We've long moved passed the idea that destabilizing Syria is about Syria, alone. Hence the remaking of the middle east and it's birth pangs are and have been covered for years here at the blog. Including the plan to create a Greater Kurdistan. The information below pertains to the remake the region agenda being pushed by the Usrael empire hattip two commenters for leaving this information:1- Israeli Paper: With Soleimani gone it’s time to target Turkey’s Intelligence ChiefHakan Fidan
"In an article entitled “The Sultan and Soleimani”, Makor Rishon claimed that Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq earlier this month, and the head of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organisation, Hakan Fidan, are “very similar to each other and both are carrying out proxy wars in the name of their country in Iraq and Syria”.“Since Soleimani lies three feet under after the attack, now it is time to focus on the plots of the head of the Turkish Intelligence Service (MIT), Hakan Fidan, who is his twin,” the paper continued.
This walks hand in hand with the earlier report
Israel's been busy launching airstrikes on Syria. The most recent one saw Israel using a commercial flight as cover.2-BREAKING A commercial A320 flight has been forced to land in Air Base after Syrian air defense engaged four Israeli F-16s during the night
An Airbus A320 with 172 passengers on board was forced to made an emergency landing in Russia-controlled Khmeimim air base after Syrian air defense was activated.The Cham Wings Airlines A320 was diverted by the Damascus ATC as the Syrian air defense systems engaged four Israeli F-16s and was on high alert due to incoming missiles, and the civilian could have found itself in the crossfire.The Syrian air defense was trying to repulse an Israeli attack near Damascus, Russian state news agency RIA said on Friday citing Russian defense ministry spokesman.
3- Russia Says Israel Used Civilian Plan as Shield for attacks on Syria-
As has been done before.
Moscow accused the Israel Defense Forces of using the civilian plane as a shield during its attack early Thursday. Only thanks to prompt actions of dispatchers at Damascus airport and effective work of the automated system of monitoring air traffic, the Airbus-320 was escorted from the danger zone and assisted in successfully landing at an aerodrome at the Russian air base Khmeimim,” he said, according to TASS.Konashenkov denounced what he said was becoming a “typical practice” of Israel’s of using civilian aircraft as a “shield” against Syrian air defenses, apparently referring to a case in 2018, when the Syrian military shot down a Russian spy plane while responding to an Israeli strike over Syrian airspace.Russia later declared that Israel was responsible for that incident, in which 15 crew members were killed, saying the Israeli Air Force jets used the Russian plane as cover.
Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes early Thursday near Damascus, wounding eight soldiers, Syrian state media said, while an opposition war monitoring group said the strikes targeted army positions as well as Iran-backed fighters, killing 12.The state news agency SANA said the Syrian air defenses shot down most of the missiles in the suburbs of the capital and the country's south before they reached their targets. It said the Israeli warplanes fired the missiles while flying over the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and neighboring Lebanon.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the Syrian war through a network of activists on the ground, said the airstrikes occurred after midnight Wednesday. They hit Syrian army positions and those of Iranian-backed militiamen west and south of the capital, as well as the Mazzeh military air base in Damascus, the Observatory said.A "large number of missiles" hit multiple positions in these areas, triggering a fire at the Scientific Research Center in the Damascus suburb of Jamraya. The Observatory said the strikes killed 12 Syrians and non-Syrian Iran-backed fighters, adding that the deaths occurred in the southern village of Izraa and the southern Damascus suburb of Kisweh.There was no immediate comment from Israel.
5-Yet another admission from Israel that they actively armed ISIS
Stop Arming TerroristsIsrael's ex IDF Chief :We have supplied ISIS , Al Qaeda , FSA with weapons and funding for years#ISIS #AlQaeda pic.twitter.com/h7Vft5hxyc— ivan (@ivan8848) January 31, 2020
6- Russians headed to Turkey for talks on Syrian offensive in Idlib: minister
- A Russian delegation will arrive in Turkey on Saturday for talks aiming to stop the Syrian government’s offensive and halt a humanitarian catastrophe in Syria’s northwest Idlib region, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday.
And for those who are really paying attention. Ever notice when Russia and Syria get moving in Idlib the UN becomes concerned. Odd isn't it? Does Turkey sit on the security council? No. Is UN concern influenced much more strongly by US/UK/Israel or by Turkey? I'd say US/UK/Israel. What would you say? 7- United Nations Security Council has convened to discuss the escalating tension and conflicts in northwestern Syrian province of Idlib. We’ve witnessed time and time again the extreme influence the US/UK and Israel exert on the UN. So, it’s obvious to me that if and when the UN is concerned about Idlib, this is due to the US being concerned. Though it’s so Israeli friendly for the ‘hasbara’ crowd to blame Turkey. (And there are lots of you out there) It’s not a claim based in any reality that I've borne witness to8- Syria took the town of Saraquib a couple of days ago
"Factions withdraw from Saraqib town not to be besieged and the regime forces break into the city sweeping its neighborhoodsHeavy ground and aerial bombardment continue around Saraqib town, after the regime besieged it from three sides and advanced towards the intersections of M4 and M5 international highways.The Syrian Observatory learned that the factions withdrew from Saraqib town not to falling into a siege inside the town, while the regime forces are advancing after they stormed the town, in order to sweep its neighborhoods.Saraqib is considered the last town on Damascus-Aleppo international highway in Idlib province"
9- Serving US/Israel by over focusing on Idlib ( a rant)Idlib used to garner more coverage here, but, then it seemed to me that by doing so I was unwittingly serving the imperial agenda.... Idlib is not the only situation is Syria that needs addressing. Years back it was written here at the blog that Idlib would be taken back in a more "orderly" fashion. By that I meant and did state a little at a time. For so many reasons. The refugees within the area that Turkey doesn't want. The denial of access to the area for the Usrael Kurds and their expansion plans. And the proof is in the pudding. Syria is taking back Idlib and securing as it goes. This is very good. Recall last year when there was a strike on a Turkish convoy in Idlib’s demilatarized zone and a whole lotta nothing noise was making the rounds?
Notice at that time Saraquib was involved? This latest incident feels like a replay of the 2019 incident. Reruns make me leery. Of course the airstrike didn’t rattle cooperation between Russia and Turkey then. Doubtful it will now either. And Syria is still gaining ground. I don't think Turkey has made any serious attempt to stop them. I believe Turkey would like the highways open for trade. Turkey and Syria had a free trade zone agreement prior to the 2011 destabilization campaign and Aleppo was the richer for it.10- Turkey/Syria Freetrade Agreement
The content of the Free Trade Agreement, which was signed between Turkey and Syria in 2004, was published in Monday’s Official Gazette. The agreement is expected to come into force as of Jan. 1st, 2007.The agreement was signed during Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Syria on December 22nd-23rd, 2004.Turkey will lift customs taxes on Syrian products as soon as the agreement comes into effect while Syria will do the same for Turkish goods in a 12-year transition period.As for agricultural products, the parties will make reciprocal tax reductions for a series of products.After the agreement takes affect, Syria will lift all bans and restrictions on imports from Turkey. (UK-ULG)
If you go back to 2018 you’ll notice Scott at nomadic everyman wrote: Russia Blinks and Trump Saves AQWe see the same type of scenario unfolding at this time. In 2018 I left extensive comments, at nomadic everyman, same as was written here explaining why I’d always felt that Idlib would be taken back slowly- over time rather then all at once. I didn't feel Russia had blinked. I felt then as I do now that we witnessed and are witnessing to this date a real politik situation unfolding, where slowly but surely Idlib is being returned. Lots of bluster all around, but, still Idlib is being returned. PennySeptember 15, 2018 at 10:47 AM
Regarding liberating Idlib and Russia blinking:I respectfully disagree- and am more of the mind that the Astana 3 and Syria were always going to take a more measured plan in Idlib in order to prevent the US/Israel/UK allies from moving westward.Aug 09http://pennyforyourthoughts2.blogspot.com/2018/08/how-russia-turkey-and…"If Syria were to simply rush in and battle for Idlib as some persons suggest, the US and their PKK allies would take advantage of the chaos that would surely result. And Rojova will extend ever closer to the Mediterranean. Which is what the US and Israel both want!It's really much more beneficial for regional stability that the Astana partners work together to deal with the Idlib situation in a more measured, careful manner. That's my opinion. And to my mind it makes much more sense for the actual preservation of Syrian sovereignty.Considering the whole remake the region agenda is made or broken in Idlib...If the Usrael Kurds move westward then the war full out on Turkey is onThe main plan for remake has always been the North of Syria- Idlib province is the block for that westward expansion- So, I feel it was going to have to be taken with more care because the Usrael Kurds wish to get on with their Rojova- so more caution had to be taken
Another possibility is Idlib ends up divided but still under official Syrian controlThere was a map apparently leaked out of the latest tripartite talks in Iran
http://pennyforyourthoughts2.blogspot.com/2018/09/russia-to-brief-un-se… conflict until the US moves out of the east or until its miserable enough for the US and it’s Kurdish proxies in the region- There seems to be almost daily reports of bombings and targeted hits on Kurdish fighters/SDF
The constant airstrikes by Israel are also a serious issue. Continuously degrading Syrian infrastructure and wearing the state downThe biggest problem Syria faces is the continued occupation by the US alongside the PKK and the theft of Syria’s desperately needed oil resource. This will impede Syria’s ability to rebuild the infrastructure of the nation. If Syria can’t rebuild, it can’t hope to be a viable and functioning state.The problem of the US occupation/annexation of Syria doesn't get much coverage that I've seen. Why?