-led coalition’s F-15 fighter jets have mistakenly targeted Kurdish units amid their offensive on the remaining forces of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) terrorists in Syria, RIA reported, citing a “military and diplomatic source.” It said six people were killed and 15 injured on the Kurdish side.
The incident, which took place near the town of Hajin in the Syrian eastern Deir ez-Zor province, did not just disrupt the operation but also reportedly led to numerous defections in the ranks of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Even worse, the terrorists managed to seize some territories in the area, the source added.
“These facts demonstrate that the US policy in Syria has failed just as in the neighboring Iraq, as it does not solve any problems but only creates the new one for the whole region,” the source said, accusing Washington of only “imitating” its fight against the terrorists in Syria to justify its continued presence in the war-torn country.
On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Islamic State militants had attacked a refugee camp in Deir ez-Zor province and had taken hundreds of people hostage. Some 700 people were abducted and taken to Hajin, located in a 20-kilometer area along the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. Now, the military source has told RIA that some citizens of western countries are among the people taken hostage by the extremists.”
Two US Coalition Fighter Jets Mistakenly Struck Kurdish Unit in Syria – Source
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201810171068977159-usa-fighter-jets-attack-kurds-syria/
“According to the military-diplomatic source, two coalition f-15 fighter jets made an airstrike on Kurdish unit in Syria, which fought Daesh terrorists. The airstrike killed 6 soldiers and some 15 were injured. the source said.
“Because of the unprofessional actions of the US Air Force in regard to a Kurdish unit advancing on terrorists from the Islamic State organization [Daesh], a bombing attack was carried out today by two F-15 fighters from the coalition forces. As a result, 6 Kurdish militias were killed and 15 more were seriously injured,” the source said.
According to the source, Kurdish militia units with support of US-led coalition forces have been carrying out an unsuccessful offensive on Daesh stronghold in Hajin area in Syria’s Der ez-Zor province for over six months.
“The imitation of the fight against terrorists in this region of Syria has been going on for more than six months and has been used by Washington to justify its illegal presence in this country,” the source stressed.
The source added that US policy in Syria does not resolve problems but creates new ones for the whole region.
The source said that the lack of coordination of actions between the command of the US forces and the SDF units had not only led to the disruption of another attempt to attack Daesh positions, but also to massive desertion of Kurds militias from the occupied area.
“All these facts testify to the failure of the US policy in Syria, which, like in neighboring Iraq, does not resolve the problems, but instead creates new ones for the whole region,” the source concluded.
Earlier this month, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported that the coalition had carried out an airstrike on the city of Hajin, using the internationally prohibited white phosphorus munitions.”
Friendly fire, as american as anal coitus. Though this might not be a friendly fire incident, and instead, a deliberate op in support of daesh, as the americans have done many times in the past.
Putin: ISIS took several US & European citizens hostage in US-controlled part of Syria
https://www.rt.com/news/441620-putin-syria-us-hostages-isis/
“The 700 hostages captured in Syria by Islamic State terrorists include US and European citizens and are being killed off 10 people a day, Russia’a Vladimir Putin said, criticizing American forces for “catastrophic” failure.
Islamic State terrorists “have delivered ultimatums and made certain demands, threatening … to shoot ten people every day,” the Russian leader said, adding that the hostage-takers already started carrying out their threats and executed ten hostages two days ago.
“This is just horrible, it is a catastrophe,” Putin said, adding that the US forces that claim to control the area around the east bank of the Euphrates River, relying on the Kurdish armed forces on the ground, stay conspicuously silent on this crisis.
“Some US and European citizens are among the hostages,” the president warned, adding that “everyone is silent … as if nothing has happened.”
“They [the US] have clearly fallen short of their target,” Putin said, adding that Washington and its allies apparently failed to combat terrorists in the part of Syria they occupy. Islamic State terrorists continue to expand their presence in the area, he said.”
Also discussed by this article:
Putin Says Daesh Took 700 Hostages in US-Controlled Area, Executed Ten of Them
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201810181068990429-putin-sochi-valdai-club/
“There are many problems in the area. We now see what is happening on the left bank of the Euphrates, our colleagues know that. This territory is under the protection of our American partners, they rely there on the Kurdish armed forces. But they obviously did not work it through, members of Daesh remained in several settlements,” Putin said at the annual Valdai Discussion Club meeting in Sochi.
The President further stressed that Daesh had recently started expanding its presence, having taken 130 families hostage, which is nearly 700 people.
“They [terrorists] put forward ultimatums and certain demands, and warned that if these ultimatums are not followed up to, they will be gunning down 10 people everyday. The day before yesterday they executed ten people,” Putin stressed.”