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A rift among Idlib militant groups is growing over the demilitarization zone agreement reached by Turkey and Russia earlier this month.
On September 22, the National Front for Liberation (NFL) released on official statement declaring its support to the agreement. The group stated that the agreement had prevented an “unjust war” and described Turkey as its ally. The NFL added that it does not trust Russia, the Syrian government and Iran accusing them of multiple violations of ceasefire agreements.
The NFL is currently the biggest coalition of Turkish-backed militant groups in northern Syria. It was established on May 28, 2018 from 11 various groups in an attempt to consolidate Turkish influence in the province of Idlib. Thus, the group pretends to be a provider of Turkish policy in the area.
The NLF is the second notable militant group, which supported the agreement. On September 20, Jaysh al-Izza made a similar move.
Another part of Idlib militants is not hurrying up to accept an idea of the 15-20km demilitarized zone, which is set to be established between the militant-held and government-held parts of Idlib by October 15. Al-Qaeda-affiliated Horas al-Din said in an official statement that it officially rejects the agreement describing it as a “conspiracy”.
Horas al-Din, which was established on February 27, 2018 from 7 al-Qaeda affiliated groups, is one of the most influential factions in Idlib, alongside with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda).
While multiple media activists and outlets linked to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have criticized the demilitarization zone deal, the group is yet to release an official statement on this issue – most likely because negotiations between the group and Turkish special services are still ongoing behind the scenes.
On September 22, the Turkish military deployed a commando brigade in Idlib province in order to reinforce its observation posts. During the past few weeks, the Turkish military deployed additional battle tanks and armoured vehicles there with a similar purpose.
These moves may indicate that Ankara is really going to make an attempt to force Idlib militants to obey the demilitarization zone deal.
On September 20, the Kurdish Hawar News Agency reported that the Turkish military had deployed hundreds of armored vehicles, battle tanks and trucks on the border with the northern Syrian town of Tell Abyad, which is now controlled by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Syrian sources expect that Ankara are going to force Kurdish units of the US-backed group to withdraw from the town in a Manbij-like move.
Meanwhile, the SDF has continued its operation against ISIS in the Hajin pocket in the Euphrates Valley. The SDF, backed by US-led coalition air power and artillery are advancing on Susah and Shajlah.
On September 23, the Russian Defense Ministry held an additional press briefing revealing details of the IL-20 shootdown off Syrian coast, which took place on September 17. Defense ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov once again confirmed that Moscow sees Israel as the side responsible for the tragedy. The reasons are actions of Israeli F-16 warplanes hiding behind the IL-20 from Syrian air defense fire, the misinformation on the strikes provided by Israel and multiple violations of the Russia-Israel deconfliction agreement by Israel.
Konashenkov emphasized that “the hostile actions committed by the Israeli Air Force against the Russian Ilyushin Il-20 aircraft cross the line of civilized relations.”
At the same time, Israel continues blaiming Syria, Iran and Hezbollah for the September 17 incident as well as rejecting data provided by the Russian military.
This situation shows that a visit of top Israeli military delegation to Moscow last week has not allowed the Israeli leadership to de-escalation the tensions erupted with Russia. If the situation remains same, it will likely impact an expected diplomatic solution of the Syrian crisis in a negative way for Israel.
Addtitional briefing from Defense ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov, with data from S400 radar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlz4TSKSaAI
Means all Israeli statements from few last days were rubish.
tanto
tanto: inexplicable that the Israelis would lie knowing the Russians have all the data. Takes stupidity to an altogether new level. The original crime was bad enough, but this level of disrespect will not be forgotten.
A lot still unexplained. The role of the French/British – I assume the “partners” have also been given data on what they were up to? The purpose of the raid?
I think it likely that they were trying to lure the Syrians or Russians to attack the French battle cruiser that was in the area, thus giving NATO a pretext for an all-out war on Syria.
However when this failed, and Russian rather than NATO assets were hit, the shoe is on the other foot and the Russians are in an unassailable position to tell the Orc-Entity to buzz off, fortify Syria’s defenses, set up no-fly zones, etc.
As for the lying about it, then doubling down on the lies, I think that when the Orcs realized the impact the actual outcome of their little project was going to have, they freaked out, went into a sort of denial, and just started putting out errant nonsense. They dug a hole for themselves, then proceeded to continue digging it deeper.
I am going to hoist a couple of good cold ones to-night, to toast the outcome of this incident.
Antoinetta III
@cdivision
This typical for the Israelis. They understand fully that the Russian officials they are briefing know that their narrative is a lie, but then this narrative isn’t for them, it is for the Jewish fifth column in Russia (and in the west). to use to move public opinion. When you control most of the media, your narrative automatically has great weight..in propaganda facts of little importance. What matters is the ability to dominate the media scene with your narrative.
The role of the French/British – They were trying all they could to try to see if they could jam Russian S-400 radars so they could go scot free with the lie. Russians are just too smart. They made the claims and waited for Israel to respond (which they knew they would deny it) and Russia decided to show evidence.
Well, looks to me like the Russian tactics are working perfectly.
Idlib gets delayed, avoiding another CIA-organized chemical weapons false flag and removing any pre-text for America to (once again) illegally bomb the Syrian Army in direct support of international terrorism. If the Americans go through with the false flag anyway, it will be much easier to prove it’s fake since there aren’t any bombing campaigns going on over Idlib province at the moment.
This also saves the Syrians many thousands of lives that would have certainly been lost had they been forced to go ahead with the offensive. Meanwhile, time is certainly on Syria’s and Russia’s side here as the remaining terrorist forces in Idlib province are literally eating themselves alive and killing eachother over petty disputes, while Syria’s position gets stronger by the day.
The only losers here, other than US/Israel, are the Syrians living under Al-Qaeda rule in Idlib, who will have to wait longer for either a political or military solution to be reached. I feel very badly for them. But for Syria as a whole, this is a good thing.
Israel’s intentional provocation and destruction of the Russian IL-20 has backfired spectacularly and now the Syrian Air Defense is about to get beefed up Massively. Very, very good. The combination of S-300’s, and much improved EW capabilities will make Syrian airspace far more hazardous for hostile actors to navigate from now on. Israel might be forced to admit they made a mistake for once, instead of blaming the victims as they always do. I wouldn’t hold my breath, though. Lieberman is already making statements that they will bomb the S-300 sites, yada yada yada. *yawn*
Auslander has said here in the comments that the Israeli provocation and subsequent destruction of the IL-20 was 100% intentional and probably an objective of their shortsighted air raid. Which begs the question, what did they think would happen? Did they really think Russia would believe their version of events? Did the Israeli’s, in their infinite stupidity, really believe that Russia wouldn’t retaliate and that they would fold? As far as I can tell this was a massive miscalculation on Israel’s part. Their relations with Russia will be stone cold from now on. Futhermore, they will lose their ability to continue striking Syria unconditionally and unchallenged. Now that the terrorists have been defeated, all Israel had left was their ability to strike Syria. Now that is gone too.
What a horrendous nightmare for the Israeli’s. Their terrorist proxies lost, and now their air force will be borderline useless, or at-least, much less effective at striking Syrian military assets. This might actually force them to try and get along with their neighbors for once, instead of constantly lying and threatening and trying to kill/enslave them! Oh, the Horror! Can you imagine that? Israel treating others with respect and dignity instead of Lying to their faces? Now wouldn’t THAT be something.
-Geoff
Please stop using another commnenter’s name, Ann, has been here for years. I have changed your name here to differentiate you – please use another name when posting. Thanks. Mod
“Which begs the question, what did they think would happen?”
— The dishonest and thieving lot expects a dishonest and thieving response from others.
Hence the use of the word “uncivilized” by a Russian commander.
By the way, what can we learn about Avi Lieberman from his CV? — He was a nightclub bouncer in Moldova and felon in Israel. Do we need to know more about the current Israeli Defence Minister?
No wonder, the experienced and respectable brass look at the stinking Avi with disgust.
It’s always good to see trouble in the enemy camp; perhaps they could eliminate each other?
Regarding the IL-20 press briefing mentioned above, the usually highly biased BBC has had to modify the following article which is very slightly less biased than normal.
The original had the line : “Israel denies failing to give Russia adequate notice of the air strike.” since removed.
First mud, of course, sticks best and most will not re-read an article or if they do then will not realise such modifications.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-45626251
A New Strategy for Idlib: Shoygu Redeploys Heavy Weapons to Frontlines, Aimed at Islamists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CYtB_2nRUU
so this was putins clever plan: delay idlib offensive, give the rats lots of rope (in terms of time), and watch them hang eachother?
could be worse