Russian involvement in Syrian crisis

[pmaitra]

Looks like SAA has strengthened their position around Aleppo:


And some more progress elsewhere:


Most important development of the Lavrov-Kerrry meet:

 

[pmaitra]

Many people initially suggested that a US airstrike killed Abu Omar Saraqeb. Turns out, he was killed in a Russian airstrike.

 

[gadeshi]

Russian and Syrian military has caught by enemy fire on video conference on Castello Road near Aleppo:
Syrian AF claim to shot down Israeli warplane:
US DOS criticises Russia for cooperation with Assad:

 

[pmaitra]

Assad aide Bouthaina Shaaban: "There is probably co-ordination between Daesh and the US in this operation."

The US-led attack on Saturday caused tensions between the US and Russia, with both Russia and Syria accusing the US of co-ordinating the strikes and the Islamic State group.

The US military said the coalition believed it was attacking IS positions, and has expressed regret for the "unintentional loss of life".

But President Bashar al-Assad's media adviser Bouthaina Shaaban said she did not believe the attack was unintentional.

"The United States, the superpower, the greatest country in the world, makes mistakes in targeting the army? I mean, this doesn't make sense to ask," she told BBC World television.

"The other explanation is that there is one authority in the United States who wanted to conduct this, the other doesn't want to. And that's why they are finding it very difficult to implement what they agreed upon with the Russian," she said.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37401586
_____________________________________
_____________________________________
Commentary: Looks like the US is helping ISIS. Whether they are doing it intentionally or not is a separate question.

 

[Razor]

_____________________________________
Commentary: Looks like the US is helping ISIS. Whether they are doing it intentionally or not is a separate question.

E verything was unintentional starting from the unintentional redirection of opium funds to mujahids to unintentional helping of mujahadieen, to unintentional creation of ISIS and now unintentional helping and co-ordination with ISIS. All unintentional.
Make democrazy not war. Please. Thank you.

 

[pmaitra]

No-fly zone would ‘require war with Syria and Russia’ – top US general

_____________________________

A backdrop:
The ceasefire has collapsed. While Russia managed to convince SAA to cease hostilities, the terrorists, moderate or otherwise, did not heed the calls. There was an aid convoy that was bombed. The US decided that it was Russia but failed to provide any evidence. In any event, due to the US led coalition's attack on SAA soldiers in Deir-ez-Zor, and due to the terrorists not willing to ceasefire, Russia and Syria have decided to call the ceasefire off, and started a massive bombardment of terrorist held areas of Aleppo.

 

[pmaitra]

The War Against the Assad Regime Is Not a "Pipeline War"
Wednesday, 21 September 2016 00:00By Gareth Porter, Truthout | News Analysis
Source: http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/37685-the-war-against-the-assad-regime-is-not-a-pipeline-war

Excerpts:

But the "pipeline war" theory is based on false history and it represents a distraction from the real problem of US policy in the Middle East -- the US war state's determination to hold onto its military posture in the region.

That claim has no credibility for a very simple reason: there was no Qatari proposal for Syria to reject in 2009. It was not until October 2009 that Qatar and Turkey even agreed to form a working group to develop such a gas pipeline project.

So where did the idea that the Obama administration responded to Assad's alleged rejection by shifting to covert regime change policy come from? Kennedy's article asserts, "In 2009, according to WikiLeaks, soon after Bashar Assad rejected the Qatar pipeline, the CIA began funding opposition groups in Syria."

But the article links to a Washington Post news report on the WikiLeaks cables on Syria that doesn't support that charge at all. According to the Post report, the cables show that a London-based satellite channel called Barada TV, supported by the State Department, "began broadcasting in April 2009." But they also show, according to the Post report, that the State Department had "funneled as much as $6 million to the group since 2006 to operate the satellite channel and finance other activities inside Syria."

So the US funding for opposition groups in Syria aimed at exploiting the regime's "vulnerabilities" had begun under the Bush administration years before any supposed Syrian rejection of the Qatari pipeline proposal. The WikiLeaks documents thus contradict the alleged connection between the pipeline deal and a change in US policy toward Syria. Moreover, despite the reference to Saudi and Israeli intelligence reports that WikiLeaks has obtained, no story has been published based on those leaked documents that supports the "pipeline war" thesis.

If it's not a pipeline war, why is the US intervening in Syria? The US decision to support Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in their ill-conceived plan to overthrow the Assad regime was primarily a function of the primordial interest of the US permanent war state in its regional alliances. The three Sunni allies control US access to the key US military bases in the region, and the Pentagon, the CIA, the State Department and the Obama White House were all concerned, above all, with protecting the existing arrangements for the US military posture in the region.

 

[AbhinavTheBrahmin]

Russia is doing what it needs and this could be the same type of war as afghanistan and vietnam some citizens helped the terrorist but because of human rights crap they were safe

 

[bhramos]

Jabhat al-Nusra (Al Qaeda) Commander in Syria: “The Americans Stand on Our Side and Give us Weapons”

 

[pmaitra]

Kerry Admits His Syria Policy Has Been A Failure As Russians Threaten Over Possible US Intervention

"I lost the argument."

by Yochanan Visser October 1, 2016 at 2:03pm

Source: http://www.westernjournalism.com/ke...e-russians-threaten-possible-us-intervention/

Three days after he issued an ultimatum to Russia over the aerial attacks of the Russian and Syrian air force on Aleppo — Syria’s second largest city that has been pounded relentlessly this week — a leak tape revealed that Secretary of State John Kerry has admitted that his policy in Syria has been a failure.

Kerry admitted he lost the argument for the use of military force against the brutal regime of the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad during deliberations about the war in the White House. The latter last week shattered the latest Syrian ceasefire brokered by America’s top diplomat.

Assad’s air force, together with Russian planes, attacked a UN convoy near Aleppo a week after the truce came into being, killing 20 UN aid workers and destroying all trucks with humanitarian aid destined for 250,000 civilians who are trappedin the besieged city.

The attack effectively ended the official “cessation of hostilities” that was announced mid-September but, in reality, never materialized.

“I think you’re looking at three people, four people in the administration. I lost the argument. I’ve argued for the use of force. I’m the guy who stood up and announced that we’re going to attack Assad for the use of weapons,” Kerry could be heard telling Syrian refugees who attended a meeting in the Dutch Mission at the United Nations building in New York City.

The secretary of state was referring to the watershed moment in the Syrian civil war after the first use of chemical weapons by Assad in 2013, when Preisdent Barack Obama failed to live up to his commitment to use military force if Assad used weapons of mass destruction against the Syrian population.

The administration first announced the crossing of this so-called red line would result in U.S. intervention in Syria. But when push came to shove, Obama backed off, postponed missile strikes on Syria and hid behind the argument that he needed Congressional authorization for the use of military force.

Kerry now hid behind a differentexcuse and said that “legal restrictions” prevent U.S. military action at this point.

In the leaked tape of his speech at the Dutch UN Mission, Kerry said the Russians were invited to intervene in Syria and the U.S. was not.

“They were invited in, we were not,” he said referring to Russia’s intervention in Syria.

“We don’t behave like Russians. It’s just a different standard,” Kerry added.

“The only reason they are letting us fly is because we are going after ISIL,” Kerry said, using Obama’s preferred name for Islamic State.

“If we were going after Assad, we would have to take out all the air defenses and we don’t have a legal justification for doing that,” he claimed,while adding that he was very frustrated.

He tried to give Syrian refugees some hope on a Syria without Assad by telling them that perhaps one day they could vote the brutal dictator out of office.

It didn’t work, however. The refugees implored the United States to intervene and stop the brutal attacks against the civilian population in Western Syria.

Kerry responded by saying, “You can be mad at us, but what we are trying to do is help Syrians to fight for their own country, and we have been spending a lot of money, a lot of effort.”

He claimed that a lot of Americans think that it’s not worth it to send young soldiers to another country and to die for the liberty of other people.

The Russians finally responded officially to Kerry’s ultimatum on Saturday.

While the Russian air force continued to bomb Aleppo back into the stone age, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters that any form of U.S. intervention against the Syrian army “will lead to terrible, tectonic consequences not only on the territory of this country but also in the region on the whole.”

More than 220 people died in Aleppo and the two last remaining hospitals were destroyed since the beginning of the offensive by the pro-Assad coalition last week.

The dire situation in Aleppo and the rest of Syria led Jerusalem Report editor-in-chief Ilan Evyatar to write an open letter to Obama that was published by the Jerusalem Post during the president’s visit to Israel on Friday.

Evyatar reminded Obama of the words he spoke after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize when the president said the following:

“I believe that force can be justified on humanitarian grounds. Inaction tears at our conscience and can lead to more costly intervention later,” Obama said at the time, according to the Jerusalem Report editor.

He then launched a scathing attack on Obama for remaining passive in light of the tragedy that has destroyed much of Syria, killed almost 500,000 people and displaced more than 13 million others.

“You are now nearing the end of your labors as president of the United States. The world is a more unstable and dangerous place than it was eight years ago, there have been little consequences against those who ‘violate international law’ and those who ‘brutalize their own people’, and you have given way to those ‘who abide by no rules,'” Evyatar told Obama.

“Mr. President, you have not lived up to the standards you set out in your Oslo speech. Mr. President, you have almost four months left in office: Stop Syria’s suffering!”

 

[pmaitra]

Some latest developments:

 

[pmaitra]

Russia deploys advanced anti-missile system to Syria for first time, US officials say

By Lucas Tomlinson | Published October 03, 2016 | Source: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/1...to-syria-for-first-time-us-officials-say.html

EXCLUSIVE: Russia has deployed an advanced anti-missile system to Syria for the first time, three US officials tell Fox News, the latest indication that Moscow continues to ramp up its military operations in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad.

It comes after Russia's actions led to the collapse of a cease-fire and the cut-off of direct talks with the U.S.

While Moscow’s motives are not certain, officials say the new weapon system could potentially counter any American cruise missile attack in Syria.

The SA-23 can fire two different types of missiles. A smaller missile is used against aircraft and cruise missiles and is known by NATO as Gladiator. The larger missile is used against intermediate-range ballistic missiles and jamming aircraft and is known as Giant. Both missiles use the same type of warhead containing over 300 pounds of explosives, according to military-today.com.

Hours after the State Department announced it was cutting off talks with Moscow, President Vladimir Putin said he had suspended a Russia-U.S. deal on the disposal of weapons-grade plutonium. Putin's decree released by the Kremlin cited Washington's "unfriendly actions."

_______________________________

 

[mayfair]

Syria before and after Russian intervention. Calling it a sea change maybe a stretch, but turning of tide for sure.

 

[SANITY]

Deal with the devil’: US ‘ready to ally with terror’ to overthrow Assad – Russia Foreign Ministry

 

[Raj Malhotra]

After super massive one sided air campaign, Assad regime has hardly expanded ????

 

[here2where]

Now UN wants to restrict veto abilities of 'certain' permanent representatives. Sheer desperation of US State Deparment, what else :biggrin2:

By the way...
Since India aspires to a UNSC permanent seat, our silence in UN on Syria is surprising.
Russia would have expected us to support them, considering this as a repayment for its UN favours in the past.
And US would have offered the NSG and UNSC carrots to ensure our support.
But we have remained neutral, similar to the Israel-Palestine stance.

Interesting times for India diplomatically, since we cannot be neutral forever, while getting squeezed by the two giants.

 

[IndianHawk]

India has been maintaining contact with assad regime. And Indian representative used to vote in defense of Syrian govt. We can't support lynching of assad just like Gaddafi but we must support bombing Isis.
Russian bravado can not last long. If America simply starts bombing Syrian govt positions their is not much Russia can do. It's a costly business Russia can't afford it for long. Saudis want Assad's head they will keep bankrolling rebels. May be Syria will be divided????

 

[here2where]

If America simply starts bombing Syrian govt positions their is not much Russia can do

That will trigger a face off with the Russia-China-Iran-Turkey combine; so don't see that happening unless WW3 is the war-monger McCain's "Plan-B".

 

[IndianHawk]

That will trigger a face off with the Russia-China-Iran-Turkey combine; so don't see that happening unless WW3 is the war-monger McCain's "Plan-B".

turkey just wants to subdue kurds. assad is not likely to gain control anytime soon and russia can't sustain to be their for long. saudi have sworn to get rid of assad so everyone is in flux. america will have to take decisive action

 

[Bahamut]

Qasem Soleimani: Iran's ‘architect’ of Russian operations in Syria
October 5, 2016 MARIA BARANOVA, GAZETA.RU
Qasem Soleimani is a highly influential Iranian general who played a key role in persuading the Kremlin to launch its military operation in Syria one year ago. But who exactly is Soleimani and how far does his international influence spread?
Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Pinterest

Crimea moving toward Russia's continental landmass, say Russian astronomers

• Archeologist: ‘For Russia, Syria's cultural heritage is personal’

• Washington suspends talks with Moscow over Syria: What next?

TAGS
IRAN, SYRIA, ARMY,POLITICS, RBTH DAILY

Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani (C) attends Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's (not seen) meeting with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in Tehran, Iran on Sept. 18, 2016. Source: AFP/East News

After Russian aircraft were deployed in Syria on a permanent basis in 2015 and began to deliver strikes on local terrorist groups, Reuters reportedthat one of the major "architects" of this operation was Iran’s General Qasem Soleimani, head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' special unit Quds Force.

According to the news agency, it was Soleimani who described a scenario of military action in Syria to the military leadership in Moscow and outlined the possibilities of influencing the situation. During his first supposed visit to the Russian capital (July 24-26, 2015), Soleimani is alleged to have met with President Vladimir Putin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.



Syria turning into proxy war with Russia in eyes of Americans – U.S. expert


"Soleimani put the map of Syria on the table. The Russians were very alarmed, and felt matters were in steep decline and that there were real dangers to the regime," said the report. "The Iranians assured them there is still the possibility to reclaim the initiative. At that time, Soleimani played a role in assuring them that we haven't lost all the cards."

In total, Soleimani is said to have made four trips to Moscow – in late July, early August, in December 2015, and in mid-April 2016. A Gazeta.ru source confirmed that Soleimani has been to the Russian capital on several occasions, including in the winter of 2015-2016.

"Qasem is trusted, arms supplies are discussed with him," said the source. Soleimani discussed the Syrian operation with his Russian colleagues as early as 2013, but the destabilization of the situation in Ukraine slowed down these consultations for two years.

In response to questions from journalists, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov has denied that Putin has had any meetings with Soleimani, claiming he had no information about whether the general had visited Moscow.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander Qassem Soleimani uses a walkie-talkie at the frontline during offensive operations against Islamic State militants in the town of Tal Ksaiba in Salahuddin province. Source: Reuters

International man of mystery
The name of Qasem Soleimani is included in the United Nations' blacklist of 15 Iranian military and political figures who are prohibited from leaving the country because of their connection with the development of a military nuclear program.

Soleimani and the Quds Force are also the subject of unilateral U.S. sanctions, which classifies the Quds Force as an organization that provides assistance to terrorism, and Soleimani personally as a terrorist.

The general is known as an organizer of sabotage and intelligence operations who has created a wide network of agents with the support of Shiite communities across the region.

"Soleimani is the single most powerful operative in the Middle East today and no one’s ever heard of him," John Maguire, a former C.I.A. officer in Iraq, told the New Yorker magazine in 2013.

A non-professional military man
Qasem Soleimani climbed the social ladder thanks to the Islamic Revolution of 1979 that toppled the Shah's regime in Iran.

Born into a poor peasant family in the small mountain village of Rabor in the eastern province of Kerman, he left school after five years and until the revolution was an unqualified worker.

Commander of Iran's Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani attends an annual rally commemorating the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, in Tehran, Iran. Source: AP


The young Soleimani strongly supported the ideas of the revolution. In its first days, he joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which was subsequently turned into an elite unit, reporting personally to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The IRGC played a key role in the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988, and Soleimani in one way or another participated in the preparation of the unit's operations. It was then that he laid the foundations for his future network of agents, establishing contact with the leaders of the Iraqi Kurds and the Shiite Badr Organization, which fought against Iraq’s then president Saddam Hussein.

Conqueror of Saddam and Washington
Soleimani became the head of the Quds Force in 1998. The unit coordinates and directs the activities of the network of Shiite "revolutionaries" opposed to U.S. allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.



Ties that bind Tehran and Moscow


The unit played an important role in the overthrow of dictator Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq. Soleimani personally commanded Iraqi fighters and established a relationship with the majority of parties and organizations – at that time, he was considered to be the real master of the situation in Iraq. After the fall of the Hussein regime, Soleimani already had influence over major political figures in Iraq.

Over time, a network of alliances throughout the region has formed under the leadership of the Iranian general.

Soleimani against the ‘Caliphate’
When Iraqi cities, one after another, began to fall into the hands of Islamic State, Soleimani's network immediately responded. For Iran, the fight against ISIS became a priority: The terrorists were actively destroying Shiite sacred sites.

Soleimani took command in his hands and moved his best fighters to Baghdad. The Quds Force played a vital role in the main victories by the Iraqi armed forces in Tikrit, Fallujah and Mosul. When the terrorist "Caliphate" moved into Syria, the Quds Force was ready.



Lavrov: U.S. military does not entirely obey commander-in-chief


According to Debka, an Israeli resource with strong ties to the country's security services, Iranian specialists are overseeing the military operations of Assad's army on many fronts, as well as coordinating the activities of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group, their allies and part of the Syrian opposition in the fight against ISIS. Iran officially denies the presence of IRGC fighters in Syria.

Naame Sham, an Arab-Iranian online resource with links to the Syrian opposition, quoted Assad himself, who reportedly stated at a meeting: "Major General Soleimani has a place in my heart. If he had had to run against me, he would have won the election. This is how much Syrian people love him."

A soldier to the end?
With such authority, Soleimani could easily start a power struggle in Iran. With a presidential election due in 2017, there have already been calls on Iranian social networks for Soleimani to put forward his candidacy.

However, in September Soleimani made a statement that he had no political ambitions and wanted to remain a soldier till the end of his days. It is clear that for now his plan is to bring the Syrian campaign to a successful conclusion. And if that happens, Soleimani won’t need any elections in Iran.