Syria has every right to fight terrorists in Idlib, and Russia can’t interfere – Moscow
RT.com, Feb 28 2020
Damascus has the right to fight back when attacked by terrorists and Moscow is in no position to stop Syrians from doing what the UNSC endorsed, Russia’s foreign minister has said after the latest Idlib flare-up. Ankara lost 33 soldiers in the north-western Syrian province after they were targeted by a Syrian airstrike. Commenting on the tragedy on Friday, Sergei Lavrov said the deaths were undoubtedly a tragedy, for which Moscow expresses its condolences. However, Ankara shares part of the blame for what happened, both because it failed to notify Russia about the location of its troops and because it fell short when it came to deescalating violence in Idlib. Lavrov said:
The plan, which Russia and Turkey agreed upon, was to separate the normal opposition forces from the terrorists, to demilitarize the inner belt in the zone to prevent attacks coming from it against the Syrian forces and the Russian airbase, to ensure free road travel through this zone. The goals have not been achieved in more than a year, and with attacks from Idlib continuing the SAA certainly has full right to retaliate and suppress the terrorists. We cannot prohibit the SAA from executing the demands written in the UNSCRs which call for an uncompromising fight against terrorism in all its forms.
Idlib is the last large stronghold of anti-government forces in Syria, with large parts of it dominated by HTS/Nusra. In 2018, Ankara objected to a planned military offensive by the SAA, saying it would result in a large loss of civilian life and an exodus of refugees from Idlib, which would trigger a major crisis in Turkey. Instead, Ankara agreed to use the influence it has among some of the armed groups in Idlib to quell violence and eventually establish a lasting ceasefire, with Russia trying to do the same with Damascus and its forces. The arrangement however didn’t work out, and the SAA started capturing villages and towns in southern Idlib to fend off jihadis. The advances brought SAA troops into close proximity with Turkish soldiers, who were deployed in the Syrian territory with a stated goal to observe the proposed ceasefire. On several occasions the two rivals clashed, resulting in deaths on both sides, with the latest episode being the bloodiest for Turkey so far. Ankara demanded Damascus withdraws troops from the Syrian province, and threatened to launch a major military operation unless the ultimatum was not fulfilled by the end of February. After Thursday’s violence, Turkey called an emergency session of NATO, ramping up concerns over the possibility of a full-scale Turkish-Syrian war which could draw in foreign backers of the two nations. Lavrov reiterated that Russia has every intention to deescalate the conflict and ensure that Turkish soldiers are not at risk in Idlib. Moscow said the deaths were the result of miscommunication, in particular Turkey failed to inform Russia about where it has boots on the ground in Syria. Thursday’s episode, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, happened because Turkish soldiers mingled with fighters of an armed group which posed a threat to Syrian forces. Te Russian minister said:
As soon as we learned what had happened, we asked our Syrian colleagues to pause fighting and did everything we could to arrange a safe evacuation of the wounded and retrieval of the dead Turkish soldiers to the Turkish territory.
The presidents of Russia and Turkey spoke on the phone on Friday to discuss how tensions in Idlib could be defused. Moscow reiterated that fighting terrorism in Idlib has the highest priority in the current situation. The two leaders also agreed that the militaries of Russia and Turkey should establish better lines of communication with each other.
What will Pindostan do after Turkish troops die in Syrian strike?
RT.com, Feb 28 2020
Turkey has reached out to NATO and Pindostan following the deaths of its troops in Syria’s Idlib province, fueling speculation that it might invoke Article 5 and get the alliance involved in a shooting war with Damascus and Russia. Omer Celik, spox for the AKP party, told reporters in Ankara early on Friday:
An attack on Turkey is an attack on NATO. We expect that certain steps will be taken to a no-fly zone.
Erdogan called an emergency meeting of security officials on Thursday evening, after an airstrike, attributed to the Syrian government, in Idlib killed at least 33 Turkish soldiers, and wounded an unknown additional number. Phones were also ringing at NATO HQ, the White House and the Pentagon, as Turkish media reported contacts with Sec-Gen Stoltenberg, Pindo NSA O’Brien and Sec Def Esper. Esper and his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar were “exploring ways the United States can work together with Turkey and the international community,” Pentagon press secretary Alyssa Farah said on Thursday, giving no further details. The State Dept said in a statement:
We stand by our NATO vassal Turkey and continue to call for an immediate end to this despicable offensive by the Assad regime, Russia, and Iranian-backed forces.
When journalists told her about the airstrike on Thursday, Pindo envoy to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchinson responded:
Oh, my gosh! This is a new development! This is a big development! Of course, everything is on the table!
Her comments led to speculation that NATO might be considering invoking Article 5, the provision of its charter that says an attack on one member is an attack on them all.
The trouble with Article 5 is that it doesn’t cover actions of alliance members in foreign territory, which Idlib demonstrably is. Hutchinson said:
Nothing has been really brought up for a decision in NATO.
She also quickly shifted to expressing hope that Ankara now understands that Pindostan and NATO are its true and real allies, not Russia, with whom Erdogan has been increasingly cooperating in recent years. Meanwhile, NATO’s Stoltenberg “condemned the continued indiscriminate airstrikes by the Syrian regime and its backer Russia in Idlib province,” the alliance’s press service said. He also called on Moscow and Damascus to “stop their offensive, to respect international law and to back UN efforts for a peaceful solution” in Syria and urged “all parties to de-escalate this dangerous situation.”
Hawkish senators such as Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham have already called for intervention. Graham released a statement on Thursday evening, Faschingstein time, calling for Pindostan to lead the way in establishing a no-fly zone over Syria. Graham said:
The world is sitting on its hands and watching the destruction of Idlib by Assad, Iran, and the Russians. I am confident if the world, led by the United States, pushed back against Iran, Russia, and Assad that they would stand down, paving the way for political negotiations to end this war in Syria.
Rubio repeated his endorsement of the Washington Post’s editorial call for US intervention in Syria from the day before, also blaming Moscow and Damascus while declaring that “Erdogan is on the right side here.”
Rubio and Graham have been advocating Pindo intervention in Syria for years, while Trump has sought to withdraw from the country after the demise of Daesh. Trump has yet to comment on the situation in Turkey. His most recent tweet was on Thursday morning, announcing a campaign rally in South Carolina.
On the development of the crisis in Idlib
Colonel Cassad, Feb 28 2020
On the development of the crisis in and around Idlib. Putin and Erdogan had a phone conversation about what is happening. The call was initiated by the “other witnesses.” Lavrov officially expressed condolences to Turkey in connection with the death of the Turkish military and said that Russia adheres to the Sochi agreements, but compromise with terrorists can not be. Russia believes that NATO Charter is applicable to the situation in Idlib. Judging by the statements of the Turkish media and boxtops, the discussion within NATO will revolve around Article 4. Despite condemnation of Russia and Syria, NATO largely requires simply to stop the offensive and to pursue de-escalation. UN and EU call for deescalation and refraining from pushing events to the scenarios that can lead to a major international military conflict. In assessing the circumstances of the strike, the parties differ. Russia insists that after the attack on the Turks, fire was stopped and assistance was provided to evacuate the wounded. The Turks insist that the strikes continued after the arrival of the ambulances. All contacts in the military and diplomatic lines between Moscow and Ankara, talks continue, in the framework of consultations on the subject of what is happening, and in the routine work deescalation mechanisms. Iran stressed its position with remarkable calm, and did not make any dramatic statements on the situation. In the morning, Syria has not declared war and has not imposed martial law, although promised to do so. Some members of the Turkish Parliament have urged the government either to act or to resign. Turkey actually took a reprieve until the completion of consultations with NATO. Russia makes clear that it is not seeking direct military confrontation with Turkey, but at the same time pushes the point that the attack on terrorists should continue. All this puts Erdogan in a very difficult situation, especially because in addition to Syria, the bad news coming out of Libya. Yesterday died there from 7 to 10 of the Turkish military, and the troops of Haftar has released up to 50 missiles at Mitiga airport, aiming at a Turkish infrastructure, the position of the system was demonstrated, barracks, ammunition depot and hangar for UAV. Erdogan in fact he has put himself in a very narrow solution space, where he must either raise rates, or look for opportunities to dismount extremely dangerous scenarios. The fighting in Idlib nevertheless continued, as in the area of Saraqib, and to the north of the plain of al-Gab.
About the situation in Idlib
Colonel Cassad, Feb 28 2020
The situation in Idlib, which rapidly continues to deteriorate. On the morning of Feb 28, Turkey was officially recognized 33 killed and 36 wounded in an airstrike by the Turkish military in Idlib. According to reports a number of Turkish sources, the death toll may reach up to 65-85 numbers of people, and the total number of dead and wounded well over 100 people. All the wounded have already taken to Turkey. Yesterday in Hatay you can see the truck with the coffins. The Pro-Iranian Agency alleges 67 dead. The loss is generally more significant than actually zeroed out a whole Turkish company. In response, the Turks shelled Syrian and Kurdish territory. In the district of Latakia, the Russian air defense shot down 2 missiles fired at the airbase Kuveyris and base Menazh. Parts of south-western Turkey announced the areas of patrol combat aircraft before Mar 13. From the night before, Turkey severed some social media. Despite the accusations against Russia and the protests at the Russian Embassy, which is still tonight under the protection of additional forces of the Turkish police, the main Turkish media and the official statements focused on accusing the “terrorist Assad regime” in this “terrible violence.” The basic version, saying that a Syrian plane bombed Turkish soldiers who peacefully invaded Syria to “protect civilians.” The position is simple, says Damascus: Syria will continue to liberate their country from the terrorists, but the Turks should get out of Syria. Russia has officially stated that it was not bombing the Turks, and the Turks actually are to blame, as their military actions mixed with the militants. A substantial portion of yesterday Russian and the Syrian air force was occupied with militants in the area Nayrab, Sarmin, Qmenas and Saraqib, supplementing the fire of the Syrian artillery.
Through the Straits to the shores of Syria today passed two frigates with the Kaliber (cruise missiles) on the background of Turkey’s threats to limit the effect of the Montreux Convention, if war breaks out. This morning Turkish boxtops have announced the introduction of martial law in a “powerful speech of Erdogan,” a closed session of Parliament on declaring war on Syria. Along the way, enhanced the combat readiness of the armed forces and internal security agencies, and controlled terrorist organizations in Syria. In addition, it was announced that Turkey no longer prevents the flow of refugees to Europe, which obviously is done to blackmail Europe, so she is more tightly meddled in Syrian affairs. Turkey requests the international community to impose a no-fly zone over Idlib. Yesterday, Lindsey Graham called upon Trump for a no-fly zone. After talks with NATO Sec-Gen and Pindo NSA, Turkey formally requested consultations with NATO for a discussion of Article 4. NATO and the State Dept have accused Russia and Syria of responsibility for what is happening in Idlib, and called to stop the offensive of the SAA, eventually calling for deescalation. Part of the Pindo media mocks Erdogan, pointing out that he bought the Russian S-400, but now runs for favours from Faschingstein when his soldiers are killed by the dozens in Syria. On the background of night events, SAA after the occupation of south Idlib, formed a narrow front and continue the offensive. Yesterday’s counter-attack by the SAA in the area of Sarakibe did not lead to significant results. It is obvious that the crisis will develop. Erdogan has taken on increased obligations for the protection of HTS/-Nusra in Idlib, but he has demonstrated that it will cost Turkey a lot of blood.
“Admiral Makarov” and “Admiral Grigorovich” pass the Straits
Colonel Cassad, Feb 28 2020
Missile frigates “Admiral Makarov” and “Admiral Grigorovich” today passed the Straits and went to the coast of Syria.
Turkey bombs Syria after losing dozens of troops to Syrian-Russian airstrike
Alex Lantier, WSWS, Feb 28 2020
Turkish backed rebel fighters fire a howitzer in Idlib province, Feb 20 2020
(Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
The Turkish military bombed targets across Syria last night and early this morning, after dozens of its soldiers died in airstrikes near the strategic town of Saraqeb in northern Syria’s Idlib province. Anonymous Western officials told the press early this morning that Turkey has requested an urgent meeting of the NATO alliance under Article 5 of the alliance’s founding treaty, which calls for military consultation among members when one member state’s security is threatened. The danger is growing that all-out war could erupt between NATO and the Syrian government’s major international backers, Iran and Russia. For weeks, Syrian government troops backed by Moscow have fought to expel Turkish-backed militias from their last stronghold they built up inside Syria during the nine-year NATO proxy war in Syria. In recent weeks, Russian-backed Syrian government troops had taken back control of dozens of towns including Saraqeb. Yesterday, however, Syrian AQ-linked militias backed by Turkish troops briefly retook Saraqeb. Earlier yesterday, Russia’s Rossiya 24 television reported that Russian warplanes were under fire from Turkish troops firing antiaircraft missiles, stating:
Syrian and Russian planes are stopping the rebels again and again. But the sky above Idlib is also dangerous. The rebels and Turkish specialists are actively using portable air defence systems.
As of this writing, multiple fragmentary and conflicting reports are circulating on the initial air strike yesterday evening that killed Turkish troops. The US-backed Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that 34 Turkish soldiers had been killed in a bombing between the towns of Baluon and Al-Bara. The governor of Turkey’s neighboring Hatay province, Rahmi Dogan, issued a series of announcements that 9, then 22, 29 and finally, Friday morning, 33 Turkish troops had died, and 36 had been wounded in the attack. Turkish officials speaking anonymously told the German news magazine Der Spiegel that “at least 50 Turkish troops had died.” However, the official speaking to Der Spiegel claimed it is unclear whether it was Syrian or Russian airplanes that launched the attacks. Ankara took Twitter offline inside Turkey for several hours, amid signs of an explosive political crisis unfolding inside the Turkish government, including its mounting fear of domestic popular opposition to the war in Syria. While Turkish television stations took normal programming off the air and ran back-to-back reports that Syrian regime forces have lost 1,709 soldiers and large quantities of military equipment, the Turkish cabinet held an emergency meeting. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan personally chaired the meeting, which was also attended by members of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) as well as National Intelligence Organization (MİT) chief Hakan Fidan. During the meeting, the government announced investigations into 91 Twitter accounts for allegedly spreading criticisms of the government during the crisis. Once Twitter was functioning again, Yeni Şafak editor İbrahim Karagül issued hysterical denunciations of opponents of Erdogan’s war policies on social media:
Tonight, one should carefully note down traitors, Turkey’s enemies, influence agents of the regime, those who undermine the national solidarity … domestic intruders on social media.
Early this morning, as the Turkish emergency cabinet meeting continued to unfold, Turkey launched artillery attacks on Idlib province and missile attacks on Latakia, Homs, and nearby areas of western Syria. It was also reported later that Israel had attacked the Syrian government’s military positions in Quneitra province, from the vantage point offered by Israeli-held territory in the Golan Heights. At the same time, Turkish officials launched a series of emergency calls to contact their Pindo and NATO counterparts, including Sec Def Esper, NSA O’Brien and NATO Sec-Gen Stoltenberg. A Russian delegation headed by Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for Syria Sergey Vershinin was in Ankara yesterday for talks, but they reportedly ended in a stalemate without any agreement. The current danger of an all-out clash between Russia and Turkey is the product of nine years of a NATO proxy war for regime change waged since 2011 in Syria. Faschingstein together with other NATO member states, along with their Middle East allies, have backed militias linked to AQ in a bid to overthrow the Syrian government, while Russia and Iran have supported Assad. Both sides have proceeded as if, despite this explosive situation, they would never come to a direct NATO-Russia confrontation. Yet that is precisely what is now emerging. The danger of a military clash that could escalate out of control into a confrontation between the NATO alliance and Russia, both of which are armed with nuclear weapons, is now very real. While contradictory messages came out of Washington last night, several top officials made clear they would consider all-out war is “on the table” as a possible response. Told by journalists of the bombing of Turkish troops, Pindo Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchinson said:
Let me say this because I just learned this: Of course, everything is on the table. This is a new development. This is a big development.
Pindo Senator Lindsey Graham similarly issued a statement yesterday calling for the establishment of a no-fly zone over Idlib, that is for shooting down Russian and Syrian fighters over that region. Graham declared in a statement:
The world is sitting on its hands and watching the destruction of Idlib by Assad, Iran, and the Russians. I am confident (that) if the world, led by Pindostan, pushed back against Iran, Russia and Assad
thatthey would stand down, paving the way for political negotiations to end this war in Syria.
However, Turkish media also cited a tweet by Congressional staffer Alan Makovsky, who said:
I hope Pindo boxtops’ frequently stated support for ‘our NATO ally Turkey’ of late isn’t raising false expectations in Ankara … Pindostan won’t risk war with Russia to preserve Turkey’s position in Syria.
As Turkish forces bombed targets across Syria, Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) appealed to the NATO alliance for military support against the Russian-backed Syrian regime. AKP spox Ömer Çelik all but called for a declaration of war on Syria, telling CNN Türk:
The regime has become an enemy element with all its land and air elements. The necessary answer is given. The regime elements are now enemies of the Republic of Turkey. … We will inform NATO. We call on NATO to consult. We see this as an attack by a killer regime on the international community. We expect a total reaction. Our attempts on this are continuing. The consultation process with NATO begins tomorrow morning. We expect concrete support from now on.
Turkey to let refugees flee to Europe as strike in Syria kills 33 troops
AFP, Feb 28 2020
Turkey has said it is opening the gates for refugees to flee to Europe after an airstrike blamed on Damascus killed 33 Turkish soldiers in Syria. The international community voiced fears of a rapidly growing risk of escalation after the attack by Russian-backed Syrian forces in the province of Idlib, where the Syrian army is attempting to oust rebels from their last holdout. The bombardment has added to weeks of growing tensions between Turkey and Moscow, which announced that two of its warships were moving through the Bosphorus strait in Istanbul on Friday. The UN has repeatedly warned that the fighting in Idlib could potentially create the most serious humanitarian crisis since the start of the civil war in 2011. But Russian vetoes, often backed by China, have chronically constrained UN action in Syria. Turkey retaliated to Thursday’s strike by hitting Damascus regime targets “from the air and ground,” Erdoğan’s communications director, Fahrettin Altun, said. Pindostan condemned the Syrian action, and NATO said it would hold urgent talks on the crisis on Friday. In a move that could have major repercussions for Turkey’s neighbours to the west, Ankara said it would open the way for refugees to go to Europe. An official said on condition of anonymity:
We will no longer keep the doors closed for refugees who want to go to Europe.
Turkey also called on the international community to establish a no-fly zone over Idlib. The UN said on Monday that the latest fighting was coming “dangerously close” to encampments of the displaced, risking an imminent “bloodbath.” Turkey, which is already home to around 3.6 million Syrian refugees, fears more people will arrive. There is growing popular discontent against their presence in Turkey. In a series of tweets, Altun accused Assad of “conducting ethnic cleansing” and seeking to drive millions of Syrians out of Idlib. he wrote:
These people will try to escape to Turkey and Europe. Already hosting close to 4 million refugees, we do not have the capacity and resources to allow entry to another million.
Groups of migrants have already moved towards western Turkey, seeking to reach Greece, a Turkish news agency reported. Greece on Friday boosted border patrols. A government source said:
Greece has tightened the guarding of its land and sea borders to the maximum degree possible.
A police source told AFP that border patrols had been doubled and a general call for heightened readiness had been issued. An army source said around 300 people had been spotted on the Turkish side of the border in the north-eastern Evros region. The army officer said:
These numbers are not out of the ordinary.
The international community voiced alarm over the latest violence in Idlib. UN spox Stephane Dujarric said in a statement:
Without urgent action, the risk of even greater escalation grows by the hour.
NATO Sec-Gen Stoltenberg urged deescalation by all parties of “this dangerous situation” and condemned the “indiscriminate airstrikes” in a phone call with the Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. A Pindo State Dept spox said Faschingstein stood by its NATO vassal and continued to call “for an immediate end to this despicable offensive by the Assad regime, Russia and Iranian-backed forces.” In its first response to the Turkish deaths, Russia’s defence ministry said the troops were among “terrorist groups” and that they had not communicated their presence in the area. Thursday’s attack brings to 53 the number of Turkish security personnel killed in Idlib so far this month. Elsewhere Jihadis and Turkish-backed rebels on Thursday re-entered Saraqeb, a key Idlib crossroads town they had lost earlier in February, reversing one of the main gains of the government’s offensive, but the counter-offensive could be short-lived, as Syria continued to chip away at other parts of the rebel bastion, capturing 20 localities. Seven civilians, including three children, were killed in regime and Russian bombardment of Idlib, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, adding to more than 400 such deaths since December. The state news agency SANA acknowledged there were “fierce clashes” between the army and “terrorist groups on the Saraqeb front.”
An AFP correspondent accompanied the rebels into Saraqeb, where he found a ghost town of bombed-out buildings. The counter-attack temporarily reverses one of the key gains of the government since its offensive against the country’s last rebel enclave in December. The cash-strapped government had been keen to fully secure the M5, a highway that connects Syria’s four main cities and passes through Saraqeb. The Syrian Observatory said the air trikes were carried out by Russia, heavily criticised by the west for the high civilian death toll from its bombing campaign. State media accused the “terrorists” of launching car bombings and other suicide attacks against government forces attempting to retake the town. It said the army had inflicted heavy losses on the attackers, despite the military support it said they had received from Turkey. Around 950,0000 civilians have fled the government offensive, raising fears in Ankara of a new influx of refugees. More than half a million of those displaced since December are children, tens of thousands of whom are sleeping rough in northern Syria’s harsh winter. Erdoğan had vowed on Wednesday that Ankara would not take the “smallest step back” in the stand-off with Damascus and Moscow over Idlib.
Turkey to open borders and let refugees into Europe, after 33 soldiers killed by Syria
Bel Trew, Independent, Feb 28 2020
Turkey will no longer stop refugees from reaching Europe, after dozens of its soldiers were killed in a regime airstrike in Syria, prompting Greece to tighten its sea and land borders amid reports hundreds were already on the move. At least 33 Turkish soldiers perished and an additional 32 were injured in an overnight strike by Syrian government forces in the north-western province of Idlib. The killings, which took place near Turkey’s southern border, more than double Ankara’s death toll in Syria for February, and have sparked fears that Erdogan will launch a full-scale operation against Syrian government forces, which are backed by the Russian military, potentially locking Moscow and Ankara in a direct and deadly conflict. Russia said on Friday it was sending two warships armed with cruise missiles to waters off the Syrian coast, local media reported, after officials blamed Ankara for the deaths of its soldiers. Responding to the killings, Ankara ordered Turkish police coastguard and border security officials to stand down on land and sea crossings towards Europe and allow refugees to pass. The Turkish official told Reuters:
We have decided, effective immediately, not to stop Syrian refugees from reaching Europe by land or sea. All refugees, including Syrians, are now welcome to cross into the EU.
Greek boxtops said the country is now tightening its sea and land borders with Turkey, and has reached out to the EU and NATO about the matter. Turkish news agency Demiroren said around 300 migrants, including women and children, had begun heading towards borders between Greece and Bulgaria and Turkey’s Edirne province at around midnight. The same news outlet said that others also gathered on the western Turkish coastal district of Ayvacik in Canakkale province with the aim of travelling by boat to Greece’s Lesbos Island. Syrians, Iranians, Iraqis, Pakistanis and Moroccans were among those in the group, it said. Refugees International president Eric Schwartz in a statement:
All refugees should enjoy freedom of movement, but we are also deeply concerned that those leaving Turkey will face a perilous journey across the sea to Greece, a journey that has claimed so many lives. Greece itself is ill-prepared to receive a sudden influx of refugees. Thus, it is critical that the EU support Greece and fast-track refugees from Greece to other EU countries where they can seek asylum.
Turkey has sent thousands of troops and heavy military hardware into Syria this month in support of some of the rebels, after the regime launched an offensive to take the last opposition stronghold in the war-ravaged country. Erdogan has repeatedly warned that Turkey will launch a full-scale offensive to repel Syrian forces unless they pull back from Turkish observation posts in the Syrian region. The deaths of the Turkish soldiers will only escalated the messy conflict. Turkey said in had responded to the attack on its troops by hitting 200 Syrian government targets, “neutralising” 309 Syrian soldiers and destroying air defence systems, tanks and helicopters. Ambassadors from the NATO military alliance are set to hold emergency talks on Friday in Brussels at Turkey’s request to discuss the crisis. Turkey’s state-run Anadolu agency said that the killings happened despite coordination with Russian boxtops on the ground, and that the attacks continued after a warning being made after the first strikes. Russia’s defence ministry refuted that saying that Ankara had failed to notify Moscow of the presence of Turkish troops in the area, despite being in regular communication. The statement claimed that Turkish troops had been hit by artillery fire from Syrian government forces who were trying to repel an offensive by rebel forces. It added that Russian warplanes had not carried out any air strikes in the area at the time and Moscow did everything it could to help once it learnt of the Turkish troop presence. In a separate Russian media report, Moscow later responded by saying it would send additional military hardware to Syria’s coast, including warships equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles. Turkey’s decision to open the way for refugees to travel Europe will reverse a pledge Turkey made to the EU in 2016. It could draw European powers into a stand-off over Idlib and the soaring tensions between Ankara and Moscow.
Niqnaq 
2 Comments
what about the magnier article that says
and
i am aching to see the inglorious baby-burners finally get a dose of their own medicine—i just hope that magnier is not taking thru his hat.
word ! 🙂