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Voiceover by Harold Hoover
The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) Tiger Forces have been further capitalizing from the airdrop operation conducted behind ISIS defense lines in the Homs-Palmyra countryside.
On Monday, the Tiger Forces liberated the villages of Bukhayran, Ariqah and Othmaniyah and then the entire Kawm oasis located on the road between Resafa and Sukhna. On Tuesday, government troops continued developing momentum in the directions of Bir Hisayyah and Taybah.
Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters provide a close air support to the advancing government troops. According to local sources, Russian military advisers are involved in the operation.
If the Tiger Forces capture any of the aforementioned villages, they will be able to threaten all ISIS supply lines in the area. This will decrease the ISIS defense capabilities in Uqayribat in the eastern Hama countryside.
The Syrian military is very close to putting ISIS units north of the Homs-Palmyra highway in a no-win situation. In coming days, ISIS will counter-attack in order to slow down the Tiger Forces advance and to prevent encirclement of its forces. If terrorists are not able to achieve their goal, it may lead to a full collapse of the ISIS defense in the area.
In eastern Damascus, government forces continued pressuring Faylaq al-Rahman and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Jobar and Any Tarma. Since the resumption of the operation in these areas, the SAA has made some tactical gains, but the situation remains complicated. Many will depend on the ability of militant groups operating in Eastern Ghouta to cooperate against government forces.
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have faced troubles inside the city of Raqqah where the SDF is clashing with ISIS. Since Saturday, ISIS has conducted multiple counter-attacks in the eastern, western and southern parts of the city using VBIEDs, snipers and grenade launchers. According to AMAQ, about 50 SDF members have been killed in the recent attacks. However, this number sounds overestimated.
The delay in the battle of Raqqah plays in to the hands of the Syrian military that seeks to liberate central Syria and to reach Deir Ezzor before the US-backed force.
Syrian Foreign Ministry Accuses US, UK of Supplying Toxic Agents to Terrorists
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201708161056505295-syria-us-uk-toxic-agents-terrorists/
“On Wednesday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry has accused the US and the UK of supplying CS, CN toxic agents to terrorists.
According to Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the toxic agents found in Aleppo and Damascus suburb were produced by one British company and two American companies.
“The special equipment found consisted of hand grenades and rounds for grenade launchers equipped with CS and CN toxic agents […] The chemical munitions were produced by the Federal Laboratories company in the US. The toxic agents were produced by Cherming Defence UK and NonLethal Technologies (US),” Syrian Deputy Foreign Minsiter Faisal Mekdad said.
According to the deputy foreign minister, the poisonous substances were found in the storehouses of the militants in Aleppo and in the eastern suburbs of Damascus.
“So, we can say for sure that the US and UK as well as its allies in the region violate the Chemical Weapons Convention. They support terrorist organizations operating in Syria. They deliver to the militants not only armaments but also prohibited toxic agents,” the deputy foreign minister added.”
Lack of Investigation Into US Strikes in Syria Proves Idlib Attack Was Staged
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201708161056501874-syria-idlib-chemical-attack/
“A US missile strike on a Syrian airfield three days after a chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun in April indicates that the strike was planned ahead of time and the chemical attack was staged, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told journalists.
“Based on the fabricated facts of the terrorists who said that the Syria Arab Army was guilty of a chemical attack in Khan Sheikhoun, the United States immediately conducted a missile strike [at the Syrian governmental military airfield in Ash Sha’irat on April 7], even before the investigation began. They made the decision in advance, and this indicates that the attack was staged,” he said.
The Syrian leadership will provide all necessary conditions for the work of the commission investigating the circumstances of the chemical attack in Idlib, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad told reporters in Damascus.
“The team to investigate the circumstances of the chemical attack will arrive in Damascus in the coming days. The Syrian government will ensure all conditions for its work,” Mekdad said.”
Beyond Understanding’: Moscow on UK, US Possible Supplies of Chemicals to Syria
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201708161056511204-moscow-uk-us-syrian-militants-toxic-agents/
“To supply terrorists with toxic agents, hiding behind pictures of killed children, is beyond understanding,” Zakharova said on Facebook.”
“On Wednesday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry has accused the US and the UK of supplying CS, CN toxic agents to terrorists.
According to Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the toxic agents found in Aleppo and Damascus suburb were produced by one British company and two American companies.
“The special equipment found consisted of hand grenades and rounds for grenade launchers equipped with CS and CN toxic agents […] The chemical munitions were produced by the Federal Laboratories company in the US. The toxic agents were produced by Cherming Defence UK and NonLethal Technologies (US),” Syrian Deputy Foreign Minsiter Faisal Mekdad said.
A picture taken on April 4, 2017 shows destruction at a hospital in Khan Shaykhun in the northwestern Syrian Idlib province, following a suspected toxic gas attack.
© AFP 2017/ OMAR HAJ KADOUR
Lack of Investigation Into US Strikes in Syria Proves Idlib Chemical Attack Was Staged – Syrian Deputy FM
According to the deputy foreign minister, the poisonous substances were found in the storehouses of the militants in Aleppo and in the eastern suburbs of Damascus.
Mekdad noted that in accordance with Article 5 of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons, the use of toxic agents is permitted only to combat riots. It is prohibited to use them in warfare.
“So, we can say for sure that the US and UK as well as its allies in the region violate the Chemical Weapons Convention. They support terrorist organizations operating in Syria. They deliver to the militants not only armaments but also prohibited toxic agents,” the deputy foreign minister added.”
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201708161056505295-syria-us-uk-toxic-agents-terrorists/
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“The US strikes in Syria without investigation prove that Idlib chemical attack was staged, Syrian deputy foreign minister Faisal Mekdad said on Wednesday during a press briefing in Damascus.”
https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201708161056501874-syria-idlib-chemical-attack/
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so , as well as secret aviation flights in Afghanistan…. we have…
“On August 15, the Iranian state-linked Fars News Agency has relelased a fresh reported arguing that the US-led coalition has conducted a helicborne operation rescuing a top ISIS commander from eastern Syria.
FARSNEWS’ article (source):
Military helicopters of the US-led coalition carried out another heliborne operation in Southeastern Deir Ezzur, carrying a senior ISIL commander on board, an Arab media outlet reported on Tuesday.
The Arabic-language al-Ahd news website reported that the US army carried out a heliborne operation South of the town of al-Sayal, taking away a senior finance official of the ISIL terrorists group along with his wife.
US Army Conducts Heliborne Operation in Eastern Syria, Takes Another ISIL Commander Away – Media
Al-Ahd further said that evacuation of ISIL’s top financial official from al-Sayal was carried out after the commanders’ coordination with the US-led coalition.
The US army has conducted a growing number of similar heliborne operations to help senior ISIL leaders in Eastern Syria this year.
Local sources reported in July that a group of ISIL terrorists were transferred by a van from the town of Ayyash in Eastern Deir Ezzur to a ISIL-held desert region in the Eastern direction of the town of al-Sukhnah in Eastern Homs, where three helicopters of the coalition were hovering over the region.
One of the helicopters landed but the other two continued to fly over the region.
The three helicopters flew towards North and entered Raqqa airspace, adding that there was no information about their exact destination.
The sources further said that the ISIL militants taken away by the American choppers could have been one of the spying groups used by Washington via Jeish Maqavir al-Thowrah militant group to materialize its objectives in the region.
More reports said in June that the US-led coalition aircraft carried out heliborne operation in regions controlled by ISIL terrorists in Northern Raqqa.
The heliborne operation to save the ISIL members was conducted in the Northern parts of Raqqa.
Meantime, other reports said that the predominately Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) forces who were stationed in Raqqa under the US supervision allow the ISIL terrorists to leave Raqqa city.”
https://southfront.org/us-army-conducts-heliborne-operation-eastern-syria-takes-another-isil-commander-away/
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“GENEVA (Sputnik) – Russia is noting in Syria an active regrouping of the forces of Nusra Front (terrorist group banned in Russia), which is trying to take over control of main border crossings with Turkey, a military-diplomatic source in the International Syria Support Group task forces told Sputnik on Wednesday.”
http://theduran.com/breaking-russia-notes-active-regrouping-nusra-front-forces-syria/
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note re Idlib
“The Turkish Army is a synonym for security and stability and its entry to the Syrian province of Idleb will be met with an overwhelming sympathy of the people, and without any hesitation or resistance,” said Jawad Abu Hatab, head of the government of the so-called “Syrian opposition in exile.”
“The people of Idleb are resisting invasion by Russia and the United States, the two occupational forces, but the Turkish army, if it enters Idleb, will be considered as a friendly source of security for the interim government and the people,” Abu Hatab told Turkish daily Yeni Shafak.
“We are faced with attempts to divide Syria by the dark forces of evil who focused their attention on Idleb, and as a result we consider Turkey as the most important source of security for us during the whole process”, Abu Hatab also said, noting that any attack on Idleb would be Syria’s “biggest disaster” in six years.
“Any solution that does not include Turkey could increase the depth of the humanitarian crisis in the region. The Turkish army was a protector of us and a friend of ours in accordance with the universal human values. As such, the Syrian government in exile is ready to support any decision taken by Turkey, regarding Idleb,” he further added.
His statements came after the comments of the Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on Idleb situation, where, according to himself, his country is taking “necessary measures” on the border with the Syrian province of Idleb, that has since become more or less occupied by the terrorist group Hay’at Tahrir Al Sham (ex-Al Nusra Front), following several successive military victories last month.”
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/08/we-are-erdogans-puppets-financially.html
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CIA attempts to thwart the economic cooperation of Russia, Iran and Syria
August 15 , 2017 – Fort Russ News –
Rusvesna – translated by Inessa Sinchougova
http://www.fort-russ.com/2017/08/cia-attmpts-to-thwart-economic.html
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Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) has announced a formation of the Hama Army, a new operation room that includes several units defected from Ahrar al-Sham, a unit from Jund al-Sham and another one from Ajnad al-Sham. The Hama Army pledged allegiance to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) indicating the continuing collapse of any opposition to the al-Qaeda-linked group in the militant-held part of western Syria.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham Consolidates Power In Idlib, Prepares For Large-Scale Military Actions Against Syrian Army
Click to see the full-size image
HTS is working to consolidate the power in Idlib in order to establish a unified political and military command over the rest of militant groups operating in the area. If this is done prior to the defeat of ISIS in central Syria, HTS-led forces will be able to delay significantly the SAA effort against ISIS with offensives on government held area in northern Hama, western Aleppo or at the Ithriyah-Aleppo highway. HTS’ aim is to prevent collapse of ISIS that would lead to the situation when the terrorist group and its allies could remain face to face with the Syrian-Iranian-Russian alliance in this part of Syria.
The similar strategy was repeatedly used during the previous years of the war when the so-called opposition was attacking the SAA in the most complicated moments of its operations against ISIS.”
https://southfront.org/hayat-tahrir-al-sham-consolidates-power-in-idlib-prepares-for-large-scale-military-actions-against-syrian-army/
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