Turkish Peace Operations in Syria (Operation Olive Branch) Updates & Discussions

TheMightyBender · Dec 22, 2017

Turkey falls behind schedule for deployment of observers to Idlib — Russian envoy
Military & Defense
December 21, 21:57UTC+3
The deployment of observation posts and checkpoints is just gaining momentum, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev said
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ASTANA, December 21. /TASS/. Turkey is behind schedule for the deployment of observers to the de-escalation zone in Syria’s Idlib, head of the Russian delegation at the talks on Syria in Astana and Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev said on Thursday.

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UN envoy says time is ripe to promote Syria political process

"We could not avoid a discussion of the current situation in the de-escalation zones both in the southeastern part and in the areas close to Eastern Ghouta, Hama and, most importantly, Idlib, where the situation is the most difficult at the moment," Lavrentiev said. "The deployment of observation posts and checkpoints is just gaining momentum. Our Turkish counterparts are behind the schedule agreed on at the bilateral and trilateral levels."

According to Lavrentiev, the Russian, Turkish and Iranian delegations discussed a wide array of issues at the consultations on Thursday. "Beginning with the current situation in Syria after the defeat of the Islamic State terror group (outlawed in Russia), the tasks facing government forces in the future to rout other terror groups, which are still operating in Syria. What we need to do, what steps should be taken, including to build up confidence between the conflicting parties," he said.

More:
http://tass.com/defense/982398

Mr.Department · Dec 22, 2017

TheMightyBender said:
Turkey falls behind schedule for deployment of observers to Idlib — Russian envoy
Military & Defense
December 21, 21:57UTC+3
The deployment of observation posts and checkpoints is just gaining momentum, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev said
Share
ASTANA, December 21. /TASS/. Turkey is behind schedule for the deployment of observers to the de-escalation zone in Syria’s Idlib, head of the Russian delegation at the talks on Syria in Astana and Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev said on Thursday.

READ ALSO

UN envoy says time is ripe to promote Syria political process

"We could not avoid a discussion of the current situation in the de-escalation zones both in the southeastern part and in the areas close to Eastern Ghouta, Hama and, most importantly, Idlib, where the situation is the most difficult at the moment," Lavrentiev said. "The deployment of observation posts and checkpoints is just gaining momentum. Our Turkish counterparts are behind the schedule agreed on at the bilateral and trilateral levels."

According to Lavrentiev, the Russian, Turkish and Iranian delegations discussed a wide array of issues at the consultations on Thursday. "Beginning with the current situation in Syria after the defeat of the Islamic State terror group (outlawed in Russia), the tasks facing government forces in the future to rout other terror groups, which are still operating in Syria. What we need to do, what steps should be taken, including to build up confidence between the conflicting parties," he said.

More:
http://tass.com/defense/982398

Interesting. @kartal1
Seems we are again in defense only

OguzSenturk · Dec 22, 2017

We are indeed behind the schedule, but so SAA and Russia.

We supposed to put 6 more observation points in Western aleppo (Russia supposed to put observation points in western borders of SAA held Aleppo), SAA supposed to cleanse southern Aleppo from rebels and HTS(Al-Qaeda), HTS supposed to be kicked out of our borders and forced to go agreed territory between Idlib Turkish security zone and agreed SAA territory.

Everyone is behind the schedule.

kartal1 · Dec 22, 2017

ATALAY said:
Interesting. @kartal1
Seems we are again in defense only

Somebody dont want to piss off HTS in its current state. HTS first need to be dismantled as much as its possible and then coalition of FSA groups must be created. And that FSA coalition together with Turkey can start an open war against Al Qaeda. Otherwise Al Qaeda will never surrender to anybody from PYD trough Russia, Iran or Assad all the way to Turkey. If that coalition is not formed with the current resources under FSA and the future groups that will leave HTS the implementation of the observation points and the peace keeper kind of action can not be achieved because if you are going to operate in that way you need security and trust in your partners. I dont like to say it but we learned it the hard way in Al Bab. If infighting between some of the groups that are aimed to take part in that agreement occur the results will give much harm to the hard work of the Turkish diplomacy. Russia and Iran dont have that kind of problem because the groups they work with are more disciplined and the chance of infighting between them is minimal but on the other hand our areas of responsibility and the groups that we are guaranteeing for makes our part of the deal very hard and risky and the thing is that we cant do it alone. If we are talking of capability its not a problem but I am talking for that the other partners of the deal Iran and Russia will never let us get there in so big numbers because unofficially we are capturing the territory that way and bye bye RuAF air strikes and attacks from the regime. The chance of them hitting us will be to high and an open warfare would occur. It cant be like that one time when they bombed one building full of our commando's and nobody took responsibility. They want us to take as less responsibility as we can. One example of that are the recent developments when regime representatives meet with PYD counterparts to discuss the hand over of Afrin to Assad for Raqqa. That way they try to shoot three rabbits with one bullet. Assad will secure the distance between FSA and Aleppo, Assad will gain very strategic points like the Minaq airport, Assad will kill our chances for Afrin operation and possible connection between Idlib and Northern Aleppo and that is including the total surrounding of Afrin and full cut of logistics. With two words Assad is telling them give us Afrin or face the Turks. Our part is the hardest. They want us to destroy the Syrian wing of one of the most feared terrorist organizations on the earth but as I said before the clever will join us and the dumb will face us. Hard times are waiting us in Jisr Al Shughur, Idlib and Marat Al Numan. I wish success to our unnamed warriors.

Mr.Department · Dec 22, 2017

kartal1 said:
Our part is the hardest

kartal1 said:
Jisr Al Shughur, Idlib and Marat Al Numan

Congrats, thanks for your effort and time. Agreed.

But never forget, we wanted to pray in SAM within 48 hours ( ex-PM our current Presi) and march to Baghdat
(ex PM- Akbulut).

All depends on skill, training and equipment. Unfornutaley we lack most of them.
We need 10 years . Inbetween we could for sure reach our goals also in the Aegean, Thrace and Cyprus,
but the price would be too high ( Pyrrhus victory)

That's constructive critics,
I remember the time when UK lost more than 6 Navy ships and hundreds of manpower against weak Argentine Forces on the Falks and some Exocets.

kartal1 · Dec 22, 2017

Local residents in Idlib confirm 2 low flying F-16 like aircraft causing loud bangs (sonic boom) flying over their houses , came in from the west (Turkey ), no US jets flew out at that time , most people think low flying TuAF

Hamzza · Dec 22, 2017

Good news:

https://twitter.com/x/status/943993791689707521

https://twitter.com/x/status/943823652746772480

https://twitter.com/x/status/943906172700110848

kartal1 · Dec 22, 2017

Hamzza said:
Good news:

https://twitter.com/x/status/943993791689707521

https://twitter.com/x/status/943823652746772480

https://twitter.com/x/status/943906172700110848

I hope that continues

.

TheMightyBender · Dec 22, 2017

PUTIN'S SYRIA ENVOY: US FORCES SHOULD LEAVE SYRIA
BY REUTERS

DECEMBER 21, 2017 19:50

A Russian representative was speaking in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, ahead of a new round of Syrian peace talks between Russia, Iran and Turkey.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin (right) and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu watch Russian soldiers passing by as they visit the Hmeymim air base in Latakia Province, Syria, December 2017. (photo credit: REUTERS)
ASTANA - Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy for Syria said on Thursday that there was no reason for US forces to remain in Syria and that Washington's stated reasons for maintaining a military presence there were groundless.

Alexander Lavrentiev was speaking in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, ahead of a new round of Syrian peace talks between Russia, Iran and Turkey.

"Any reasons cited by the Americans to justify their further military presence ... are just excuses and we think their presence must end," he told reporters.

Lavrentiev said the Astana talks would focus on setting the ground for a Congress of Syrian Peoples which Russia plans to host early next year.

The sides plan to decide on the date for the congress on Friday, he said. But agreeing a list of delegates will take longer, up to three weeks. Turkey last month objected to the presence of the main Syrian Kurdish group at the congress.

It is starting... :smokin: