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The Syrian army, backed up by the Russian Aerospace Forces, liberated the ancient city of Palmyra, including the Palmyra Airport from ISIS on March 2. Syrian army servicemen have been examining the historic part of Palmyra with the aim of demining the city.
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) primarily consisting of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) will hand over wide areas west of the northern Syrian town of Manbij to the Syrian army, according to a statement released by the so-called Manbij Miltiary Council. The SDF wants to use Syrian army troops as a buffer against Turkish-backed militant groups in northern Syria and refers that this decision is made after talks with “Russia”, aiming to use the Russian and Syrian military and diplomatic capabilities to defend itself from Turkey.
Just in August 2016, Talal Silo, a spokesman for the SDF, argued that the US is the only SDF partner and the group was not going coordinate anti-ISIS efforts or even negotiate with any other side without a signal from the Americans. It seems the SDF/YPG dramatically changed its attitude in March 2017 after it had became clear that photos of few US Special Forces troops were not enough to prevent Turkey from aiming to seize Manbij and Tell Rifat.
Turkey sees the YPG as just a branch of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), with which Turkey has been at war almost continuously since 1984. In turn, the PKK seeks to establish an independent Kurdish state in southern Turkey. There are still no official reports which areas the Syrian army will control in the Manbij countryside. However, there are two options:
- The Syrian army enters villages west of Manbij. In this case, Turkey-led forces will be able to attack Manbij only from the direction of Jarabulus if they want to avoid confrontation with the Russian-Syrian-Iranian alliance.
- Or the Syrian army enters villages west and north of Manbi, preventing possible Turkish military operations in both directions.
In any case, one problem will remain. Ankara-led forces will still be able to attack the YPG/SDF in Tell Rifat. Last months, there were some Russian-mediated negotiations between the government and the YPG in the area, but YPG sources were fast to deny that any agreement had been reached.
Meanwhile, the Syrian army’s Tiger Forces have liberated Alisah, Um Al-Amad, Barlin, Abu Tawil, Rahmaniya, Qaziqli and some nearby points from ISIS in the province.
Without the kurd forces there, there is no reason for either turk or pindo forces to be there, either. Looks like a successful Russian diplomatic move.
Russian Reconciliation Center Sends First Food, Medicine Convoy to Manbij
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201703031051232052-aid-syria-manbij/
“The Russian reconciliation center of the warring parties sent the first convoy with food, medicine and basic necessities for the residents of Manbij,” Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, the chief of the Russian General Staff Main Operational Directorate, said.
Rudskoy noted that Syrian government units have reached an area occupied by Kurdish self-defense forces southwest of Manbij, in accordance with Russian-mediated agreements.
“The Syrian government is taking steps to resume the work of government officials in Manbij and surrounding areas,” he added.”
Russia Informs US of Moving Convoys to Manbij, US Operations Unaffected
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201703031051248247-russia-us-convoy-manbij/
“Earlier in the day, the Russian General Staff announced Moscow had sent its first aid convoy to the city of Manbij in Syria.
“We were aware of this. The Russian government has informed us of it as well,” Davis told reporters. “It has not changed anything we are doing.”
Here’s what I wrote about the latest events in Syria:
“Palmyra was just re-liberated for the second time after a hard-fought battle for this strategic city, while in the same week, the leader of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq visited Turkey to plot the “Rojava Civil War”.
Each of these events will directly impact on the disjointed efforts that are underway to liberate Raqqa from Daesh, as they both carry with them their share of opportunities and challenges for all the actors involved.”
(Full analysis available at this following link)
http://regionalrapport.com/2017/03/03/palmyras-re-liberation-rojava-civil-war/
thanks for link Andrew ! good to see you here.
A good read Andrew
Looking at Syria now, all the so called friends of Syria are too busy fighting each other to be able to attack Syria in an organised way.
Various groups of Saudi Qatari proxies fighting each other in Idlib , Jordan/US proxies fighting ISIS in the south, Turks having a bit of a domestic with ISIS and fighting Kurds, Kurds fighting Kurds, US and Turkey arguing, US having a domestic row at home….
A different picture to when Russia moved thirty or so aircraft into Syria. Seems like somebody pulled a divide and conquer on the hegemon.
Attention … Attention …. Attention!
Off Topic…..
Does anybody in the saker community know about twitter? Could a potentially viral hash tag be created?
# i talked to Russians
Show sad looking people holding up a sign admitting they talked to Russians; players in the NHL talking to Russian players captioned “talking to Russians”; basset hounds captioned “i thought barking was o,k,; space station, and even the meeting at the Elbe. Not only did they talk to Russians, they also shook hands — maybe even hugged — now that’s suspicious!
I am sure people can come up with their own ideas ,,, little kid with dunce cap (yep you guessed it who did he talk to?) but I know nothing of twitter, it is just an idea.
It could be funny and effective, somebody here may have the skills to start it. So as the wicked witch of the west (wait she lost) would say: fly me pretties!
P.S. Mods if you or the Saker think this is a viable and effective idea please put it at the top of the comments in few subsequent posts. Everybody I know who tweets is not simpatico.
Thanks and keep up the good work.
I think if he do this it can only backfire.
TheSaker don’t need to enter into a twitter and hashtag contest, if anything they where articles about those hashtag are so double standard.
I feel he need to continue write good articles, bring fact and diversity, no need to engage in a opinion subversion with the occidental and the american in particular Russophobia.
(NB : And I’m occidental)
US to deploy more Delta Force & SEALs for Middle East covert ops – report
https://www.rt.com/usa/379440-us-commandos-deployments-mideast/
“Though not announced publicly, new deployments of Delta Force and Navy SEALs operators to Iraq, Syria, and the Horn of Africa are underway, US defense officials told ABC News on Friday. Some sources in the military said the troops welcome the Trump administration’s tough stance on combating terrorism.”
To fight terrorists? Or increase their covert support of israeloamerican terrorist proxies? Given the tuppence regime’s duplicity so far regarding foreign affairs, my money it is the latter.
Does Trump Want War or Peace in Syria?
http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2017/03/does-trump-want-war-or-peace-in-syria.html?m=1
“Syria is Obama’s war. It’s now Trump’s. His actions belie his rhetoric so far.
Last month, he said he’ll establish “safe zones” and have Gulf states pay for them. Syria justifiably rejects the idea. So does Russia without Assad’s authorization.
the Trump administration, along with Britain and France, introduced a draft Security Council resolution for new ones – responsibly vetoed by Russia and China.
On Friday, Sergey Lavrov accused America, Britain and France of “poison(ing) the atmosphere of” Syria peace talks.
“Without any prior negotiating procedure, (they) hurriedly submitted” a draft Security Council resolution, wanting new illegal sanctions imposed on Syria based on fabricated claims of chemical weapons use, despite no evidence suggesting it – acting “with full understanding that (it) would be vetoed.”
The co-authors want the Security Council “split” on this issue, Lavrov stressed. Irresponsibly acting during Geneva peace talks indicates wanting them undermined.”
The israelis simply changed the quislings, not the policies.