Its pretty much a sham as the Russians have said they will continue bombing ISIS and Nusra, which basically means they will continue bombing all rebel groups since no one on the ground is capable of distinguishing who they are hitting. Its a way for Putin to publicly claim he is seeking a political solution whilst simultaneously continuing to entrench his presence by bombing whoever he wants. Pretty much similar to the Minsk agreement and eastern Ukraine.
ISIS in Iraq and Syria
- Thread starter Suli
- Start date
Its pretty much a sham as the Russians have said they will continue bombing ISIS and Nusra, which basically means they will continue bombing all rebel groups since no one on the ground is capable of distinguishing who they are hitting. Its a way for Putin to publicly claim he is seeking a political solution whilst simultaneously continuing to entrench his presence by bombing whoever he wants. Pretty much similar to the Minsk agreement and eastern Ukraine.
Absolutely correct. Now we know why the Russians are so good at chess.
That's depressing to read. I do hope you're wrong.
It's true.
What's the solution/most probable outcome to this conflict? I know it's not possible to answer that question in a few lines but I'd like to know what you guys think as many of you are clearly pretty well informed about it.
Will the bloodshed in Syria ever end? So many lives are being destroyed...
To me it's amazing that man has invented everything we use on a daily basis, launch rockets that can reach Mars but seemingly isn't able to find a solution to nations butchering eachother's citizens.
It really boggles my mind.
Will the bloodshed in Syria ever end? So many lives are being destroyed...
To me it's amazing that man has invented everything we use on a daily basis, launch rockets that can reach Mars but seemingly isn't able to find a solution to nations butchering eachother's citizens.
It really boggles my mind.
And that tells you all you need to know about the "rebels".
It doesn't tell me anything other than that this is a political ruse to keep bombing whilst claiming the moral high ground that he is seeking an end to the violence.
Just noticed your name. Are you Syrian?
Yes.
I take it you're not living in Syria at the moment. You must feel for the Syrian people more than most. Do you have any relatives still out there? Sorry not being nosey or anything but I do feel for you with the situation out there. (My cat was called Syria, not that it's particularly relevant but every time I write the word it makes me think of her).
He's still there.
In Syria you mean? Oh dear that's bad. If he can get over here I'll put him up.
I am in fact living in Syria atm although I have an American green card.
Are you in a war-torn area or are you relatively safe?
Well my home in Damascus is in the safest area in Syria, right now I spend 8 months in my collage dorm and it's also safe here, my gf though lives in Sarmada, Idlib which is very war-torn, one more year and I'm leaving to live in the USA full time.
Well I'm pleased to hear that you're safe atm. Let's hope things stay that way.
Saudis have deployed jets to Turkey. I wonder what for ? 
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/33e1e688-d262-11e5-829b-8564e7528e54.html#axzz40586qKSF
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/33e1e688-d262-11e5-829b-8564e7528e54.html#axzz40586qKSF
So that we can all be safe/die in work war 3.Saudis have deployed jets to Turkey. I wonder what for ?
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/33e1e688-d262-11e5-829b-8564e7528e54.html#axzz40586qKSF
Turkey shells Kurdish militia in Syria
TurkisH military shells Kurds in northern Syria and demands they withdraw from the area
13 Feb 2016
Turkey's military shelled Kurdish militia targets in northern Syria on Saturday and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu demanded that the group withdraw from the area in a move that further complicated the conflict across the NATO member's border.
The shelling took place after Kurdish YPG fighters backed by Russian bombing raids drove Syrian rebels from a former military air base, south of the town of Azaz and near the Turkish border.
"Today's retaliation was taken under the rules of engagement against forces that represented a threat in Azaz and the surrounding area," the prime minister told reporters in comments shown live by state broadcaster TRT Haber.
A Kurdish official said the Menagh base which was hit had been captured by the Kurdish-allied Jaysh al-Thuwwar group rather than the YPG. Both are part of the Syria Democratic Forces alliance.
The shelling came amid growing anger in Ankara with the United States for supporting the YPG, which Ankara regards as a terrorist organisation, in its fight against Islamic State militants.
The Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), which backs the YPG, controls most of the Syrian side of Turkey's border and Ankara views it as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade-old insurgency for autonomy in southeast Turkey.
U.S. State Department spokesperson John Kirby urged both Turkey and the Syrian Kurds to step back, saying they should focus instead on tackling a "common threat" of Islamic State militants who control large parts of Syria.
"We have urged Syrian Kurdish and other forces affiliated with the YPG not to take advantage of a confused situation by seizing new territory," Kirby said in a statement.
"We have also seen reports of artillery fire from the Turkish side of the border and urged Turkey to cease such fires."
Davutoglu demanded that the Menagh base be evacuated and said he had spoken to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to make that point and stress that the PYD was an extension of the PKK and a direct threat to Turkey.
"We will retaliate against every step (by the YPG)," he said after a visit to the eastern Turkish city of Erzincan. "The YPG will immediately withdraw from Azaz and the surrounding area and will not go close to it again."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ia.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
TurkisH military shells Kurds in northern Syria and demands they withdraw from the area
13 Feb 2016
Turkey's military shelled Kurdish militia targets in northern Syria on Saturday and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu demanded that the group withdraw from the area in a move that further complicated the conflict across the NATO member's border.
The shelling took place after Kurdish YPG fighters backed by Russian bombing raids drove Syrian rebels from a former military air base, south of the town of Azaz and near the Turkish border.
"Today's retaliation was taken under the rules of engagement against forces that represented a threat in Azaz and the surrounding area," the prime minister told reporters in comments shown live by state broadcaster TRT Haber.
A Kurdish official said the Menagh base which was hit had been captured by the Kurdish-allied Jaysh al-Thuwwar group rather than the YPG. Both are part of the Syria Democratic Forces alliance.
The shelling came amid growing anger in Ankara with the United States for supporting the YPG, which Ankara regards as a terrorist organisation, in its fight against Islamic State militants.
The Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), which backs the YPG, controls most of the Syrian side of Turkey's border and Ankara views it as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a three-decade-old insurgency for autonomy in southeast Turkey.
U.S. State Department spokesperson John Kirby urged both Turkey and the Syrian Kurds to step back, saying they should focus instead on tackling a "common threat" of Islamic State militants who control large parts of Syria.
"We have urged Syrian Kurdish and other forces affiliated with the YPG not to take advantage of a confused situation by seizing new territory," Kirby said in a statement.
"We have also seen reports of artillery fire from the Turkish side of the border and urged Turkey to cease such fires."
Davutoglu demanded that the Menagh base be evacuated and said he had spoken to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden to make that point and stress that the PYD was an extension of the PKK and a direct threat to Turkey.
"We will retaliate against every step (by the YPG)," he said after a visit to the eastern Turkish city of Erzincan. "The YPG will immediately withdraw from Azaz and the surrounding area and will not go close to it again."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...ia.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
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Shelling the same militias who've been most successful in pushing back ISIS and Al Nusra.
As if there's any doubt as to where they stand in this conflict.
As if there's any doubt as to where they stand in this conflict.
Is it safe to say that Turkey is a bigger obstacle to peace in Syria than Russia?
They're all obstacles
Saudis have deployed jets to Turkey. I wonder what for ?
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/33e1e688-d262-11e5-829b-8564e7528e54.html#axzz40586qKSF
They repeated various times, that they´d actively support the rebels, if negotiations fail. They are begging for america to intervene for some time now. Maybe Turkey+SA try to create a "save-zone" along the boarder after all to save the rebels and their supply lines to turkey. My guess is, that it is just a bluff, but you never know with the new king. He might be crazy enough to go full war.
Saudis have deployed jets to Turkey. I wonder what for ?
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/33e1e688-d262-11e5-829b-8564e7528e54.html#axzz40586qKSF
I'm sure they're aiming at promoting democracy in Syria. After all, they're your allies, so you should know.
Mr. 17 seconds strikes again.
As opposed to the Axis of Dictators who you support ?
Things seem to be heating up along the border. World War 3 next ?
It's okay, Batman seems to be there to help out.
Saudis have jets stationed in Turkey, meanwhile the Turks have stepped up shelling the Kurdish positions.
Seems like the Islamist KSA/Turkey coalition are upset with their beloved ISIS/Al Nusra proxies getting a hammering from the Kurds.
Seems like the Islamist KSA/Turkey coalition are upset with their beloved ISIS/Al Nusra proxies getting a hammering from the Kurds.
You better get here before trump is the president
Only if we stupid enough to go to war because the Turks
A map I found on Reddit.
http://syria.liveuamap.com/
http://syria.liveuamap.com/
Deadly air strikes hit hospitals in northern Syria
At least 23 people killed in suspected Russian raids on two hospitals and a school in provinces of Aleppo and Idlib.
At least 23 people have been killed and dozens others injured in air strikes and rocket attacks on a school and two hospitals in separate locations in northern Syria, Al Jazeera has learned.
In the deadliest incident, at least 14 people were killed and about 30 injured when air strikes and rocket artillery damaged parts of a hospital in the town of Azaz in Aleppo province, the media office at the rebel-controlled Aleppo local council said on Monday.
In the same raid, a school where refugees were sheltering was also hit. No death toll has been confirmed.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in a news conference in Kiev on Monday that a Russian balistic missile hit the school and hospital in Azaz.
The head of the media office, Abu Thaer al-Halabi, told Al Jazeera that a section of a highway that facilitates the main supply line for humanitarian aid to the region was destroyed in the raids.
Halabi also said the strikes were carried out by Russian fighter jets.
MSF hospital hit
Meanwhile, suspected Russian air strikes also targeted a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the town of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province, killing at least nine people, including a child, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Monday.
A spokesman for the Syria Civil Defence in Idlib confirmed that the hospital was hit but said four people were killed.
"At least four people have been killed while several others have been injured. We expect the death toll to rise. There are doctors and MSF staff missing," Radi said, without stating his full name.
At least 13 people were reportedly injured in the strikes, as rescue workers were trying to reach several people buried under the rubble.
"Extreme damage has been caused to the hospital. Six floors have been almost reduced to rubble. This hospital is located in an area previously surrounded by restaurants and has no rebel strongholds. It has been functioning for over a year now," Radi said.
MSF condemned the attack in a report released on Monday.
"This appears to be a deliberate attack on a health structure, and we condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms," said Massimiliano Rebaudengo, MSF's head of mission.
"The destruction of the hospital leaves the local population of around 40,000 people without access to medical services in an active zone of conflict," Massimiliano said.
At least 23 people killed in suspected Russian raids on two hospitals and a school in provinces of Aleppo and Idlib.
At least 23 people have been killed and dozens others injured in air strikes and rocket attacks on a school and two hospitals in separate locations in northern Syria, Al Jazeera has learned.
In the deadliest incident, at least 14 people were killed and about 30 injured when air strikes and rocket artillery damaged parts of a hospital in the town of Azaz in Aleppo province, the media office at the rebel-controlled Aleppo local council said on Monday.
In the same raid, a school where refugees were sheltering was also hit. No death toll has been confirmed.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in a news conference in Kiev on Monday that a Russian balistic missile hit the school and hospital in Azaz.
The head of the media office, Abu Thaer al-Halabi, told Al Jazeera that a section of a highway that facilitates the main supply line for humanitarian aid to the region was destroyed in the raids.
Halabi also said the strikes were carried out by Russian fighter jets.
MSF hospital hit
Meanwhile, suspected Russian air strikes also targeted a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the town of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province, killing at least nine people, including a child, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Monday.
A spokesman for the Syria Civil Defence in Idlib confirmed that the hospital was hit but said four people were killed.
"At least four people have been killed while several others have been injured. We expect the death toll to rise. There are doctors and MSF staff missing," Radi said, without stating his full name.
At least 13 people were reportedly injured in the strikes, as rescue workers were trying to reach several people buried under the rubble.
"Extreme damage has been caused to the hospital. Six floors have been almost reduced to rubble. This hospital is located in an area previously surrounded by restaurants and has no rebel strongholds. It has been functioning for over a year now," Radi said.
MSF condemned the attack in a report released on Monday.
"This appears to be a deliberate attack on a health structure, and we condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms," said Massimiliano Rebaudengo, MSF's head of mission.
"The destruction of the hospital leaves the local population of around 40,000 people without access to medical services in an active zone of conflict," Massimiliano said.
I'm sure everyone who has previously condemned hospitals getting hit will also condemn this action.
Its despicable if true, just like the score of Kurdish civilians killed in Turkish shelling in the last few days.
I think we've established that there's no point keep score in this petty blame game where all sides have been complicit in atrocities, alleged or confirmed.
Of course, but there is no controversy about this act. We probably all agree, that this was not an accident.
Of course, it's a terrible act of violence, no matter who's perpetrated it. I wouldn't expect Russians to admit to it though, it's not our style.
Except the Russians. Haven't harmed a hair on a single civilian's head.
Presumably your opinion, not mine.
I still haven't got a clear answer from you about this..
Are you saying the map is inaccurate (and stick to your denial that the SAA made all these gains in ISIS territory in the last few months) or are you just admitting that you don't really know what's going on and just come here occasionally to post propaganda posts about Russia?