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On September 12, Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) announced that it had abducted Yusuf Nazik, a suspect of the 2013 Reyhanli bombing, in the Syrian city of Lattakia and transported him to Turkey. According to the MIT, Nazik confessed that he participated in the 2013 attack on orders from Syrian intelligence units. He allegedly scouted the crime scene prior to the attack and moved explosives from Syria to Turkey.
On May 11, 2013, two car bombs exploded in the city of Reyhanli in Turkey’s Hatay Province killing 53 people. Then, the Turkish side accused the Syrian Intelligence and Turkish Marxist group Acilciler, now thought to be based in Syria, of being behind the attack. The Syrian side denounced these claims.
Then Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi de-facto placed responsibility for the attacks on the Turkish authorities. “It was the Turkish government that had facilitated the flow of arms, explosives, vehicles, fighters and money across the border into Syria” he stated adding that Ankara “had turned the border areas into centres for international terrorism”.
Other versions of the incident suggest that ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra (now known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) and other al-Qaeda-linked groups operating in the region may have been behind the attack.
In any case, the detention of Nazik and a new wave of Turkish accusations against the Damascus government over the 2013 bombing are a part of the ongoing standoff on the Idlib issue. Ankara’s efforts to show Syria as a state supporter of terrorism are designed to allow the Erdogan regime to take an upper hand in this standoff and to promote Turkish interests within Syria. A part of these interests is to rescue militant groups operating in Idlib and to keep this area outside of the zone of control of Damascus, thus creating another Turkish-occupied zone within the war-torn country.
On the same day, commanders of Turkish-backed groups of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) revealed to Reuters that Turkey has increased weapon supplies, including unguided rockets, to militant groups in the province of Idlib and nearby areas.
According to pro-government sources, militants already used a part of the supplied rockets to shell the government-controlled areas north of Lattakia city, particularly Sqoubin, al-Qanjarah, Demsarkho and Ugarit.
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and the National Defense Forces (NDF) made an advance against ISIS cells in the Homs-Deir Ezzor desert securing the areas of Wadi Salhub and Bi’r Hajjah. The SAA and the NDF are now working to secure the entire road heading towards the T3 pumping station. Then, according to pro-government sources, they will be able to focus on securing the Doubayat gas field and the settlements of Bir Naji, Barabij, Sarayim and Nayriyah.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured the villages of al-Baghuz Fawqani and al-Kasrah as well as eliminated 41 ISIS members during the first 48 hours of their operation against ISIS in the Hajin pocket, the SDF announced.
The US-backed force is now developing its advance in the area aiming to eliminate the last ISIS stronghold on this bank of the Euphrates.
Erdogan’s Turkey can NOT be trusted by Syria, Iran or Russia,or the Shangai Cooperation Organization.I hope that nothing important about Strategy has been discussed in their meetings, because if it has, the CIA is privy to all of it ,courtesy of Erdogan.
Erdogan is probably the (by the West) most demonized leader since Stalin.
“The Kurds” – i.e. rather a bunch of Trotskyite terrorist organizarions, who pretend to represent the Kurds (while killing Kurdish leaders like Mashaal Tammo) – are the (by the West) most propagated and supported Usrael Empire proxies since ‘Nazism’ in Germany and the establishment of ‘Israel’.
No expert here on Turkey
Yes, it is clear that the Kurds are being used.
But to me it also looks like Erdogan keeps tacking this way and that in relation to the USA, Russia, Syria, the Kurds, and of course the EU, that it can be reasonably stated that he appears to be a totally unreliable ally or even associate for anyone. This may serve his purposes, keeping all the players off-balance—but is it a good long-term strategy? One of the problems with the USA is a total lack of credibility. Tearing up agreements. Changing course on a dime to reflect the latest domestic drama.
I expect that Erdogan is also responding to domestic dramas, but are the basic circumstances really changing that much? Is he tryning to make a better deal with the USA? The USA will use Turkey for Incirlik, but otherwise just create more problems for them. Turkey seems to be trying to grab a piece of syria for himself.
I would agree that Erdogan is not to be trusted by any party to the conflict.
Katherine
Latest analysis of Idlib campaign by Canthama:
“After a week of heavy bombing, some very severe against al Qaeda HQs, weapon depots and logistics, then came Sept 7th meeting were the 3 countries agreed to disagree, and Turkey started to promote the western narrative of severe chaos if the SAA “invades” Syria…yep, as usual foreign occupiers do not want to lose their grip on Syria’s land. No ground advance has ever happened as reported here few times since day 1. We have mentioned before that the backstage negotiations are incredibly busy in the last few weeks, there are a lot of things going on at the same time.
The CW false flag narrative has shifted to any SAA attack in Idlib as a violation that wouldn’t be tolerated by the supporters of terrorism.
The fact is the SAA has over 80,000 soldiers around Idlib, with an incredible amount of firepower available (though a few folks [such as British reporter Robert Fisk] believe the SAA has only a light presence).
Russia has a very strong NAVY presence near Syria and dozens of new jets have arrived in Syria recently by RuAF, not to mention that Russia has supplied new AA defense systems to SyAAD.
All in, there is a halt in bombing and shelling, and both RuAF and SAAF attentions are now in the Syrian desert killing the last of ISIS there, helping Liwa al Quds in their offensive.
I would not say a ceasefire was agreed since there are skirmishes happening everyday, but heard from several sources in Syria that Russia gave Turkey until the end of Sept to show progress in dismantling al Qaeda in Idlib or the advance will happen and then no more delays.
We all know Turkey doesn’t want to disband al Qaeda/Muslin Brotherhood, because the Turkish regime is Muslin Brotherhood, so Turkey is gaining time to arm the terrorists; and so the ground battle will start maybe late Sept or early Oct.
Key point:
The Idlib offensive has been postponed to late Septemer, early August.
Unconfirmed:
Russia sends 60 Sukhoi S-35 and MiG-35 to Syria.
https://menafacts.wordpress.com/2018/09/13/russia-sends-60-sukhoi-s-35-and-mig-35-to-syria-to-counter-any-possible-treat-by-us-report/
Unlike Putin – who fought the Empire in Chechnya – that can’t Hama guy can’t see the forest for the trees.
This is a war on (Sunni) Islam by the AngloZionist Empire and their proxies (PKK/PYD, Gülen cartel, Saudi-Wahhabism, and so forth). Putin (Turkey/Iran) wants it stopped.
Why war criminal nations like America, Britain, Israel, Canada, and France have been desperate to extract their beloved terrorist assets/”human rights” defenders, the White Helmets, from Syria.
They Knew Too Much
https://orientalreview.org/2018/07/25/they-knew-too-much/
BREKING NEWS
The Idlib region controversy will reveal the true face of all involved PARTIES.
2 hours ago – 35°55′N 36°38′E
Idlib Demonstrations: “There’s no solution except the fall of the regime.”
https://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2018/14-september-idlib-demonstrations-theres-no-solution-except
2 hours ago – 35°55′N 36°38′E
“We aren’t an opposition. We are a people loves dignity” – protests in Idlib
https://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2018/14-september-we-arent-an-opposition-we-are-a-people-loves
2 hours ago – 36°12′N 36°46′E
Demonstration in Al Dana, Idlib. “The people want the fall of the regime” – 7 years later, people still chant the revolutionary songs.
https://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2018/14-september-demonstration-in-al-dana-idlib-the-people-want
2 hours ago – 36°8′N 36°27′E
A mass demonstration took place in the town of Selqin in rural Idlib.
https://syria.liveuamap.com/en/2018/14-september-a-mass-demonstration-took-place-in-the-town
Mass demonstrations took place all around Idlib.
They looks like innocent civilians, they wants to live with dignity, they want the fall of the regime, because there’s no solution except the fall of regime.
But they have full support of hegemon, with unlimited capitals, unlimited military weapons, unlimited military know-how, and with NATO on their side, eager to ACT.
1 – On my personal Opinion, the Idlib region of Syria, will be settled most likely Politically then Militarily.
2 – The Idlib region controversy will reveal the true face of all involved PARTIES.
“On September 12, Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) announced that it had abducted Yusuf Nazik, a suspect of the 2013 Reyhanli bombing, in the Syrian city of Lattakia and transported him to Turkey. According to the MIT, Nazik confessed that he participated in the 2013 attack on orders from Syrian intelligence units.”
Abducted, it bribed?
I believe we are seeing a ‘brokered’ land grab. The Turkey – Syrian border is not making a lot of sense as it stands and the economics of this area are rather questionable. What Russia does not want is unstable militants north of their air base that have been and will be flying in more and more capable drones. I see the border changing to a more stable controlled border.