The Levant Mess

[Vikrant]

I do not know what else to call it.

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Iraq has told Turkey to “immediately” withdraw forces, including tanks and artillery, it has deployed in the country’s north without Baghdad’s consent, the office of the prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, said on Saturday.

“The Iraqi authorities call on Turkey to ... immediately withdraw from Iraqi territory,” the statement said.

“We have confirmation that Turkish forces, numbering about one armoured regiment with a number of tanks and artillery, entered Iraqi territory ... allegedly to train Iraqi groups, without a request or authorisation from Iraqi federal authorities,” it said.

The deployment “is considered a serious violation of Iraqi sovereignty”, it added.

Turkish media reported that about 150 Turkish soldiers backed by 20 to 25 tanks had been sent by road to the Bashiqa area north-east of Mosul, the city that is Islamic State’s main hub in Iraq.

Peshmerga forces from Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region are deployed in the area, and Turkey’s Anatolia news agency said the troops were there to train them.

Isis overran swaths of territory north and west of Baghdad in 2014, and Iraqi forces backed by US-led airstrikes are battling to push back the jihadis.

The peshmerga are one of the most effective Iraqi forces in the fight against Isis, but coordination between them and the federal government in Baghdad has generally been poor.

Iraq orders Turkey to 'immediately' withdraw troops sent across border

 

[Vikrant]

The Turkish army invaded the Syrian territory and took control of the hill Tal Ziyab. Troops crossed the border accompanied by bulldozers.

After occupying the high ground (50 meters), the Turkish force built fortifications. Also, 3 battle tanks, 2 armored infantry fighting vehicles and several SUVs were deployed there.

Considering the location of Tal Ziyab, Turkey wants to cover the smuggling route of the Syrian oil which is taken out of the ISIS-controlled Raqqa.

...

Turkey Invaded Syria, Captured Tal Ziyab

 

[tinydancer]

Erdogan better smarten up quickly. With the arrival of Russia on the scene the west's cover up of Turkey's actions was blown to bits. No hiding anything now.

 

[Vikrant]

The Russian army is literally bringing its big guns to the war in Syria. U.S. military analysts said the decision to add artillery to the battlefield indicates a number of key developments, including the Kremlin’s growing influence in planning and executing Syrian military operations.

It could be a sign that Russia is dedicated to a conventional ground war—not just air strikes—in support of Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad, a staunch ally long supported by Moscow.The Russian army is literally bringing its big guns to the war in Syria. U.S. military analysts said the decision to add artillery to the battlefield indicates a number of key developments, including the Kremlin’s growing influence in planning and executing Syrian military operations.

It could be a sign that Russia is dedicated to a conventional ground war—not just air strikes—in support of Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad, a staunch ally long supported by Moscow.

...

Russia’s Big Guns Reach Syria’s Front Lines

 

[tinydancer]

The Russian army is literally bringing its big guns to the war in Syria. U.S. military analysts said the decision to add artillery to the battlefield indicates a number of key developments, including the Kremlin’s growing influence in planning and executing Syrian military operations.

It could be a sign that Russia is dedicated to a conventional ground war—not just air strikes—in support of Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad, a staunch ally long supported by Moscow.The Russian army is literally bringing its big guns to the war in Syria. U.S. military analysts said the decision to add artillery to the battlefield indicates a number of key developments, including the Kremlin’s growing influence in planning and executing Syrian military operations.

It could be a sign that Russia is dedicated to a conventional ground war—not just air strikes—in support of Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad, a staunch ally long supported by Moscow.

...

Russia’s Big Guns Reach Syria’s Front Lines

And he has to. Baghdadi's right hand military man is Chechen. Many Chechens have been fighting with ISIS and worse yet the Chechen terrorists have committed over 6000 jihadists to take the fight to Moscow.

This is getting worse by the minute. Obama's statement that ISIS was contained was a flat out lie. And as he was saying it ISIS has taken out the Taliban leader in Afghanistan and seized large swaths of the country.

I put up a thread about it in politics. But here's a link in your thread so you can check out what's happening.

"A propaganda video released by Wilayat Khurasan shows 10 local men from the Shinwari tribe in Kot district, blindfolded and forced to kneel on a chain of explosives before being blown to pieces.

The graphic video, filmed from multiple angles, shows lingering images of the body parts remaining.

ISIS’s subtle invasion of Afghanistan began last autumn, although it took weeks for locals to realise who the foreigners were that were settling in their midst.

Before late July, the terror group had forced Taliban fighters out of the region and emerged from the mountain valleys of Peha and Mamond, attacking police and army units as they went.

At first, Wilayat Khurasan was seen more as a Taliban splinter group than an ISIS-led faction.

But a UN report released in September detailed ISIS’s expansive recruitment network in Afghanistan, via its local faction."

Has ISIS killed the head of the Taliban?

 

[Vikrant]

^ IS taking over Afghanistan is not a good news. That is very bad. It means, IS is expanding beyond Levant.

 

[aris2chat]

^ IS taking over Afghanistan is not a good news. That is very bad. It means, IS is expanding beyond Levant.

ISIS affiliates are in just about every muslim country now

 

[montelatici]

^ IS taking over Afghanistan is not a good news. That is very bad. It means, IS is expanding beyond Levant.

ISIS affiliates are in just about every muslim country now

 

[Vikrant]

Turkish FM slams Russia’s missile ‘provocation’ in Bosphorus

A Russian warship passed through Istanbul’s Bosphorus en route to the Mediterranean on the morning of Dec. 6. One soldier was seen in footage of the boat passing holding a ground-to-air missile, drawing an angry reaction from Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

The soldier held the missile on his shoulder in the shooting position during the passing of Russia’s “Caesar Kunikov” warship.

“This is provocation, this is a harassing passage,” Çavuşoğlu told reporters on Dec. 6 in his hometown Antalya.

“The Russian warplanes’ violation of our airspace and the passing of the Russian warships through the Bosphorus are two very different things,” he added, referring to the Montreux Convention regarding the regime of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits.

“The passages should be made in accordance with the international agreements, whether it is a Russian ship or of another nationality, the rules have long been determined,” Çavuşoğlu said.

He added that the “necessary answer will be given in situations deemed to be a threat.”

“The showing off of a missile by a soldier on a Russian warship, or other things such as anti-aircraft weapons, is pure provocation. I hope that this is an isolated case. It is not the right approach,” he said.

Relations between Russia and Turkey have deteriorated after Ankara shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian border for violating its airspace.

While Russia denied any violation, it implemented a series of measures against Turkey, including a partial ban on exports and cancellation of bilateral agreements.

Tensions have increased with the naval build up in the eastern Mediterranean, with Russian warships constantly sailing through the Turkish straits to travel to and from the area.

Ten countries in addition to Russia and Turkey currently have warships in the area, including the U.S. air craft carrier “USS Roosevelt” and France’s air craft carrier “Charles de Gaulle.”

Meanwhile, three NATO warships also dropped anchor off Istanbul’s Sarayburnu coast on Dec. 6, Doğan News Agency has reported.

The NATO Maritime Group warships included Portugal’s F-334 NRP Francisco de Almeida, Spain’s F-105 ESPS Blaz de Lezo, and Canada’s FFG-338 HMCS Winnipeg.

LOCAL - Turkish FM slams Russia’s missile ‘provocation’ in Bosphorus

 

[Vikrant]

HASAKAH – Dozens of militants of the Islamic State (ISIS) extremist group were reportedly killed in fresh airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition in Syria’s northeastern province of Hasakah, local sources reported on Saturday.

“The coalition has conducted several airstrikes on major headquarters of ISIS in the southern countryside of Hasakah,” local media activist Ahmed Saadi told ARA News.

“Subsequent to the airstrikes, the group has collected dead bodies of more than 30 of its militants,” the source said.

Saturday’s airstrikes hit ISIS headquarters in the towns of al-Arisha and ‘Abb al-Shouk.

In the meantime, eyewitnesses in the ISIS-held city of Shaddadi south of Hasakah reported a state of alert in the ranks of the radical group. Dozens of cars were seen transferring injured militants to medical centers in the city.

This comes as the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) blocked the roads linking Shaddadi city to the Iraqi border in a bid to paralyze ISIS’s movements in the area.

http://aranews.net/2015/12/dozens-of-islamic-state-militants-killed-in-u-s-strikes-northeast-syria/

 

[aris2chat]

throw another log on the fire

 

[Vikrant]

Israelis caught aiding and abetting terrorists:

Israeli Commandos Rescue Al-Nusra Terrorists

 

[Vikrant]

The Syrian army has reportedly launched an offensive against Daesh in the country's southwestern province of Daraa, approaching a strategic border crossing near Jordan.

Thursday saw the Syrian Army advance on militants in the country's southwestern province of Daraa, where the government troops approached a strategic Syrian-Jordan border crossing, according to the Iranian news agency FARS.

Sources said that the offensive came after the Syrian forces made "huge advances" in the city of Daraa.

According to sources, the army is currently "within striking distance" of the strategic area, which is better known as the Al-Jamrak crossing.

Earlier this week, government troops attacked jihadists on the outskirts of the city Al-Shaykh Maskin and the town of Ataman in Daraa province.

Read more: Border Battle: Syrian Army Takes on Daesh Terrorists Near Jordan Frontier

 

[Vikrant]

...

The intensity of strikes on sites belonging to ISIS and other extremist groups in Syria was boosted on Dec. 5 in line with a decision of the Russian Armed Forces supreme commander-in-chief, the Russian Defense Ministry press service and information department said on Dec. 9.

"Russia's Tupolev Tu-22M3 strategic bombers stationed at the Mozdok airfield, the aviation group's aircraft stationed at the Hmeimim airfield and a submarine deployed in the Mediterranean Sea have delivered a massive missile and air strike on the sites of ISIL and other extremist organizations in the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic," the report said.

A multiple launch of Kalibr seaborne cruise missiles from the submerged Rostov-on-Don submarine has been performed for the first time ever, the ministry said. "Two important command posts of the terrorist organization ISIL in the al-Raqqah province were destroyed as a result," it said.

...

Russia claims hit on 2 ISIS targets from submarine for first time

 

[Votto]

The Turkish army invaded the Syrian territory and took control of the hill Tal Ziyab. Troops crossed the border accompanied by bulldozers.

After occupying the high ground (50 meters), the Turkish force built fortifications. Also, 3 battle tanks, 2 armored infantry fighting vehicles and several SUVs were deployed there.

Considering the location of Tal Ziyab, Turkey wants to cover the smuggling route of the Syrian oil which is taken out of the ISIS-controlled Raqqa.

...

Turkey Invaded Syria, Captured Tal Ziyab

So the Iraqi army can fight, just not against ISIS I suppose.

 

[Vikrant]

The Turkish army invaded the Syrian territory and took control of the hill Tal Ziyab. Troops crossed the border accompanied by bulldozers.

After occupying the high ground (50 meters), the Turkish force built fortifications. Also, 3 battle tanks, 2 armored infantry fighting vehicles and several SUVs were deployed there.

Considering the location of Tal Ziyab, Turkey wants to cover the smuggling route of the Syrian oil which is taken out of the ISIS-controlled Raqqa.

...

Turkey Invaded Syria, Captured Tal Ziyab

So the Iraqi army can fight, just not against ISIS I suppose.

That is pretty idiotic comment given the ground realities.

 

[Votto]

The Turkish army invaded the Syrian territory and took control of the hill Tal Ziyab. Troops crossed the border accompanied by bulldozers.

After occupying the high ground (50 meters), the Turkish force built fortifications. Also, 3 battle tanks, 2 armored infantry fighting vehicles and several SUVs were deployed there.

Considering the location of Tal Ziyab, Turkey wants to cover the smuggling route of the Syrian oil which is taken out of the ISIS-controlled Raqqa.

...

Turkey Invaded Syria, Captured Tal Ziyab

So the Iraqi army can fight, just not against ISIS I suppose.

That is pretty idiotic comment given the ground realities.

It appears Iraq fears Turkey more than ISIS.

 

[Vikrant]

The Turkish army invaded the Syrian territory and took control of the hill Tal Ziyab. Troops crossed the border accompanied by bulldozers.

After occupying the high ground (50 meters), the Turkish force built fortifications. Also, 3 battle tanks, 2 armored infantry fighting vehicles and several SUVs were deployed there.

Considering the location of Tal Ziyab, Turkey wants to cover the smuggling route of the Syrian oil which is taken out of the ISIS-controlled Raqqa.

...

Turkey Invaded Syria, Captured Tal Ziyab

So the Iraqi army can fight, just not against ISIS I suppose.

That is pretty idiotic comment given the ground realities.

It appears Iraq fears Turkey more than ISIS.

Turkey is ISIS.

ISIS was propped up by Israel, Turkey and few other Sunni countries in the region.

 

[Vikrant]

...

Reports of Iranian fighter jets arriving in Syria as part of the Russian campaign in the country have as yet not elicited any official response from Israel.

However, that Israel is aware of and possibly concerned over the development was noticeable in the response o fMaj.-Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, former national security adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and now a senior fellow at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, who said that "Anything could happen".

...

Israel sits tight as Iranian jets join aerial campaign in Syria alongside Russia

 

[irosie91]

so many are so clueless-----there is a war going on. ------the present ALLIES--include the USA, several of the oil emirates, (sorta) and Saudi arabia and Israel and
on a rickety fence---Turkey.
The present Axis powers are Iran (MAIN AGGRESSOR) Syria, and a pendemic thruuout the Levant consisting of Hezbollah and other Shiite shit. UKRAINE has fallen to the Axis powers-------Yemen has almost completely fallen being badly infiltrated and infected with Iranian filth----consisting of Hezbollah and native Shiite shit