Tag "Turkey"

Turkey pivots to the center of The New Great Game

by Pepe Escobar with permission and first posted at Asia Times When it comes to sowing – and profiting – from division, Erdogan’s Turkey is quite the superstar. Under the delightfully named Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), the Trump administration duly slapped sanctions on Ankara for daring to buy Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile defence systems. The sanctions focused on Turkey’s defence procurement agency, the SSB. Turkish Foreign Minister

Kurd Runner 2020

South Front The situation in the northern Syrian provinces of Aleppo and al-Hasakah is once again escalating amid speculations on the upcoming Turkish advance in the area. In recent weeks, the Turkish military and its proxies increased the intensity of strikes on positions of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and even on nearby positions of the Syrian Army along the contact line in the northeast of Syria. For example,

Russian Clouds Over Turkish-Backed Jihadi Paradise In Idlib

South Front On September 16, hundreds of protesters gathered near those Turkish military positions in Greater Idlib, which are surrounded by the Syrian Army, demanding the full withdrawal of the Turkish Army from Syria. The largest protests took place near Turkish observation posts at Murak and Alsurman. Both these posts were surrounded by Syrian troops during the military operation against Turkish-backed al-Qaeda terrorists in southern Idlib. A majority of the

Another warm summer in East Med

by Kakaouskia for the Saker Blog Greetings to the Saker community and readers. Summers tend to be warm in East Mediterranean and not just due to weather. This one is no exception with Greece and Turkey apparently determined to make a stand for what each perceives to be its waters and Exclusive Economic Zone. Before I delve into the existing situation, I feel that some background information is required: about

Syria Prepares For Military Confrontation With Turkey In Northeast

South Front The Syrian Army and the National Defense Forces have put their forces on high alert in response to the new round of aggressive actions by the Turkish Army and its proxies in northeastern Syria. Several convoys of government forces, including several T-62M battle tanks and a number of trucks equipped with heavy machine guns, deployed to the countryside of Ayn Issa after intense Turkish artillery strikes on positions

Battle Of Sirte

https://southfront.org/battle-of-sirte/ The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and Syrian militant groups with a direct support from Turkey are preparing for a new attempt to capture the port city of Sirte from the Libyan National Army (LNA). After the first failed attempt earlier this month, Turkish-backed factions have deployed additional reinforcements to the frontline west of the city. This included artillery pieces, battle tanks and a large number of pickups

Turkey Dives Into Libyan Conflict

Southfront The Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and Syrian militants supported by the Turkish military have achieved more gains in their battle against the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. GNA forces have captured the areas of Asabiah and Mazdah from the LNA and besieged the town of Tarhuna. On May 23, pro-Turkish sources even claimed that alleged Russian private military contractors operating on the

Unfortunate Adventures Of Turkish Army In Idlib

https://southfront.org/unfortunate-adventures-of-turkish-army-in-idlib/ Two Turkish soldiers were injured and two vehicles damaged in Syria’s southern Idlib on March 24. Their military convoy was targeted by a roadside bomb explosion near the village of Sfuhun. Turkish troops based at the al-Barah observation post were conducting a patrol along the contact line between the Syrian Army and Idlib armed groups. This became the second attack on Turkish forces in Greater Idlib in less than

New Idlib Ceasefire Is Already Crumbling And Nobody Is Surprised

https://southfront.org/new-idlib-ceasefire-is-already-crumbling-and-nobody-is-surprised/ On March 6, the Syrian region of Greater Idlib entered another ceasefire phase with al-Qaeda-linked groups breathing a sigh of relief thanks to Turkish sacrifices in the battle against the Syrian Army. However, the pause in the Turkish-Syrian military confrontation just reduced the tensions rather than put an end to them. A few minutes after the start of the ceasefire agreed by Turkish and Russian presidents in Moscow, an

Turkish Forces Are On ‘Tactical Retreat’. Syrian Army Recaptures More Territory In Eastern And Southern Idlib

https://southfront.org/turkish-forces-are-on-tactical-retreat-syrian-army-recaptures-more-territory-in-eastern-and-southern-idlib/ Erdogan’s forces continue their bloody battle for peace and prosperity for al-Qaeda groups in the Syrian region of Greater Idlib. On March 3, Turkey shot down an L-39 warplane of the Syrian Air Force in eastern Idlib. The warplane, which was carrying out strikes on al-Qaeda militants, crashed near the town of Maarat al-Numan. One of the ejected pilots landed in the militant-held area and was killed. On the

Turkish War On Syria. Bluff Or Reality?

https://southfront.org/turkish-war-on-syria-bluff-or-reality/ Turkey will take the Idlib matter into its own hands and the military operation in northwestern Syria is simply a “matter of time”, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared on February 19. Erdogan said that Turkey is not satisfied with talks on the matter with Russia, and it will not leave the region to “the Assad regime and its backers.” He recalled that only a few days left until the

Syrian Army Captured Saraqib. Netanyahu ‘N Erdogan To The Rescue

https://southfront.org/syrian-army-captured-saraqib-netanyahu-n-erdogan-to-the-rescue/ In Greater Idlib the defences of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other favorites of the foreign powers supporting ‘Syrian democracy’ are collapsing. On February 5, the Syrian Army, supported by Russian airpower, took control of a number of villages in southeastern Idlib and southwestern Aleppo including Resafa, al-Dhahabiyah, Ajlas, Talafih and Judiydat Talafih. They besieged a Turkish observation post established near Tal Toqan and reached another one, near al-Sheikh Mansur.

Turkish Forces Suffer Casualties In Syrian Army Attack On Idlib

Human Shields: Turkish Forces Suffer Casualties In Syrian Army Attack On Idlib Turkey and the United States are employing active diplomatic, media and even limited military measures to contain the Syrian Army offensive against terrorists in Greater Idlib. On January 31, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened the Damascus government with a military action if the Syrian Army does not stop its anti-terrorism operation in Idlib. The official Turkish rhetoric says

Maarat Al-Numan Is Liberated

Syrian War Report – January 28, 2020: Maarat Al-Numan Is Liberated On January 27 evening, units of the Syrian Army continued their operation in southeastern Idlib. Government troops liberated Hamidiya, Bseida, Maasaran, Tal Al-Shih, Maziyan and several other villages. By this advance, the army fully besieged Maarat al-Numan from the northern, southern and eastern directions. According to pro-government sources, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants are not planning to defend the encircled

Turkish Army Battle Tanks: Capabilities, Modernization, Prospects

https://southfront.org/turkish-army-battle-tanks-capabilities-modernization-prospects/ Turkey is working to develop its national industry and reequip its armed forces with modern military equipment. The worth of projects in this field is estimated to be around $77 billion. Ankara is paying special attention to the modernization and development of its tank fleet. Currently, Turkey has over 3,000 main battle tanks (MBTs), the most capable of which are the 339 Leopard-2A4 and 170 M60T Mk2 ‘Sabra’ MBTs.

Thousands Turkish Proxy Fighters Flood Into Libya Amid Berlin Peace Talks

https://southfront.org/thousands-turkish-proxy-fighters-flood-into-libya-amid-berlin-peace-talks/ Turkey is increasing its military involvement in the Libyan conflict. After officially sending its military advisers and officers to support the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), Turkey set up air defense systems near Mitiga Airport. The airport hosts warplanes of the GNA Air Force, and Turkish-supplied Bayraktar TB2 combat drones. According to photos and videos available online, the deployed Turkish systems included the MIM-23 Hawk, the ACV-30 Korkut

Underwhelming Turkish Invasion Of Libya

https://southfront.org/underwhelming-turkish-invasion-of-libya/ In early 2020, Libya became one of the main hot points in the Greater Middle East with stakes raised by Turkey’s decision to launch a military operation there. On January 5, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey had sent troops to Libya to support the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA). No Turkish soldiers will reportedly participate in direct fighting. Instead, they will create an operation center and

SDF Seeks Cooperation With ‘Bloody Assad’ Against Turkey

Syrian War Report – October 9, 2019: SDF Seeks Cooperation With ‘Bloody Assad’ Against Turkey The withdrawal of US troops from the Turkish border has caused a kind of panic among the leadership of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which mostly consist of Kurdish militias. On October 7, the group already speculated that the Syrian Army is preparing to capture the town of Manbij taking an upper hand of the

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