War breaking out in the Middle East: Israel vs Syria, May 2018 (perhaps entangling Iran, Russia and the US) [Archive]

ThePythonicCow

10th May 2018, 03:00

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Of course, the US mainstream news is reporting almost none of this so far.

Here's one of the first reports I've seen, outside of Hal Turner. This is from Breitbart News, reporting that Iranian forces inside Syria are firing missiles at Israel (without little mention, except buried deep in the article, that Israel had fired earlier).

In the report IDF: Iranian Forces Fire Rockets at Israel (http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2018/05/09/idf-iranian-forces-fire-rockets-israel/), they write:

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IDF: Iranian Forces Fire Rockets at Israel

by Aaron Klein9 May 2018

TEL AVIV — Iranian forces operating from Syria fired about 20 rockets at Israeli army positions in the Golan Heights, the Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday night.

Some of the missiles were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome system, and there were no reports of injuries, the IDF stated.

About an hour ago, IDF defense systems identified approximately 20 rockets that the Iranian Quds forces launched at IDF forward posts on the Golan Heights

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) May 9, 2018

A number of rockets were intercepted by the IDF's Iron Dome aerial defense system. No injuries were reported. The IDF views this event with great severity and remains prepared for a wide variety of scenarios

— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) May 9, 2018

A video posted on social media in Syria purports to show a volley of rockets from a launcher being fired into Israel.

#Pt. Video showing #Syria|n Regime MRLS bombing #Golan. First time ever direct retaliation for previous #Israel|i strikes. pic.twitter.com/4aK9dHrPPx

— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) May 9, 2018

The IDF is blaming the attack on the Quds Force, the unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards that is responsible for operations outside Iran.

The Times of Israel reports (https://www.timesofisrael.com/sirens-sound-in-golan-heights-residents-urged-to-enter-shelters/) on immediate Israeli retaliation:

Immediately following the Iranian attack at 12:10 a.m., Syrian state media reported that Israeli artillery fire targeted a military post near the city of Baath in the Quneitra border region, where Syrian regime forces were stationed.

Approximately an hour and a half later, the Hezbollah-affiliated al-Manar news outlet reported that Syrian army air defenses were responding to an Israeli air strike against a target southwest of Damascus.

The Israel Defense Forces spokesperson confirmed that the army had retaliated to the alleged Iranian attack, but would not comment on the specific details.

The events mark the first time the IDF has accused Iran of directly firing rockets into Israel, and could represent a more direct confrontation between Israel and Iran. Israel has been alarmed at Iran’s massive military buildup in Syria, where the Iranians are said to control numerous military bases.

The reported Iranian missile attacks follow a series of strikes in Syria attributed to Israel targeting Iran-run bases.

Only yesterday, Syria’s state-run SANA news agency reported (http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2018/05/08/reports-powerful-explosion-near-damascus-after-idf-warns-of-irregular-iranian-activity/) an Israeli attack targeting a military base south of Damascus about two hours after President Trump announced a decision to withdraw from the international nuclear agreement with Iran. Fox News cited (http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/05/08/iran-military-base-in-syria-attacked-sources-say.html) sources saying the target of the strike was an Iranian base in Syria.

The reports of explosions also come after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday placed Israel’s northern communities on high alert with the IDF detecting “irregular Iranian activity” and “abnormal movements of Iranian forces in Syria.”

Just before the explosion reports, Haaretz reported (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-u-s-embassy-in-israel-issues-travel-warning-for-golan-heights-1.6071960) the IDF believes Iran is “making efforts to carry out an imminent retaliation against Israel,” according to the newspaper’s characterization.

Threats of Iranian retaliation follow numerous airstrikes against Iranian military targets in Syria that have been attributed to Israel.

Besides yesterday’s strike, ten days ago, Syrian state television reported (http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2018/04/29/syrian-media-enemy-rocket-attacks-hits-multiple-military-bases/) that “enemy” rocket attacks struck military bases in Hama province and in the Aleppo countryside, with reports of 26 or more pro-regime fighters, mostly Iranians, killed in the blasts.

On April 14, there were reports (http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2018/04/14/reports-violent-explosion-rocks-aleppo-base-amid-claims-of-iranian-casualties/) of a “violent explosion” in the southern section of Aleppo province in Syria in an area where Iranian forces were present. Hezbollah-affiliated media outlets at the time claimed the incident involved a controlled explosion.

On April 9, strikes blamed on Israel hit the Iran-run T-4 military base that was reportedly used to operate Iran’s advanced drone fleet. The strikes came after the base was brazenly used by Iran to send an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) into Israeli territory in February before it was quickly shot down by the Israeli military. The IDF revealed (http://www.breitbart.com/jerusalem/2018/04/14/reports-violent-explosion-rocks-aleppo-base-amid-claims-of-iranian-casualties/) its investigation concluded the Iranian drone sent from T-4 was carrying explosives and seemingly deployed to attack an Israeli target.

Aaron Klein is Breitbart’s Jerusalem bureau chief and senior investigative reporter. He is a New York Times bestselling author and hosts the popular weekend talk radio program, “Aaron Klein Investigative Radio.” Follow him on Twitter @AaronKleinShow. Follow him on Facebook.

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This reminds me of how to get a key player for the other team ejected from a sports game -- taunt, provoke and abuse the key player, out of the notice of the referees, until they are sufficiently angered to retaliate and get caught at it.

ThePythonicCow

10th May 2018, 03:11

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Here's the Times of Israel playing the same game as I just reported in my previous post above:

After alleged Iranian barrage, Israel launches massive counterattack in Syria (Times of Israel) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-iranian-barrage-israel-launches-massive-counterattack-in-syria/)

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After alleged Iranian barrage, Israel launches massive counterattack in Syria

IDF warns Syrian military not to interfere as it pummels Iranian targets in largest direct exchange between Jerusalem, Tehran

By Judah Ari Gross, Today, 4:38 am

Some 20 rockets were fired at Israeli military bases by Iranian forces from southern Syria just after midnight on Thursday, sparking the largest ever direct clash between Jerusalem and Tehran, with Israeli jets targeting numerous Iranian-controlled sites across Syria.

The Israeli army said the initial missile barrage was carried out by members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Forces. This appeared to be the first time that Israel attributed an attack directly to Iran, which generally operates through proxies.

Some of the incoming missiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system, the army said. There were no reports of Israeli casualties in the attack. An IDF spokesperson said damage was caused to Israeli military bases, but that it was “limited.”

Some 20 rockets were fired at Israeli military bases by Iranian forces from southern Syria just after midnight on Thursday, sparking the largest ever direct clash between Jerusalem and Tehran, with Israeli jets targeting numerous Iranian-controlled sites across Syria.

The Israeli army said the initial missile barrage was carried out by members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Forces. This appeared to be the first time that Israel attributed an attack directly to Iran, which generally operates through proxies.

Some of the incoming missiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system, the army said. There were no reports of Israeli casualties in the attack. An IDF spokesperson said damage was caused to Israeli military bases, but that it was “limited.”

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This Times of Israel article is quite a bit longer; not worth quoting here. See the above link if you want more.

The modus operandi seems clear: Israel strikes Iranian targets in Syria until they strike back. The Israeli controlled press in Israel and the US provides little or no reporting of these Israeli strikes however. When Iran finally strikes back, that gets full coverage, along with reports on how impressive and swift was the Israeli retaliation for these unjust and threatening attacks.

ThePythonicCow

10th May 2018, 03:35

A somewhat more neutral report from Russia Today
Israel-Syria cross-border strikes reported in occupied Golan Heights (RT.com) (https://www.rt.com/news/426300-israel-syria-golan-shelling/)

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Israel-Syria cross-border strikes reported in occupied Golan Heights

Published time: 9 May, 2018 21:30

Strikes have been reported across the border between the Israeli-occupied and the Syrian portions of the Golan Heights. Syrian media says Israeli shells hit its territory, while Israel reports it was targeted by Iranian missiles.

The shells were fired from the Israeli-controlled area towards the city of Baath in northern Quneitra, Syria’s state SANA news agency reported. There have been no reports of injuries as a result of the attack, it said.

Within minutes of the reported shelling, the Israeli military said that sirens were heard in the occupied Golan Heights, without providing any details as to what triggered the alert.

“The details are being looked into and will be given shortly,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on Twitter.

It is unclear so far which of the incidents came first.

Israeli media reported that the sirens might have been activated as the Iron Dome missile defense system was deployed to shoot down incoming projectiles. There have also been unconfirmed reports of explosions on the Israeli side.

Footage posted by The Jerusalem Post military correspondent Anna Ahronheim on Twitter shows sirens going off in the village of Majdal Shams, north of the Golan Heights.

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The article continues at the above link.

ThePythonicCow

10th May 2018, 03:43

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Al-Masdar News in BEIRUT, LEBANON reports that Israel fired first:

Breaking: Massive confrontation breaks out between Israeli and Syrian forces near occupied Golan Heights (Al-Masdar News) (https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/breaking-massive-confrontation-breaks-out-between-israeli-and-syrian-forces-near-occupied-golan-heights/)

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Breaking: Massive confrontation breaks out between Israeli and Syrian forces near occupied Golan Heights

By Leith Aboufadel - 10/05/2018 BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:30 A.M.)

At approximately 1:00 A.M. (Damascus Time), the Israeli military fired several artillery shells towards the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) positions in the Al-Quneitra Governorate city of Al-Ba’ath.

The Syrian Army responded by firing missiles towards an IDF base in the occupied Golan Heights – no confirmation on whether or not anything hit its target.

The Israeli Defense Forces then responded with their own barrage, which resulted in the Syrian military attempting to intercept the Israeli missiles.

No casualties have been confirmed.

The exchange is still ongoing between the two forces, with both sides firing missiles at one another.

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It's pretty easy to see who side who is on, by who they report fired first.

ThePythonicCow

10th May 2018, 03:53

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The UK shows it colors, with a strong article reporting that Iran and Syria are to blame for starting this, in this article:

Israel SHELLS Syrian positions in response to Iranian missile STRIKE (Express, UK) (https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/957542/Israel-airstrike-Syria-Iran-Syria-news-Golan-Heights-World-War-3)
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Israel SHELLS Syrian positions in response to Iranian missile STRIKE

ISRAEL fired several volleys of missiles against Syrian positions with reports of explosions in Damascus after a barrage of Iranian shells were fired on the Israeli-held Golan Heights, according to local reports.

By Matt Drake PUBLISHED: 03:24, Thu, May 10, 2018

Several shells have reportedly hit the Syrian Governorate of Quneitra, launched from the Israeli-occupied portion of the Golan Heights.

The Syrian defence system engaged with several targets over Damascus and early reports suggested they were cruise missiles.

Syrian expert Danny Makki said:

Syrian Air Defences firing at rockets over South West Damascus.

Mezzeh airbase has been reportedly hit by an Israeli rocket.

The Syrian army (not Iranians) launched 50 rockets (not 20) to several Israeli army targets in the Golan, and most rockets hit their targets.
— Fares Shehabi MP (@ShehabiFares) 9 May 2018

The situation is no joke, its a serious escalation which risks developing into something far more widespread.

And analyst Frida Ghitis said:

Iran is firing more rockets into Israel.

Israel has responded forcefully to violations of its red lines. This is extremely serious.

Israel's response is unprecedented and has been on a far larger scale than the US-led strike in April.

Two military ariports in Khalkhala and Balli have been hit.

A Syrian radar installation has been hit too, according to Syrian state news agency SANA citing a military source

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ThePythonicCow

10th May 2018, 03:58

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Meanwhile, Reuters reports that The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says Israel started it:

Report: Israeli missile attack on military bases south of Damascus in Syria killed Iranian soldiers (Reuters) (http://www.matthewaid.com/post/173745292146/report-israeli-missile-attack-on-military-bases)

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Report: Israeli missile attack on military bases south of Damascus in Syria killed Iranian soldiers

May 9, 2018

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday an Israeli attack on Iranian military facilities south of Damascus had killed at least 15 people, including eight Iranians.

The reports of an Israeli attack in Kisweh late on Tuesday emerged after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was pulling out of the Iranian nuclear deal.

The UK-based Observatory said the missile strikes hit depots and rocket launchers, killing 15 individuals including eight Iranians. Reuters could not independently verify the report.

A commander in the regional alliance fighting alongside Damascus said that Israel had hit a Syrian army base without causing casualties.

Trump’s hard tack against the nuclear deal, while welcomed by Israel, has stirred fears of a possible regional flare-up.

Within hours of the White House announcement on Tuesday night, Syrian state media said that its air defenses had brought down two Israeli missiles.

Israel’s military declined to comment on the reports, shortly after it said it had identified “irregular activity” by Iranian forces in Syria and went onto high alert. The military had instructed authorities in the Golan Heights bordering Syria to ready bomb shelters and mobilized some reservist forces.

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There is quite a bit more to this article, with more back and forth detail, at the above link.

ThePythonicCow

10th May 2018, 04:26

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... and The Drudge Report shows its colors:

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http://thepythoniccow.us/Drudge_Report_Iranian_Forces_Attack_Israel.jpg
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Here are the four articles linked in the above Drudge headlines (well, not exactly the same articles - Drudge refreshed its homepage as I was writing this, but similar articles):

ISRAEL SHELLED Iran bombards Israel with ’20 rockets’ and artillery from Syria after Damascus air strikes (The UK Sun) (https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6249305/israel-air-raid-sirens-syria-golan-heights-strike-damascus/)
After alleged Iranian barrage, Israel launches massive counterattack in Syria (Times of Israel) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-iranian-barrage-israel-launches-massive-counterattack-in-syria/)
Trump warns Iran: ‘Don’t restart your nuclear weapons program (Jerusalem Post) (https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Trump-warns-Iran-Dont-restart-your-nuclear-weapons-program-556012)
Trump Iran sanctions just gave Saudi Arabia and Russia more clout in the oil market, so watch for higher prices (CNBC) (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/09/trump-iran-sanctions-give-saudi-arabia-and-russia-more-clout.html)

ThePythonicCow

10th May 2018, 05:22

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In related news, the Iranian Fars News agency reports there is a massive buildup of new bases and of arms sales by the US in Syria (http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970217001533), and Yahoo reports that the new US embassy in Jerusalem will open in one week. (https://www.yahoo.com/news/first-signs-us-embassy-jerusalem-100924529.html)

The chess pieces are being moved into place on the board. I seriously doubt that we've heard the last of this one.

There have been several wars in the Middle East involving Israel, including:

1948 Palestine War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Palestine_war)
1948 Arab-Israeli War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab%E2%80%93Israeli_War)
1956 Suez Crisis (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Kadesh)
1967 Six Day War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War)
1973 Yom Kippur War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur_War)
1982 Lebanon War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_Lebanon_War)
1987-1993 First Intifada (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Intifada)
2000-2005 Second Intifada (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Intifada)

So an escalation to a substantial regional war once again would certainly not be surprising.

My current hunch is that this newest war between Israel and its neighbors will be the "war to end all wars" in that region. The build up for this war has been substantial, on many fronts, and we seem to be rapidly approaching the time for some of the more dramatic shifts in world affairs, finances, politics, economics and earth cycles (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?102695-World-Wide-City-Population-Changes-by-End-of-2019) that I've been anticipating for quite a few years.

ThePythonicCow

10th May 2018, 05:36

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Three or four days ago now, the Jerusalem Post was setting the stage for Israel's blaming Iran for starting a war because Iranian forces in Syria had the temerity to defend against Israeli attacks:
Iran planning to launch a barrage of missiles against Israel (Jerusalem Post; 6 May 2018) (https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Report-Iran-planning-to-launch-a-barrage-of-missiles-against-Israel-553644)

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Iran planning to launch a barrage of missiles against Israel

Military analyst Roni Daniel said the intelligence suggested Iran would use Shiite militias already deployed in Syria, along with experts from Hezbollah.

By Anna Ahronheim, May 6, 2018 20:26

Israel is bracing for a barrage of missiles to be launched toward military positions along its northern front from Syria by Shi’ite militias trained and funded by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iran is reportedly very determined to carry out an attack. Intelligence reports have indicated such an attack is in the advanced planning stages and might soon be executed as Iran vowed to do in retaliation for an alleged Israeli air strike against the T4 airbase near Homs used by the IRGC two months ago.

Israel has allegedly uncovered involvement by Hezbollah commanders and senior operatives from Shi’ite militias in the planning of the retaliatory strike. It is believed these militias, along with experts from Hezbollah under the command of the IRGC’s Quds Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani, will launch precision-guided missiles or armed drones from a base in Syria.

“The idea is to use heavy Iranian missiles, including the Fateh-110 under the command and with the advisory work of Hezbollah but without an IRGC presence,” Channel 10 reported on Sunday night, adding that Hezbollah members from Lebanon have been brought to Syria to train Shi’ite militia members for the attack.

While military officials have briefed mayors across the country on the latest developments, the heads of local councils in northern Israel have told residents there have been no special instructions or precautions issued.

While Hezbollah and the IRGC are the only groups that have the weapons and know-how to launch such an attack, it is believed the missiles will be launched by one of the many Shi’ite militia groups deployed in Syria to give Tehran the ability to deny their role.
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ThePythonicCow

10th May 2018, 06:12

The most recent updates from Hal Turner (http://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/news/world-news/2503-netanyahu-meets-putin-in-moscow-asks-russia-to-stand-down-for-israeli-all-out-attack-on-iranian-assets-in-syria-meeting-has-failed), posted between 11:50 PM EDT, 9 May 2018, and 1:10 AM EDT, 10 May 2018:

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Israeli Cabinet in Emergency Meeting DECLARATION OF WAR "LIKELY"

Syrian Army 4th Division Base struck by multiple Israeli missiles.

Israel says they are primarily striking at IRANIAN targets inside Syria but are engaging all "hostiles."

UNCONFIRMED -- UNCONFIRMED reports Syrians may have shot down an Israeli war plane. UNCONFIRMED

SEVERAL "DIVISION 4" POSITIONS DESTROYED TONIGHT. DIVISION 4 NEAR DAMASCUS IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST OF THE SYRIAN ARAB ARMY.

RUSSIAN JETS TAKEOFF FROM HMEYMIM AIR FORCE BASE TO CONFRONT ISRAELI JETS OVER LEBANON!

Electricity completely out in all of Damascus. Population fleeing in panic.

Wave after Wave of Israeli missiles seem to be overwhelming Syrian defenses. Several Syrian Air Defense sites destroyed and several others now with destroyed RADAR.

SECOND REPORT OF "MULTIPLE" ISRAELI WAR PLANES SHOT DOWN -- AT LEAST TWO ACCORDING TO REPORTS.

Hezbollah in Lebanon says it is deciding whether or not to attack Israel from Lebanon.

Israeli military briefing says 35+ sites inside Syria attacked including Iranian sites and Syrian anti-aircraft batteries. "We warned the Syrian Army to stay out of this."
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Jad

10th May 2018, 15:14

Is it really a coincidence that things are heating up in that region since the World Cup in Russia is about 5 weeks away? Billions of eyeballs will be watching this tournament, so let’s hope they don’t use it to kickstart a new paradigm shift..

shaberon

10th May 2018, 22:17

Israel and Syria have directly exchanged fire of around 60 missiles.

According to al-Alam, in occupied Golan, "It added that tens of Israeli military centers, including the command center for technical and electronic tapping, the 9900 secret border headquarters to collect visual intelligence, the military command center for electronic warfare, the pin-pointing weapons watchtower, the regional command center for the Isreali army unit 810, the military brigade command center in Harmoun, the al-Shatawi center of Benastim winter warfare special unit, came under attack."

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970220000673

Israel has not been attacked like this in decades.

Edit: and this is within a few days ago, Bibi and Lieberman became Caesar. Regardless of what happened previously, these kind of blatant attacks are bound to set off the Iran Defense Pact, perhaps then they will bring him some gripes. Hezbollah just won a majority in Lebanon.

Fellow Aspirant

11th May 2018, 01:08

Holy Crap!

Has anybody told Jared?

Brian

ThePythonicCow

11th May 2018, 02:36

As could have been expected, the plot thickens.

Israel is claiming that:

Israel's attack on Syria was an attack on Iranian assets inside Syria.
That attack was retribution for an attack (some 20 rockets fired) on Israeli assets on the Golan Heights.
Those 20 rockets were fired by Iranian Quds forces, which are led by Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.
The US has given Israel the green light to assassinate General Soleimani.

Various references for various items of the above:

Ynetnews.com (https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5256972,00.html)
Blacklistednews.com (https://www.blacklistednews.com/article/65751/the-usisraeli-plan-to-assassinate-irans-elite-revolutionary-guard.html)
IndiaTVNews.com (https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world-israel-iran-rocket-attacks-iran-nuclear-deal-saudi-arms-race-live-updates-441534)
al-monitor.com (https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/mem/2018/05/10.html)
time.com (http://time.com/5272177/israel-strikes-iranian-targets-syria-golan-heights/)
wisdomsave.com (http://wisdomsave.com/2018/05/10/israel-strikes-iranian-targets-in-syria.html)
PravdaReport.com (http://www.pravdareport.com/news/world/asia/syria/10-05-2018/140932-iran_israel_syria-0/)
PressTV.com (http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/05/10/561194/israel-palestine-missile-golan)

For example, the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/10/world/middleeast/israel-iran-syria-military.html) reports:

Early on Thursday, Iranian forces fired about 20 Grad and Fajr-5 rockets at the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, targeting forward positions of the Israeli military, according to an Israeli military spokesman. The barrage was launched under the command of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and used Iranian weapons, said the Israeli spokesman, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus.
Ken, over at RedefiningGod.com (http://redefininggod.com/2018/04/globalist-agenda-watch-war-mass-arrests-watch-part-2/), has been warning ... well warning of many things, most of which have not transpired ... but one item he has mentioned repeatedly is that an assassination of Quds force commander Iranian General Qasem Soleimani would be, if it happened, a key element in the unfolding drama before us.

Keep your eye on this man:

https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/time-100-2017-qasem-soleimani.jpg?w=720
Quds force commander Iranian General Qasem Soleimani

ThePythonicCow

11th May 2018, 04:48

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Two different narratives ... depending on who you listen to.

The basic timeline, to which both sides seem to agree:

May 8 - Trump announces that he will not renew the Iran nuclear deal.
May 8 - One hour later, Israel launches missiles into Syria, killing some Syrians and some Iranians.
May 10 - Some 20 missiles are launched (by Syria or Iran?) from Syria into the Golan Heights .
May 10 - Hours later, Israeli warplanes attacked dozens of allegedly Iranian targets in Syria.

RT News observes here (https://www.rt.com/news/426415-iran-no-reason-attack-golan/) that it would have made little sense for Iran to have launched the 20 missiles from within Syria into the Golan Heights (Syrian territory illegally occupied by Israel since 1967).

The Iranian news site Farsnews, here (http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970220000942), reports that Syria, not Iran, fired those 20 missiles:

As Tel Aviv and Western media have accused Tehran of launching rocket and missile attacks at Israeli forces in the occupied Golan Heights, Member of the Parliament Fares Shehabi tweeted on Thursday that "Iran denies firing any rocket at Israel! The Syrian army fired more than 50 rockets at Israel in response to continuous Israeli terrorism against Syria".

I would have to agree, from what I've seen so far, that it would be Syria, not Iranian forces within Syria, that would be most motivated to fire some rockets into the Golan Heights, after all the bullets, missiles, rockets, bombs, faked chemical attacks and slanderous lies that Israel and its cutouts have fired at Syria, substantially destroying a once fine nation.

I would also have to agree that the primary instigator here is Israel, not Syria or Iran.

Israel keeps attacking Syria, on the (present) excuse that they will not allow Iranian forces in Syria. Syria can invite whomever it wants into its land, and given the belligerent behavior of the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia against Syria and its neighbors, I think that it's quite sensible of Syria to invite Iranian and Russian troops and equipment into its lands.

Israel, not Iran, is the habitual aggressor in the Middle East wars of the last 70 years .It's disgusting, in my book, that Israel keeps getting away with its hostile behavior, egregious lies, and their blaming their victims for the results.

I am also quite disappointed to see that US President Trump is almost certainly an asset of Israeli Fascist Neocon Zionist operatives.

It seems that in the last US Presidential Election, held late 2016, we Americans had a choice between an asset of the Muslim Brotherhood, or an asset of the Zionists.

shaberon

11th May 2018, 04:51

Isn't it surreal? Iran seems to mostly deny themselves being targeted. Syria claims being targeted and responsibility for the retaliation. The Lebanese seem to think the Zionists will de-escalate: http://english.almanar.com.lb/503622

Iron Dome seems to have performed poorly. They probably are going to go away sulking after eating what seemed to me to be an equal response in number of missiles launched. Syria blocked most and took some damage. Going to guess that Israel blocked less and got hit worse. Does anyone expect them to do anything once that starts happening??

ThePythonicCow

11th May 2018, 05:39

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Well, isn't it all quite obvious:

https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2018.05.10iranchart.JPG

shaberon

11th May 2018, 16:54

Hilarious. That's what I call the "thirty-five bowls of dust, ready in ten minutes".

No one seems to be making a big deal about the direct state vs. state attacks today. It hasn't really affected Syria. I wonder if thousands of Zionists have crawled out of their bomb shelters yet.

I don't believe Caesar has yet exercised his new power to declare war without the Knesset; so far, it appears to remain a sad shadow of the U. S. going around doing police actions and attacks directed from the Executive branch without declaring war. They have the power, but I don't believe they can. The absent declaration most likely is what would invite legitimate Iranian reprisal.

With the cleansing of south Damascus and a renewed push to clear the southern Israeli border provinces and a majority election of Hezbollah, this has got to be very, very uncomfortable to Israel. Considering they are so close to the Saudis, whose main agent provacateur Muhammad Alloosh just resigned stealing massive cash to buy some businesses, things just don't look well for the Zio-Wahhabi coalition to take over the Middle East, although their imminent collapse is not out of the question. Saud tried to buy the Lebanese election and it backfired. Sounds like the modus operandi of almost all of these takeover schemes: they're backfiring. About like Iron Dome and Patriot defense batteries.

Oh, and just look at how many are excited about Trump's walkout vs. Iran, making the U. S. appear idiotic about a three year old treaty. Wait...did anyone on earth agree with this??

Ba-ba-Ra

11th May 2018, 17:36

The Rothschild Syria Connection - Major Revelations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhTMy9ma2mQ

shaberon

11th May 2018, 18:52

Only 30/86 ambassadors are attending the U. S. Embassy's occupation of Jerusalem; others have refused, or are outright boycotting the grand opening: http://english.almanar.com.lb/503743

U. S. appears to be marching straight towards irrelevance. Massive lack of support for their Embassy, their Nuclear Pact betrayal, their military interventions...which are predicted by their own commanders to face "complete annihilation" were they to confront another major military. Add in that Israel's commanders admit failure in this Golan confrontation and of their Iron Dome. This "coalition" now appears as a ragtag pipsqueak of fairly low intelligence--not just to me, but, I expect to anyone that they haven't already hypnotized.

If they had what it takes to turn Syria's retaliation into a major outbreak of hostilities, it would have already happened. I'm currently believing they have too much egg on the chin already. Personally I also believe that Rothschilds were "allowed to play" a few hundred years ago, to be discarded like a pile of smelly old rags when no longer useful. If Brussels/EU is not supporting Israel so blindly, and they don't care for sanctioning Iran, there it is. Yes, they are dangerous in other ways, but seem ready for the U. S. -- U. K. hegemonies to burn off.

Let's add the hypocrisy over the "nuclear treaty" from Israel, a country which has, and utterly refuses to disclose, nuclear arms.

ThePythonicCow

11th May 2018, 23:27

If they had what it takes to turn Syria's retaliation into a major outbreak of hostilities, it would have already happened. I'm currently believing they have too much egg on the chin already. Personally I also believe that Rothschilds were "allowed to play" a few hundred years ago, to be discarded like a pile of smelly old rags when no longer useful.
My take is that you've got it quite wrong, shaberon.

"They" are doing their best to get us all hating some "other half" of us, and they're doing a rather too good a job of it so far.

The game is complex and multi-layered. The power players don't have our best interests at heart ... if they have hearts.

TomKat

12th May 2018, 01:12

shaberon

12th May 2018, 03:19

My take is that you've got it quite wrong, shaberon.

"They" are doing their best to get us all hating some "other half" of us, and they're doing a rather too good a job of it so far.

The game is complex and multi-layered. The power players don't have our best interests at heart ... if they have hearts.

Which part is wrong? Are you saying Israel has what it takes to begin a major war against what is, ostensibly, an Iranian axis that directly extends from Tehran to Beirut? Did they send in their tanks? That's what I meant by "they", Israel, and not an amoebic "They" of everywhere.

I would not agree that Hezbollah are trying to stir our hearts against imaginary enemies.

On the part of Zionists and others, sure, they do those things; it doesn't affect me. I simply hate aggressive--deceptive behavior and I will stop an aggressor with force. There is good and bad in all nationalities and I can't say I hate a single person.

Many of "Them" do not even have souls.

ThePythonicCow

12th May 2018, 03:47

Which part is wrong? Are you saying Israel has what it takes to begin a major war against what is, ostensibly, an Iranian axis that directly extends from Tehran to Beirut? Did they send in their tanks? That's what I meant by "they", Israel, and not an amoebic "They" of everywhere.
Between Israel's nukes, and the various other military powers involved in that region (the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia, various Islamic militants, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey), and given Israel's proven ability to instigate major conflict using a combination of high aggression and high deception, and also given that all these parties seem to be partially under the control of deeper state powers (Rothschilds, Ashkenazi Jews, Jesuits, Aliens, Khazarian Mafia, Zionists, Knights Templar, Vatican, ... you tell me) who might intend for major conflict to break out, then I am saying, yes, I believe that Israel has what it takes to play a critical role in sparking a major conflict, for example as in potentially nuclear bombs going off and cities being wiped out.

I disagree with other portions of your post as well, but prefer to focus on stating my views clearly, rather than derailing threads with debates that I doubt will provide others on the thread with useful insight.

ThePythonicCow

12th May 2018, 06:45

I'm as certain as I can be that whatever Israel and the US are telling us about the Middle East is a pack of lies.

This chap, however, who I am guessing is Iranian, reports on the bombing and rocket attacks of the 10th of May between Israel and Syria in a way that sounds more truthful to me. He is saying that Israel repeatedly fired missiles and artillery at Syria, until Syria started firing back:

7FneOrgj-fg

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Israel fired around 70 projectiles, including 60 air-to-surface rockets and more than 10 surface-to-surface missiles, adding that Syria managed to shot down more than half of them:

4JgYqdkpGMI

Israel is claiming that it hit most of the Iranian assets in Syria that it targeted, which sounds to me like a good face saving excuse for backing off, for the (perhaps brief) moment:

9URoHLa2xo4

shaberon

12th May 2018, 17:33

...then I am saying, yes, I believe that Israel has what it takes to play a critical role in sparking a major conflict, for example as in potentially nuclear bombs going off and cities being wiped out.

Fair enough. Yes, they play a role. Have they, at this moment, done anything after the worst attack on them in 50 years?

Nuclear weapons are unnecessary. Tel Aviv and Haifa would disappear from conventional ones. Despite "Caesar's" new war-dictating power, I don't see that Israel has any capability to individually start an actual war. In 2006, they were driven out of Lebanon which has no air force to speak of. Things would be worse now. "Proxy war" isn't even working out. Netanyahu lost a lot of Israelis' interest with the corruption case. Deception isn't working much except on those who make a habit of being deceived.

They will probably pull some triggers and try to squeak by some more quick raids; I just doubt very strongly that a full declaration of war is an approach they can even afford to consider.

Turkey is much more dangerous. The situation in northern Syria is much more intricate and difficult than mosquito bites from the south. May or may not be the powder keg for WWIII, but it has already caused a substantial change in "partnerships". They need to find a way to make an honorable exit, or else, when Syria finishes the insurgencies, they will almost certainly confront the invasion.

Edit: Israel and Syria have been at war since 1967, just as in Korea, there is no peace treaty. Everything between them is some degree of "ceasefire violations".

shaberon

15th May 2018, 22:06

Israel remains capable of provocations, such as a massacre of civilians in the Gaza Concentration Camp to mark the opening of the U. S. Embassy in Jerusalem.

This was not received by the Turks very well at all. At the start of the Syrian mess, they were tight enough with U. S. and Israel to go so far as to down a Russian plane, but, since the Gulenist coup attempt, that's gone. They want to suppress Kurds so badly, some of whom are U. S. & Israeli backed, they may attempt to annex the Syrian territories they have invaded. It's getting dangerously close to Turkey vs. Syria, and, at least in terms of morale, Turkey vs. Israel. With the embassy move and massacre, maybe Islam vs. Israel. Turkey is now also friendlier to Iran, who is now selling oil via petro-Yuan.

The Russian position is that the enemy is not Israel or Iran, the enemy is the conflict, or any conflict. Consequently, they are opposed to Saud and other Gulf regimes, very generous trouble makers.

The withering U. S. + Israel + whoever's left gang is still a player, but not much of a power. Not here. Maybe they will cause some problems in Africa. They have lost the vise grip on the world that they once, uh, cleverly, obtained. The Syrian conflict is not going to stop religious animosities and other regional issues, but it seems to be the end of U. S. -- Israeli one sided hegemony, and fruitless to the Saudis who invested heavily.

shaberon

20th May 2018, 05:05

This appears to be where the buildup is headed:

http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13970229000969

"The Kurdish-language Hawar news quoted the military command council of Manbij as saying that a meeting was held between an official delegation of the US-led coalition forces' command center and a number of Kurdish commanders in Manbij.

The meeting on the political and security situation of Manbij was held in the presence of William Urback, a representative of the US state department, Commander of the US-led coalition General Jimmy Gerrard, Commander of the Kurdish forces in Manbij Mohammad Mostafa, Spokesman for Manbij's military council affiliated to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Sharfan Darwish and Deputy Commander of Manbij military council Ibrahim Banawi.

It added that the US forces have underlined their continued presence in cooperation with the Manbij military council until they prevail control over the entire region.

Meantime, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has several times threatened that he will send his forces to Manbij after driving out the Kurds from Afrin.

Darwish had announced earlier this month that the US forces have set up a new military base in Manbij in Northern Syria at the borders with Turkey.

He said that the French forces have been stationed in the military base with the aim of monitoring and protecting the borders, adding that the base has been established immediately after the Turkish army and its allies' attacks on the Kurdish forces in Afrin and Ankara's repeated threats to enter Manbij.

Experts say military assessments show that establishment of a new military base in Manbij that comes in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's pullout pledge will exacerbate tensions between Washington and Ankara."

Keep in mind that the SDF also employs Arabs, it is not the Kurdish Peshmerga. Israel has a hand in there somewhere, but it is hard to find them in control. Jordan has backed away from the Saudi coalition. The French got there by smuggling ISIS to a safe zone, apparently as a Turkey repellent. At some point, Syria will dislodge all the intruders, although they might not mind to see them fight it out amongst themselves for a while. They have just seized Yarmouk camp which clears all Damascus.

JohanB

20th May 2018, 06:11

The morning of 25 May 2016 I had a dream that seemed sent, not something that would have come from me. The main elements were: 1) Baseball World Series time, 2) dispute by Israel over yellow cake uranium 3), Israel starts nuclear war that ends civilization and then two old Israeli men express "oops, sorry." Later that day I learned Netanyahu had appointed a militant right wing secretary of defence. He and his appointee may have been represented by the two old men in my dream.

This is quite "cringing". As i was reading this thread, listening to music - this rather catchy song just happen to start playing in my ears (via headphones). Cannot help put see the irony in the video image.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFhayF_78PQ&list=PLRxX1Jhp-oqUhk_VQPuyVxwVhRPeuxNYQ&index=50

shaberon

21st May 2018, 07:05

It looks like the French came over from the battle of Mosul with a load of Caesar guns. A lot of the U. S. movement is from Iraq, where they're not much wanted. So they're all just kind of crossing the border. Appears to be a significant commitment on the part of France, they can shoot 40km with something you don't want to catch.

turiya

24th May 2018, 18:44

Cross-posted here (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?95893-Trump-The-Great-American-Reset&p=1226094&viewfull=1#post1226094) & here (http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?100318-The-Qanon-posts-and-a---Very-Bad-Day---Scenario-for-some-elite-swamp-critters--Nov-2017-and-beyond-&p=1226141&viewfull=1#post1226141)

Okay........ Now, I see that this is the video that Dave Janda was referring to in the following video (below). Yes, you can take the following Dave Janda video as a rebuttal to Morphonios' conspiracy video...

https://static-1.bitchute.com/live/cover_images/6PJMcw9vwpX7/E3AskYJhgs0_320x180.jpg (https://www.bitchute.com/channel/morphonios/)

Ever since Trump made the announcement to run for president, there has been a multitude of individuals attempting to bring forth the evidence that makes Trump a globalist shill. Including the allegations that he's had sex with a minor on Epstein's Island. All of these attempts have since failed. Nothing has been found to stick.

Just for starters, Morphonios fails to make the distinction between the United States military & what is called the Deep State Coalition Forces. He lumps these two different groups into one conglomerate whole. Morphonios thinks, like many, many others think, that just because Trump is president, they think he's in total control of what is taking place, especially with what is going on with the Middle East battlefields. That is absolutely, and totally, missing what is the reality of the situation, there, and here, in the U.S.

You Trump nay-sayers, including this Morphonios character, really have to come to learn how to purge yourselves of the decades-old brainwashing that has been instilled into the psyche of their brains... And, learn how to 'feel' more... to feel what is behind the words that various individuals are saying, 'feel' what is behind the words... what is pushing the words forth... and, above all, to stop paying attention to the MSM - propaganda arm of the Deep State - and, what this mouthpiece is spouting off.

Otherwise, one will continue to miss what is actually taking place. And will continue to keep us - We the People - divided. And that's what the Deep State globalist cabal would like nothing better to accomplish.

Simply feel it in your bone marrow.

This will help in making the distinction between what is fact & what is untrue... Alot of what is being said by Morphonias is quite old...

This is 5d chess... If you can following along, foresee the possible moves to be played, and the moves that are presently being played, then maybe you will just have to wait till the game is over before you understand what Trump is about, and what he represents.

Suggestion: Just get over it.... and, the sooner, the better... - just saying. :)
Trump: Friend or Foe
(May 22, 2018)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu5E8zi-R5s

Description:

The spotlight of this Briefing focusses on the ongoing dissection of the relationship of President Trump with the Bankster Globalists & Freedom Fighters.
__________________________

And, continuing...

Here's a Sundance article to displace the negativa regarding Wilbur Ross that was brought up by Morphonios....

__________________________

The Conservative Treehouse (https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/05/23/president-trump-makes-major-trade-move-requests-secretary-ross-consideration-for-232-investigation-into-automobile-industry/)
President Trump Makes Major Trade Move – Requests Secretary Ross Consideration for 232 Investigation into Automobile Industry… (https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/05/23/president-trump-makes-major-trade-move-requests-secretary-ross-consideration-for-232-investigation-into-automobile-industry/)

Posted on May 23, 2018 (https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/05/23/president-trump-makes-major-trade-move-requests-secretary-ross-consideration-for-232-investigation-into-automobile-industry/)
by sundance (https://theconservativetreehouse.com/author/sundancecracker/)

Big picture move by President Trump today that has massive, and generally misinterpreted, ramifications for any trade deal with China, EU and most importantly NAFTA.
China is using U.S. nuclear negotiations with North Korea as leverage for more beneficial trade outcomes; the communist regime is in full manipulative dragon-mode. President Trump can see through the economic play and is dropping the Panda outreach. Eagle-one now hits back at Chairman Xi for deploying such dangerous tactics.
https://theconservativetreehouse.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/trump-nafta-team-5.jpg?w=329&h=417 (https://theconservativetreehouse.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/trump-nafta-team-5.jpg)

If you have been following trade nuance, the Automobile Sector is one of the biggest points of contention within varying trade negotiations. In the NAFTA discussion the auto-sector, via rules of origin, runs at the heart of NAFTA’s fatal flaw (https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/02/05/understanding-why-nafta-exit-is-a-forgone-conclusion/).

The fatal flaw (https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/02/05/understanding-why-nafta-exit-is-a-forgone-conclusion/) is the use of Asian, mostly Chinese, auto components within auto manufacturing. Mexico and Canada arguing to allow more Chinese auto parts in North American manufacturing; and President Trump demanding more North American parts for North American auto manufacturing.

Many U.S. Auto manufacturers have moved to Mexico to exploit the NAFTA loophole (https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/05/11/nafta-update-important-white-house-meeting-with-auto-manufacturers-backstops-freeland-meeting-with-paul-ryan/) (fatal flaw). Vehicles assembled in Mexico use cheaper Chinese parts and are shipped into the U.S. without any tariff under NAFTA rules.

It didn’t take long before EU auto-manufacturers, mostly German, to begin taking the same approach. Albeit to a lesser extent, German auto companies also invested in building vehicles in Mexico/Canada for tariff-free transfer into the U.S. This works out great for Canada and Mexico auto-workers, but not for the U.S.

In essence, the auto-sector is representative of much of the manufacturing exploitation by multinational corporations beyond vehicle production. China has supported this approach because they produce the components for multiple sectors (furniture, appliances etc).

Additionally, during President Obama’s administration General Motors also spent a great deal of money in China, and many of the GM brands are built exclusively -and entirely- in China.

The auto-sector is much more than just complete assembled vehicles. In many ways the core trade issues of part origination, manufacturing and assembly of multiple durable goods sectors are represented within the auto industry process.

Current trade negotiations with the EU, China and NAFTA have reached a loggerhead status around these core issues. Multinational ‘Wall Street’ corporations are unwilling to lose their prior multi-billion investments (https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/05/11/nafta-update-important-white-house-meeting-with-auto-manufacturers-backstops-freeland-meeting-with-paul-ryan/) and take a new ‘America-First’ approach. POTUS Trump is rightly angered by many of them because he specifically offset any investment losses with a new U.S. corporate tax structure.

All of that said, the issues with the auto-sector have now rippled out into other trade sectors with discussions coming to a standstill until the auto issues are resolved.

Enter President Trump with the plan.

Knowing all of the outlier, generally lesser, trade sectors are being impacted over the Chinese auto component issue, President Trump cuts the Gordian Knot and tells Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross (https://publicpool.kinja.com/subject-statement-from-the-president-on-potential-nati-1826277073) to consider a Section 232 (https://www.commerce.gov/news/fact-sheets/2017/04/fact-sheet-section-232-investigations-effect-imports-national-security) review of the auto industry as it pertains to imports.
Statement from the President on Potential National Security Investigation into Automobile Imports.

Today, I met with Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to discuss the current state of our automobile industry. I instructed Secretary Ross to consider initiating a Section 232 investigation into imports of automobiles, including trucks, and automotive parts to determine their effects on Americas national security. Core industries such as automobiles and automotive parts are critical to our strength as a Nation.(link (https://publicpool.kinja.com/subject-statement-from-the-president-on-potential-nati-1826277073))Section 232 (https://www.commerce.gov/news/fact-sheets/2017/04/fact-sheet-section-232-investigations-effect-imports-national-security) of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. §1862) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to conduct comprehensive investigations to determine the effects of imports of any article on the national security of the United States. As often stated by President Trump, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross: “economic security is national security.”

https://theconservativetreehouse.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/trump-hat-business-workers.jpg?w=640&h=320 (https://theconservativetreehouse.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/trump-hat-business-workers.jpg)https://theconservativetreehouse.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/trump-friends-trade-team-ross-mnuchin-navarro-lighthizer.jpg?w=650&h=1092 (https://theconservativetreehouse.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/trump-friends-trade-team-ross-mnuchin-navarro-lighthizer.jpg)https://theconservativetreehouse.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/kudlow-4.jpg?w=622&h=414 (https://theconservativetreehouse.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/kudlow-4.jpg)

The Conservative Treehouse (https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/05/23/president-trump-makes-major-trade-move-requests-secretary-ross-consideration-for-232-investigation-into-automobile-industry/)

The Rothschild Syria Connection - Major Revelations

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FhTMy9ma2mQ/hqdefault.jpg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhTMy9ma2mQ)
VIDEO

Bruno

25th May 2018, 17:10

I am suppose to feel what's in my marrow with regards to Trump?

Well I don't "feel" that he is a good or a kind person. The way he carries himself, the way he speaks and the very way he has lived his life I find repugnant. I have been observing and hoping against hope that he was somehow smarter than he seems and or at least outside the normal cabal of people that make it into office. Nothing so far has shown me that he is smart or capable and the only way in which he is different is that no matter what is happening in the world he is the number one news story because he of how polarizing and unpredictable he is.

He is the world's distraction.

Mean while bombs are continuing to drop in the middle east. Nothing has really changed foreign policy wise. Almost all of the countries that George W. mentioned in his famous post 9/11 speech have been bombed or interfered with, next comes Iran and North Korea. Trump doesn't appear to be changing that narrative at all.

As for NAFTA. The North American auto sector sold it's soul decades ago by outsourcing parts to the Chinese in the first place. The American plants buy Chinese parts too. If that's the issue then start making the parts in North America! Trump's proposal would cripple the auto sectors in Mexico and Canada and would in the end not be a win for the US because North America's economies are too intertwined. Maybe he's just being his usual blowhard self but it's hard to imagine that someone who is a business man would suggest applying 25% tariffs on cars produced in Canada or Mexico would be a good idea? Do people really think that when the plants in Canada or Mexico close that they will move production to the US? And do you want more jobless poor Mexicans at your doorstep? Do you want Canada to become your next border issue?

I think in 20 years time we will look back and not talk about how wonderful or horrible Trump was but rather at how stupid we all were standing around open mouthed watching and listening to the guy while we spiraled into WW3.

It's just my opinion of course, but I believe more than ever that he is simply President so we can fight about him and not the issues.

shaberon

26th May 2018, 01:50

As Commander in Chief, he has become entangled with the "Jordanian coalition". The trouble with Jordan is that its well being largely depends on Syria, so, after a point, the conflict began eroding their country. They no longer wish to participate.

The SDF is a vicious press gang (forced conscripts) with a tendency to attack local villages and a ten year arms deal with the U. S. This faction is in tune with Israeli plans with small amounts of UK & Israeli special forces, and a bigger allotment of French & U. S., not enough to do major invading but likely enough to "secure a region".

Syria is running out of ISIS targets and is starting to show up for everyone else. Notice in the past few days, American politician suggesting to "legitimize the claim on Golan". Israel is begetting sort of a world-wide pogrom mentality against them.

Honesty

26th May 2018, 13:14

https://www.debka.com/us-threatens-firm-action-for-a-russian-led-assad-hizballah-offensive-against-daraa/

US threatens “firm action” for a Russian-led Assad-Hizballah offensive against Daraa

nsive against Daraa
May 26, 2018 @ 9:39 Daraa, Israel, Jordan, Syria, US-Assad, US-Russia

The Trump administration delivered an unmistakable military warning to Moscow and the Assad regime on Saturday, May 26, to hold off from their big offensive to capture the southeastern Daraa region. The US would respond to such “ceasefire violations” with “firm and appropriate measures,” the State Department said, after Assad government leaflets were dropped on Deraa urging US- and Jordanian-trained and armed rebel fighters to disarm. Washington saw the leaflets to mean that Assad and Hizballah forces were ready to launch their offensive, after gaining a promise of Russian air and other support. US intelligence informants had also reported the arrival of Russian officers and mercenaries to take the lead of the Syrian-Hizballah operation.

Last Tuesday, May 22, DEBKAfile was first to report Syrian and Hizballah forces massing for the Daraa offensive at the southern town of Izra, where also the Iranian command cener for eastern Syria is located. Its objective is to cut south through to the Syrian-Jordanian crossing of Nasib, and so posing an immediate threat to Jordan and reach a jumping-off point for its next operation against Quneitra opposite Israel’s Golan border. Amman and Jerusalem notified Washington that unless this offensive was prevented, both armies would have to intervene.
Citing concern about an impending operation inside a “US-enforced de-escalation zone,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert called on Russia to “exercise its diplomatic and military advantage over the Assad regime to stop attacks and compel the Assad regime to cease further military offensives” for “broadening the conflict.” Otherwise, the US would respond with “firm and appropriate measures.”

To make sure the message was understood, a timely reminder of a past incident, which ended badly for the Russian-led Syrian-Hizballah force last February, was dropped onto the pages of the New York Times on Friday. It described the four-hour battle between “Russian mercenaries and US commandos” in the eastern Syria province of Deir ez-Zour. When a Russian-led Syrian government-Hizballah force tried to cross over to the eastern bank of the Euphrates River and overrun the US outpost there, it was thrown back by US marines under heavy air cover and forced to retreat after losing an estimated 200 to 300 dead.

# # #

http://alturl.com/49hzk

turiya

26th May 2018, 14:49

I am suppose to feel what's in my marrow with regards to Trump?

Who said that you're "suppose to"?
I do believe the context of what was said was just making it a suggestion. Sorry if you took it as a 'should.'
It was also 'suggested' to 'stop' listening to the corporate MSM - which is the propaganda arm of the Deep State. This is what keeps people confused about what's really taking place in the M.E., and everywhere else for that matter.

Well I don't "feel" that he is a good or a kind person. The way he carries himself, the way he speaks and the very way he has lived his life I find repugnant. I have been observing and hoping against hope that he was somehow smarter than he seems and or at least outside the normal cabal of people that make it into office. Nothing so far has shown me that he is smart or capable and the only way in which he is different is that no matter what is happening in the world he is the number one news story because he of how polarizing and unpredictable he is.

He is the world's distraction.
Just to point it out... This is not coming from your bone marrow, imo. Its coming from the mind.

Mean while bombs are continuing to drop in the middle east. Nothing has really changed foreign policy wise. Almost all of the countries that George W. mentioned in his famous post 9/11 speech have been bombed or interfered with... Trump doesn't appear to be changing that narrative at all.
That is the corporate MSM (arm of the Deep State) that is not changing their narrative.

next comes Iran and North Korea.
That can be disputed...

Kim Jong-Un Holds Surprise Second Summit With South Korea President Moon (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-26/kim-jong-un-holds-surprise-meeting-south-korea-president-moon)

https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_small/public/2018-05/kim%20moon.jpg?h=4827becc&itok=YRx0Aehj (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-26/kim-jong-un-holds-surprise-meeting-south-korea-president-moon)

North Korea's president Kim Jong Un held a surprise two-hour meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the truce village of Panmunjom on Saturday afternoon to pave way for a summit between North Korea and the United States.

May 26, 2018 9:08 AM

Some Trump tweets for today...

http://curezone.com/upload/_T_Forums/Turiya_Files_/AVALON/TRUMP/TRUMP_TWEETS/TRUMP_TWITTER_ICON_5.png (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1000391997969092608)

Unlike what the Failing and Corrupt New York Times would like people to believe, there is ZERO disagreement within the Trump Administration as to how to deal with North Korea...and if there was, it wouldn’t matter. The @nytimes (https://twitter.com/nytimes) has called me wrong right from the beginning!

8:03 AM - 26 May 2018 (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1000391997969092608)

http://curezone.com/upload/_T_Forums/Turiya_Files_/AVALON/TRUMP/TRUMP_TWEETS/TRUMP_TWITTER_ICON_5.png (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/999986971660423170)

The Failing @nytimes (https://twitter.com/nytimes) quotes “a senior White House official,” who doesn’t exist, as saying “even if the meeting were reinstated, holding it on June 12 would be impossible, given the lack of time and the amount of planning needed.” WRONG AGAIN! Use real people, not phony sources.

5:14 AM - 25 May 2018 (https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/999986971660423170)And, just to point it out, Trump's backing out of the 'Iran deal' is to expose the shady corruption that has been set up to take place between the corrupt politicians not only in the U.S., but in the EU, as well. Also known as the NWO globalist cabal, as it were. You can thank him later, unless you are all in favor of the NWO running the show.

:)

End Of Unipolar World Looms As 'New World Order' Responds To US Demands On Iran (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-24/end-unipolar-world-looms-new-world-order-responds-us-demands-iran)

https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_small/public/2018-05/5b057252dda4c896688b45d6.jpg?itok=VN9W7C1w (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-24/end-unipolar-world-looms-new-world-order-responds-us-demands-iran)

...the era when the US will “decide for the world” is over.
As for NAFTA. The North American auto sector sold it's soul decades ago by outsourcing parts to the Chinese in the first place.
Thanks to previous administrations.
Oh, but hey! Look, what Zerohedge had recently reported...

China Unexpectedly Slashes Auto Tariffs After Trump Trade Truce (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-22/china-unexpectedly-slashes-auto-tariffs-after-trump-trade-truce)

https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/styles/teaser_small/public/2018-05/china%20cars%20for%20sale.jpg?itok=ABdwIVnR (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-22/china-unexpectedly-slashes-auto-tariffs-after-trump-trade-truce)

"You can’t completely disregard the fact that there are certain imbalances in China’s favor..."

May 22, 2018 6:41 AM

The American plants buy Chinese parts too. If that's the issue then start making the parts in North America!
That's what is part of 'The Plan' is, i.e. Trust the plan.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DaTJW6fVAAAUese.jpg:large (https://twitter.com/inthematrixxx/status/983133635095261186)

Trump's proposal would cripple the auto sectors in Mexico and Canada and would in the end not be a win for the US because North America's economies are too intertwined.
We'll see about that.
In the meantime...

:popcorn:

Maybe he's just being his usual blowhard self but it's hard to imagine that someone who is a business man would suggest applying 25% tariffs on cars produced in Canada or Mexico would be a good idea?
You should really ask the average American auto worker about that.
Besides, you can look at it in this way: With a 25% tariff, Donald Trump has just created something he can bargain with on other trade deals. Reminder - its "The Art of the Deal", or said differently: 5D chess.

:)

Do people really think that when the plants in Canada or Mexico close that they will move production to the US? And do you want more jobless poor Mexicans at your doorstep?
The central banking system is collapsing, as we speak.
That's really why the U.S. border wall & border security is being built up.
Mexico has not made a single move to prevent the 'caravan' of other Central & South American immigrants from moving through Mexico to the U.S. border. In fact, its been shown that the Mexican government has been providing pamphlets guiding their own people on how to enter the United States illegally!

I think in 20 years time we will look back and not talk about how wonderful or horrible Trump was but rather at how stupid we all were standing around open mouthed watching and listening to the guy while we spiraled into WW3.

It's just my opinion of course, but I believe more than ever that he is simply President so we can fight about him and not the issues.

Totally your choice, and your right to have an opinion.
Cheers.

shaberon

26th May 2018, 20:42

No one is likely to blink about U. S. threats telling Syria to leave its southern border alone. One of the main ground forces headed there is Liwa al Quds, a Palestinian refugee force, now pretty well experienced in combat. Syria's main problem was to internally cleanse Aleppo and Damascus. With this done, the forces swinging south are not trivial. It will be a horrible mess, but the south can be secured in a few months. If someone mentioned activating the Jordanian army, their hand is nearly played out.

SDF is trying to bloat to around 30,000 members, many of whom will be forced child conscripts. This is going to be a long lasting thorn in the side. Already pretty close to a balkanized rump state in their area, entirely unacceptable to Turkey. It's almost "Israel Mark II" or foreign-backed despotism in a Kurdish mask instead of Ashkenazi.

shaberon

6th June 2018, 20:04

Currently, you will find the Prime Minister of Jordan has resigned. In this embroilment, they have gotten snared by the International Monetary Fund, and to repay it, they have resorted to some unpopular moves like raising income tax. This little country which looks like it's just "sitting there" has really had a lot to do with launching most of the Western-backed incursions, and the backlash is making them fall apart.

One of the rebel leaders, Zahran Alloosh, has recently found out that his most trusted advisor and leader of the Signal Battalion, was a Syrian government spy. This one informant was one of the main keys that allowed Syria to re-take Ghouta near Damascus. That gang had been mis-directed and sold out the whole time. In many cases, "rebel leader defects" just means spy goes home, and the activities of these guys are why sometimes battles, or the lack of battles, seem weird from the outside. Many times a platoon is sent to its death by these methods, and on the other hand, the government is not going to bomb an agent in charge.

Saudi's Crown Prince has not been seen since the "drone or coup", leading many to conclude it was in fact a coup which at least injured the guy. Oddly, the U. S. has not backed the invasion of Hodeidah, Yemen's last free port, and the Saudis have gotten fully besieged down there with no supply lines, and they are probably all going to taste the sand. They can throw money in Syria, Jordan, etc., for the rest of their miserable days, and never be anything but the missing link between man and ape.

Turkey still has a huge military action both in Syria and Iraq. As much as I admire them standing against the U. S., I am not trying to say they are up to anything other than "Turkish interests". They do have an election soon, with a rival who is against Erdogan's path, so perhaps they may pull off a change or prevent their country from falling apart. Israel finds it more convenient to quit bombing "80,000 Iranians" in Syria, and focus its weapons on Gaza. Strangely, the Jerusalem embassy move was apparently a 1995 law passed by American Congress, which presidents have "waived" every six months until Mr. T decided to let it go through. An American pro-Israeli action at the U. N. the other day was supported by *no* other countries. This is something of a first.

This is why it seems to me that Zionism is now allowed to "look bad", as it really is...and with all these manipulations to make Jews and Muslims look bad, who benefits? Christians. Sounding like a Roman plot yet?

AutumnW

6th June 2018, 21:15

6pounder

7th June 2018, 12:36

i can report as of today that its all still quiet here in israel.

ThePythonicCow

7th June 2018, 15:55

i can report as of today that its all still quiet here in israel.

Yes - my ominous thread title "War breaking out ..." has (thankfully) proven, so far at least, to be over stated.

shaberon

13th June 2018, 07:24

Shaberon,

Nice analysis there. The only thing I might argue with is your concluding statement regarding, "who benefits?" Apocalyptic fundy Christians are ideologically allied with Zionism. They have been pushing for the embassy to be relocated to Jersusalem, as it lines up with the Book of Revelation, from their limited perspective.

Fundy Christians are generally tea party republicans, who are pro-Trump. To make your concluding statement possible,or probable, the Christian support you are referring to would have to be made up of moderate Christians. And those moderate Christians, are, in large part Republican, but not necessarily pro-Trump.

i theorize that the military is that part of the Deep State who support Fundy Christians and Trump and the tea party republicans. The letter agencies support Democrats, and moderate Republicans -- and therefore more traditional moderate Christians.

Do you think then, the CIA might be gaining some traction in the Middle East -- working to subvert some of the insanity that was being planned for Iran?

No I had Catholics in mind. As, let's say, Zionist-Fundamentalist Christianity is one arm, Fundamental Islam is another, of an old British regime, Catholicism is above and beyond that whole ball of wax and will be glad to offer up its solutions for world peace. Moderate Protestants may get some side benefit of looking good, but, to the "Mother Church", that's not considered Christianity. And I mean it on more of a global basis, since they have most of South America and a lot of Europe, plus Jesuitical influence or control over things outside of their congregation. And of course that's where Armageddonism or Millenialism came from, and for this exact reason, to get all these religions into conflict so they could clean up the mess later on.

Probably the main let-up in what's planned for Iran, is going to be the impossibility of actually doing it. That is what Syria is showing us. The stuff no longer works.

Israel has been really quiet since the retaliation. I'm glad there hasn't been a major escalation, but, a little further down the road, the Turkish invasion of Syria and Iraq is going to have to be dealt with. Some of the Kurds are even approaching the Syrian government, because a lot of people are sick of the U. S. and American-backed Kurds.

shaberon

19th June 2018, 00:37

There was another air strike to Syrian Troops and/or Hezbollah causing some twenty or forty casualties.

Near Abu Kamal, the militia are defeating ISIS who retreated to the Al-Tanf area controlled by U. S. And some are saying the U. S. responded with the strike, or Israel did it (CNN version). Maybe in a few days it will come clear. That's going to be a nasty area very soon.

shaberon

14th July 2018, 00:33

Most importantly, the terrorists have lost their ground connection to the operations room in Jordan. Syria has reclaimed what I believe is called al-Nassib border crossing. Consequently, Israel has slipped in a few small airstrikes in support of the remaining bands of degenerates, and the U. S. airstrikes have blown up at least thirty civilians around Abu Kamal. A big swath of southern Syria is back under the government, there have been numerous surrenders.

Meanwhile, it appears Turkey, back under another term of Erdogan, is making airstrips around their posts in the north. Their main concern is Kurdish independence, and some Kurds are seeing Syrian reconciliation as a better plan than being a U. S. backed militia. To Turkish credit, at least they don't make up things like the presence of thirty or eighty thousand Iranians, or recycle ten-year-old news to try to prove a chemical weapons program. They seem pretty straightforward for being a large state actor who simply doesn't like Kurds, or the usurpation of Islamic connection to Jerusalem, and hence by extension the U. S.

Most non-state terrorist groups are now confined to either the southern pocket or the northern province Idlib. It will be interesting to watch the state actors swallow their bitter pill that they were unable to partition Syria, while they justify sending the Saudi coalition to its Yemeni grave. Saudis just enjoyed striking their own forces with an Apache helicopter. For someone with no air defense, Houthis are really bleeding those guys out. I don't recall if the allegedly injured or killed Crown Prince has been seen again.

shaberon

23rd July 2018, 23:33

Looks like Syria steamrolled their way out towards the Golan area. Two things happened: the Knesset revoked the "Caesar" power recently grabbed by Netanyahu & Lieberman...kind of a delayed veto. Then, Israel evacuated about 800 White Helmets and about 2,200 foreign agents, about half from the Saudi coalition. Whatever's left in that small corner is a bit of those that no one really cares about. Nothing much to impede the Syrian military other than maybe a degree of caution about not sparking the Israelis.

shaberon

31st July 2018, 01:55

Aaaand...that really sensitive powder keg is gone.

All Golan border purged of militants and under government control. So this should prevent those stray shells and airplanes and so forth that Israel likes to retaliate against. So-called ISIS only holds a few miles across the top of Jordan.

It remains to be seen about the state actors. With Turkey, at least, it is not too hard to see what they want. The U. S. and pals cannot really be determined. Imperialistic Balkanization is obviously not going to happen, and their only real option is to go occupy Jordan. They have some time to play with, as Syria is going to roast all the militants they moved to Idlib, but every victory frees up more of their military assets to deal with ever-decreasing adversaries. Everyone knows the U. S. is not going to engage anyone who can actually fight back. They will probably be relegated to year sixteen or however long it is of quagmire in Afghanistan. Anyone remember the simple Afghan request for some evidence that bin Laden attacked the U. S.? Or his alleged body thrown in the ocean?

U. S. and good evidence, ne'er the twain shall meet.

shaberon

27th August 2018, 23:43

ichingcarpenter

28th August 2018, 01:13

The rest of the White Helmets are stuck in Idlib.

According to Russia, they are preparing a chemical attack, so they sent in a few cruise missile ships.

According to Uncle Scam, Damascus is preparing a chemical attack, so they sent in a few cruise missile ships.

Although the terror gangs are mostly finished, this still has potential for state actors to go for the hard knocks. Israel does not seem to be doing anything. Turkey and U. S. still very dangerous.

Toss "war hero" Mccain into the ten or more western authority figures chanting "Assad must go" who themselves are now dead or deposed. From Obama and Sarkozy up to this chowder head who entered Syria with no visa to take pictures with Al Qaeda. They're gone and their system is nose diving. Despite the losses, Syria now has a very effective military and a better connection to Iraq and Iran.

McCain was a war monger who hooked up with real Al Qaeda terrorist that he wanted the US to support, Keating 7, Sarah Palin, 'bomb bomb Iran, ... and more I'm glad he's gone.

I read that warning about a new false flag there..... What a surprise that wouldn't be... the CIA scorpion has not changed it nature as some have said here...... so any time things get dull here with not enough terror porn for the populace they will supply another one world wide.

shaberon

3rd November 2018, 23:46

Some Kurds in the SDF found the U. S. turning their back on them, and in the past few days, have been defeated by ISIS and attacked by Turkey. This is despite the 500 trucks of gear.

The DMZ isn't working because the Turkish proxies do not like the the Saudi ones and they ratchet against each other in that tight space. These gangs are running courts to find out who leaked the whereabouts of the chemical cargo.

I don't believe Israel has done anything more although they claim they have.

Meanwhile, Russia overflew the NATO drills with a couple of Bear Bombers...why not?

Syrian civilians killed by U. S. bombs since the last post in this thread must be in the hundreds.

shaberon

28th November 2018, 02:44

Did the gas (https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/11/25/581064/Syria-militants-chemical-attack-Aleppo) go off?

Ukraine looks to have sparked a bit too.

shaberon

20th December 2018, 20:24

As we expected, the Kurdish child-conscripting SDF has just been betrayed by its NATO pals.

U. S. and France have withdrawn from the Turkish border, so Turkey is going to annihilate the Kurds. France, the new world's policeman, isn't going to leave, because ISIS is not defeated. The Americans are going to leave because Trump has declared a victory, that ISIS is defeated. In response, the Kurds are going to release over 3,000 ISIS prisoners.

Seeing as the SDF is not very popular, perhaps the other Kurds will see fit to reconcile with the Syrian state.

So far, my proud country has managed to eliminate perhaps thousands of civilians with banned cluster bombs, the Syrian military several times and now decided that Assad can stay, propped up a new junta, the SDF, and abandoned it to sort it out with another one, ISIS, who will enjoy at least a temporary upsurge, after the several rescues and other forms of assistance rendered it by the U. S., policy courtesy of Chatham House and Council on Foreign Relations, thanks again, unelected dictators!

Israel has been fairly quiet and advised that when attacking Syria, they will eat missiles for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in between snacks, so they seem to be raring up at Lebanon instead.

Looks to me like the U. S. has little option but to slink away when confronted by someone who can punch back. So there is almost a Turkey v. France scenario in a foreign country, while we may note, at home, both face considerable unrest and opposition to their own governments. Of course the French narrative is different; anywhere else, it would be a just uprising with some kind of U. S. aid to the rebels, but here, there is no choice but to say the government is right and the people should sit down and shut up. Maybe this time those loud-mouthed people can switch it around. Here, this thing about "the Wall" and withdrawing from the INF will...probably not provoke the same kind of civil unrest. And still, N. Korea refuses to de-nuclearize, since unilateral surrender was not exactly the way they were doing it. I haven't seen how they have worked it out with the South, but that seemed to be going fairly well, since they were going around the U. S. for the rapprochement.

I have no idea what France may have done about ISIS in any way, shape, or form. Seems like they are just visitors in the middle of a mess. They have actually been pretty low on the scale of spies, weapon supplies, etc., to the various factions. Anyway, it's your turn!

ThePythonicCow

22nd December 2018, 08:54

shaberon

22nd December 2018, 21:41

Maybe it will just be less U. S. involvement. Mattis and some other windbag resigned because their bloodlust remains unsatisfied. Netanyahu says that after U. S. withdrawal, Israel will launch more attacks. Plus, U. S. isn't going far, setting up another airbase in Iraq where they're not particularly welcome. Also, another "Afghan drawdawn" is being mulled. Britain is still "bombs away" to the Syrians. It's not out of the question that if there are French or Israeli casualties, America will be right back.

As we know words don't mean much as situations change, what we can be sure of right now, is that they have left the border area, to throw SDF to the Turkish wolves. Meanwhile replacing a carrier in the Persian Gulf for the first time since they realized they could easily be hosed from the Caspian Sea.

I hope we can remain pleasantly surprised by the lack of a major outbreak, but the combined U. S. - French presence was fairly minor. Turkish one is major.

5th

23rd December 2018, 17:54

If this is not the start of another major Middle East war, then I'll be surprised.
Looks like it is time for me to be surprised.

Just seven months later, Trump is now withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria.

A nice honest update here! I think we could do with more of this as most threads predicting disasters just fade into the past without anything happening and all those people believing it would happen just forget - then get caught up in the latest gloomy prediction...

I seem to remember at least two predicting a financial crash this year, another one predicting war in the Middle East on the 29th November and there are many others. Nothing necessarily wrong but I think as a group we should be more aware that at least 9 out of 10 of these predictions don't happen. Maybe then we will be more optimistic.

shaberon

24th December 2018, 19:17

Yes, there are a lot of those "here tomorrow, gone today" disasters. I have not really thought that possible in the Syrian theater, in fact have seen more "cooler heads prevail" with Russia just kind of going public about its planes getting shot. Although it looks like the gringos are out of the way and Turkey and the Kurds are about to touch gloves. Israel would kind of liked to be on the SDF side, I see they just submitted in Gaza after eating a massive battery of cheap, inaccurate rockets that actually resulted in civilian casualties. So they go to dissolve the Knesset. I don't think they want to relive that every few minutes against worse kinds of missiles. In all likelihood, if Turkey mainly targets SDF and ISIS then, they are kind of doing everyone a favor and could actually come out of this with greater standing of the "non-U. S." variety.

shaberon

4th January 2019, 23:12

An interesting shift happened.

A few years ago, one of the only reasonable and effective actions committed by U. S. Air Force was to break the hold at Tishrin Dam from one of those Saudi groups. This placed it in Kurdish authority where it remained since.

The U. S. ground forces have now gotten out of the way, and the Kurds gave the dam back to Syria. Geographically, this is the major gate to the mostly desert area east of the Euphrates River. Syria now has it and the corresponding city. So this is very significant to reclaiming their territory.

Turkey could be described as shifting away from the dollar and using regional currencies, and, who knows what in the long run they are going to do, currently being a military buildup all across the border, they have a strip ten or twenty kilometers deep, not far from Syria's newly taken city.

shaberon

2nd September 2019, 19:42

This has gotten a lot less remarkable since the Empire was defeated in a military sense quite some time ago, and is only putting in an appearance.

Turkey has conceded to let go of Tahrir al Sham, one of the larger militias remaining in Syria. This prompted the takfiris to go beg to Washington, who may smile. Meanwhile Syria has purged Khan Shaykoon and pretty much the whole Hama province.

Things like this make Israel get itchy towards Lebanon, they started an incident, which sent them away with a few casualties. Hezbollah attacked their Avivim base which is now abandoned, and there are no Israeli soldiers on the border today.

The relatively weak International Criminal Court has re-opened the case against Israel for attacking a Turkish ship in Gaza in 2010. "You have no jurisdiction over us, we just tell you what to do" is the motto towards this entity. But, even some publicity will just rub their nose in the mire of truth a little more.

U. S. did blow up something in Idlib, it is hard to be sure yet what really happened, but we can have more confidence that 20 year Treasuries are at an all-time low. It has caused masses of people to try to run across the Turkish border. The Turkish invasion will soften, not because they lack personnel or equipment, but because they don't want "aftermath". One of the actual Turkish units is now surrounded/besieged by Syria. The U. S. attack was unprompted and rather strange, possibly an attempt to make it look like they "do good", while it is thought that there were either Syrian negotiators at the site, or some intelligence asset they wanted to silence.

In Yemen, U. A. E. is now attacking the Saudi coalition. Saudi Arabia is being attacked internally all over the place, including farther east than ever before. Most of those are only a drone or a few missiles, not all that big, but on the ground, the Saudis keep getting killed whenever they can't run away. It's complicated, but, in four years, I see nothing of Saud that indicates they have accomplished any kind of security or stability; instead, it has become quite clear that they are very ape-like.

shaberon

19th September 2019, 01:31

While not specifically Syria, this is related. The Saudis are whining because a likely Houthi attack has made Aramco plummet $500 billion (https://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13980627000162). They would rather blame Iran and pull puppy Pompeo in line for additional hubris.

The missiles probably were made by Iran any time in the past ten years.

If "made in" means "done by", well, then the U. S. must have blasted away all those Yemeni civilians, but of course they are not equal to oil.

I guess that is why I saw a headline on a paper "expect gas prices to rise". They might be printing that one every few days until there is no Aramco left.

There are some whispers that the U. S. actually used these Iranian missiles so the Aramco company can be chopped up and sold for cheap. I don't know. But evidently the smoke could easily be seen by satellites.

Syria is just chipping into Idlib, it is a mess, one of the most densely-populated areas with militias all hiding inside the "human shield". The SDF continues forced child recruitment as "our regional partner".

http://english.almanar.com.lb/framework/includes/uploads/2019/09/manar-09924680015686498741.jpg

On Saturday, Saudi Arabia had to shut down two Saudi Aramco oil facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais, after a drone attack claimed by Yemeni Houthis caused massive fires. The incident led to a cut in oil production totalling 5.7 million barrels per day, which is around half of Saudi Arabia’s daily oil output.

shaberon

7th October 2019, 22:46

What appears to be actually happening is Turkey is tired of U. S. waste of time. They are making enough incursion that the U. S. is withdrawing. Syria and Russia, however, are moving in, mainly Aleppo and Manbij.

“If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!)” the president threatened via tweet on Monday – an odd turn of phrase for what otherwise seemed like a dire warning to a supposed ally.

The Kurdish militias are moving to engage the Turks, this is what the U. S. backs or considers its asset, so the "battle" is mainly between Kurds and Turks, but they cannot be said to be operating in a vacuum.

shaberon

9th October 2019, 04:44

Foresight on this was brief. Turkey already opened fire with planes and tanks on the SDF Kurdish militia.

The U. S. is gone, whether because it is another NATO member, or, because the Turkish force can certainly defend itself, is hard to say. Everyone else, of course, knew they would not be there, and so the SDF is now in the position of negotiating with Syria and Russia. They will take the 6,000 trucks of American gear and get it destroyed, looted, sell it, and maybe keep a few.

Without Washington's backing, I don't see how they can continue to function, since most of the Kurds don't like them. It is still accurate to say there are at least two Kurdish factions, the SDF as sellouts to U. S. and Israel, and the majority of the rest of them who are more normal.

If Turkey ends the SDF, it would be doing Syria a huge favor. If they act sensibly, they can actually roll through this with a "mission accomplished", without tangling with Syria and Russia. It depends a bit on how the real Kurdish Peshmerga responds.

shaberon

12th October 2019, 21:39

While not in Syria, but related to the wider nemesis, an Iranian tanker was hit by probably two missiles (https://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13980720000457) while in the Red Sea about sixty miles from Jeddah. It was good damage to the main tanks and temporarily caused an oil spill, but did not cripple the tanker, which is attempting to return home. Iran is not making a "hasty" response and says it will definitely do something after an investigation.

Meanwhile, in Syria, the Pentagon (https://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13980720000175) says American troops were attacked by Turkey at a known position. It would not be surprising if this only means shells landed in what they consider their thirty mile perimeter, no word on damage.

shaberon

13th October 2019, 20:11

The range of the "close shelling" to the Americans was actually about 1 km, next hill over.

In the relatively rapid Turkish advance, it appears one or more of the American posts has gotten isolated between the two opposing forces, in their relatively clumsy withdrawal. Syria is moving further along, whether as a barrier or an attack on the Turks, remains to be seen.

The Arab League turned against Turkey, and wants Syria to enter the league.

Unlike Saudi or Israel, Turkey at least shows it is a regional power that can do whatever it wants with no concern for the U. S., and if NATO and Arab League ostracize them, they can still work this out and be in the Russian sphere. Although they are a bit punch drunk and doing something dangerous and illegal, all they really have to do is knock SDF 20-30 miles away from the border and then transfer security. Syria definitely will not tolerate a permanent occupation like there is at Hatay, but they do not have the ability to make the Turks leave overnight.

Cara

15th October 2019, 04:33

Update on the latest in Syria:

Syrian Government Regains Control Over Country's Northeastern Parts
October 14, 2019

Eight days ago U.S. President Donald Trump gave a green light for another Turkish invasion of Syria (https://www.moonofalabama.org/2019/10/syria-trump-gives-green-light-for-another-turkish-invasion.html). We explained why that move made it inevitable for the Kurds to submit to Damascus and to let the Syrian Arab Army back into northeast Syria:

While the YPG might want to fight off a Turkish invasion they have little chance to succeed. The land is flat and the YPG forces only have light arms.

There is only one solution for them. They will have to call up the Syrian government and ask it to come back into the north east. That would remove the Turkish concerns and would likely prevent further Turkish moves.

After Trump had spoken with the Turkish president Erdogan, the U.S. military removed a few of its forces from some areas near the Turkish border. The Pentagon was still under the false impression that Turkey would limit its invasion to some 5 kilometer in depth. It was obvious, as we wrote (https://www.moonofalabama.org/2019/10/syria-turkey-again-invades.html), that Turkey wanted far more:

A major goal is to interrupt the M4 highway that runs parallel to the border and allows for troop movements between the east and the west of the Kurdish majority areas. The highway is about 20-30 kilometers from the border.

The M4 road is also one of the major logistical routes for the U.S. troops stationed in the western part.

The Kurds could do little to resist the Turkish onslaught. On Saturday Turkish supported "Syrian rebels" reached the M4 highway and captured and killed several Kurdish troops and civilians who were passing by. The Pentagon finally took notice (https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-orders-withdrawal-of-us-forces-from-northern-syria-days-after-pentagon-downplays-possibility/2019/10/13/83087baa-edbb-11e9-b2da-606ba1ef30e3_story.html) of the imminent danger:

“This is total chaos,” a senior administration official said at midday, speaking on the condition of anonymity about the confusing situation in Syria.

Although “the Turks gave guarantees to us” that U.S. forces would not be harmed, the official said, Syrian militias allied with them “are running up and down roads, ambushing and attacking vehicles,” putting American forces — as well as civilians — in danger even as they withdraw. The militias, known as the Free Syrian Army, “are crazy and not reliable.”

Ahhhh. The "Free Syrian Army", which the U.S. built and supplied with an immense amount of weapons to fight the Syrian government, is "crazy and not reliable". How come that all the think tankers and 'journalists' who for years lauded that 'army' never noticed that?

The Pentagon finally recognized that it was not possible to hold onto the area without starting a war with its NATO partner Turkey. On Saturday evening Trump gave the order that all U.S. troops shall leave northeast Syria within 30 days. The Secretary of Defense did not resign as his predecessor did over a similar decision but defended the move. (https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/transcript-secretary-of-defense-mark-esper-on-face-the-nation-october-13-2019/)

The decision was the kick in the ass the Kurds needed to agree to the return of Syrian government troops to the area they had held on to while under U.S. command. Currently Syrian troops and their heavy weapons are streaming in (https://twitter.com/watanisy/status/1183682059539304448). Their primary task is to prevent any further encroachment by Turkish forces. They will also move to retake the oil fields east of Deir Ezzor and they will take control of the prison camps where ISIS fighters are held.

https://www.moonofalabama.org/images9/nesyriamap20191014-s.jpg
bigger (https://www.moonofalabama.org/images9/nesyriamap20191014.jpg)

As of this writing Syrian troops (red) have entered Manbij, Ain al Issa, Tabqa airbase near Raqqa and Tel Tamr. Turkish supported groups (green) hold Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ayn and the villages between those two cities. That area has an Arab majority population.

The Kurds wish to keep (https://twitter.com/mck_beth/status/1183698251708547072) their 'autonomous administration' of northeast Syria. While talks are still ongoing (https://twitter.com/Dannymakkisyria/status/1183685519764611072) I do not expect that the mostly Arab inhabitants of the whole area, nor the Syrian government will agree to that. There can not be a special status for any of Syria's many ethnic or religious groups.

The Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Forces will be disbanded. Its soldiers will be integrated into the Syrian army. The Syrian government will also disband the 'autonomous' Kurdish administration. It will confiscate the weapons the U.S. has given to the Kurds. All this will take some time but it will, in the end, remove the Turkish concerns that the organized Syrian Kurdish groups could enter Turkey to fight on the side of their PKK separatist brethren.

The U.S. had more than 1,000 troops in northeast Syria. There were also several hundred French and British special forces and some 2,000 U.S. contractors. They, and a huge amount of equipment, are now moving out. They have nothing to fear from the Syrian forces. Syria is happy to see them leave. (Reports that the U.S.yesterday bombed Syrian troops are false.)

The strategic plan behind last week's development must have come from Moscow. Russia has tried for some time to get Turkey into its camp. Russia, Iran and Syria allowed Turkey a limited invasion of Syria to scare the U.S. out. Russia largely supported the Turkish move (https://indianpunchline.com/a-turkish-russian-entente-cordiale-in-the-making/) but it will also set its limits.

Trump has been looking for a chance to move the U.S. troops out of Syria since December 2018. The borg made that politically unfeasible. The Turkish (Russian) move gave him the excuse he needed.

It is possible that the whole arrangement was made for exactly that purpose.
From: https://www.moonofalabama.org/2019/10/syria-regains-its-northeastern-parts.html

shaberon

15th October 2019, 17:13

In their might, the Turks have managed to bomb a civilian convoy (http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13980722000239), killing and wounding French journalists. In the occupied towns, civilian casualties are high. No white kid gloves here.

Since Syria was granted entry to Manbij, the non-state Turkish backed proxies think they have something to do with it:

Youssef Hammoud, the spokesman for the Turkey-backed militants, stated that militants would continue to advance toward Manbij, after Syrian government forces had entered the strategic city.

Like the SDF, they do not really have a future.

The Americans and Syrians drove by each other while "changing guard" at Kobani:

https://cdni.rt.com/files/2019.10/article/5da50a2f85f540326c644244.png

shaberon

16th October 2019, 03:43

This is not quite a law yet, however, a Syrian Analyst (http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/52387.htm) has given about fifteen points of the deal between Syria and "the Kurds". Although there is an "et cetera", this point seemed worthy of note:

1/ The abolishment of the #SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces), with all the current Kurdish forces and military groups joining the 5th Corps (Assault Legion) under Russian control

There are thousands of displaced Arabs in Turkey who see Turkey as making it possible for them to return to Syria. Under the hood of "divisiveness" there really seems to be genuine cooperation and acceptance of most Arab and Kurdish people towards another. The displaced Arabs mainly blame U. S.-backed Kurdish militias.

That would be the best thing, wouldn't it, if the militias dissolve, Turkey no longer has a target. If Turkey does not withdraw, then the U. S. and Europe have already put themselves on the side of relatively defending Syria from Turkey. That sounds strange, but, as has been said, if the U. S. quit provoking the region, it will settle itself.

Cara

16th October 2019, 10:22

Update on Syria:

Russian army puts up bridge in record time to deploy heavy arms, aid across Euphrates
Damascus main forces are gearing up for a mass crossing of the Euphrates

https://phototass1.cdnvideo.ru/width/1020_b9261fa1/tass/m2/en/uploads/i/20170926/1178080.jpg
© Russian Defense Ministry press servive/TASS

DEIR EZ-ZOR /Syria/, September 26. /TASS/. Russian road service military experts have erected a bridge across the Euphrates River, a few kilometers away from Deir ez-Zor in northeastern Syria. It will be used to deploy military equipment and troops to the eastern river bank.

The MARM small motorway panel bridge was erected in less than two days under continuous shelling, Head of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Road Service Vladimir Burovtsev told reporters.

"Unmanned aerial vehicles were used. Explosive substances and grenades were falling on us from the air during the installation work. However, we have no losses. No injured or affected. Everything was erected in the set terms," he specified.

The bridge is 210 meters long. It can serve 8,000 cars a day. The bridge supports heavy armored vehicles, such as tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and multiple-launch rocket systems, Burovtsev said. The bridge will also be used for aid convoys to liberated communities and medical evacuations.

Syrian state forces liberated most part of Deir ez-Zor in early September. IS’ (Islamic State, a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia) main forces were forced to retreat to the opposite, or eastern side of the river bank.

Ahead of the bridge’s construction, only the advance detachments of the Syrian army crossed the river with the use of pontoons. Now the main government forces are preparing for mass crossing of the Euphrates.
From: https://tass.com/defense/967468

shaberon

16th October 2019, 21:21

Unsurprisingly:

""Footage proves last week’s attack on an Iranian oil tanker was carried out by the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia, a member of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission said on Wednesday.

The evidence “will be taken to the UN and the Security Council so that those countries behind this terrorist attack would pay for their action,” Abolfazl Hassanbeigi was quoted by Iranian news agency Mehr as saying."

The incident smelled Israeli-style from around the world, tempting a counter-attack so either Iran would get lured into war or it would "appear weak" by not doing so. Since the era of Ukraine and Malaysian airliner and Syria, the actual bringing of evidence to public view makes the Zionist-Wahhabist axis look throroughly incompetent. They are good about pushing mass numbers of people and twisted truth online, to use "strength" to spread Big Lie, and, even though it still works to some extent, I believe that we are seeing that even success in Big Lie is no longer effective.

The U. S. left Manbij in such a hurry that all the air-conditioned tents with hardware, personal items, and even an unfinished meal have been seized by the "other side"., as well as an operational Suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device.

A puppy was also glad to greet the newcomers.

That is an impressive bridge, 210m in two days, with the Russians pretty much embedding themselves in the line of contact between Syria and Turkey.

Syria is now in Raqqa for the first time in six years. Just about everything the U. S. "gained" by empowering militias has been handed to Syria carte blanche. New bridge, extra airbase, all kinds of things working out now. Turkey arrested 200 of its own people for opposing the military online.

Turkey needs to inflict enough damage so the Kurds will be forced to turn coat. If they back down too early, nothing will happen, and if they stay too long, they will be in a dire position. They have little choice but to master the art of brinksmanship in real time.

Cara

19th October 2019, 03:20

So: the majority of the Turkish invasion force were US proxies and the Kurds were also US proxies....

War is a Racket? (https://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html)

Incredible scoop by @MaxBlumenthal: 21 of the 28 "rebel" factions in the Turkish mercenary army invading Syria and massacring civilians were supported by the US

18 were backed by the CIA, 3 by the Pentagon

14 got US-supplied TOW anti-tank guided missiles

1185270839102660610

shaberon

20th October 2019, 01:30

So: the majority of the Turkish invasion force were US proxies and the Kurds were also US proxies....

To an extent. We can't really say Ankara totally directly controls all those groups. But at the very least, it turned a blind eye to anyone from Chechnya or China who happened to want to pass its entrances to Syria with any kind of equipment they had. Some of it currently appears to be white phosphorous.

So far, U. S. and Israeli arms have been found in most of the captured hideouts. Without the backing, most of these militias could not do much. The Americans that died in Libya were one of these arms deals gone bad. Moderate rebels indeed. Been a while since we heard that one.

Syria is in Kobani and the U. S. bombed one of its own bases or possibly ammunition depot on the way out.

This is a bit like what happened in Saigon. Except this time, there is major reconstruction to be done by China, Iran, and Russia, for the New Silk Road. Something like a historical shift.

shaberon

23rd October 2019, 03:24

Now, Turkey says (https://www.rt.com/news/471587-turkey-no-need-restart-offensive-kurds/) they do not need to attack anyone else. They seem to feel the Kurds have evacuated the "security zone", part of which unfortunately involved handing some villages to Turkey instead of Syria.

The Americans sent most personnel to Iraq, where they are not supposed to stay, although there is no indication of them actually "going home". They took many of the ISIL wives. Part of the big deal here is what happens to ISIL prisoners by the thousands. Some would think the U. S. just wants to re-install ISIL into Iraq.

“The Sochi agreement has cemented the Russian-Turkish cooperation in Syria also effectively reducing the American influence in the country,” Demidras said. “United Syria has been secured.”

The remaining problems are mainly the U. S. at Al-Tanf surrounded by mercenaries, and the mainly Saudi and Turkish backed groups nested in the densely-populated Idlib province. Since neither of these can really expand, there is not really a "tear apart the country" movement that has any future.

The cruise missile attacks, the Israeli air force, the downing of a Russian spy plane, all are blatant provocations that could easily have triggered greater conflict, and even now with Turkey it still hasn't. Although it is not out of the question Syria may attack any Turkish force on its soil. The fact of their invasion would trigger the mutual defense pact with Iran, therefor it is valid for them to send reinforcements.

Franny

25th October 2019, 19:49

US Troops Staying in Syria to ‘Keep the Oil’ Have Already Killed Hundreds
October 24, 2019

Hundreds of American soldiers are remaining in Syria, not to ensure to safety of any group of people, but to occupy the country’s oil reserves and block the Syrian government from revenue needed for reconstruction, reports Ben Norton.

By Ben Norton (https://consortiumnews.com/tag/ben-norton/)
The Grayzone (https://thegrayzone.com/2019/09/23/bomb-extremist-us-soldier-fbi-ukrainian-nazi-azov/)

U.S. President Donald Trump has reassured supporters that he is “bringing soldiers home” from the “endless” war in Syria. But that is simply not the case.

While Trump has ordered a partial withdrawal of the approximately 1,000 American troops on Syrian territory — who have been enforcing an illegal military occupation under international law — U.S. officials and the president himself have admitted that some will be staying. And they will remain on Syrian soil not to ensure to safety of any group of people, but rather to maintain control over oil and gas fields.

The U.S. military has already killed hundreds of Syrians, and possibly even some Russians, precisely in order to hold on to these Syrian fossil fuel reserves.

Washington’s obsession with toppling the Syrian government refuses to die. The United States remains committed to preventing Damascus from retaking its own oil, as well as its wheat-producing breadbasket region, in order to starve the government of revenue and prevent it from funding reconstruction efforts.

The Washington Post noted in 2018 that the U.S. and its Kurdish allies were militarily occupying a massive “30 percent slice of Syria, which is probably where 90 percent of the pre-war oil production (https://thegrayzone.com/2019/09/23/bomb-extremist-us-soldier-fbi-ukrainian-nazi-azov/) took place.”

Now, for the first time, Trump has openly confirmed the imperialist ulterior motives behind maintaining a US military presence in Syria.

“We want to keep the oil (https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/21/politics/syria-cabinet-meeting-donald-trump/index.html),” Trump confessed in a cabinet meeting on Oct. 21. “Maybe we’ll have one of our big oil companies to go in and do it properly.”

Three days earlier, the president tweeted, “The U.S. has secured the Oil.”

The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/20/world/middleeast/trump-troops-syria-turkey.html) confirmed the strategy on Oct. 20. Citing a “senior administration official,” the newspaper reported:

“President Trump is leaning in favor of a new Pentagon plan to keep a small contingent of American troops in eastern Syria, perhaps numbering about 200, to combat the Islamic State and block the advance of Syrian government and Russian forces into the region’s coveted oil fields.

… A side benefit would be helping the Kurds keep control of oil fields in the east, the official said.”

Trump then explicitly reiterated this policy in a White House press briefing (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-situation-northern-syria/) on the Syria withdrawal on Oct. 23.

“We’ve secured the oil (in Syria), and therefore a small number of U.S. troops will remain in the area where they have the oil (https://twitter.com/GrayzoneProject/status/1187073460675194880),” Trump said. “And we’re going to be protecting it. And we’ll be deciding what we’re going to do with it in the future.”

BBiJCEmHe_k

Using ISIS as Excuse

U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper – the former vice president of government relations at top weapons manufacturer Raytheon, before being promoted by Trump to the head of the Pentagon – revealed the actual U.S. policy on Syria in a press conference (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUsp4-LwXgU) on the 21st:

“We have troops in towns in northeast Syria that are located next to the oil fields. The troops in those towns are not in the present phase of withdrawal.

… Our forces will remain in the towns that are located near the oil fields.”

Esper added that the U.S. military is “maintaining a combat air patrol above all of our forces on the ground in Syria.”

Unlike Trump, Esper offered an excuse to justify the continued U.S. military occupation of Syria’s oil fields. He insisted that American soldiers remain to help the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hold on to the resources and prevent ISIS jihadists from taking them over.

This led mainstream corporate media outlets like CNN (https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/20/politics/trump-leaning-toward-keeping-some-us-troops-syria/) to report, “Defense secretary says some U.S. troops will temporarily stay in Syria to protect oil fields from ISIS.”

But any observer who carefully parsed Esper’s comments (https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/1994448/remarks-by-secretary-esper-in-a-joint-press-conference-with-senior-afghan-offic/) during his press conference would have been able to detect the real goal behind the prolonged U.S. presence in northeastern Syria. As Esper said, “A purpose of those [US] forces, working with the SDF, is to deny access to those oil fields by ISIS and others who may benefit from revenues that could be earned.”

41740

Excerpt from Pentagon’s transcript of the Mark Esper press conference.

“And others who may benefit from their revenues earned” is a crucial qualifier. In fact, Esper used this language – “ISIS and others” – two more times in his presser.

Who exactly Esper meant by “others” is clear: The U.S. strategy is to prevent Syria’s UN-recognized government and the Syrian majority that lives under its control from retaking their own oil fields and reaping the benefits of their revenue.

Hundreds Massacred

This is not just speculation. CNN made it plain when it reported the following in an undeniably blunt passage, citing anonymous U.S. senior military officials:

“The US military has long had military advisers embedded with the Syrian Democratic Forces near the Syrian oil fields at Deir Ezzoir ever since the area was captured from ISIS. The loss of those oil fields denied ISIS a major source of revenue, a one-time source of funds that has differentiated the organization from other terror groups.

The oil fields are assets that have also been long sought after by Russia and the Assad regime, which is strapped for cash after years of civil war. Both Moscow and Damascus hope to use oil revenues to help rebuild western Syria and solidify the regime’s hold.

In a bid to seize the oil fields, Russian mercenaries attacked the areas, leading to a clash that saw dozens if not hundreds of Russian mercenaries killed in U.S.airstrikes, an episode that Trump has touted as proof he is tough on Russia. That action helped deter Russian or regime forces from making similar bids for the oil fields.

The U.S.forces near the oil fields remain in place and senior military officials had previously told CNN that they would likely be among the last to leave Syria.”
CNN thus acknowledged that the U.S. military had killed up to “hundreds” of Syrian and Russia-backed fighters seeking to gain access to Syria’s oil fields. It massacred these fighters not for humanitarian reasons, but to prevent the Syrian government from using “oil revenues to help rebuild western Syria.”

This shockingly direct admission flew in the face of the popular myth that the U.S. was keeping troops in Syria to protect Kurds from an assault by NATO member Turkey.

The CNN report was an apparent reference to the Battle of Khasham, a little known but important episode in the eight-year international proxy war on Syria.

The battle unfolded on Feb. 7, 2018, when the Syrian military and its allies launched an attack to try to retake major oil and gas reserves in Syria’s Deir ez-Zour governorate, which were being occupied by American troops and their Kurdish proxies.

The New York Times seemed to revel in the news that the U.S. military massacred 200 to 300 fighters after hours of “merciless airstrikes from the United States.” (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/24/world/middleeast/american-commandos-russian-mercenaries-syria.html)

The Times repeatedly stressed that Deir ez-Zour is “oil-rich.” And it cited anonymous U.S. officials who claimed that many of the slaughtered fighters were Russian nationals from the private military company the Wagner Group. These unnamed “American intelligence officials” told the Times that the alleged Russian fighters were “in Syria to seize oil and gas fields and protect them on behalf of the Assad government.”

The Times noted that U.S. special operations forces from JSOC were working with Kurdish forces at an outpost next to Syria’s important Conoco gas plant. The Kurdish-led SDF had seized this facility from ISIS in 2017 with the help of the U.S.military. The Wall Street Journal noted at the time that the “plant is capable of producing nearly 450 tons of gas a day (https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-backed-forces-seize-conoco-gas-plant-from-islamic-state-1506290098),” and was one of ISIS’ most important sources of funding.

The newspaper added, “The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes, are racing against the regime of President Bashar al-Assad for territorial gains in Syria’s east.” The commodities monitoring websites MarketWatch (https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-backed-syrian-fighters-capture-conoco-gas-plant-from-islamic-state-2017-09-24) and OilPrice.com (https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/US-Backed-Forces-Retake-Syrian-Conoco-Gas-Plant-From-ISIS.html) were closely following the story and analyzing which forces would take over one of Syria’s most important gas plants.

Starving Syria of Oil & Wheat

For the Syrian government, regaining control over its oil and gas reserves in the eastern part of its territory is crucial to paying for reconstruction efforts and social programs — especially at a time when suffocating U.S. and EU sanctions have crippled the economy, caused fuel shortages (https://www.apnews.com/146f6ea0d62e48aa8f3323e803cb5595), and severely hurt Syria’s civilian population.

The U.S. has aimed to prevent Damascus from retaking profitable territory, starving it of natural resources from fossil fuels to basic foodstuffs.

In 2015, then-President Barack Obama deployed U.S. troops to northeastern Syria on the grounds of helping the Kurdish militia the People’s Protection Units (YPG) fight ISIS. What started as several dozen U.S. special operations forces quickly ballooned into some 2,000 troops, largely stationed in northeastern Syria.

As these U.S. soldiers enabled the YPG retake territory from ISIS, they solidified Washington’s control over nearly one-third of Syrian sovereign territory — territory that just so happened to include 90 percent of Syria’s oil, as well as 70 percent of its wheat.

The U.S. subsequently forced the Kurdish-led YPG to rebrand as the SDF (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-usa-ypg/u-s-general-told-syrias-ypg-you-have-got-to-change-your-brand-idUSKBN1A62SS), and then treated them as proxies to try to weaken the Syrian government and its allies Iran and Russia.

In June, Reuters confirmed that Kurdish-led authorities had agreed to stop selling wheat to Damascus (https://www.reuters.com/article/syria-wheat-northeast-idUSL8N23G0BG), after the U.S. pressured them to do so.

The Grayzone has reported how the Center for a New American Security, a leading Democratic Party foreign policy think tank bankrolled by the U.S. and NATO, proposed using the “wheat weapon” to starve Syria’s civilian population (https://thegrayzone.com/2019/06/19/wheat-weapon-us-think-tank-starving-syrian-civilians-assad-negotiate/).

A former Pentagon researcher-turned-senior fellow at the think tank declared openly, “Wheat is a weapon of great power in this next phase of the Syrian conflict.” He added, “It can be used to apply pressure on the Assad regime, and through the regime on Russia, to force concessions in the UN-led diplomatic process.”

Trump appeared to echo this strategy in his Oct. 21 cabinet meeting.

“We want to keep the oil, and we’ll work something out with the Kurds so that they have some money, have some cashflow,” he said. “Maybe we’ll have one of our big oil companies to go in and do it properly.”

While Trump has pledged to bring U.S. soldiers home and end their military occupation of Syrian territory – which is illegal under international law – it is evident that the broader regime change war continues.

A brutal economic war on Damascus is escalating, not only through sanctions but through the theft of Syria’s natural treasures by foreign powers.

Ben Norton is a journalist and writer. He is a reporter for The Grayzone, and the producer of the “Moderate Rebelspodcast (http://moderaterebelsradio.com/),” which he co-hosts with Max Blumenthal. His website is BenNorton.com, and he tweets at @BenjaminNorton.

This article is from The Grayzone (https://thegrayzone.com/).

shaberon

26th October 2019, 04:33

Yes, "ISIS is defeated", that's why the troops are coming home, instead of defending anything against it...

The actual amount of oil in Syria is pretty small, and there is not a heck of a lot the U. S. can do or is doing with it. At most, that aspect probably amounts to the inconvenience of denying Syria its own stuff. If trucks are stealing it, that is not a problem for satellites to find.

So they want to start an autonomous Kurdish operation around Al-Tanf. We shall see how this falls apart.

shaberon

30th October 2019, 02:51

I was a bit off. Lavrov, of course, has condemned the American troops' move, but, they say they already have evidence (https://www.rt.com/news/471891-syria-oil-smuggling-images/) of the U. S. smuggling oil from there recently.

Syria says that Turkey attacked Ras al-Ain (https://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13980806000298) while Syrian troops were deploying there. They have stretched about 90km across villages near the border. Again, this does not quite say the Syrian Army itself received any damage, but there was some kind of Turkish fire where there are no Kurds. Seems like a bad idea since they are surrounded on three sides.

Cara

11th November 2019, 06:47

Turkey seems to be blackmailing the EU:

Turkey says to start sending IS fighters home amid row with Europe

ANKARA, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Turkey said that it would start sending captured foreign Islamic State (IS) fighters to their countries next week amid a row with European nations.

Over the last week, Turkish interior minister Suleyman Soylu has several times harshly criticized European countries for inaction, vowing to repatriate IS militants, even if their citizenship has been revoked.

On Friday, he was even more direct and told semi-official Anadolu news agency that the repatriation process will start as soon as Monday.

"Now we are telling you that we are going to send them back to you. We are starting this on Monday," said the minister, without indicating to which countries the unknown number of IS fighters would be send.

Earlier this week, Soylu warned European states and urged them to take immediate action, saying "Turkey is not a hotel for foreign terrorists."

Following its military incursion in northeastern Syria in October, the interior minister has stated that Ankara had around 1,200 foreign IS fighters and members of their families in its custody, 287 of whom had been captured during its cross-border operation.

The Ministry of Justice is working on legal ways to repatriate those militants to their countries of origin and "will soon take the necessary steps," pro-government Turkish daily Yeni Safak said.

The intransigent position of Ankara, frustrated with European inaction, is also linked to the deterioration of relations between Turkey and its Western allies after the lack of support in the offensive against Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, considered as "terrorists" by Turkish authorities.

Several European Union members have stripped their citizens detained in Iraq and Syria of their nationality, preventing them to return home, fearing that they would radicalize people there. They, instead, are insisting that these fighters and family members be convicted in their country of detention.

Britain has stripped more that 100 people of their citizenship for allegedly joining jihadist groups abroad.

But Ankara criticizes Western countries for resisting repatriation by revoking citizenships. "This is sheer irresponsibility," Soylu also said.

Turkish specialists argue that European nations are not bearing their responsibilities in this matter, leaving Turkey, which has over the last years faced deadly IS terror attacks in big cities, to clean up their mess.

"The logical thing to do is evidently to send these people to their countries of origin. But, until now the international community has been unable to find common ground for a solution to the issue," Erol Basaran Bural, analyst at Ankara think thank 21st Century Institute, told Xinhua.

This ex-Turkish army officer argued that Europe was "exploiting legal grey areas" surrounding the problem and throwing the controversial issue into Turkey's lap.

"European nations are seemingly closing their eyes to the issue and Turkey is pressuring them to open them and confront the matter as repatriation of foreign fighters," he added.

A Turkish source close to the government told Xinhua under the condition of anonymity that international law permits that Turkey deports IS fighters caught in Turkey to their countries of origin.

"However there is a legal imbroglio concerning militants captured in Syria, where the central government has no say," a point that Western countries have until now used in their favor, he added.

It is expected that the Turkish leader will discuss the issue of foreign IS fighters with U.S. President Donald Trump at a planned meeting in the White House on Nov. 13.
From: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-11/10/c_138542915.htm

shaberon

11th November 2019, 17:27

Which Monday and which European country? They already sent (https://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13980820000997) a guy home to the U. S.

This has all gotten pretty quiet recently, there are even instances of joint Syrian-Russian-Turkish patrols. There were a few Terrorist bombs at Qamishshli, and Syria attacked some type of Turkish assets at al-Manakh and al-Mahmudiya villages in Tal Tamr, Hasaka, after their pharmacies and power transformers were looted. Syria, of course, took over the place, and again it is somewhat unclear if there was direct combat between the two states, but it was at least really close.

So here again if Turkey does not send in their Air Force and something big happens, they are kind of keeping a lid on it.

This situation can't possibly last very long, and then the "other occupiers" at al-Tanf will probably get the next boot.

The return of "your people" to their countries of origin is pretty sure to be a legal and social thorn. Unlike our "prison industry" here, most smaller countries are not in favor of large incarcerated populations, or highly interested in investing in a problem that was "solved".

Cara

12th November 2019, 04:37

Which Monday and which European country?

Yes, it’s certainly the case that Turkey has been dangling this threat over Europe for some years now. I wonder what they do with them in Turkey? Are they imprisoned? Quite a job to keep track of them all I would imagine.

~~~

And it appears that the former British intelligence agent behind the White Helmets has died in Istanbul.
1194035350093484032

shaberon

13th November 2019, 03:11

Yes, it’s certainly the case that Turkey has been dangling this threat over Europe for some years now. I wonder what they do with them in Turkey? Are they imprisoned? Quite a job to keep track of them all I would imagine.

Well, this is more or less the "criminalized" portion of the overall large wave of displaced persons, who are just part of the whole package of immigration issues, mixed with the fact some of them are native citizens. And so I think there have been a limited number of those who were born in America who joined ISIS, versus more who are from somewhere in Europe. But more of the problem is found with transients or immigrants or people who shift states.

I guess it's no problem or concern if Turkey returned someone to Pakistan, because Pakistan doesn't count because it is just a home of militias and terrorists and so forth.

This is what's changing, right, it can't be like that in Belgium, because they have a nice country. That definition or image is no longer true because the reality is they are not a special exception and are about the same as Pakistan. This is what we are going to find with all the former colonial powers, and, I think, what Russia means by "the liberal idea in the west has failed".

Some of the Turkish prisoners were probably high value and they are traded for some kind of gain. But what do you do with a hundred British captives who are in Turkey due to fighting on the losing side in Syria. Nuremberg, etc., made the international law where we can't just shoot them. That means someone has to incarcerate them, or let them back into society. You are right, it's not really a threat but just a situation that has been ripening for years, to which everyone would presume to push Turkey around or tell it what to do, as if it would go away.

The west isn't going to run things by political/economic dictation, nor by insurgencies and death squads. It no longer works, and we will find the things we may pretend "only happen in other places" are right there in Your Neighborhood. Which is fair, since jihad in this sense is mostly of western origin and backing, they can have it back.

shaberon

13th November 2019, 22:57

A residence (https://sana.sy/en/?p=178157) in Damascus was destroyed by Israeli missiles and what is not explained is this was the son of a Palestinian resistance commander, who was also assassinated in Gaza. So far, Iron Dome has intercepted twenty of over 200 missiles (https://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13980822000440) that made a mess around Rafah.

Around the corner, the Ukranian tycoon (https://www.rt.com/news/473355-ukraine-moscow-alliance-kolomoysky/) who heavily backed the right-wing death squads has turned coat and is seeking rapprochement with Moscow.

shaberon

16th November 2019, 22:31

Here is the German (https://www.dw.com/en/germany-dont-panic-over-islamic-state-returnees-arrival/a-51253101) answer to the Turkish prisoners: nothing. Just let them go.

Russia has seized Sirrin Airbase (https://www.rt.com/news/473504-russia-secures-us-base-syria/) as soon as the U. S. bugged out, and have looted a gymnasium. The landing strip will of course turn into a significant asset for humanitarian recovery.

One of Iron Dome's Tamir Interceptors (https://www.rt.com/news/473550-iron-dome-interceptor-lost/) landed in Gaza with its radar and fuse intact, which means thy classified technology are now belong to Gazans. The U. N. has just reaffirmed that Golan belongs to Syria, and Israel should pay Lebanon for the 2006 oil spill. Trump and Erdogan just met, but nothing much seems to have come from it. Instead, the U. S. is invigorating Qamishli (https://sana.sy/en/?p=178574).

shaberon

20th November 2019, 05:33

Continuing the fracas from the top of the page, Israel (https://www.rt.com/news/473847-syria-israel-iran-targets/) claims that four missiles were launched by Iran from inside Syria, all were repelled, and they retributed by annihilating dozens of Iranian and Syrian military installations.

Syria (https://sana.sy/en/?p=178782) maintains they were watching their radar, the attack came in, and most of it was blocked, except for a few civilian casualties. Israel did not mention civilians.

Why would Iran launch a measly four missiles to achieve nothing but massive return fire?

They are busy with thugs paid $60 (https://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13980828000786) to start fires. Again there is a scene of legitimate peaceful protest against gasoline prices, into which, there is a mostly Saudi-backed media blitz, along with a few suitcases full of cash, to exploit the situation and turn it violent. There are now some heavily armed gangs and wounded police. Same way the Syrian situation started. We keep finding international tentacles that buy violence and terror where otherwise there would be little. Meanwhile, terror acts prevented by Homeland Security are believed to amount to zero.

Syria tends to under-report its losses and defeats, but it does seem reliable to say their Frankenstein air defenses get rid of 70-80% of the incoming. Iron Dome probably can block four. What we can also see is they did not enter Syrian airspace beyond Golan. It is relatively easy for them to take jabs at Damascus which is fairly close to them. Oh, and recycle the same story.

Turkey is far from pleased with Israel in general, a few years ago they had almost become fellows, but now with the West Bank, embassy in Jerusalem, etc., it's all evaporated. Their invasiveness to Syria seems to have come to a standstill.

Cara

4th December 2019, 05:33

It seems that the UAE and Syria’s President Assad have come to some agreement about the state of affairs in Syria and the Middle East.

1201887244417732609

shaberon

2nd January 2020, 04:29

Here, something happened on the border to Iraq.

The U. S. controls most of the Iraqi crossing points, and just bombed the Iraqi Popular Forces at the one they do not. Pretty majorly, 30+ fatalities, 40+ injured.

Well, quite similarly to Israeli behavior, this was response to a small ground rocket that did actually kill an American. Of course, no one is really sure where it came from, but the U. S. is known for having the answers prepared ahead of time. So they attacked the "guilty party" at a location 450 km away.

At this point, U. S. Baghdad Embassy is stormed by thousands of protestors, and they called in Marines to break it up. The same protestors may stop their own Parliament if it does not enact things to drive the U. S. out of Iraq.

This is full of anti-Iran rhetoric, while the Iran sanctions are increasingly seen as a bad idea by legislators. In other words, they are trying to tell Iraq what to do in order to protect everyone from Iran, but there may be a pivot here where the whole thing washes away.

Syria itself just seems to be slowly winning back pieces of Idlib. Turkey has moved elements of the "Free Syrian Army" to Libya.

silvanelf

3rd January 2020, 13:27

Breaking News

Iran's top general killed in US airstrike in Iraq
Qassem Soleimani: Pentagon confirms US has killed leader of Iran’s Quds Force

The Pentagon has confirmed it killed Qassem Soleimani, Iran’s most powerful general in Iraq, on the orders of Donald Trump.

Within an hour of news breaking that Soleimani, the head of the elite Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force, had been killed in an airstrike at Baghdad Airport, the US said it had carried out the operation and claimed it acted to “deter future Iranian attack plans”.

“At the direction of the president, the US military has taken decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qassem Soleimani,” a Pentagon statement said.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/qassem-soleimani-pentagon-us-confirms-statement-iran-trump-airstrike-iraq-a9268486.html

U.S. airstrike kills top Iran general, Qassim Suleimani, at Baghdad airport

Suleimani's death could drastically increase tensions with Iran, which were heightened by the New Year's attacks on the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad.

The United States killed a high-profile commander of Iran's secretive Quds Force, the Defense Department said late Thursday.

"At the direction of the President, the U.S. military has taken decisive defensive action to protect U.S. personnel abroad," the department said in a statement announcing the death of Qassim Suleimani, a commander of Iran's military forces in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere throughout the Middle East.

The deadly airstrike will raise tensions between the U.S. and Iran, which were already heightened by the New Year's attacks on the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad.

Another man, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, said to be the deputy of the militias known as the Popular Mobilization Units and a close adviser to Suleimani, was also killed in the airstrike near Baghdad's airport, according to Iraqi television reports. The PMU tweeted that al-Muhandis and Suleimani were killed when their vehicle was hit on the road to the airport.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/airstrike-kills-top-iran-general-qassim-suleimani-baghdad-airport-iraqi-n1109821

shaberon

21st April 2022, 05:47

We have not forgotten this and it is not surprising that Mr. Kolomoysky is in the top post of this page.

They are resuming the complaint about Raqqah (https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/04/19/680587/World-still-incognizant-all-US-led-crimes-Raqqah-Syria) to the U. N. Security Council:

The ministry added that the US-led coalition’s aerial attacks in Raqqah took place between June and October 2017 and resulted in the full destruction of the city and the death of thousands of civilians, whose corpses were buried under debris.

https://cdn.presstv.ir/Photo/2022/4/18/a88481e5-c088-4865-9c70-911b5a0a6c66.jpg

Meanwhile the U. S. is actually fortifying its base in the northeast. The military positioning seems to remain stable although Israel keeps doing air attacks. It is long "over", in the sense that an insurrection is not going to flip the government, but it is far from "done".

shaberon

28th May 2022, 04:44

This has changed mildly.

Israel and Turkey (https://southfront.org/israel-and-turkey-escalate-against-syria/) are using the distraction of Ukraine for escalations.

Like a ricochet shot into a side pocket, here is a somewhat complex response (https://southfront.org/russia-answers-to-turkeys-threats-by-deploying-fighter-jets-helicopters-in-northeastern-syria-photos/) in the northeast at a secondary base:

On May 28, the Russian military deployed reinforcements at al-Qamishli Airport in northeastern Syria in what appears to be a response to Turkey’s recent threats to the region.

According to Russian and Syrian sources, the reinforcements included a number of Su-34 fighter bombers and Ka-52 attack helicopters. Last year, the Russian military stepped up its presence at al-Qamishli Airport turning it into its main base in northeastern Syria.

The deployment came amid reports of ongoing preparations by Turkish military and its proxies to launch a new large-scale operation against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern and northeastern Syria.

In what appears to be an attempt to warn Turkey against making such a move, units from the Syrian Arab Army and the Russian Military Police conducted a joint patrol with officials from the SDF along the frontlines in the northeastern region in the morning. The patrol was escorted by several Russian attack helicopters.

Prior to the joint patrol, warplanes of the Russian Aerospace Forces dropped a number of flash bombs over Turkish-occupied areas in the northeastern region in a clear warning to Turkey’s proxies.

Speaking following a cabinet meeting on May 23, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara will launch a military operation in Syria to link up two areas already under Turkish control in the northern and northeastern regions of the country.

Since then, the Turkish military and its proxies deployed large forces in the two regions and stepped up their artillery strikes on SDF-held areas.

The US has warned Turkey against launching a new operation in Syria. However, unlike Russian and Syrian forces, the US-led coalition didn’t make any moves to deter the Turkish military and its proxies.

It won’t possible for Turkey to launch a new military operation against the SDF in Syria without a green light from the US. Washington may grant Ankara a green light if it withdraws its objection to the accession of Finland and Sweden to NATO. Due to this, the SDF’s only chance to survive is likely to improve its relations with Moscow and Damascus, who maintain large forces in the northern and northeastern region.

shaberon

13th August 2023, 22:37

Just a little bump from an actual war that has been going on nearly sixty years.

Only one basic thing has changed since 2017 (https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2017/11/27/1582475/us-uk-israeli-saudi-support-failed-to-preserve-daesh-rule-us-author):

It is important to understand that Daesh militants are mercenary groups funded by intelligence agencies of the US, Israel, the UK, and Saudi Arabia on behalf of global financial elites who desire a psychopathically inspired one-world governmental system of control and dominance over the world’s people and natural resources.

Dr. Assad said he hasn't found Saudi interference in his country for a few years now.

They have even become somewhat less aggressive in Yemen.

Syria is occupied by Israel, U. S., and Turkey. It has Russian presence by invitation, as well as Hamas and Iran. Daesh was defeated by Trump thanks to the American presence, so, a few days ago, they inflicted significant casualties on a Syrian military bus. As said on August 13 (https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14020522000184/Iran-Deadly-Daesh-Ambsh-Cmplemens-Israel%E2%80%99s-Aggressin-Agains-Syria):

Kana'ani said the rise in terror attacks in Syria in recent months is due to the continued intelligence, security and logistical support to terrorists with the aim of preventing stability and security in the war-torn country.

The diplomat further noted that helping to create a breathing space for the survival of Daesh and Takfiri terrorists to continue their operations in Syria is a coordinated action in line with the Israeli regime's aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this country, and they pursue common goals.

On Friday, Daesh ambushed the bus carrying Syrian soldiers in the country’s East, killing dozens and wounding several others. The terrorists surrounded the bus in a desert road near the Eastern town of Mayadeen in Deir Ezzur province that borders Iraq.

Since 2011, Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy, as a result of which Daesh and other terrorist groups emerged in the country.

Syria and its allies, including Iran and Russia, defeated the terrorist outfit in late 2017. Since then, Daesh has been carrying out sporadic attacks across Syria through its remnants and sleeper cells.

Attacks by Daesh sleeper cells in Syria, particularly in the vast desert zones they once controlled, have become bolder and bloodier in recent months.

Israel has also been a key supporter of the terrorist groups during the war and has targeted the positions of the Syrian Army and resistance groups that have been fighting the militants.

Iranian officials have repeatedly denounced the UN Security Council for its silence in the face of the continued Israeli acts of aggression against Syria. They slammed Israeli attacks against civilian population and basic infrastructure in Syria as a flagrant violation of international law and humanitarian rights, and argued that the Security Council’s inaction has emboldened the Tel Aviv regime to broaden the scope of its aggression.

Israel frequently targets military positions inside Syria, especially those of the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah which has played a key role in helping the Syrian Army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists.

The Tel Aviv regime rarely comments on its cowardly attacks on Syrian territories, which many see as a knee-jerk reaction to the Syrian government’s success in confronting and decimating terrorism.