Will the West accept defeat in their attempt to overthrow Bashar Assad?
Will the Atlantic Alliance and NATO concede the intrusion of Russia/China/Iran in their backyard?
Will Netanyahu’s rightwing government keep quiet in the coming weeks or intervene in Syrian politics?
[Update] See my new diary – Fucking Israelis Stirring Up Big Trouble
Will Germany’s Merkel show military muscle to play the game with the “Big Boys” to keep her chance for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council?
Will Russia especially and Syria use the Idlib Battle for a lethal blow to the foreign jihadists holed up with no place to go?
Will Turkey manage to keep the border shut for Syrian civilians in the fear of letting terrorists into their country?
The US, UK, France and NATO allies are ready to make a devastating bombing campaign over Syria. Germany is willing to do their part although 75% of its citizens are opposed to intervene militarily.
One thing is guaranteed, lots of PROPAGANDA coming your way the coming days and weeks about the END GAME in Syria.
More below the fold …
A worthy panel discussion on DW this morning … I particularly liked the views and responses during the show. These realistic views are too few and far in between in the European media, especially the UK, France and in The Netherlands.
Battle for Idlib: Endgame in Syria?
Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad and his allies are getting ready for a final assault on the last rebel stronghold in the country, Idlib. The city is home to an estimated three million people and many observers fear a slaughter of civilians. Guests: Maissun Melhem (DW), Michael Lüders (Middle East Expert), Alan Posener (Die Welt)
Important by @ajaltamimi on one of the jihadi groups in idlib. It’s emir explains the militia’s minhaj or project (_link)
— Joshua Landis (@joshua_landis) September 12, 2018
Unless the Russian navy is hunting for the Red October in the eastern Mediterranean, it is likely that so many Russian ships have remained there since the end of Moscow’s latest naval exercise primarily to support Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, Pentagon officials said.
- More than a dozen Russian ships have massed close to Syria, and many of those vessels are equipped with KALIBR cruise missiles, Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said.
- “The question remains, then, why is Russia’s naval presence still elevated in the region?” Pahon told Task & Purpose. “Is there another reason?”
- The Assad regime is currently poised to launch a massive assault against rebel-held Idlib province and Russian ships have previously launched cruise missiles in support of the Syrian regime.
US: ‘Lots of evidence’ Assad planning chemical attack | Arutz Sheva |
Jim Jeffrey, the new US representative for Syria, said on Thursday there is “lots of evidence” that chemical weapons are being prepared by Syrian government forces in Idlib region in northwest Syria.
Jeffrey warned that any attack on the last big rebel enclave would be a “reckless escalation,” reported the Reuters news agency.
“I am very sure that we have very, very good grounds to be making these warnings. Any offensive is to us objectionable as a reckless escalation,” Jeffrey told reporters. “There is lots of evidence that chemical weapons are being prepared.”
Jeffrey said any offensive by Russian and Syrian forces, and the use of chemical weapons, would force huge refugee flows into southeastern Turkey or areas in Syria under Turkish control.
Jeffrey described the situation in Idlib as “very dangerous” and said that Turkey, which has backed some rebel groups in the region, was trying to avoid an all-out Syrian government offensive.
○ Dutch govt under fire for Syria opposition support | France24 |
○ Carla Del Ponte blasts impunity in farewell speech
○ Syrian Opposition Forces Caught with Sarin Gas in Turkey by Oui @BooMan on May 30, 2013
Recent news out of Syria … not verified:
○ Syrian War Report – September 12, 2018: Militants Filming Staged Chemical Attack In Idlib